Keeping in touch with Friends & Family While Travelling
I've been doing a lot of international traveling as of late and keeping in touch with family and friends in the states can sometimes prove to be difficult. I should rephrase t hat. It's not difficult but it's difficult to do it cheaply. I've learned a few things along the way and I'll let you know what I've been using to do this on the cheap.
This is a must. I've been able to be on gChat and email without some people even knowing that i'm in Europe. I've been using an unlocked iPhone 3G and a Pay as you go SIM card from O2 in London. I put 15 pounds on the SIM card and it came with unlimited internet. If I really wanted to I would never have to use the 15 pounds and just use the following program to make all of my calls. 2. Skype on your smartphone (or at least your laptop). Skype has allowed me to place phone calls to the US at very cheap rates. Using 3. Google Voice I never do a good job explaining what Google Voice is so I'll just embed the following video: Pictures, messages, keeping up with the mindless stuff that people do, etc. Got any other tips for keeping in touch with people when you're travelling? Leave them in the comments.
1. A smartphone with unlimited internet access 
Google Voice (mentioned below) and a SkypeIN number I have unlimited calls to US numbers for $60/year. Not too bad. I also use Skype on my laptop to talk to family and friends with audio and video. It works surprisingly well and if the other party has Skype too it's completely free.
Got it? When travelling back and forth between Europe and the US I am now able to be reached with just one number. When I'm in the US I have my Google Voice number forward to my cell phone and when I'm in Europe I have it forward to Skype. It works great for the most part. Using Skype on the iPhone is awesome on WiFi but it can be flakey sometimes on the 3G. Luckily if someone tries to call me and I miss it, Google Voice just transcribes their messages and sends it to my email.
