As a member of the media, journalist, writer, blogger or reviewer, some do a fair amount of traveling. With many events to attend and plenty of work to be done, this can lead to a rigorous schedule: one that can end up being quite costly. Considering the cost of flights, accommodations, and otherwise, Canadian writers traveling down to the US can have a lot that they need to save for. However, roaming doesn’t have to be one of them. Recently, we launched our sponsorship program: something to help industry professionals stay connected at US events.

Traveling as a writer, you really need to stay connected and up to speed. Whether you’re attending conferences, tech retreats or music festivals, our sponsorship program is designed to credit writers with a free Roam Mobility package, so that they have one less thing to worry about. You’ll need your Roam device or unlocked device and Roam SIM, in order to access our network. Our sponsorship program also offers devices and SIM cards at a reduced rate!

What type of event will you be attending?

We’ve made the sponsorship application process quick and easy. All we need is a bit of personal information (Name, company, etc) and a few trip details, to process a request. We look over each application and contact you for any important details. At Roam Mobility, we want to see you enjoy your time abroad with ease. After all, you have work to do!

To learn more about our sponsorship program or to fill out an application, please see our sponsorship program page. We’re actively researching various events that our customers might be interested in so you might even see us discussing them, on Facebook and Twitter! If you are interested in writing an article about Roam Mobility, we’d also be happy to provide you with a press package, pictures, quotes and more, if you’d like to contact us at press@roammobility.com. 

(Source: Genesis World Travel)

Victoria Day is coming up on Monday, May 20th, which means many Canadians will be able to take advantage of a nice 3-day long weekend. This holiday - celebrated on the last Monday before the 25th of May - commemorates Queen Victoria's birthday. Victoria Day has actually been celebrated since before Canada's confederation; however, it wasn't until 1977 that the holiday had to fall on a Monday. This rule change allows us Canadians to enjoy a long weekend, every May. To make the most of this upcoming long weekend, here are 5 of our staff picks for where to travel to, for this long weekend:

Chicago, IL

The Windy City boasts some of the best fine-dining in the country, with restaurants such as Alinea, Charlie Trotter's, and Tru. With half of the 10 most expensive restaurants in the United States being in Chicago, you'll want to make sure that you check out other things that will be a little lighter on the wallet. Don't forget to try a signature deep dish pizza, while you're there! Whether you want to check out a professional sports event, art, music, or comedy, check out this list of events, for the long weekend in Chicago.

Seattle, WA

Seattle is a popular destination, for Canadians on the West Coast. With lots of character, great places to dine, shop, and see, it's no wonder Seattle is such a frequently visited city, for many Canadians. During the Saturday and Sunday of the long weekend, there is a U District Street Fair, with international food courts and hundreds of arts and crafts booths. On Sunday morning, there is a a brunch cruise touring Lake Union and Lake Washington, by Water Ways Cruises and Events.

(Photographer: Oto Godfrey)

New York, NY

The Big Apple always has so much to give. With its sheer size and density, there will always be something for everyone, no matter what you're into. From May 17th - May 21, check out The Manhattan Cocktail Classic; an annual festival celebrating cocktail culture. Not into mixology? There's a great food-filled music festival called The Great GoogaMooga, which will be headlined by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Flaming Lips: featuring 85 different food vendors. Delicious tunes!

Las Vegas, NV

Although we're not 100% sure that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, we are certain you will find some wacky adventure times, during your stay in Sin City. Whether you're interested in dining, shopping, clubbing, gambling  or watching shows, this place has it all. Concerts occurring during the long weekend include Boyz II Men, Shania Twain, Yellow Card, and Kid Rock.

(Source: hdwallpapers.in)

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco has as much charm and character as any other major city and then some. With an incredibly strong list of restaurants, this city's food culture is sure to please the foodies out there. While you're there, check out these events during the Victoria Day Long Weekend: Asian Heritage Street Celebration celebrates Asian Pacific American heritage month with a parade, music, fashion show, car show, kids' areas, cooking demos and much more. Best of all, admission to the Asian Art Museum is free! Next up is Maker Faire; for all of the tinkerers and DIY-ers interested in making and creating crafts, as well as food. This one is for all of the homemade lovers out there.

Don't forget to make sure your passports are valid! To keep you travel plans organized, make sure to have a look at the best travel apps! Remain connected during your trip, with one of Roam Mobility's many solutions for data, text, and talk roaming. Whether it's a mobile hotspot or phone, or a plan to keep you connected, we will make sure you save as much money as possible, on your wireless needs.

Follow us on Twitter, and "Like" us on Facebook, to stay up to date with all travel-related news for Canadians!

(source: Shoe Repertoire)

With summer quick approaching, people are gearing up to plan for their warm weather travels. Traveling can be stressful, and chaotic, with a lot of things to remember and plan for. Here are some of our favourite apps, to keep your traveling experience organized and stress-free!

Packing (+TO DO!) [Free | iPhone/iPad]

Packing is an extensive list creator that turns your phone into your personal packing assistant. Create sortable packing lists, categorized the way you wish, with the abilities to collapse and sort. Check off items as you go, with a running tally of total items per category. Traveling with mates? The app allows you to email your created packing lists to anyone you wish. The app also features a catalog of suggestions, and sample lists, where you can select from hundreds of items for quick list generation with minimal typing.

Flight Tracker [Free | iPhone/iPad, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone]

This app allows you track all airline flights, with information on the flight status, gate/terminal info, delays, cancellations and connecting flight statuses. With mobile push notifications and flight alerts, Flight Tracker will keep you up to date when your flight status has changed.

(source: Wired)

Foodspotting [Free | iPhone/iPad, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone]

Foodspotting is a food app that shares not only great restaurants, but great dishes. Focusing on user-generated content, this app has info from friends to food experts. This app differentiates itself from the other restaurant apps by concentrating on highly visual experience about dishes, that is personalized and social.

XE Currency [Free | iPhone/iPad, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone]

One of the most common currency exchange platforms is now an app on mobile devices. Live currency rates and charts keep you up to date real time with fluctuations of exchange rates wherever you are. You can also look back at more than 30,000 currency charts for historic rates.

(Source: Android Headlines)

Airbnb [Free | iPhone/iPad, Android]

The popular online service that allows anyone to rent short-term living spaces and lodging has an app so you can discover and book unique spaces directly from your mobile phone. With access to their curated Collections showcasing the top Airbnb properties, last minute bookings, messaging, and itinerary tracking, this app will cover your accommodation needs wherever you are.

Traveling down to the US? Make sure you stay connected this summer during your travels by picking up one of our roaming packs. That way you can spend your money on your actual travel experience, instead of on your cell phone bill! How does it work? Roam Mobility connects you directly to a US network, eliminating roaming fees. You’ll receive a US phone number that’s yours to keep. Our plans are prepaid which means you’re not locked into any contracts or monthly fees. Best of all, you can pay for service only when you travel – even if you travel only once a year! Check out our talk, text and data plans (starting as low as $3/day and 2¢/MB), as well as our products that we offer, including the Liberty Mobile Hotspot – our superfast, portable Wi-Fi network that fits in your pocket. With a network radius of 150 ft., and the ability to connect up to five devices – including smartphones, laptops and tablets – this amazing device will allow you and your travel mates to stay connected.

Where are you planning on traveling to this summer? Do you know of any good summer apps that we missed? Share with us! Follow us on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook to stay up to date.

(source: Computer World UK)

Near field communication has become increasingly popular over the last few years and the applications of this technology are starting to become exciting. Ranging from payment cards (MasterCard Paypass, Visa PayWave), to patient identification (insurance coverage, payment information), this contactless communication technology aims to simplify the process, by eliminating the need for a wired connection or linking via passcodes. There are two major types of NFC at the moment: one used by ID cards or tags (ISO/IEC 14443), and the other on RFID communication used by NFC devices (ISO/IEC 18000-3), such as mobile cellular phones. With the ID cards and tags, the reader emits a signal that powers the card/tag, allowing for these tags to be small and unpowered. A high frequency magnetic field is established, and the tag responds with the requested information stored. An updated version of the QR-code is being utilized as well, with passive NFC tags replacing the Rorschach-like square.

Phones are now coming equipped with NFC technology, whether it is built into the RFID functionality or the SIM card itself. Most of the new payment gateways that retailers are using come equipped with near field communication functionality. This allows contactless payment by credit cards and NFC payments that are enabled mobile phones, such as Google Wallet. Public transit is a huge sector, in terms of potential for NFC: something that can simplify the payment aspect of the ride. TransLink - the public transit system in the GVRD of BC - is implementing the Compass Card, by late 2013, which fully utilizes near field communication technology. PatientID+ is a personal favourite of ours. By storing all relevant medical and personal information on your NFC-ready phone - or a PatientID+ tag - there is no longer a need to fill out patient forms. That means accurate communication of information and an increased amount of time for nurses and doctors to concentrate on patient care.

Interior of the next generation of Hyundai with near field technology. (source: First Auto World)

Some of the projected applications of near field communication technology take connectivity, seamlessness and convenience to another level. Take for instance Hyundai's demonstration of its mobile connectivity concept with the New Generation i30. Cars will connect to your phone by proximity and begin to personalize your driving experience. Hyundai plans to have their users' favourite music, phone contacts, radio station preferences, seat and mirror settings integrated wirelessly, by 2015. A study by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project and Elon University's Imagining the Internet Center shows that most of the 1,021 technology stakeholders and critics in the mobile payments industry sampled believe that mobile payments will replace cash, by 2020. Finally, Key2Share, created by Fraunhofer Society - the same people who invented MP3 technology - will allow you to use NFC-enabled phones to unlock doors. The best part of the application? As the approval to use the key is stored as digital data, you can e-mail a time-limited authorization for someone else to unlock that door.

Let your imagination run free! Can you think of any cool applications for near field communication? What are you most excited for with this technology? As always, follow us on Twitter and "Like" our Facebook page, to stay up to date with all of your mobile technology news! For more information on the technical aspects, check out NearFieldCommunication.org's tech page.

What is the APN configuration file and how does it work?

The APN configuration file is an XML file that contains the proper settings for using data on the Roam Mobility network. Once the Roam profile is installed, the APN settings on your device will be updated with the correct values.

You only need to install the APN file for a data connection – it does not affect voice calls or SMS messaging.

It is not mandatory to use the APN configuration file. The APN settings can be manually entered into your device.

How do I install it?

From your iOS device, click on a link to the APN file online. You will then be prompted to install the profile.

The APN file is hosted at: http://www.roammobility.com/apn

Simply visit this URL on your iOS device, click Install, then Install Now.

Keep in mind that you need a working data connection to download this file, which means that if you're in the USA you'll need to find a Wi-Fi network. If you're still in Canada, we recommend installing the profile just before you cross the border (or board a flight). The final option would be to download the file onto your device using a third party app like Dropbox or Google Drive.

Is it safe to install the profile?

Absolutely! The profile will not damage or permanently modify your device in any way. You are effectively changing the data network settings to work with Roam Mobility while you are in the USA. You can uninstall the Roam profile at any time and restore your default carrier’s settings for use in Canada.

How do I uninstall the profile?

To remove the Roam Mobility profile, go to Settings > General. Click on Profile to view the Roam Mobility profile. Click Remove and then Remove.

How do I know if it’s installed?

Confirm that the profile is installed by going to Settings > General. Next to the Profile option, you will see “Roam Mobility” listed along the right hand side.

Once installed you will have an active data connection with Roam Mobility’s network.

How do I restore my original carrier’s settings?

After uninstalling the Roam profile, your device will automatically restore the default carrier’s settings. You may need to be in Canada and have your Canadian SIM inserted in order for the settings to be restored. Contact your carrier if the default settings do not restore properly.

Roam Mobility is signing up new dealers across Canada every day! Welcome to a blog post series announcing our new locations. To kick off this series, here are Roam's newest dealers for the week of April 22nd, 2013.

For a full list of dealers, visit our Where to Buy page.

Don't see a store near you? Contact our customer care team to ask about our unlisted locations. 

Interested in becoming a dealer? It's easy! Submit this online form and a Roam Mobility representative will contact you with details.

With a whole slew of tech, mobile and entrepreneurial conferences coming up, we wanted to highlight some of the events that stand out. The gathering of industry leaders, innovators, and people with a common interest creates a breeding ground for knowledge, idea sharing, and inspiration. Conferences have become ubiquitous in the tech industry, perhaps due to the sheer speed of evolution and change in technology. The need to stay up to date with this progression highlights the importance of tech conferences. Here are some of the ones we have our eyes on, over the next couple of months:

D: Dive Into Mobile | All Things Digital | New York, NY | April 15 - April 16

A conference exploring the pervasiveness of mobile tech and how it affects various aspects of our lives. Diving into the "mobile first" revolution, this conference will feature some heavyweight speakers, such as Michael Bell [VP & Co-GM, Mobile & Communications Group, Intel], Jan Koum [CEO, Whatsapp], Gary Kovacs [CEO, Mozilla], Eric Schmidt [Executive Chairman, Google], and Mike Schroepfer [CTO & VP of Engineering, Facebook]. With the mobile era in full bloom, the conference's relevance is further enhanced by the key mobile industry game changers and innovators.

UX Immersion | User Interface Engineering | Seattle, WA | April 22 - April 24

Created by User Interface Engineering -- an organization that specializes in research, training and consulting for web site and product usability -- UX Immersion is a conference that aims to educate and connect people interested in the user experience of mobile and other tech devices. With workshops on topics such as adapting your content for mobile, designing intuitive mobile inputs, and mapping a customer's journey, UX Immersion will be an amazing resource for companies that utilize mobile and desktop interfaces.

Who will win this year's Disrupt NY prize? (source: TechCrunch)

Disrupt NY | TechCrunch | New York, NY | April 27 - May 1

Focusing on entrepreneurship and technology, Disrupt NY is a conference that will highlight amazing startups and feature entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and the TechCrunch team. Guest speakers include John Donahoe [President and CEO, eBay], Kevin Ryan [Founder and CEO, Gilt Groupe], and many leading venture capitalists. This conference differentiates itself, by adding an element of fierce competition. The conference is kicked off by their famous Hackathon: a battle between teams of hackers showing their prowess, in a 24-hour time slot. The Startup Battlefield is a judged competition between 30 selected companies that will showcase their products on the Disrupt stage. The prize? $50,000 and the Disrupt Cup. Startup Alley and Hardware Alley will also feature startups showcasing their talent and technology to audience members.

