On a recent trip abroad, which happened in an EU country after the big “roam like home” rules applied, there was a definite split between the age groups on phone usage.
Some mom’s and dad’s in restaurants still hunted for the free WiFi, but elsewhere on the beach the traditional e-readers had been replaced with smartphones, and some younger people had quickly slipped into using Spotify and other audio streaming services. All over roaming data, and all costing nothing more than it would at home.
Today Dixon’s Carphone have been in touch because they’ve found that actual printed guidebooks and maps are on the way out because of the uptick in holiday smartphone usage. Their research highlights this roaming map which shows where each network lets you roam.
Sure, you might know that every EU country is covered, But unfortunately even after the big awareness campaign people still aren’t sure. A massive 68% of those surveyed felt they did not fully understand the roaming legislation, despite text messages like this turning up on their phone after landing at their holiday destination…
The research also shows that more than one in five of us are now using our phones at airports to board flights, and over 30% are using a mobile as the go-to source of information for hotels and excursions.
DEATH OF THE GUIDEBOOK: BRITS ABROAD DITCH PAPER MAPS FOR MOBILE APPS
· As using phones abroad becomes cheaper, mobiles are becoming our go-to guide to foreign destinations
· But roaming confusion still reigns with more than three out of five Brits unsure about where they can ‘roam like home’
Brits travelling abroad are increasingly lightening their luggage load by replacing their travel guidebooks with their mobile phones, new research by Carphone Warehouse revealed today. The study also shows that printed boarding passes and complicated fold-out paper maps may soon be for the chopping block thanks to our increasing confidence in using our phones abroad.
The research, carried out on behalf of the UK’s largest independent mobile phone retailer to mark the launch of its interactive roaming map, shows that as a nation we’re replacing more and more traditional holiday staples with our phones. Traditional cameras have already seen their influence wane, with more than 50% of respondents surveyed stating that their phone is their go-to photography tool on holiday, while 45% eschew printed maps for guided directions on their mobiles.
But it’s the rise of apps, review sites and reduced roaming charges that are behind the latest changes to our travel habits, with more than one in five of us now flashing our phones at airports instead of fishing out printed boarding cards. And once they arrive abroad, more than 30% are turning to their phones as the primary source of researching things to do on sites like TripAdvisor, as well as using their phone to place bookings at hotels and restaurants.
Carphone Warehouse’s research shows that it’s not all sun, sea, sand and simplicity when we’re using our phones abroad. 68% of those surveyed feel they do not fully understand the roaming legislation or how it affects their network, despite mobile networks being obligated to contact their customers and explain the new charges.
“As a nation we’re relying more and more on our mobile phones abroad, replacing traditional travel tools like maps, boarding passes and travel guides,“ said Dean Kramer, Marketing Director for Carphone Warehouse. “So it’s more important than ever that customers are given full information on how much using their phone costs when travelling. We’re proud to continue to provide honest, impartial advice – like our new roaming map – and we call on all mobile networks to do their upmost to spread the word.”
To help make roaming in Europe easier than ever, Carphone Warehouse has created a network roaming map at http://lowdown.carphonewarehouse.com/roaming-map/ to help confused Brits see where their mobile provider lets them ‘roam like home’ and highlight the different destinations each network covers.
