International travel often burdens travelers with exorbitant roaming charges, leaving them with limited alternatives and significant unexpected costs. If you have ever been in a situation where you disconnected yourself to save yourself from high roaming charges, this blog post is exactly what you need to read. International roaming credits can save you from traditional roaming charges that can quickly drain your travel budget.
Here, we will discuss these credits, their benefits, and why they are a must-have for modern international travelers. We will also understand how virtual roaming solutions integrate international roaming credits to benefit users and operators alike.
What is International Roaming Credit?
International roaming credit is the credit or funds specifically meant for your mobile phone services, including calls, texts, and data, when traveling internationally. Your roaming credit can be prepaid or postpaid credit which ensures uninterrupted connectivity when you are outside your home country.
In other words, we can say that your roaming credit is a dedicated balance for your roaming expenses.
The purpose of introducing international roaming credit, primarily, is to save travelers from the exorbitant costs associated with traditional roaming. Roaming credits are provided to users in different types, which are:
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Prepaid Roaming Credit
When an international travelers opts for prepaid roaming credit, he/ she tops up their account with the credit before traveling. This helps them ensure that they only spend or use what they have prepaid and avoid unexpected overages. Suppose you purchase a 5 day bundle for your Europe trip that offers 1GB of data usage, 40 voice minutes and unlimited text messages.
You can think of prepaid roaming credit as a bundle that offers a pre-determined amount of voice minutes, data usage, and SMS messages for a certain time period or usage limit.
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Postpaid Roaming Credit
The option of postpaid roaming credits offers more flexibility to users. Instead of prepaying for using roaming services, international travelers can simply use the services as the system accrues charges based on their actual usage. Users can pay the bill later as a part of theor regular postpaid mobile bill.
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Pay-as-you-go Credit
This option enables users to top up their mobile accounts with a certain amount of credit. Now as the user uses mobile services, the charges are deducted from this balance on a per-use basis.
Suppose, you top up your account with $100 of roaming credit for your upcoming international trip. You can use this credit to make calls, send text messages, and browse the internet while abroad.
International Roaming Credit vs. Traditional Roaming Plans
Traditional roaming plans are typically associated with complex pricing structures due to the involvement of roaming agreements between your home network and foreign network providers. This makes it difficult for users to predict and control their roaming expenses. On the other hand, international roaming credits address this problem and offer several advantages.
Let’s understand the comparison between traditional roaming plans and international roaming credits through the below table:
| Feature | International Roaming Credit | Traditional Roaming Plans |
| Pricing | Prepaid or pay-as-you-go | Often per-minute, per-MB, or per-message |
| Flexibility | High: Choose amount of credit, customize usage | Lower: Often limited options, less control over costs |
| Transparency | Clear pricing and usage tracking | Can be complex and difficult to predict costs |
| Budgeting | Easier to budget and avoid overages | More difficult to budget and control costs |
| Control | More user control over spending | Less user control over spending |
| Convenience | Easy to top up and manage | Can be more complex to understand and manage |
Benefits of International Roaming Credits
As we move further, let’s now explore the benefits of international roaming credits in more depth:
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Cost Benefits
International roaming credits empower users to pay only for what they need, thus proving to be more affordable than traditional roaming plans.
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Convenience
Topping up roaming credits is usually a simple and easy process. Most of the telecom service providers offer online portals, mobile apps and even-in store options.
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Flexibility
Travelers can allocate a specific budget for roaming expenses before their trip and stay peace of mind. Also, they can decide and prioritize their roaming communication needs.
For example, a user who requires significant data for navigation during travel can opt for a data-heavy roaming bundle, while another traveler who primarily uses their phone for communication can choose a plan with fewer data allowances but more voice minutes.
REVE Virtual Roaming Solution and Roaming Credit
REVE Virtual Roaming Solution is a next-generation technology that simplifies and streamlines international roaming services for telecom operators. Imagine a robust, app-based platform that eliminates the need for telcos to build their own roaming infrastructure, enabling them to effortlessly offer international roaming services to their subscribers. That’s REVE virtual roaming solution for you.
Our virtual roaming app seamlessly integrates international roaming credit allowing users to top-up their in-app credit through multiple methods including mobile prepaid balance, postpaid credit limit, recharge cards, or credit cards. Using this credit, users can purchase the roaming packages that best suit their needs.
Benefits of International Roaming Credit for Operators
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Increased Revenue Generation
By selling roaming credit packages, operators are able to generate new revenue streams without any high operational costs.
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Increased Customer Retention
With REVE virtual roaming solution, operators can present subscribers with a transparent, reliable, and cost-effective roaming solution that enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Benefits of International Roaming Credit for Users
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Affordable Global Connectivity
Through REVE, users can access international roaming services at local rates, avoiding high roaming fees and bill shocks.
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Convenience
Activating roaming services and adding credit to the REVE app requires no technical know-how. Users can seamlessly use roaming services through the REVE app.
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Access to Enhanced Features
Users can access advanced features like HD calling, voicemail, and balance transfers using the REVE app, enhancing their roaming experience like never before.