Future Insights Live | Future Insights | Las Vegas, NV | April 29 - May 2

Billed as "a conference for thinkers, explorers & pioneers of the web", Future Insights Live aims to educate on HTML5, CSS3, UX, entrepreneurship, Node.js, and real-time event handling. With a multi-track format, Future Insights allows attendees to select the topic of interest: pure design, front-end dev, back-end dev, business, or mobile. The organizers record every session so attendees can rest assured they will not miss a thing. The event will also feature world-class speakers, a hackathon, networking activities, and an Ask the Experts session where you can get personal advice from the best in the business.

MAX - The Creativity Conference | Adobe | Los Angeles, CA | May 4 - May 8

Adobe's focus for MAX is on creativity. With over 300 sessions and labs taught by industry leaders and Adobe experts, MAX's five tracks - web experiences, design/creativity, digital publishing, gaming, and video - aim to educate and inspire creativity in attendees. Adobe MAX will host presentations from leading creatives, bring your own device labs and standard labs, as well. As an added bonus, The Black Keys will be performing! Adobe MAX looks like it's shaping up to be a great conference, for anyone interested in the intersection between technology and creativity.

When it comes to Google I/O, expect a wealth of in-depth insights. (source: Google)

Google I/O | Google | San Francisco, CA | May 15 - May 17

Google's developer focused conference, Google I/O, will showcase the "latest web, mobile and social breakthroughs to create simple, life-improving technologies and viable businesses." The conference will begin with a keynote that will reveal a first-hand look at Google's latest product and platform innovations. Attendees will also have access to more than 110 technical sessions, on Android, Google Chrome, Google+, App Engine and more. Maintaining the initiative to increase society's coding knowledge, their Code Labs will have experts ready to help people get started, in the world of coding. Google I/O will also have Office Hours, where you can ask Google developers questions, as well as After Hours; "a hyper-visual, heart pounding journey, providing hands-on interactive experiences and sophisticated recreation."

NYC Uncubed | Wakefield | New York, NY | May 17

Uncubed is a recruiting event with an aversion to being classified as a job fair. NYC Uncubed will feature an exploration of career opportunities (with an emphasis on startups), new products and the ability to touch base with some of the most influential people in New York City's tech sector. Additionally, there will be discussions surrounding the dichotomy between traditional and digital art, during their Live Uncubed Art Show, where local artists will create live artistic works. If you are lucky enough to grab a ticket, The Uncubed "2nd Wind" will feature an exclusive Happy Hour, with employees from participating companies.

Conferences have become quite the events, especially with the expansion of social media and live blog coverage. Canadians heading down to the US for technology conferences will probably need data to stay connected throughout the events. Roam Mobility has you covered, to maximize savings on your roaming fees. Check out our plans, as well as our products. With 4G data starting at $1/day, and unlimited USA talk & text starting at $3/day, we've got your back, fo all your US roaming needs. Traveling with friends or the company team? Check out our Liberty Mobile Hotspot -- a super fast, pocket-sized, portable network hotspot that can connect up to five devices (including smartphones, laptops and tablets) within a 150ft radius.

Did we miss your favourite conference? Are you heading out to any this year? Find us on Facebook and Twitter and join in on the conversation!

With high profile cell phone hacks involving private images, passwords, and credit card information over the past few years, we at Roam Mobility felt the need to highlight the importance of security standards on your mobile device. Whether it's confidential information or your own private data, most people probably don’t want the contents of their device to be available to strangers. How can we boost our security habits?

Here are some of our favourite security apps for mobile devices:

GadgetTrak ($3.99 for iPhone/iPad | $19.95 for Blackberry, Android): This app not only tracks your phone’s whereabouts, it allows you to snap a photo with all built-in cameras and locks the phone’s software settings, once tracking is activated. The pricier Blackberry and Android versions also set off an alarm remotely (even in silent mode), securely encrypt your photos and contacts, remotely wipe data on the device and the media card, and notifies you of a SIM card swap.

KeepSafe (Free | iPhone/iPad, Android): Gain control over who sees what photos on your phone. By creating a public and private password-protected gallery, this app allows you to maintain privacy over pictures that you deem unsafe for public eyes. Android devices also have the option to hide SMS text messages in a similar fashion.

Kryptos (Free to download, $10/month | iPhone/iPad, Android): By using a 256-bit AES encryption (using 2048 bit RSA for key exchange), Kryptos keeps your voice communications confidential. The app also provides VoIP connectivity for secure calls over 3G, 4G and WiFi.

1Password ($17.99 for iPhone/iPad | Free for Android): Having the same password for all logins increases your security risk. 1Password is a heavy-duty password manager that generates strong, unique passwords for every site. All you need to remember is the master password. Complete with 256-bit AES encryption, 1Password has an Auto-Lock feature to protect all of your accounts, in the event that your device is lost or stolen. With a plethora of features, this app is definitely worth a look. The Android version is free has a comparitively limited set of features.

NortonSnap QR Code Reader (Free | iPhone/iPad, Android): With the prevalence of QR codes these days, it is very easy for malicious users to lead you to any website of their choice. NortonSnap scans to detect any malicious QR codes and blocks unsafe websites, before they have a chance to harm your device. Trusted websites are also identified, for shorter loading times.

Hotspot Shield VPN (Free | iPhone/iPad, Android): Hotspot Shield encrypts your web session with an HTTPS encryption; protecting you from potential identity theft. This app also secures your IP address, as well as allowing you to bypass firewalls and adjust data compression, for savings on your monthly data plan.

The easiest way to heighten your mobile device’s security is to add a passcode lock to your cell phone. Some don’t like the added step in unlocking your device, but if you have any sensitive data on your mobile device, it could prevent public access to potentially compromising information. Also, check out The New School’s security tips for your mobile device for other ways to stay secure on your device.

So, how secure is your mobile device? Do you have any favourite mobile security apps that we did not mention? 
Let us know, on our Facebook page or on Twitter! Come join us, to stay up to date with Roam Mobility, mobile devices and travel news.

(Source: Gawker)

Since the beginning of 2013, Facebook has been testing free calling to Facebook friends, on their iOS Messenger app, in Canada. Now, Facebook has expanded its free calling feature to the Android, along with adding the United States and United Kingdom, with plans to expand to other parts of Europe. Before launching this VoIP feature, Facebook rolled out voice messaging; the ability to record and send sound clips up to 1 minute long. This feature adds a bridge between SMS text messages and an actual phone call; allowing for more substantial messaging than SMS, as well as the ability to send sound clips.

Facebook's VoIP feature works by clicking the "i" info icon in the top right of a conversation within the Messenger app. This reveals a "Free Call" button that sends out a call to the recipient, so long as they have the right device and app set up. The VoIP connection functions over your mobile phone's cellular data or Wi-Fi connection. With any VoIP application like this, it is important to pay attention to your data usage. 1 minute of talk over a VoIP application is equal to around 0.5MB of data.

Although Skype has been dominating the VoIP domain, Facebook will have the advantage of combining your Facebook friends list with the ability to send text messages, voice messages, and phone calls. There will be a huge convenience factor of having the majority of your friends on your contact list, due to the immense popularity of Facebook. Additionally, since most Facebook users have more friends on Facebook than phone numbers in their mobile devices, Facebook calling will instantaneously expand your ability to contact friends via phone. While communication apps such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Voxer are purely messenger-based, Facebook's multi-layered functionality creates far more engagement and usage for their users. With the possibility of expanding Facebook VoIP calling the full Facebook app and web version, Facebook will be able to use their free calling on a common platform for many.

With so many active users, Facebook calling offers to be a very handy way to stay connected.

Although Facebook VoIP calling will enable free long distance calling to any iOS and Android user in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, roaming charges can become very costly, with many providers. Here at Roam, we have a few options to reduce those fees. With plans include Talk+Text / Talk+Text+Data / Data only, there are a few options, depending on how you like to stay connected. We think that our Liberty Hotspot is perfect for VoIP calling like that of Facebook. With this small, convenient device connecting up to five devices at once (including smartphones, laptops and tablets), it's a perfect group travel companion. If your data usage will be unpredictable, the flexibility of being able to add more data via phone call or text message will keep you connected, without the ridiculous roaming rates.

What do you think will be the future of communication, now that Facebook is entering the VoIP market? Do you think it will successfully replace having to make phone calls in traditional ways? Let us know, on our Facebook page or on Twitter.

With the Easter long weekend right around the corner, many Canadians are planning on using the holiday to make travel plans. As Good Friday and Easter Monday are statutory holidays, an increased number of people will have four consecutive days off; affording them the time to make a trip worthwhile. Coinciding with the beginning of Spring, this is one of the busiest travel times of the year but also a great time to find great deals, as airlines and travel agencies push for high numbers.

Recently, Hotwire.com released their top 10 most popular Easter destinations for Canadian travellers, based on hotel bookings*:

1. Toronto, $80

2. New York, $201 [Staff pick]

3. Montreal, $80 [Craving poutine?]

4. Vancouver, $82

5. Seattle, $97

6. Las Vegas, $81 [We all need to unleash, once in a while]

7. Boston, $97

8. Orlando, $73 [The warmest destination on the list]

9. Chicago, $80 [Food lover's paradise]

10. Minneapolis, $54 [Quite the bargain!]

*The 10 most popular Easter destinations and average prices are based on Hot Rate hotel bookings across all star categories made on Hotwire.com on 3/11/13 for travel between 3/29 - 4/1/13.

While we can't tell if this adorable Easter bunny is happy or not, these travel deals

certainly put a smile on our faces!

Additional to Hotwire.com, there are the ever popular travel deals sites, such as Expedia.ca, Travelocity.ca and TravelZoo.ca. Our recent favourite has been Skyscanner.ca. The service aggregates across many different travel deal sites, effectively simplifying the bargain hunt down to one convenient browser screen. They also have a mobile app available on iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile devices, to add convenient cost saving, wherever you might be.

Since Easter is a holiday in many countries, It'll be a good idea to call your establishments of choice beforehand, to ensure they will be open. Although most stores will be open through Good Friday and Easter Monday with holiday hours, government offices, banks, libraries, etc. will be closed, in the majority of countries that observe the holiday. Here are some more tips from Lifehacker's top 10 ways to travel smarter, safer, and cheaper. For Canadians traveling across the border, we have to supplement their #1 tip of preparing your smartphone and laptop for travel with a reminder to set up a roaming plan, to avoid any extravagant phone bills, upon your return. Watch your roaming fees drop exponentially or finally be able to afford to use your mobile device in the USA, with the help of our different packages, with text, talk and data options.

The Roam Mobility Referral Program is still on, as well as our contest to win an unlocked 16GB white iPhone 5, plus a Roam SIM card. All you need to do is refer your friends, through your online Roam account! When they sign up, you will both earn free days for your next USA travel adventures!

So, what are some of your favourite Easter destinations, and why? Share with us your favourite travel bargain hunting tips and strategies! Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with updates, and more travel tips. We love keeping you connected.

Samsung announced the release of its Galaxy S4 last Friday, which will be the successor to the most popular Android phone to date. This new version has a similar design but builds on the features available in the Samsung Galaxy S3. We took a look at some of the technical details we found the most interesting, along with some of the added uses and supported apps:

In terms of aesthetics, the screen size has been increased from 4.8 inches to 5, but the slightly slimmer and taller proportions eliminate any noticeable size increase. The screen resolution has improved to a full 1080p: crisper than the iPhone 5, but not the HTC One. The similar design to its predecessor – specifically the plastic rear casing – gives the phone a markedly dated appearance in comparison with the iPhone 5 and the HTC One. The camera has jumped from 8 MP to 13 MP, and still has full 1080p HD video recording. DualVideo has been added to video chats so your partner can see your face, as well as what you are facing. The processor has been bumped up from 1.5 GHz to 1.9 GHz, plenty of power to run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean upon launch.

Touted as the “ultimate productivity device”, the Galaxy S4 introduces two of its most anticipated features: the Smart Pause and Smart Scroll functions, which automate video pausing and scrolling, by analyzing your viewing motions and facial recognition. A new feature called S Translator could be a game changer in the world of travel and international communication. This addition turns your phone into a personal translator that is able to instantly translate text and input.

Health junkies will certainly also have something to rejoice about! With S Health, the Galaxy S4 will be able to track workouts, caloric intake, weight levels, as well as your comfort level, based on ambient temperature and humidity levels. Samsung is also introducing a slew of accessories including a game pad attachment, wireless charging pads, and even a heart rate monitor. Additionally, professional users will enjoy a mobile device management technology called KNOX that will separate work and play, similar to RIM’s Blackberry Balance.

Samsung has become one of the biggest names in mobile devices

The new Android handset will also feature a personal cloud device – similar to the iCloud – called HomeSync. In contrast to most other cloud-based storage services, Samsung’s boasts a whopping 1 TB of space per user. Air View and Air Gestures add a layer to touchscreen technology, by allowing users to hover their finger and motion their hand at their device to complete various commonly used tasks. Although there is no concrete release date announced, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is expected to hit the Canadian market at the end of April, with the majority of telecommunication providers adding the S4 to their cellular phone arsenals. At Roam Mobility, we’re excited to give Samsung’s newest work a test drive, over the coming months.

Want more updates and tech news on devices like the Galaxy S IV? Give us a “like” on Facebook or follow us on Twitter! We love keeping you connected.

Travellers often have a group of go-to tools that they like to have on them at all times. This can take up a lot of space and you run the risk of misplacing or losing smaller items. When switching between multiple SIM cards, they can easily get damaged or lost, if not stored in the right place. Recently, we came across a great piece of iPhone 5 hardware called the SIMPLcase: a shell case that holds multiple SIM cards, along with an ejection tool, to keep everything in one place and safely tucked away behind your phone.

Currently running a Kickstarter campaign to raise a funding goal of $20,000, the SIMPLcase has been featured by TechCrunch, Mashable, Cult of Mac, iPhone in Canada, and many other premier publications. With the slim, minimalist design and great functionality, we completely understand why so many great publications have picked up on the story. The simple yet sleek design was build specifically for the global traveler. Composed of polycarbonate thermoplastic resin, the exterior is highly resistant to damage and should keep your iPhone nice and safe, during your many travels and day-to-day activities.

A soft silicone rubber panel inside the case houses up to three SIM cards, along with an iPhone tray eject tool: something many travelers often lose or don’t remember. We’ve come across a lot of travelers who have used random objects like staples or pins, to try to get their SIM cards out. Needless to say, it can be a taxing procedure. By having the eject tool and multiple SIM cards stored along with your phone, you always have everything within reach, in a place where none of it will go missing. Simply slide the case off and you have access to everything you need. With the nano SIM cards being even smaller than their predecessors – now as tiny as a fingernail – they’re even easier to lose!

On the back of the case, there is also a slot that can turn a credit card or similar object into a stand for your phone. This awesome addition would be great for movie watching or typing out a lengthy email without the use of a keyboard. We think this kickstand-like addition is a great touch. With current available colors listed as black, white, and gray, additional color options will become available, if more Kickstarter backers pledge the cost of a case. We’re definitely planning on picking up quite a few of these cases, ourselves.

We feel that the inspiration for the SIMPLcase is very similar to that of Roam Mobility: freedom and ease for the traveler. With cellular service costing so much money, having local SIM card options can make a monumental difference on the overall cost of a trip. Whether for business or pleasure, both the SIMPLcase and Roam Mobility want to keep you connected, in a way that’s effective yet affordable. We look forward to seeing the SIMPLcase take off.

For more updates on accessories, travel news and cool gadgets, see our Facebook page and Twitter profile.    

With 90% of consumers in favour of an international roaming fee cap and the recent $22,000 bill shock of a British Columbia resident making waves throughout Canada, we at Roam Mobility felt it was important for us to sound-off about the state of Canadian wireless industry. Compared to every other country in the world, Canada has the highest roaming fees. It's precisely because of this fact that we started Roam Mobility - to offer affordable roaming rates to Canadians traveling to the United States.

In a world where people are constantly connected for work, with their families, and friends, keeping your phone off or placing it in airplane mode while traveling should not have to be the default option. The world doesn't stop the second you cross a border. In contrast to other Western nations, Canada has a very small telecom market. This has helped stifle competition within the marketplace, to the point where companies are able to set extremely high roaming fees compared to other countries. However, we feel that the financial onus doesn't have to be put on the traveler.

Some individuals have placed the blame for the recent $22,000 bill shock on the parents. We see it as price gouging and not something that consumers need to shoulder. By placing blame on the individual, we become complacent and allow telecom pricing to remain the way it is. While this outrageous bill was lowered to $2,200 dollars, the amount is still exorbitant. It shouldn’t take a major news story to have a bill like this looked into: checks and balances need to be put in place so that they simply do not happen in the first place.

That's why it's important for all of us to tell the CRTC what we want from our wireless providers - not just in terms of roaming but in our day-to-day usage. Join the thousands of other Canadians commenting on a draft of the Wireless Code of Conduct, calling for an end to things like 3 year contracts.

Had this Canadian used Roam Mobility, the bill would have come to less than $40. The difference is staggering. We want to encourage travel by making it easier and more affordable, as opposed to making it difficult and extremely costly. We look forward to a day where Canadians will be treated more fairly, when it comes to communications technology. Planning to launch future service in Mexico and other countries around the world, we are deeply invested in making that a reality.

For those unfamiliar with the Mobile World Congress, MWC is multi-day conference geared towards cellular technology: covering mobile phones, tablets, wearing tech, software, apps and more. This year, the annual event in Barcelona boasted over 1,700 company showcases and took in over 72,000 attendees: the largest MWC event ever! Because of the trend towards large companies making their major announcements at in-house events, conferences like MWC have become relegated almost completely to the industry side of things. While a 4-day conference on mobile technology might not be at the top of the list for most consumers, seemingly every retailer, distributor, tech company, publication and manufacturer are represented, on one side of the booth or the other.

Whether you didn’t manage to attend or prefer to just read about the best-in-show, we’re created this rundown of some of the best unveilings, demos and prototypes at MWC 2013:

i’m Watch

While the information about the iWatch is still based on rumours (and may be a good three years away from the shelves), the Italian-made i’m Watch is already shipping and should appear in stores in April. Connecting to your smartphone via Bluetooth, the watch brings calling, SMS, email, notifications, apps, calendars and more to the convenience of your wrist. Unlike many of the other wearable tech watches that have surfaced, the i’m Watch can be custom built with aluminum, titanium, silver, gold and even diamonds. This may come as a nice surprise to watch enthusiasts who question the point of having a smartwatch when they’ve already got a smartphone.  

Viking OS Augmented Reality Goggles

Brilliantservice’s Viking OS may end up giving Google Glass a run for its money. Created to use full augmented reality capabilities, Viking OS-equipped goggles or glasses would include full cellular technology (calling, apps, web browser, music, etc), visualized gesture controls and gyroscopic functionality. In the end, it almost makes Glass look like a toy. Currently looking for a manufacturing partner, the Viking project really brings futuristic sci-fi into the real world. We’re excited to see where the project progresses.

HTC One 

Winning the conference’s award for best new handset, the HTC One has many of the world’s top tech and mobile publications buzzing. A great design model, 4.7-inch 1080p display, incredible stereo speakers, and a top-tier camera, it just might become a new global contender. The unique home screen streams real-time content from your favourite sources, making it a great choice for news and social media addicts. However, you’re going to need a good data package for that one! We’re especially interested to see their patented Sense Voice noise cancellation system in action.

Galaxy Note 8.0

Returning with its S Pen stylus and range of apps, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is the new 8-inch display version of Samsung’s tablet. The 8.0 seems to be built for multitasking and working on the go, with direct annotation capabilities, MultiWindow display technology, a quad core processor and 2GB of RAM. As a tablet, it seems like a great choice. Samsung’s decision to also incorporate a phone into it – making it a phablet – is rather questionable, with the 8-inch display. While it worked on the 5.3/5.5-inch Galaxy Note, this phablet is going to be pretty unwieldy for making calls with…

Do you have a favourite item from MWC 2013? Give us your top choice, over on Facebook or Twitter. Happy roaming! 

When topping up your device, you now have the ability to select both the start date and time. Start the plan right when you need it!

Here's how it works:

1. When picking the plan start date, click on "Choose a Date and Time" and the calender will appear.

2. Click on the calendar field and a dropdown date selector will appear. Pick any date in the future.

3. Click in the time field and a dropdown list of options will appear. Choose any time, or manually enter your own time by typing it into the field.

Happy roaming and safe travels!

Google Maps now displays popular snow trails in major resorts!

Many Canadians love to ski or snowboard, and sometimes, its difficult navigating around a resort or a mountain. Well, Google has just made it easier for travelers who frequent resorts and mountains as you can now use Google Maps to see what trails are on the mountain. Complete with the level of difficulty so you don’t stumble out of bounds or onto black diamond trails. 

Whether it’s Aspen, Colorado or Alpine Meadows, Lake Tahoe, you will be able to see trails from the resort!

Here's a list of mountain maps that Google has available:

Ski Safe Roamers!

Listen to Roam founder and Senior VP of Business Development talk with Larry Fedoruk of 610 CKTB radio about Canadians' roaming charges and how Roam Mobility fits in.

PC Magazine authour Sascha Segan recently declared Roam Mobility's SIM card as the best option for Canadians travelling to the USA. Thanks Sascha!

He writes...

Roam Mobility caters to Canadians with by-the-day plans that are perfect for a quick jaunt over the border. The carrier also sells and supports its cards through major Canadian retailers, so you can buy your card at home, and use it south of the border.

That's right Sascha. Our plans are available in 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 day blocks and include unlimited talk and text so you don't have to worry about any overages.

You can also buy and activate your Roam SIM card ahead of time so you don't have to worry about getting set up after you land in the USA. For a list of all our retail locations, visit our Where to Buy page.

To read the entire aricle, visit PCmag.com.

Not sure how the data add-ons work? Here's a quick example. A 3 day Talk+Text plan is $8.95. To make that a 3 day Talk+Text+Data plan, add $3 (one dollar for each day) and 300 MB (one hundred MB per day). The total price is now $11.95 for 3 days of unlimited talk and text plus 300MB of data.

Here's a handy table with all of our plans:

New Prepaid Wireless Service Offers Self-Activating SIM Cards, Makes Mobile Setup Instant, Easy and Private

Ready SIM™ lets mobile users activate US nationwide prepaid talk, text, and data plans right off the shelf, with no contracts and no dealer assistance required.

VANCOUVER, Canada (November 14^th, 2012)—Roam Mobility Inc., a T-Mobile USA mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), has achieved an industry first by launching a self-activating SIM card that delivers full service within minutes of purchase. Ready SIM cards are ready to go, with 3, 7, 14, or 30 days of unlimited nationwide talk and text, and data at very competitive rates.

“This is the first truly instant prepaid SIM-based product to hit the consumer market,” says Emir Aboulhosn, Founder and SVP Business Development of Roam Mobility. “Every other mobile service can require a complicated paper work and dealer activation process, but with Ready SIM, you just pop it in your phone, text us your zip code, and you’ve got instant access and a local number with affordable, unlimited nationwide talk and text, with 4G data add-ons.”

Alex Besen, founder and CEO of The Besen Group LLC, an international mobile data industry consulting company, says the telecommunications industry has recognized for some time that existing prepaid solutions aren’t meeting the needs of today’s consumers, but until now, the technology simply wasn’t there to support a completely self-activating SIM card.

“Mobile users want convenience, flexibility and privacy,” he explains. “With Ready SIM, people don’t have to provide their personal details just to enjoy a few days, weeks or months of affordable phone use.”

“Ready SIM is ideal for people who don’t want to commit to a specific provider or a long-term plan, are wary of sharing their personal information, or don’t want to use their primary number when posting to Craigslist, social media, dating sites, or conducting job searches,” says Aboulhosn. “It’s also perfect for international travelers who want to avoid excessive roaming rates, and for corporate clients who need to provide an instant mobile solution for short-term projects and teams.”

Ready SIM works with any unlocked mobile phone, connecting users to a nationwide talk, text and data network that spans the USA, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Ready SIM customers have access to a nationwide 4G network that does not use any data throttling and provides reliable, high-speed data service. Ready SIM even allows data tethering, turning any smartphone into a mobile hotspot that can connect other devices to each other and to the Internet for no extra charge.

Starting November 19^th, Ready SIM is available through its distributors and dealers. To learn more about Ready SIM find out where to purchase a Ready SIM or to become a master dealer or dealer visit www.readysim.com.

About Roam Mobility

Based in Vancouver, Canada, Roam Mobility is a telecommunications provider focused on developing innovative, affordable solutions and products for mobile users around the world through its family of mobile communication brands. For more information about Ready SIM, please visit www.readysim.com.

Contact
Niloufar Pourzad
media@readysim.com
(604) 270-7626

The only alternative is to cut your existing Roam Mobility SIM card to fit the nano-SIM tray. But will it work?

There was some speculation because the specs for Apple nano-SIM revealed that it was not only smaller, but thinner as well. That begged the question "Will the tray fit a micro-SIM or standard SIM cut down to size?"

The answer is yes, and we've confirmed it!

The photos below show a Roam Mobility micro-SIM card (but you can use one of our standard SIM cards too) cut down to fit an iPhone 5 SIM card tray. On the left is a manufactured nano-SIM for reference. 

We cut the Roam SIM down using just a pair of scissors and our eyes to get the dimensions right. You might want to use a box cutter and print out this handy template (hint: use the micro SIM to nano SIM template, not the mini SIM).

For those of you who plan on using your Roam SIM in other devices, you'll want to pick up a nano-SIM adapter. That will fit your hacked Roam SIM back into a standard or micro size slot or tray.

Good luck and happy roaming!

When it comes to shopping, some people can get a little crazy. Christmas shopping can often lead to the most hectic time to be at the mall, with competitive parents trying to snatch up that last popular toy. While this has been a similar image throughout North America, Canadians are starting to get a bit of a reputation for being less than tolerable visitors to the United States, when we shop or stop for food.

Canadians visiting the Bellingham Costco sure do love their milk!

The residents of Bellingham, Washington have gone as far as creating multiple Facebook page in support of American-only hours for their local Costco. Their complaint is that Canadian shoppers file into the store in droves, making it difficult for locals to shop. While this may appear frustrating for consumers, the local infrastructure is receiving a healthy boost of foreign currency; a boost that can create jobs and help fuel the local economy. If you’re planning on going down on a shopping excursion, just don’t change into your newly procured wardrobe and leave your old clothes in the parking lot. No one likes that!

Quebecers have been getting a bad rap, when visiting American states like Vermont. As Yahoo News reports, “Canadians may be known for being polite and nice, but apparently we're also developing a reputation for being bad tippers - at least Quebecers are.” Similar to traveling in Europe, Asia, or any other area, we Canadians need to take into consideration local customs, rules, and tipping etiquette in the US. Being that they’re our neighbours to the south, it’s easy to get comfortable and assume it’s going to be the same as in Canada. With Americans being the highest tippers in the world - at 18% - be prepared to pay a little extra.  

On your next shopping trip to the US, be mindful of local etiquette

Many of these situations are based on perception. One Canadian discovered he became the subject of a viral video, when he filled up his jerry cans in the US but left them in a garbage bag. With many people assuming he was filling a garbage bag with gasoline, this misunderstanding quickly spread around the internet. While some occurrences like this are comical, it’s still important for us Canadians to be friendly neighbours. After all, it’s what we’re known for.

Have some tips for being a courteous traveller? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section, on our Facebook page, Twitter, or Google+.  

Cross border trips can be a bit stressful, especially when you are driving over, instead of flying.  Dealing with border lineups and other complications can be a headache, and should be avoided at all costs! Thankfully, there are a few apps that can lighten your load; half of which are free (the other two cost $0.99).  