International Roaming Credit Use Cases
Every international traveler has one or the other motive behind their trip and why they need international roaming credit. Let’s understand some of the common use cases for the same:
The Business Traveler
Suppose you have traveled to Japan for a business meeting and need to make frequent calls to your colleagues back in the office. Therefore when you choose your roaming package ensure that you opt for a voice-heavy roaming bundle to suffice your international calling needs.
The Leisure Traveler
Suppose you are on a 3-week vacation with your friends and want to stay connected with your loved ones back home. You also need data for navigation, social media, and occasional streaming. In this case, choose a bundle that offers a balanced combination of all services.
The Student Abroad
Suppose you are a student who went abroad for a short certificate course and needs to stay in touch with friends and family back home. You will also need data for online classes and research work. Here also, you’ll need a package that provides a moderate amount of data, voice and SMS.
Tips for Using International Roaming Credit Effectively
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Thoroughly Research Packages
Before you travel, make sure to explore the different roaming plans or packages available with your provider. Pay attention to voice minutes, data allowances, SMS limits, and overall costs.
For example, your travel style matters a lot in choosing the right roaming package for your international trip. If it’s a one-week short business trip, and you’ll need to make a lot of calls during this time, then choose a package that aligns with your anticipated usage.
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Top-Up Your Credit in Advance
Use your telecom operator’s app to recharge your international roaming credit well before your trip. This is one of the best ways to avoid service interruptions during your international trip. Also, it is convenient and time-saving to use your telecom provider’s app to recharge your roaming credit. Furthermore, it helps you gain better control over your spending as you can choose a plan that fits your expected usage instead of relying on expensive pay-as-you-go rates.
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Avoid Heavy Usage
Avoiding unnecessary online activities like streaming videos or downloading large files that are not necessarily required can consume a significant amount of data, depleting your roaming package. Instead, you can download the required content before your trip and watch offline.
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Opt for Bundle Packages
Instead of using pay-as-you-go credit, opting for bundled roaming packages is a smart move.
Because these packages come with a fixed allotment of services, these are often available at discounted rates and thus offer substantial savings. For users with frequent international trips, this is quite a beneficial option as these packages help them stay within budget.
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Activate Roaming Services in Advance
Your roaming services must be enabled before leaving your home country. Activate your roaming services using your app to avoid disruptions when you arrive in another country.
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Schedule Your Roaming
It is a good idea to schedule roaming as per the itinerary. In the REVE virtual roaming app, the user can schedule roaming and the app will store the user’s itinerary in the database. The roaming request will be triggered as per the stored schedule.
Conclusion
The shock of receiving an exorbitant mobile phone bill after returning from an international trip can be really distressing and unwelcoming. As a telco, you don’t want to deliver such an experience to your subscribers, right? Adopting modern telecom solutions like the REVE Virtual Roaming app is the ultimate solution.
International roaming credit has provided travelers with an effortless, cost-effective, and flexible alternative to traditional roaming plans. Operators can leverage app-based virtual roaming solutions, like REVE, to simplify roaming for their users.
Statistics reveal that The global roaming tariff market was valued at $74.25 billion in 2023. It is expected to grow to $113.22 billion by 2032. This presents not just a massive market but a significant opportunity for telcos to enhance their subscriber value proposition.
Our REVE virtual roaming app provides you a competitive edge by allowing you to quickly enter this lucrative market and offer your subscribers a cost-effective and innovative roaming solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does international roaming credit work?
In the REVE virtual roaming app, international roaming credit works as a prepaid or postpaid credit balance. Users can top up in-app credit with a mobile prepaid balance or postpaid limit. Using this balance, they can purchase a suitable roaming package from within the REVE app. The facility to top up in-app credit is also available through recharge cards and credit cards.
Is international roaming credit different from a standard mobile balance?
Yes, there’s a significant difference between standard mobile balance and international roaming credit. While the standard mobile balance is used for local calls, text messages, and data within the user’s home network, international roaming credit is specifically dedicated to usage while traveling out of the home country.
What services can I use with international roaming credit?
There are various services that you can access by using international roaming credit including making and receiving international voice calls, sending and receiving text messages, accessing mobile internet and data services, and using value-added services such as call forwarding and voicemail.
Can I use international roaming credit for internet services?
Yes, depending upon the package you buy using your international roaming credit, you can use mobile data services. Typically, roaming packages cover activities like browsing, using apps, video streaming, and accessing email.
Can I share or transfer international roaming credit with others?
Yes, using the REVE virtual roaming app, you can share or transfer your international roaming credit with other app users. Using this feature travelers can transfer a portion of their roaming credit to family, friends, or colleagues to stay connected.
Are there alternatives to international roaming credit?
Yes, there are alternatives to international roaming credit such as purchasing a local SIM card in the destination country, using free WiFi networks for internet and communication, leveraging international SIM cards for global use, etc.
Is international roaming credit suitable for business travelers?
Absolutely, yes. International roaming credits can benefit corporate and business travelers significantly. They eliminate their worry about excessive roaming costs and provide them with reliable and seamless connectivity for voice calls, texts, and data services as they travel abroad. They can stay connected with their colleagues, partners, and clients while traveling.