When it comes to border lineups, we need the most up to date line up times possible.  After all, for the lucky bunch that have multiple border crossing options, the decision to cross at a particular one can be crucial.

We'll look at the two freebies first; Border Buddy and BorderTimes.  Border Buddy utilizes a combination of information provided by the Canada Border Services website, and data supplied by actual border crossers.  Border Buddy also now comes with an exchange rate calculator, so you don't have to toggle between another app like XE[dot]com.  

BorderTimes offers a bit more detail as to the type of line you will be waiting in; you can see wait times for Nexus, Passenger, Commercial, as well as Number of Lanes Open, Border Hours and Time of last update.  Borders are also color coded for wait times (red, yellow and green) for easy visual understanding.

For just under a dollar, BorderWait provides very visually based border wait times and length (in miles) to the border.  While BorderWait does not provide us with where they are supplied their border wait time information, we have to assume it pulls data from the Canada Border Services website, just like Border Buddy and BorderTimes.

The last border crossing app suggestion is not wait times, but the Cross Border Gas Savings Calculator; a much needed helper when driving across the border for anything from a fillup to a journey in which gassing up in the USA will be required.  This app converts $/Gallon to ¢/Litre with today's exchange rate, in a handy, easy to understand visual format, for the cost of $0.99.

Which border crossing app do you use? Make a suggestion in the comment section, on our Facebook, Twitter or Google+.

You know about the iPhone, the iPod and the iPad but what can Apple do for the traveller? There are a plethora of third-party applications you can use to manage your baggage weight, book cheap flights, etc, but there hasn’t been much from Apple directly until now. With the iOS6 release, we will see a move towards iTravel.

The new Apple Passbook will hold boarding pass information, list flight delays, and allow for wireless check-in to multiple air travel providers. It has also been rumoured that the application will allow for booking flights, accommodations, car rentals, etc. Really, it’s shaping up to be the traveler’s best friend. The functionality will also include a card system for storing club and store card information, as well as digital tickets for movies and concerts.

One can only imagine where Apple might take an application such as this, given their success with the iTunes and App stores. In the future, you may be able to do all of you purchases for travel and events directly through their environments; making it incredibly efficient for anyone on the go. Furthermore, a map and directions function that gives 3D flyover views of areas and vocal directions from Siri all work to increase the use of the new iOS even more. With so many additions packed into one convenient package, third-party developers will be left scrambling to come out with applications that can compete.

We’re excited to help Canadians make use of these new updates, while traveling in the US. The foreseeable downside is that the iPhone 4 and 4S are very data-heavy devices. Not to fret: our data plans and Liberty hotspot make those mobile voyages a breeze, without the monetary headache. We believe every Canadian should have a good solution to the roaming problem.

What do you think of the proposed iOS 6 upgrade? Will you be more likely to travel with your Apple hardware? Let us know your opinion on Facebook, Twitter or Google+. Happy roaming!

   Trying to decide what tech to bring with you while traveling can be as difficult as planning the trip itself. What do you really need to get out of your device? Is it light enough to carry everywhere and does the battery hold up? Will it even work where I’m going? There are many factors that can play into what your best choice will be. For the tablet user, more and more options have popped up, over the past year. Now, you have the freedom to go laptop-less! With that in mind, here’s a rundown of tablets for the traveller and which one we think comes out on top.

The iPad

The king of the tablets and most likely the one you’ve heard the most about. While the iPad has the highest usability (as far as what you can do with it), the cost is much higher than your other choices. Size can also be an issue, as most other manufacturers have both a 10-inch and 7-inch version, while Apple only produces the 10-inch variety. For the casual traveler, the iPad may be a bit too pricey (starting at $519) and bulky; weighing in as the heaviest tablet of the bunch.

Kindle Fire

This mighty underdog is available on the cheap. The $200 (US) option definitely makes the Kindle Fire a wallet-friendly option. The small size also makes this tablet a lot more manageable, for those who travel light. The lack of a mobile internet connection can be a drawback, if you don’t hover around wi-fi hotspots and need access on the go. The Kindle can work wonders for a more casual user or those wanting more of a simple e-reader, while power users may need something a bit more advanced. The biggest draw back? You’ll have to order one from the US…

Nexus 7

The Nexus 7 is available for as low as $209 (8GB model) and is selling out fast. If you can manage to get your hands on one, you’ll immediately notice the rubberized back panel and edges, making it easy to hold on to while you’re on the go. While it only has support for wi-fi, this gadget has a great screen and sound capabilities, while remaining the most affordable option. Only available in 7-inch, the 7 is a great little device for travel that’s inexpensive, has a solid build and stands up to the elements better than the others.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

Released just recently, the new Galaxy Tab 2 is another solid choice. 10” ($349) and 7” ($249) variations mean you can choose which size works for you, while the new Android OS runs much smoother than its older counterparts. While the screen might not be as nice as that of the iPad, you have the choice of size and it’s a bit sleeker/lighter. The processor doesn’t really hold up to that of the Nexus 7 or iPad, if you enjoy watching movies while traveling. All in all, the Tab 2 is a bit of a middle of the road device with a price tag that keeps it from really being worth it.

Verdict

The Nexus 7 really wins out, for the traveller. Few people want to shell out at least double the price tag of the 7 for a comparable device. With only utilizing wi-fi, the Nexus 7 is the perfect companion for our Liberty hotspot. That way, you’ll have a fast and constant connection no matter where you go in the US, without being gutted on roaming fees.

Do you have a favorite traveling tablet? Let us know what your choice is in the comment section, on Facebook, Twitter or Google+. Happy roaming!

4.8 million Canadians chose to skip departing from Canadian airports, instead opting to commute to their nearest American airport last year.  Have you ever wondered why air fares are so much cheaper when departing from U.S. soil? It's all due to Canada's higher air travel taxes and airport fees.  

The list of additional fees and taxes when buying airfare in Canada is very lengthly:

Fees and surcharges do depend on which airline you choose and which airport being departed, but there is no denying that Canadians are stuck with much higher cost before they even start to look at upgrade options.  

What are Americans charged?

How can you save?

Departing from a close American airport can save you time, as well as money.  By going through U.S. customs before you even get to the airport will save time and a lot of hassle - once you arrive, you only have to go through standard airport security.  You can also avoid airport parking fees by taking a train, bus or carpool.

You can also select a discount carrier, like Allegiant Air, if their destinations match where you want to travel.  There's also a bonus when traveling with Allegiant, since Roam Mobility products are available for purchase in flight!

Do you plan on skipping Canadian airports in favour of savings?

Canadian mobility providers normally provide you with a ‘locked device’. By locking a device, your phone is only able to operate on a specific network; guaranteeing you as a customer by stopping you switching to another provider. Even when you get your handset free, usually when you sign up for a 3-year contract, it will likely be locked. This becomes a problem when roaming because you are unable to insert a SIM card from another provider, like Roam Mobility, to get cheaper rates.

While just about any phone purchased on a Canadian contract will be locked, most providers have a paid unlocking service. Last year, Telus created an unlocking feature for almost every device, for the price of $50. This matches the price set by Rogers and Fido for the same service. And here’s some great news: Last week it was announced, Telus will now even unlock iPhones: the most difficult device for people to unlock. Note, while Telus simply requires you to be an established Telus customer (with a contract), to unlock a device with Rogers or Fido, you need to have completed your contract.

By having an unlock option, providers are giving consumers more flexibility with their mobile options. One advantage is being able to roam on another network, like Roam Mobility, in order to save money while traveling. This customer-friendly transaction is certainly a step in the right direction for Canadians.

What do you think about the current unlocking policies in Canada? Let us know in the comment section, on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. Let’s make a change for the better.

It was exactly 1 year ago that I gave up my apartment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and stepped into the next sequel of my whirlwind journey. 

My business partner, Alexandra Cattoni, and I decided to leave the comforts of our secure and cushy jobs in Kuala Lumpur behind and hit the road as entrepreneurs. 

We lived it up in Asia for a couple more months and took advantage of its natural beauty and splendors before making the trek back to North America. While I was sad to say good bye to my dream life in Asia, I knew there was so very much more in store for me and our budding business, Juicy Geniuses.

10 months later, I'm still on the ultimate road trip of life with my best friend and business partner and I'm grateful and amazed for my journey each and everyday. 

Most people are confused by the way I live my life and they have NO idea how I'm able to work hard and play hard when I'm in a new location every few days. 

Sometimes I can't believe it either but recently, I stopped to think about how I manage to stay productive AND enjoy life on the road and it became very apparent that there are a few key things I do and use (Roam Mobility!) to stay fueled in the last lane. 

If you're planning "the ultimate road trip" or you're a business traveler who lives out of your suitcase almost as much as you live in the comforts of your own home, this article is for you. 

I hope these tips will help you to work hard, play hard and enjoy the simple pleasures of life on the road the way they're actually meant to be enjoyed! 

Tip Numero Uno: Be Savvy. 

For all you fellow Canadians out there, I’m sure you can relate to the pain you experience when you receive a phone bill after spending time in the US. 

You see it there on the table and it's stands out like a glaring beacon…Yup, it's your dreaded cell phone bill and your stomach lurks and your eyes wince as you slowly begin to open it. 

Before Alexandra and I found out about Roam Mobility, our cell phone bills were shockingly HUGE. It should be illegal to charge that much for cell service outside of the Country, but the unfortunate truth of the situation is that we were often spending upwards of $700-$1000 per month on our personal cell phone bills.

That's just plain ridiculous and this explains why the day we discovered Roam Mobility will always go down in the history books for us! (It was March 15, 2012)

With Roam Mobility, we can keep our Canadian phone numbers and leave a message that directs people to call our Roam Mobility numbers when we're in the US. 

The best thing about Roam Mobility is that it's affordable AND we get unlimited talk and text in the US and Canada plus more than enough data for only $99/month. 

Making this switch to Roam Mobility has drastically cut down on our expenses and now we're able to do more and enjoy more of the things we love when we're on the road! 

Tip Numba 2: Meet Liberty - She's your new best friend. 

Ok, if you're a business traveler who dreads connecting to the super slow (and often unreliable) hotel internet or a Facebook junky who just has to upload your travel pics asap, then this tip is for YOU!

The Roam Mobility Liberty Hotspot is seriously HOT and it’s the perfect option if you want to get online from virtually anywhere when you’re on the road.

It’s on a 4G network which allows you to get your work done fast no matter where we are. If there’s cell phone reception, the Liberty Hot Spot works. That means that you can easily work in planes, trains and automobiles. Or if your’e like us, you can work on the beach, in coffee shops or basically any place your little heart desires :)

Tip #3: Make A Plan. 

Whether you’re on a road trip or you’re visiting a city for business, knowing the “it” spots and the “must do’s” is KEY to your playful success. I absolutely LOVE being able to use my phone to search for yummy restaurants, hip clubs and entertaining day activities without being worried about how these searches are going to make a dent in my pocket book.

The first thing I do when I arrive in a city is check out review sites like Yelp and Trip Advisor. I get a feel for what my options in the area are and then I start to formulate a plan.

Of course things come up and my plans sometimes change, but it’s easy to figure what I’m going to do and where I’m going when I’m connected 24/7.

Tip Number 4: Take Time To Smell The Flowers & Snap Some Pics.

One of the things I absolutely love about road trips is the awesome scenery and new territories I encounter along the way.

I usually give myself an extra hour of travel time so that I’m not rushed. This way, I can pull over on the side of the road, stop at little cafes or take refreshing walks without worrying about my timetable.

I also make it a habit to take fun pics along the way with my iphone Instagram app. Before I would wait to share them online, but now that I have affordable data with Roam Mobility, I can tweet and upload them to Facebook along the way!

Tip Numero Cinco: Tell Your Mom You Love Her!

You might be wondering how this last tip will make your life on the road more productive and enjoyable so let me explain....

For the most part, life on the road is full of adventure, fun and success (a surprising combo for most people, but it’s true!) but nothing compares to that good ‘ol feeling of being at home.

Touching base with your parents, families, friends and colleagues when you’re on the road puts a smile on their face AND on yours. Before I switched to Roam Mobility, I would go weeks at a time without talking to people back home because I knew it would cost me an arm and a leg.

Now I can text, talk or send quick little emails to say hi and let the people who matter most in my life know that I’m thinking of them. This eases my mind and reduces my stress which ultimately helps me to get more done!

Make sense now? :)

And there you have it... my 5 tips to make any road trip or business trip an enjoyable success!

What travel “best practices” and “tips and tricks” do you live by?!

Let me know below! I’m always looking for new ways to work hard and play hard :)

Leanne Kallal

Co-Founder of www.JuicyGeniuses.com

The Juicy Geniuses, Alexandra Cattoni and Leanne Kallal, are on a mission to help women world-wide make a mass impact and a lot of moola doing what they love through the power of the internet. Their raison d’être is to give real, practical advice that any woman can follow to build a purposeful online business and get their message out to those who need it most.

The road trip is an essential part of the North American vacation.  Chances are, most of us have gone on one type of road trip or another, whether that means with family, a significant other or a convoy of friends.  Road trips help you see the side of the landscape that you would miss during other types of travel; those diners, road conversations and little adventures along the way are all bonuses on the way to your final destination.

The experience of a road trip is greatly affected by the means of which you travel.  Choosing to roam by car, camper or motorcycle will influence how you experience the world you're passing through, which makes your selection very important!

The family caravan

More than a few parents have opted to expose their children to the joys of a family trip.  Whether you're packed in a van or a compact car, this is going to be stuff of lasting memories for you and your kids, even if they end up complaining most of the way.

If all else fails, arm kids and adults alike (as long as they're not driving) with cameras, and see who can get the funniest photos during the drive, and at all the stops along the way.  Upload them to your social networks as you go, then compile everyone's images within a digital scrap book, or get them printed if you're a traditionalist.
The camper crew

Camper van travels are always entertaining, since you will be sleeping in the space which you are traveling.  This makes for a more flexible road trip experience, since you can stop traveling and bunk down almost anywhere en route.  

This can save money when on the road, but beware of cabin fever!  This also means maneuvering a potentially large vehicle on the road.  The bigger the camper, the more care will need to be taken during driving.  Since you will be eating more meals and traveling with the same crew, be sure to diffuse boredom with apps and adventure photography.

Combat potential boredom with some snappy road trip apps, such as RoadTripBingo ($2.99), Ad Libs ($1.99), Road Trip Scavenger Hunt ($0.99) and Road Trip Fun ($0.99).  Don't forget your handy Liberty Hotspot to keep everyone online at once, at cruisin' 4G speeds.

Motorcycle cruising

For some, there is nothing better than cutting through the wind on a motorcycle.  This requires more care than other road trip plans, since you will be exposed to the elements, and won't have the storage space available in a vehicle or camper.  
Since you are going to be getting friendly with the open road, be sure to have your bike thoroughly inspected. 

When packing, weigh your bike down with the heaviest items on the bottom, and load the lighter pieces on the top.  Since you'll be hanging on, you will not be able to take photos or update your social statuses, but planning plenty of rest breaks can definitely help on keeping your networks up to date.

No matter what your method of travel, play it safe, share as much as you can and have tons of fun!

The rogue Canadian mobile operator Roam Mobility, and low cost Las Vegas based carrier Allegiant Air have announced a partnership to make Roam Mobility’s products available for Canadians to purchase onboard its aircraft.  

Roam Mobility launched across Canada earlier this year to eliminate U.S. roaming charges. We are undercutting the big three by more than 90%, with daily-unlimited talk and text plans from $3 and data rates from 6 cents a megabyte.

Allegiant is the low-cost travel company that for years has successfully tempted Canadians to fly to popular U.S. leisure destination through border airports like those located in Bellingham, Wash., Niagara Falls, N.Y, and Plattsburgh, N.Y. with airfares dramatically lower than those available in Canada.

“This is important because most travellers don’t think about the impact of roaming fees until after they leave. They either pay the unwarranted high roaming fees or turn the phone off for the duration of their trip” said Emir Aboulhosn, CEO of Roam Mobility.

It is estimated that Canadians spend more than $450m per year on US roaming through unwarranted high prices from the big mobility providers. As a result, 48% of Canadians turn their phones off when they cross the border.

“Roam and Allegiant are a natural fit because we both have the same goal; to save Canadians money when they travel.” said Aboulhosn. “Canadians can now fly to the US at a reasonable price AND avoid coming home to an enormous roaming bill.”

With a strong Canadian dollar, no international departure fees and airports only an hour or so from Canadian urban centers, it’s not surprising that an estimated five million Canadians will depart from a US airport this year. Allegiant Air is known for alternative thinking with non-stop service and always-low fares. The onboarding of a low cost mobility service is another step towards innovation, in a move designed to help travellers get around for even less.

Roam Mobility products will be available on board Allegiant Air flights starting June 1^st and can be purchased from the in-flight crew, In the meantime, U.S.-bound Canadian travellers can visit www.roammobility.com to purchase the product or purchase at iStore, Virgin and Relay stores at all Canadian airports, plus hundreds of other independent travel and mobility retailers across the country. 

RITA TRICHUR — TELECOM REPORTER
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
Published Tuesday, May. 15, 2012 12:05AM EDT

Costly roaming rates are a sore point for many Canadian mobile-phone users. Roam Mobility Inc. says it has a better way.

Video Transcript

Voice Over: This is Venture Capital Radio with Shannon Pearson on AM650.

Shannon: First up on Venture Capital Radio tonight is Roam Mobility. They are RoamMobility.com on the net and we're joined by the CEO, Emir Aboulhosn in the studio. Thank you for joining me, Emir.

Emir: Thanks Shannon. Thanks for having me.

Shannon: Well you guys are a cellular carrier at Roam Mobility. 

Emir: We are, yes.

Shannon: So that is fairly self-explained, but really if you can break that down and tell me what makes Roam Mobility different as a cellular carrier.

Emir: We're really focused on providing a solution for Canadians that are travelling, and the biggest reason is that roaming rates in general are just outrageous.

Shannon: They are, and I think a lot of people can related to that.

Emir: And it's a common issue around the world, but the worst of it being in Canada, believe it or not. Up until last year, we were considered the country with the highest roaming rates in the entire world. So on average, what you pay at home when you travel abroad the rate goes up by a factor of 25.

Shannon: Really?!

Emir: It's that bad, yeah. So what we wanted to do was come up with a solution and a new network particularly for the Canadians travelling to the United States - to start off with, and we're adding more countries - but right now for Canadians travelling across the border, which we make up one third of all tourists or travellers coming to the United States right now, we wanted to put a network in place for them that gives them complete flexibility and access to local rates. And the concept is very simple. The ability to stay connected, whether it's through voice, text messaging or through email or anything on the web really shouldn't be an expensive privilege. It's almost a right. It's what you do at home and there's really no reason to turn off your device when you go across the border.

Shannon: That makes perfect sense and I think a lot of people get stung. You hear a lot of consumer reports all the time about these monstrous bills that come in and I don't think people even realize it.

Emir: They don't. And it got worse when data became mainstream because when you open up a web page or you're reading an email, you have no idea how much data you're using. Whereas with a phone call you can control it down to a minute or two and... "Hi I gotta go. Bye, bye bye." Really quick.

Shannon: Laughs. I'm safe. Now you gotta hang up.

Emir: Exactly. But when it comes down to reading an email or downloading an attachment, you hear about guys downloading a PowerPoint and it ends up costing $6,000 dollars because they didn't realize the size of it when it came in. So for us, what we really wanted to do was give that protection for the consumer. So the freedom, the flexibility, everything they do at home they do it when they use Roam Mobility across the border. And on top of it, the service is designed around the Canadian traveller. So you can buy plans for a day... and they're completed unlimited. So unlimited talk and text for $3 a day and it includes all your calls back to Canada, and data as low as two cents a megabyte, which in some cases is much cheaper than it is at home.

Shannon: Okay so I'm going to come back to a few details about that, but before we go too much further on how Roam actually services the client, let's talk about you. What brought you to the point of starting a company in a space that's really really dominated by bigger companies?

Emir: Yeah you know I ask myself that question sometimes.

Shannon: Laughs. There's gotta be a story.

Emir: The one thing that's unusual that people do get surprised about is when they find out that I never worked for a telecom company up until I decided to start Roam Mobility. 

Shannon: That is surprising.

Emir: My story is probably similar to that Reminton razor company story where, basically, I travelled extensively around the world and I paid excessively high roaming rates. I remember one year I paid probably in excess of $12,000 in one year just in roaming rates alone.

Shannon: Wow. And was that for business?

Emir: Primarily for business. But the whole thing was I wanted to stay connected at home and for work and everything else. But the bill was averaging $1,000 a month on roaming rates alone.

Shannon: Wow.

Emir: So when I decided to do another start-up at that point, I was starting to see a lot of roaming solutions coming out of Europe that were being put together. A lot of them didn't really impress me very much, because what I really wanted to do was... how do you deliver a top quality service, the exact same value and service that a local customer would get, and deliver local rates around it too. That was where the process really started off and, you know, sitting up and night reading telecom reports and...

Shannon: Oooh fun.

Emir: ...research papers and all the white papers and everything else that came out of it. And I will admit that I became a little bit obsessed with it at one point. But I got a very good grasp of what it would take to do, and I really think that my background in software and marketing played a really big part, because I came at it from a very different perspective in terms of building a new business model. So I wasn't really looking at what the telecom industry does as a normal everyday business, but in terms of what can it do. And I think it played a significant advantage for me in putting that together.

Shannon: Well yeah, because that's visionary as opposed to reacting.

Emir: Yeah. And I had a very clear vision in terms of understanding what my role was in the telecom industry and what roam would do, what are the benefits for all the partners involved and everything else outside of it. It was a long process though. It was about a year and a half from start to finish by the time we started putting the network together. The concept came about and by the time we started putting the network together it was 18 months.

Shannon: Ouch. But that's start-up... kind of has that growing pain associated with it.

Emir: But it always takes longer than you expected. Laughs.

Shannon: It always takes longer than you expect, and longer than you want. Because for somebody that's an entrepreneur like yourself, we aren't known for our patience. So we have the vision, we know what it's going to look like, we just want it to happen.

Emir: Exactly.

Shannon: Immediately. Snap of the finger. Never works that way. So you alluded to another start-up.

Emir: Yeah. I did my first one about 10 years ago, and the idea was to solve file sharing, back before high-speed internet became the norm. We created a company called SynerDrive and it was one of the very first in the industry that did folder sharing. So what you see now with Dropbox we did 10 years ago. And we had a successful exit, meaning that a company purchased us, and a lot of the technology ended up in some of the Microsoft Office products that you see today.

Shannon: Congratulations.

Emir: Thank you. 

Shannon: And then you take that experience and bring it to Roam Mobility.

Emir: I did. I ended up working for that company for five and a half years, and I really got a handle on fine-tuning my skills, running and managing a business, departments and budgets and everything else, and at that point I was ready to do my next venture.

Shannon: You're listening to Venture Capital Radio on AM650 and I'm talking to Roam Mobility CEO, Emir Aboulhosn, and he is with us in the studio describing what makes Roam Mobility different than other cellular carriers. So let's take this conversation into exactly what people can expect from Roam. So you mention that really it was built because Canadians who travel get monstrous roaming fees.

Emir: They do. So Canadians in general right now, from the latest stats, show they pay around $800 million a year in roaming revenue between the three major carriers. What's shocking is that 50% of Canadians turn off their phones when they cross the border. 

Shannon: I do.

Emir: So half of the Canadians that travel generate $800 million a year in roaming revenue, and in a lot of cases for carriers it is a cash cow. There are instances where it's not but in most cases it definitely is. And the problem too is, with carriers in general, when you have a product with such high margin... we kind of joke that it's the cocaine in the industry. They're hooked on it. They can't seem to get off of it.

Shannon: Okay. Laughs.

Emir: And that's why the rates are very slow to come down overall. For example, the global average is about 8% of all wireless revenue for a company that comes in is roaming. For Rogers it's 11%. So it's 40% higher than the global average. So we knew that we had a very specific problem for Canadians that we could focus on and target, and it was really about developing a niche and focusing on that niche. The next challenge was identifying the market, identifying how the product is sold and then from there we had to find the right partner in the US. And that was the difficult part. 

Shannon: Okay. So you partnered with a big carrier in the US then?

Emir: We did. We partnered with one of the four largest carriers, T-Mobile USA. They have in excess of 30 million subscribers on their network. It's a nationwide network. Some of the highest levels of customer service and support, and a very well acknowledged company. And we also connected into a global platform too. T-Mobile is a large player in the international mobile industry as well. It gave us access into other markets. 

Shannon: So a dream team partnership.

Emir: It is. It's been a great partnership overall. We worked with them and they helped us put together the model in terms of how we build the network, how we put it out, and there's some new technology that came out of it that we became very excited about. It's designed specifically for the traveller.

Shannon: So I spent some time on your website, which is RoamMobility.com, and it's not so much about products, it's more about the plans. It's more about the solution that you offer. People already have the hardware.

Emir: Yeah exactly. At the end of the day, cellular service is cellular service. It's almost like gasoline. You put it in your car and it goes, right? And what you're looking for is a way to get reliable, fast access, fast internet, good voice quality and reliable text messaging. What we wanted to do was, once we had the network in place it was about building programs that are designed for Canadians specifically. So if you're going just for day shopping across the border, for $3 you get unlimited calling and text messaging for the entire day and it includes calls back to Canada. That's it. Three bucks. You actually can't pay more than $3, because the system won't allow it. It's all prepaid, and it's a pay-as-you-go type of scenario.

Shannon: Oh okay. So there's no real plans or anything that people sign up for, or contracts that have to be signed?

Emir: None whatsoever. You only pay for what you use or when you use it. That's it. 

Shannon: Nice.

Emir: So if I'm going for a long weekend and I'm going there for three days, you're looking at nine dollars. We have the ability to add on data. 

Shannon: Okay.

Emir: And the plans can go up to a month. You'll find Canadians will be there for an entire month. Snowbirds or anything else like that, but it goes anywhere from one day up to a month.

Shannon: So if somebody does go down to the states.. say they do three months. And they do one month. Can they renew online or something like that? Can they just upgrade?

Emir: Yeah they can actually do it off a text message off their phone, when they're ready to. It's that simple.

Shannon: So when you go to Vegas, and you find yourself there a couple extra nights...

Emir: ...for reasons that you probably don't want to share or disclose. Absolutely.

Shannon: RoamMobility.com is the answer.

Emir: Speaking of Vegas, we did get an email the other day claiming that Roam Mobility saved their life, because they were in Vegas, car broke down somewhere randomly, and they were able to chat on the phone with a tow truck driver for over an hour without having to worry about the bill giving them directions just on where to find them.

Shannon: That's fantastic. You do not want to get lost in Vegas with a dead car.

Emir: I wouldn't. 

Shannon: There's a news release for Roam Mobility right there. Saving lives. I want to stay focused on the fact of how you guys do what you do. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that we've opened our cell phone bill and it's a shock of that amount. So if it's prepaid there are a couple of advantages on both sides of the table because on your side, from the business perspective it would be less to manage. There's no contracts, renewals or that kind of jazz. And then on the customer side, you know what you need and you just go and get it.

Emir: That's pretty much it. It's really that simple.

Shannon: That's it. I love simple business plans. 

Emir: The idea of contracts personally for me in terms of somebody that's become a naturalized telecom expert, I guess you could say, makes a lot of sense in a very competitive industry, because it really is handcuffs at the end of the day. Places like Europe, even the United States in general... in the US the fastest growing segment in telecom is prepaid cellular services. People are just simply running away from contracts as much as they can. In Europe the idea of contracts doesn't even exist. Now when you go talk to somebody and give them a background on the Canadian industry, the fact that it's three year contracts, that we have the highest average revenue per user in the world, it's a gold mine the way they see it. They just can't believe there's that much money being made. And in some cases it may explain why none of our carriers have gone outside of Canada. It's a very safe playing field for them.

Shannon: And being so close to the border it makes sense that people just hop across, get some gas, get some eggs...

Emir: 60 million visits into the US every single year. Canadians are 19 million of it. Basically almost one third of it. And we do 52 million visits. So those 19 million visitors do 52 million visits a year. It is an astonishing number.

Shannon: That is crazy.

Emir: Tell that to an American. They're completely floored. There's a great story that New York state acknowledged that Canadians' cross-shopping actually helped them meet their budgets.

Shannon: There's the stimulation.

Emir: Yeah they said Canadians were directly responsible for helping them meet their budget because of all the sales taxes.

Shannon: Awesome. So Roam Mobility. Check them out. They're at RoamMobility.com on the internet. They're also on Twitter. You can find them @RoamMobility. Emir thank you very much for joining us in the studio. It was a pleasure meeting you, and thank you for providing this very flexible and user friendly service.

Emir: Thank you for having me.

Road trips are some of the best ways to create lasting memories.  Whether you’re on the road with friends, family or complete strangers, road tripping guarantees to keep things interesting.  Formulating a road plan is essential for many reasons; you likely have location goals, and sites to stop and see along the way.  Below are keys to creating a [near] fail proof road trip plan.

Get Prepping

Planning where you will be driving is essential to creating positive memories.  Not only will you ensure that your trip proceeds on time, but fuel will be saved and tempers will be avoided by more of your trip going according to schedule.  Itineraries also ensure the wishes of a group are met, trip expectations are reasonable, and communicated.

A playlist everyone is down with, a bag of emergency road food and an arsenal of road trip games are essential for success. By avoiding hunger rage or cabin fever in the car, your road trip will end up being lot smoother.

Get Yourself App’d

The modern road tripper typically has a smartphone and other communication devices at their disposal, which involves apps.  Developers continue to create a variety of travel friendly apps, many designed specifically for the road tripper. 

Some take the form of digital travel guides, such as Frommers’ new digital guidebook.  Others help with gas mileage calculation, budgeting and planning.  Motor vehicle manufacturers are catching up with this trend by creating apps for their makes; Vauxhall Road Trip [free] being one of them.  If your vehicle does not have a ready-made app, Darren Stone’s Road Trip app [$4.99] offers fuel economy, maintenance history and expense tracking.  Worth noting: Road Trip also offers a more limited free download.

Photography apps like Instagram, Magic Shutter, or Pro HDR are essentials to keep in your arsenal. Read our round-up of the top 10 photography apps.

Don’t forget to arm yourself with a Liberty device, 4G speeds, battery life of four hours, up to five connected devices and data rates of 6 cents per megabyte ensures everyone can get online, and nobody gets internet withdrawal.

Prepare For the Unexpected

When in doubt, over insure yourself! Something will likely go wrong, whether that involves a roadside tire change or fluid top up, it’s always best to be prepared with an adequate policy for your car and health insurance for yourself and all of your passengers.  This is especially important if you are traveling in another country, where hospital or garage visits can really suck up your trip budget, or more.

A pre-trip visit to a trusted mechanic can also save many dollars and a lot of hassle.  Have tires rotated, check your fluids and make sure the inside workings of your vehicle are working as they should be. 

Have some road trip preperation advice? Let us know down in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

2012 has been a big year for Canadians fighting roaming charges. We have had many Canadians sharing positive reviews of our products and services, and we are thrilled to be able to save them their hard earned dollars when traveling to the USA.

Krystal of GiveMeBackMyFiveBucks.com was enthusiastic about our service offers, especially when breaking down the amount she could have saved on her last trip with the purchase of our SIM card:

Krystal isn’t the only blogger interested in our SIM card; Allen Atamer recently unlocked his Blackberry Curve for usage overseas:

Many smartphone users, like Allen, will need to unlock their devices before usage with Roam Mobility’s SIM.  If you have questions about how this can be done, we have an FAQ that covers everything you need to know.

ThatAngela compares Roam’s service to Virgin Mobile and Bell’s rates, and realizes that the same amount of daily data from Virgin Mobile would be $110 per day, which is only $7.95 with Roam Mobility.

The Liberty Hotspot has also been a favorite; both Gary of iPhoneInCanada.ca and daddy blogger LaidBear.me reported on the savings when opting for the Liberty Hotspot, over paying high mobile provider fees, purchasing expensive, restricting data packages at hotels and the gamble of searching for a free wifi hotspot.

iPhoneInCanada provided an in-depth product review of the Liberty Hotspot, which offers data plan rates as low as 2 cents per megabyte at 4G speeds.  With this little device smaller than an iPhone 4S, you can take it anywhere, without having to worry about carting around a large, heavy device.

Here's to the rest of 2012, and many more Canadians discovering the advantages of Roam! Come visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.

To take advantage of Roam’s full talk, text and data offers, your iPhone must be unlocked before being able to pop in one of our Micro-SIM cards. If you are unsure what an unlocked phone is, read our blog post on locked vs. unlocked phones. When it comes to unlocking an iPhone specifically, there are a few options; figure out which option best suit your circumstance. For those who travel frequently and internationally, having an unlocked phone will prove very convenient and useful.

Option 1. Buy factory-unlocked from Apple
This is recommended, as there are no additional steps to take. All iPhone 4S models arrive factory unlocked when you buy directly from an Apple store, though there is a chance your later model iPhone 4 may have arrived unlocked.  If you need to identify if your iPhone is unlocked, you can take your phone to any Apple store, or check the firmware by restoring the phone in iTunes. In turn, iTunes will identify whether or not your phone is locked.

Option 2. Unlock by carrier
You may ask your current carrier to unlock your phone, but there will likely be a fee involved. Rogers charges each user $50 to unlock their phone. Certain criteria must also be met, which is standard for Rogers and Fido. This includes having an account in good standing, have paid the no contract cost for the device for at least 30 days prior, or have completed the contract. The device must also be purchased from Rogers / Fido. This may cause problems for phones purchased off Craigslist, or other similar sites. On the other hand, Telus does not unlock iPhones [see the list of devices they do unlock], while Bell offers their unlocking service at a fee of $75. There are other unauthorized unlocking options avabilable through your carrier, though unlocking by those methods may jeopardize your phone’s warranty.

Option 3. Using a Gevey SIM
The Gevey SIM is not an actual SIM, but a SIM card tray, made by a company called ApplenBerry. They are available from $19.99 to $59.99, depending on which iPhone version and software you have.

Option 4. Unlock software
The Gevey SIM doesn't work with all versions of iPhone. If Gevey isn't an option, use jail-breaking software instead. One of the more popular options is Redsn0w, which you can download and utilize on your personal computer.

Know of any alternative options for unlocking iPhones? Or have any iPhone unlocking experiences to share? Let us know in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

When choosing a carrier, there are many aspects to take into consideration. For the traveler, roaming charges are the focal point of this consideration, as some providers charge an arm and a leg for any use of your device, outside of the country. At Roam, we keep these charges to a minimum, so that you don’t have to constantly fear your phone bill, every time you visit the US. We’ve created comparison pages between our plans and other providers, so that you can see exactly what you’re getting since we value transparency.

Comparing Roam Mobility to Telus roaming

Whether you’re on the big 3 (see comparison pages for Rogers, Telus, Bell) or another Canadian provider, chances are that you’re paying a lot of roaming fees, even if you purchase a travel bundle. See each one of these comparison pages to see how they measure up. You’ll quickly notice that, with Roam, your texting and calling is not only unlimited (as opposed to being charged per use) but data comes in at a remarkably lower price. You may notice the astronomical price of using data abroad, when on another network. We’re all about keeping you connected, with affordable roaming and don’t forget free calling and texting back to Canada!

While other providers such as Virgin, Fido, Chatr, Wind, and Koodo (click to see their comparison pages) have some different packages, when compared to the big 3, they still don’t match the level of service, free calling to Canada, and data pricing. In terms of pre-paid US SIMS, we have a comparison page for that too. With no hidden charges, no 90-expiry, easy top-up and more, you’ll love the way our services are designed specifically for traveling Canadians. There’s no need to seek out US solutions to Canadians being gouged on roaming, as we’re here to help. Who really wants to pay up to 50 cents per minute to call back to your home? We certainly know we don’t.

That's...a lot of savings

Have any questions about how our services measure up? Let us know in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. It’s been a pleasure roaming with you.

Everyone has a phone number (or three), so how is it that people keep getting new phones with different numbers associated with them? There can’t possibly be that many phone numbers, right?

In fact, while there are new numbers getting released to providers or new area codes will pop up in a localized network, most phone numbers end up being recycled. Number recycling is when a company reuses a number that a user used to have. When someone stops using their old phone number, it goes into a sort of holding mode before it is rereleased to another customer, after a certain amount of time has gone by. The amount of time before giving out recycled numbers varies between providers, ranging from 30 to 90 days.

If you receive unwanted calls from people asking for a seemingly random person, oftentimes they are trying to reach the old owner of your phone number. Since around 85% of numbers released each year are recycled ones, chances are pretty high that you have one of these numbers. While we try to ensure that our users receive a new number, some people may receive a number that is still in the old owner’s address book. If you’re getting a lot of these calls, regardless of your provider, you may want to register for the National Do Not Call Registry. Otherwise, there are several apps available for Blackberry, iPhone, and Android devices that manage blocked call lists for you.

Have you had an experience with recycled numbers before? We’d like to hear about it. Tell us your story in the comments section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

As of June 1st, Canada will be increasing cross-border shoppers returning from the USA an increased duty free rate.  The new allowance is $200 per person, four times the previous allowance of $50 per 24 hour trip. For trips 48 hours or more, the new limit has increased to $800 per person. The new duty-free rates are definitely much more manageable to adhere to for Canadians bringing goods back home. Considering the outlet deals available on American soil, the new allocated duty-free amont will allow shoppers much more freedom.

With Easter long weekend fast approaching, many Canadians will be taking this opportunity to do some shopping in the States. For seasoned cross-border travelers, long border line-ups are anticipated. One way to bypass the long boder lineup wait is to make your way to the duty free store.

For Vancouverites departing Canada, Roam Mobility products can now be purchased at the Peace Arch Duty Free Shop @PeaceArchDF), so you can grab your devices and select your service plan without having to go off course.

This weekend, Roam staff will be in-store at Peace Arch Duty Free to provide you with help selecting products that are best for your needs, as well as explaining how our services and data plans work. So go ahead, go into Peace Arch Duty Free this weekend, meet Roam staff and discover what a trip equipped with affordable roaming rates feels like.

Trying to get ahold of us, when we're at the border? Leave a message in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

Travel apps are essential for modern roaming.  Currency converters, news and photography are at the top of our list, along with today's group - translation apps.  Depending on the part of the world you are in, translation can be a major asset.  Even if you are typically searching 'please' and 'thank you', it is always ideal to have a translator app ready to go, especially one that works offline.  You never know what tight spots you will be able to get out of, when you have the power of language at your disposal!

Translator with Speech, free.  For those not comfortable with attempting to get local accent correct when abroad, a speaking translator is a must.  Translator with Speech has an optional speech to text option, offers 54 languages to translate, recalls earlier translations to save time, and operates offline.

Google Translator, free.  Google Translator offers speaking translator, allows you to listen to your translations aloud, has an easy read option to show others translated materials and supports 64 languages.  Starred translations can be saved to be viewed offline, though the app requires an internet connection to be fully functional.

Free Translator, free.  Using Google's API, Free Translator offers translation in most main languages.  The speak back version of the app is a $1.99 upgrade, though the basic version is free.

iHandy Translator Pro, $1.99. With 52 languages supported, a text to speech option, translation history archive and social networking option, iHandy is a powerful app.  It's highlight is definitely the common phrases section, which covers most often used speech.

NoSlang, $0.99.  With so many internet slangs that vary regionally, NoSlang is an excellent tool to have when traveling.  NoSlang is also beneficial for parents, when keeping an eye on what their kids are saying when chatting to new friends met abroad.

Have a favorite translation app that we might not know about? Let us know your choice, in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

April Fool's has long been the vestage of the office prankster, everyday joker and even corporate entities.  You never know just who will come up with something so silly, or so clever that you either completely fall for the fool, or laugh so hard at their disasterous attempts.  Below are a handful of our favorite big time April Fool jokes, and for good reason... some of them are downright ridiculous! (For the record, I have actually come to the office at a previous job to find my entire desk and belongings individually wrapped in tinfoil).

1. Taco Bell sponsors the Liberty Bell.  On April 1st, 1996, Taco Bell announced in six major American newspapers that the historical American Liberty Bell now belonged to the fast food giant.  The press release even went so far as to state that the bell would divide it's time between the monument in Philadelphia and the Taco Bell headquarters in Irvine! When nearly all of America started to call Taco Bell and the National Park Service to ascertain the truth, Taco Bell announced the truth at noon the same day.

2.  The creation of San Serriffe.  The Guardian, one of Britain's largest newspapers, named a fake island in the Indian Ocean within a huge seven page report.  For those that didn't realize San Serif is actually the name of the typeface The Guardian uses, the joke was on them!

3. Planetary alignments decrease gravity.  British astronomer Patrick Moore announced over BBC Radio 2 on the morning of April 1st, 1972, that due to a planetary alignment when Pluto would pass behind jupiter, if you jumped on 9:47am, you would experience a floating sensation.  Of course, they never had Google back then, so many were had.

4. Anyone who has spent any time in Los Angeles knows that the L.A. highway system is serious business, and a general nightmare to commute on during high traffic times.  In 1987, an L.A. DJ announced that the entire LA highway system would be shut down for an entire month.  The California Department of Transportation reportedly didn't think the public's panic was very funny.

5.  2005 saw magazine Popular Photography run a piece entited "Can these photos be saved?", and proceeded to edit the iconic "Migrant Mother" image by Dorothea Lange.  Popular Photography erased her wrinkles, softened her gaze and removed her kids, horrinfying their readers.  The display was meant to spoof pop culture's heavy retouching tendencies, though not everyone understood the point.

Ready to plant some pranks this April Fools? Share your secrets with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

As the largest conference for Blackberry users and devices, Blackberry World is a company event platform for releasing news, information sessions, developer updates, and more to the Blackberry community. Held in Orlando, Florida, this year’s event will run from May 1st-3rd, showcasing a wide variety of events, talks, and other happenings geared towards helping companies, developers, and users learn about their devices and systems. Training and certification is available onsite, with many hands-on labs and breakout sessions scheduled.

Welcome to Blackberry World: Your place for Blackberry news and updates

This year’s event will be tailored towards the Blackberry 10 platform, Mobile Fusion, the Playbook Tablet OS 2.0, the Blackberry 7 OS, and more. Events often have live demonstrations and mobile technology updates, along with access to the leading industry professionals and RIM managers. Alliance Members and Channel Partners are highly encouraged to attend, in order to gain the competitive edge and have access to the latest news from the company.

We’ve had several Roam Mobility users ask about the conference. There are many Canadians that go down for Blackberry events and we’re glad to provide service to those traveling for the event. We’re diligently working alongside RIM to build a new platform for BIS use on Roam devices. The first of its kind, our program will feature full access to Blackberry/RIM properties, while roaming in the US, without any fee to the consumer. Traditionally, your provider pays Blackberry a fee for every device they sell, in order to give access.

Blackberry World boasts a great conference platform, with many panel discussions, break-out groups, and tech demos

Registration is now open for the event. In terms of how the conference runs or looks, see the “What to Expect” guide, for more details. Attendees tend to use their devices heavily, during the 3-day event, so pick up a Roam Mobility plan and SIM card, to keep you connected. Need a lot of data, fast speed, or access for multiple people? The Liberty mobile hotspot will provide you with everything you need, to keep you going during the conference.

Are you attending the conference? Let us know what you’re excited for in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

Using your device outside of your regular service area? Watch out for roaming charges

For the traveler, roaming can be both a great option to have and a large financial burden. Oftentimes, people aren’t fully aware of how roaming works, what services they’ll get, or how to keep roaming charges to a minimum. It’s important to know what you’re getting into, before setting off on that vacation or trip you were planning.

Roaming is when you are using your device outside of the original network provider that you are tied to. Providers have international agreements with other companies in other countries, so that you can use your device outside of your home area.

For the Canadian traveler, this means that your Canadian provider has an agreement with a provider in the country you’re going to (i.e.. The United States), which allows you to use their network. Some functions of your phone may not work the same way they did when you were at home, as different networks broadcast their services on different frequencies. For more information on that, see our post on phone frequencies.

The provider that you are roaming on charges your home network, for the connection that you’re using. After that, your local company that you have your plan with charges you. Roaming cost are set much higher than what you would normally see at home, because there are several networks involved, instead of just one. Many companies also use this opportunity to charge very steep amounts, as your average mobile user doesn’t take steps to purchase roaming packages or switch over to a cheaper travel provider.

We're here to help you say no to awful roaming charges.

Roaming begins as soon as you leave your regular service area – in this case, Canada. You may experience some roaming, in areas close to the border, as there is some crossover from communications towers, in those areas. In order to avoid this, you can turn off cellular roaming, on whichever device you are using. Many people living in or around border communities can run into some large problems, by constantly switching over to roaming (and being charged for it).

We’ve built the Roam Mobility network specifically for that purpose of keeping Canadians connected to their firends and family back home; without having to pay extremely large roaming bills. On average, our plans to the US are over 90% cheaper than getting even the least expensive roaming packages from a Canadian provider. See our plans page for more details. The next time you are planning for a trip, begin it by selecting a roaming plan that's right for you. We offer unlimited calling and texting plans, so that you can feel safe and secure, without having to limit yourself.

Just as we want to keep you connected to the people you want to talk to while traveling, we also like staying connected with you. Keep in contact with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

(Statue of Liberty - Nick Ten)

We recently held a Liberty to Share photo contest asking people to submit their US travel photos to us. To see the winning photo submission based on people's choice, go here. Although the contest is now over, we still wanted to showcase all the great photos taken in Stateside cities and towns, canyons and dams.

(Hoover Dam - Andrew Chobaniuk)

(Cannon Beach - Liza Lee)

Take your time, peruse through them, we won't be surprised if some photos inspire you to plan a little summer vacation to those exact spots yourself. To keep fueling your wanderlust, more photos are featured in our Roaming USA photo album on Facebook.

(Mendenhall Glacier - Joanne Watier)

(Castillo de San Marcos - Stephen Weppler)

Have more US photos to share with us? We'd love to add them to our photo album. Send them over now on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

Roadside diners are the United States' crown jewel in dining, and the creations that emerge from such food palaces certainly rough up the taste buds in all the best ways.  From lobster rolls in Connecticut to maple bacon donuts from L.A., we're about to share why nothing is finer than being in these diners.

1. The 'Club Trout' sandwich.  24 Crows, which is tucked away in Flint Hills, Virginia, and has become legendary for their Club Trout.  This sammy includes breaded and panfried trout fillets, strips of apple smoked bacon, plus the obligatory lettuce, tomato and spiced mayo.  The best sandwiches are always plays on classics, which the Trout certainly is!

2. Braised pork belly and egg.  For a slightly finer taste, San Francisco's Citizens Band diner promises high taste, especially with their pork belly and egg dish.  Pork belly isn't exactly the meat if one is wishing to stay lean, though the taste of the always rockets you to the moon.  Add an breaded, fried egg with a soft centre to the mix, and you have a deadly taste combination.

3. Maple bacon donuts. From Los Angeles' Nickel Diner, tucked away on South Main Street has everything from home made vanilla creme devil's food cupcakes, lemon custard pie (dubbed the Lemon Shaker), and other more substantial eats for those needing a proper, hearty meal.

4.  Lobster rolls. If you find yourself in Clinton, Connecticut and fancy yourself a lobster lover, the rolls from the Lobster Landing will be just the thing for a fuel up.  With reviews of 'believe the hype' and 'I don't see how I can give anything other than 5 stars', these hot, buttered rolls of lemon drizzled lobster meat will pamper your palette.

5.  Beef on Wreck sandwich. New York diners know how to build an amazing sandwich, and Eckl's diner is no exception.  Situated in Orchard Park, Eckl's piles on the thinnest sliced beef and slams it between a wreck roll (a type of submarine-style bun).  To sweeten the experience, Eckl's is located within a building from the 1800s, for maximum ambience factor.

Have a favorite roadside food spot that we should check out? Let us know! Drop us a line in the comments section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

World Water Day comes around every year, and continues to remind us of the state of the world's water supply.  Though World Water Day was officially yesterday, so many of the information shared was not something we wanted to pass by.  Did you know that 2,000 to 5,000 litres of water per day is used to process our daily meals, or that 90% of our water supply is used to produce the food we eat?

This year, the thinking has shifted to more unorthodox water sense.  You don't really think of consuming certain foods as wasting water, but the more the food is processed, the more water is used.  Not only that, but wasted foods also create wasted water.  According to the United Nations, one third of our food is wasted, which creates a shocking amount of wasted water! Check out World Water Day 2012's official video above, as well as Unicef's World Water Day video for some shocking information.  I will be thinking twice about that next fast food visit, that's for sure.

Have an important issue that should be talked about? We'd like to hear about it!Let us know, in the comments section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

Samsung has been a household name for cellular devices for years. With the release of the Galaxy series of devices, Samsung has proven that they've still got it. With impressive unit sales and a lot of noise surrounding its release, the Galaxy S II has been a staple in debates between smartphone users. Many fans of Android devices would choose the Galaxy S device over just about any other. Keeping the pace with their last releases, Samsung has another great new device - the Galaxy S III - slated for a pre-summer debut, in the US.

Samsung has been up and down, with deciding on a release date: flopping between April and May, without giving much certainty as to exactly when we’re going to be able to get our hands on it. With some stiff competition coming in from HTC and a strong showing in 2011, Samsung will most likely announce the launch data sooner rather than later. While the hardware specifications are a bit of a mystery, the team over at TechCrunch has collected some ideas as to what the device is most likely going to look like.

2011 was a great year for Samsung. Will the Galaxy S III make 2012 an even better one?

With the screen coming in at a large 4.8 inches, the S3 is much larger than your average smartphone. This will please the tablet user (or tablet fan that can’t quite bring themselves to own one), as it is a bit larger than the iPhone 4S screen. 1080p display resolution and a 12 megapixel camera are also great additions, as picture quality on either side of the lens is key. The 1.8GHz quad-core processor would give any other smartphone a good run for its money, along with 2GB of ram. For the rest of the expected hardware specs, see TechCrunch’s page for the S3.

Great hardware and access to the plethora of Android apps already available allow the Galaxy S III to come out looking like an amazing phone. When it does get announced for release, expect a large amount of hype and a few lines to wait in. We’re certainly excited to test it out on the Roam Mobility network.

Looking forward to Samsung’s Galaxy S III? Have some information to share about the device? Let us know! Hit us up in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. 

(Zebra Slot Canyon, Utah - All photos by Kevin Swanson)

After an exciting week of voting for your favorite photos, you made your choice on who would be the winner of our Liberty To Share contest. We're excited to announce that the photographer with the most votes on his photos is Kevin Swanson, shooter of a series of beautiful photos he titled "Away From it All".

Kevin wins our Liberty Mobile Hotspot, a super fast 4G device, perfect for keeping him connected to the internet while traveling. Now Kevin can keep taking photos and instantly upload them to share with his family and friends. The prize also includes a 500 MB data package, a good amount to kick start any journey.

We'd like to thank everyone who entered our first contest; we appreciate your support and enthusiasm. We hope you enjoyed looking through the photos as much as we did, and maybe it even inspired a visit to the States. All photos will be uploaded to a photo album that will be featured on our Facebook page, so stay tuned.

(Camping on Sucia Island, Washington)

(Snowy evening in Springdale, Utah)

Every now and then, we'll be running more contests like this, so stay up to date with the goings on at Roam. You can do this by signing up for our mailing list, liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or adding us to circles on Google+.

For the casual smartphone user, it can be a bit tricky to identify which settings do what or how to access something that you might need to change. Occasionally, you may need to switch a setting to get data service, add a proxy, tether an email service or otherwise. One of the settings everyone who travels should know about is the APN.

An APN is an Access Point Name: the name of the network you connect to, in order to receive data functionality. Each provider has a separate name that belongs to their network and needs to be entered, when switching networks (such as when you go between different countries). Sometimes this name will auto-populate, depending on how your service is set up and where you are when you pop your SIM in. Here are a couple devices and how you can access their APN settings:

iPhone APN Settings

iPhone (Settings -> General -> Network -> Cellular Data Network)

Some versions of iOS may have a different route but they’re all close to the same. Enter the network name (for us, it’s “roam”), and you should be all set. There is no need to enter any other information.

Android APN Settings

Android (Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> Mobile Networks ->Access Point Names)

There are more Androids floating around than any other type of smartphone. That being said, there is a good chance that this route to get to APN settings may not be exact. However, once you do find the APN settings, enter “roam” (for our network), into the APN tab.

iPad APN Settings

iPad (Settings -> Cellular Data -> APN Settings)

The iPad is quite straightforward to set an APN for. Through this path, you can put your network name (again, ours is “roam") into the APN box. You do not need to enter a username or password.

Blackberry APN Settings

Blackberry (Options -> Advanced Options ->TCP/IP)

With many Blackberry phones out there, this may not be the route your specific device takes – it will be close, however. Once you reach the APN settings, you need to first enable the APN settings by clicking the box. After that, enter the network name (“roam”, for us) and you should be all set.

Have a question or tip about APN? Drop us a line in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

No matter if you’re in Vancouver or New York, chances are your spring is going to be soggy. Since we’re approaching our seasonal turning point, it’s always advisable to be reminded of all options for entertaining oneself during a downpour.

 The Met Museum, New York

• Explore a museum. Whether it’s a local or travel destination, there is always a rotating spectacle of art, history and social commentary to be viewed. Museums often have reduced entry rate or free days, so check your local group`s website when planning your visit.

 Vinyards in California

• Tour a local brewery or winery. Not only are there fun facts about your favorite brews to be learned, but these tours provide an often entertaining social experience. There is also tasting to do along with your alcohol education, which is a pleasant benefit!

 Rockerfeller Centre's indoor skating rink in New York

• Enjoy an indoor water park, pool or skating rink. Go with friends, your kids or find a local Meetup group to congregate with. Water sports (no matter if they’re frozen or otherwise!) are a great way to keep up your fitness, and be social at the same time. 

The Chicago Theatre

• Attend a play or TV show recording. Whether you’re in L.A. (with television being a part of your local culture) or are in a town that offers small theatre productions, live performance is always an interesting way to experience the arts, while supporting your local culture scene.

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Spa in Miami

• Indulge in a hotel spa. Grab a spa partner to keep you company, or book an experience alone in your favorite luxury spa spot. Don’t go bargain basement with spas, your enjoyment can highly vary depending on the quality of the aestheticians performing your services.

How do you like spending your rainy Spring days? Let us know in the comment section, on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+

The Spring Equinox - this year, on Tuesday, March 20th - inspires many traditions over the world, though few are as exciting as the illumination of the Mayan pyramid of Chichen Itza in the Mexican Yucatán. An equinox occurs twice a year (for Spring and Winter), when the sun appears precisely over the equator, which creates a day and night which are exactly the same length.

The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza is one of the best places in the world to appreciate this seasonal change, as the Mayans built their pyramid to project light during both of the equinoxes. At sunset, the light projects the image of a snake slithering down the side of the pyramid, which takes about 45 minutes. If you're looking to celebrate closer to home, look for festivals and celebrations in parks, gardens and other public places. If nothing official is happening in your city, even an afternoon or evening set in a park to appreciate the changing of the seasons is worthwhile time spent.

For images of the spring equinox being celebrated across the world, the National Geographic has some amazing captures from their 2009 edition, along with a great article on myths and facts about the equinox.

Have some travel plans for the equinox? Let us know! Leave a comment, post on Facebook, tweet us on Twitter, or +1 us on Googl+. Happy roaming.

Believe it or not, we're nearly upon the release date of Apple's iPad3. This iPad will be the first released without Steve Jobs, though it's clear the momentum he began with the original design is only increasing.

The question of the iPad3 is the improvements, as the last iPad model came out only a year ago. This time around, the third generation tablet features a lightning fast quad-core A5x chip, which makes it faster than other tablet competitors like Samsung.

One significant difference in features between the previous iPad and this one, is that the iPad3 works on an LTE network.  For those wondering, an LTE network (short for Long Term Evolution) is wireless technology that enables 4G networks to run.  Basically, it means your network runs faster, which is always the goal.

Roamers, take note: we do not yet support devices on the 4G LTE network which use our SIM cards, though you can access the 4G network through a Liberty mobile hotspot.

To put 4G download speeds into perspective, you can stream a YouTube video with nearly no delay.  Emails will download at lightning fast speeds, and the term 'buffering' will become archaic. Moreover, all of these features exist within a device with an advertised battery life of 10 hours, is under 10mm thick, and boasts a screen resolution that renders text that reads sharper than print can offer. Add a 5 megapixel camera and the ability to record HD video, and the iPad3 has been made an unstoppable force of technology.

Pricing has been stated as $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only model and go up to $829 for the 64GB version, which is in the same realm as the iPad2 pricing, from last year. The iPad 3 will be released on March 16 in the US, Canada, France, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia, with the global launch on March 23.

Will we be seeing you in the Apple store lineup? Let us know in the comment section, on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+

Philipp Postrehovsky was hit with $500 in roaming fees on his last cell phone bill after taking two trips south of the border. The Vancouverite had uploaded a few photos of Seattle's Space Needle on New Year's Eve and that alone cost him $80. "You just feel mad, because you feel it's just outrageous right?" he said. Postrehovsky is among many cell phone users being burned by massive roaming rates and data fees.

The major four telecomm companies -- Rogers, Bell, Virgin and Telus -- all charge $1.45 a minute for calls made in the U.S. All charge $6 per megabyte of data, with the exception of Telus, which charges half of that.

The company actually cut roaming rates by 60 per cent after negotiating deals with some 200 carriers around the world, says spokesperson Shawn Hall. "We send a text message to customers letting them know what the local roaming rates are -- letting them know when they've hit a certain mark so that they have the opportunity to avoid that," Hall told CTV's Steele on Your Side.

For its part, Bell says customers can buy prepaid roaming packages that cut rates dramatically. A $15 pre-paid plan will lower talk rates to $1 per minute, while a $100 prepaid plan can have calls for as low as 25 cents a minute. Customers planning a trip can visit its website before they leave for tips on saving money. Koodo charges $1.40 per minute for calls and $3 per megabyte of data used. Wind Mobile is the cheapest at 25 cents a call and $1 per megabyte.

A Vancouver-based mobility company, Roam Mobility, just teamed up with T-Mobile in the U.S. to launch a new service that eliminates roaming charges for Canadians by using a special SIM card. When you swap in its SIM card south of the border you'll enjoy local calling rates.

"This service is actually designed exclusively for Canadians," said CEO Emir Aboulhosen. "When Canadians are using our service, they're not actually roaming -- they're using a local service designed just for them."

All talk and text plans are unlimited starting at $2 a day, and data plans run as low as two cents a megabyte. Roam Mobility says its roaming plans offer savings of up to 99 per cent compared to other Canadian carriers -- and offers 96 per cent coverage in the U.S.

Postrehovsky is intrigued by the roaming options, but has a warning for other cell phone users going on vacation. "The lesson learned is even if you're tempted to turn on your data -- don't do it," he said.

Sadly, Postrehovsky's $500 cell phone bill pales in comparison to some other bills reported lately. A family from Saskatchewan recently got home from vacation in Arizona to find a $10,000 cell phone bill. The parents had been letting their kids stream movies on Netflix without realizing there would be roaming charges. Last October, a Florida woman says T-Mobile charged her $210,000 for roaming charges on a trip to Canada.

Watch the full report from Lynda Steele, and helpful tips about how to keep your phone bills low here: CTV news clip

When you purchase a new phone, what do you look for? Access to apps? Camera or screen resolution? Maybe which phone just plain looks better? While it isn't normally an issue if you're buying a phone locally and only using it in Canada, the band frequency a device uses can be very important, for determining coverage and speed. Everything your phone transmits and recieves travels along these frequencies, yet many people don't stop to figure out exactly what the difference is.

Each phone or tablet has a set of bands that it will send and recieve information on. For instance, the iPhone 4S uses the 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz frequencies, for GSM and EDGE service. Knowing which bands your phone supports for what service is key for traveling, as different providers also run on different frequencies. Not all phones will get every service they are capable of, if their manufacturer frequencies don't match those of your provider. The documentation on frequencies should be accessible directly on your phone, with the documentation that came with it, or on the manufacturer's website.

Radio frequencies in the US are a bit...messy

Many third-party resources are also around to help you figure out which bands work for you. GSM arena is one such resource: allowing you to make comparisons of every phone you can think of, and displaying the frequencies they are built for. As some phones may not even recieve any service in different parts of the world, it is important to match up your device with the service provider you're going to be using. While using your home provider may seem easy, it will be extremely expensive and may not even work the way you're expecting it to.

Looking to connect with us? Drop us a note in the comment section, on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+

We've collected your photo submissions for the Liberty to Share photo contest and now it's time to vote for your favorite shot. The winner will take home our Liberty 4G mobile hotspot, to make sharing and connecting while traveling even easier. You've submitted a lot of great photos so it's up to you to decide to takes home the prize.

Head over to our Facebook page, and see the contest in our contest tab. To get directly into the voting section, click this link. Do you really like some of the shots or have your own entry? Share it with your friends! Each person can vote once per day so make sure all your friends know about your entry. Voting will run until Tuesday, March 20th, 6PM PST- at which time the winner will be determined. Good luck and happy voting everyone!

Have an idea for our next contest? Questions or comments about the Liberty or other devices? Let us know on our Facebook page, on Twitter, Google+, or in the comments section. We hope you enjoy roaming with us.

"Hawaiian Turtles" - Normand S

"NYC Cycle" - Victoria P

"Zebra Slot Canyon" - Kevin S

"Donut Head" - Amy C

"Bellagio Ceiling" - Tyler P

"Navy Pier, Chicago" - Joanne W

We look forward to seeing your photos. If you have any questions about the contest just comment on this post, or find us on Facebook,  Twitter, or Google+.

SXSW is rapidly approaching, and hype is at an all-time high.  What would you rather see, Jay-Z at the Amex Sync Show, or at the Jay-Z show? (We realize pitting another artist against him is a long shot and terribly unfair).

With the legendary annual festival beginning today, we have created a list of top events to be present for at SXSW, in case you needed help deciding amongst the incredible events.  The Interactive and Film Festival portions of SXSW overlap, so priorities are a must.

1. The BBQ Crash Course: Since you can’t be in Texas without bumping into someone with BBQ sauce on them, you know Texans take their grilling seriously.  Foodies, there is a surprise appearance from Foodspotting.com, so get your tickets ahead of time!

2. Crowdfunding 2.0 Meetup:  Sites like Kickstarter or IndieGoGo are the future of modern fundraising, so it makes sense to arm yourself with knowledge of how to make the best use of these platforms.

3. Music and Fashion Engage Meetup: It’s been a long time in the making, but there is finally an official meetup to bridge the conversational gap between music and fashion. 

4. SXSW Newbies Meet Up: Not the most thrilling of the listings, but utterly essential for those new to the conference.  There is so much going on, and all of your friend’s pro tips will likely go in one ear and out the other, so do yourself a favor and find all of your fellow greenhorns.

5. Wikileaks: Secrets & Lies screening: Since there was a time when Wikileaks could not be avoided, so take an hour and a half to check out the world of Julian Assange and his online whistle blowers.

6. See Bruce Springsteen keynote SWSW Music. They don’t call him The Boss for nothing! He is a legend in sound, and will surely curate an excellent keynote.

7. Discover a band you’ve never heard of before. Take a chance and try a new sound; they may become your new favorite! There so many bands performing at SXSW, so the time to take a chance has come.

8. Visit the Music Gear Expo. For those who play or admire those who play, this selection of instruments on display will create an incredible exhibition for a wide range of tastes.

9. Go to as many SXSW parties as you can.  Many of them will be free to enjoy, so make the most of your time.  Besides, you never know who will appear beside you at the bar. 

10. Jay-Z’s Amex Sync Performance. It’s obvious, but we wouldn’t miss it if we were there. If Vancouver’s past show with Kanye and Jay was any indication, this concert will not be one to miss.

Be sure to tweet us @RoamMobility and visit our Facebook page to show your SXSW photos; we really want to see them! Remember, those photos will also count in our Liberty to Share photo contest, which is currently under way.

The Mobile World Congress 2012 conference held in Barcelona just wrapped, with Microsoft Windows 8’s beta reveal,  HTC’s One V, Panasonic Eluga, Samsung Galaxy S and Optimus L7 smartphones being the highlights of the show. While Skype for Windows’ unveiling, which was foreseen after Skype’s acquisition by the software giant was finalized months ago.

More interesting bits from MWC include the innovation of Japanese mobile provider NTT Docomo creating a breathalyzer case for your smartphone, NFC technology (basically a many splendored technology, one use being the possibility to pay for items with your mobile phone), and Japan’s Fujitsu who has created a phone that can survive being dropped in the toilet.

Breathalyzer phone case might just keep you from doing something you'd rather not

To add spice to the conference the University of Barcelona’s students took to the entrance of the MWC, to protest rising tuition costs during the second last day of the conference.  As one of the largest presentations was due to be held that day (Microsoft Windows’ 8 reveal), it was fortunate that the events did not delay the launch.

The Mobile World Congress has certainly given us a handful of technology that will surely innovate and touch many people’s daily lives.  One has to wonder if through NTT technology we will soon be able to tap our smartphones at a cash counter and pay instantly (as with a credit card PayPass technology), or take our mobiles underwater to take photos where we may have otherwise ruined our phones... something tells me with continuing technology releases as those we've seen at Mobile World Congreess 2012, that mainstream usage isn't far off.

Instant cash payment, with a tap on your phone

Have any personal highlights from MWC? Send us your thoughts via Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or in the comments section.

When you’re on roaming, it’s often an important step to figure out how much data you’re going to need. Going with a provider’s regular roaming rates is always excessively expensive: this makes knowing your data usage very important. Whether you’re a light user, send a ton of emails, update Facebook or Twitter constantly, or stream videos, our data calculator can figure out how much data you’re going to need, based on which device(s) you use.

The handy data calculator let's you know how much data you're going to need

You can select between smartphone, tablet or laptop – each device requires a different amount of data for the same actions. Move the sliders for each thing you do that requires data and you will see an estimate appear of how much data you’re going to require for your trip. It’s easy to forget just how much data you actually use in a day. Stay ahead of the dread of roaming fees, by knowing how much data your actions take.

Below your estimated usage is a comparison of the Roam Mobility plan that best matches how much data you’re going to need. Packages are sized at 500MB, 1GB, 2GB and 5GB. You’ll quickly notice that you can save a very hefty sum, by using a Roam SIM card or Liberty device, instead of roaming with your regular Canadian provider. If you hover your cursor over the question mark icon (placed beside “Their Price”), you can see what their plans are that we use to calculate pricing against.

Going to need around 1.78 GB of data? Go with the 2GB plan

If you’re interested in plans that also have talk and text, see our plans page for more details. Have something you’d like to see in the calculator or have a question about pricing? Let us know, by adding a comment to this post, writing on our Facebook wall, sending us a tweet on Twitter, or joining our circle on Google+.

Today marks the launch of our Liberty to Share Photo Contest, over on our Facebook page. Roam Mobility is designed for travel so what better way to showcase our love of travel than through a photo contest? Simply submit your US travel pic(s), then get your friends to vote for it. The photo with the most votes wins a Liberty Mobile Hotspot.

Contest Details

• -You can enter up to 3 of your US travel images for people to vote on
• -You will have until March 13^th at 6:00pm PST to submit your photos
• -Voting will begin March 13^th at 6:01pm PST and run until March 20^th
• -Everyone can vote once per day
• -Share this contest with all your friends
• -Winner will be announced March 21st

Prize Details
The lucky winner of this contest wins a Liberty Mobile Hotspot that provides WiFi for up to 5 devices at once: allowing you to access an internet connection wherever you are in the US. With high speeds and good coverage, it’s perfect for the person on the go. Pictures to share? No problem. Need to send an email or large file, in a time crunch? It’s got you covered. The Liberty retails for $129.95.

Good luck everyone! If you have any questions about the contest, please let us know on our Facebook page, Twitter, Google+, or in the comment section of this post..

Florida may be renowned for its beaches and party destinations, but Miami Beach is also home to one of America’s most striking art deco districts.  The visuals striking and vintage, due to many of the locations made popular during the 1950s, though most buildings were erected from 1923 to 1943. Many of these structures remain visually authentic from their glory days, decades ago, making Miami Beach’s Art Deco district an entertaining and historical site.

For the visitors who don’t wish to miss historical information, a thorough 90 minute guided walking tour is available.  Local historians will take you through the district, while providing introductions to Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District as a whole.

Those looking for a visual feast need only to walk around and spot the historic hotels within the Art District; The Colony, The Berkeley Shore, The Marlin, Ritz-Carlton South Beach, Essex House and Waldorf Towers hotels are all some of the most recognized structures within the district.

For those wishing to take a visit during the annual Art Deco Weekend, pack your bags and plan to arrive for January.  The festival takes place from the 13^th to the 15^th, and is run by the Miami Design Preservation League.  Musical performances, a classic car show, film and lecture series, as well as art deco furniture and poster design exhibits are but a taste of what is available during the festival.

As approximatley 960 historical buildings are officially listed with the US National Register of Historic Places, Miami's Art Deco district is the largest of its kind in the world; a true must-see.  As if we needed another reason to keep coming back to Miami!

Have a favorite spot in Miami? How about another art deco district? Let us know in the comment, over on Twitter, our Facebook wall, or Google+.

YouTube has been around since 2005, and millions of videos have been uploaded. Some have gone viral, others haven't made a blip in the pond. YouTube has such varied content, most people find it quite addictive (I've heard being stuck on watching YouTube videos as being in a "YouTube hole"!). Since stumbling across a list of YouTube's 50 Best Videos, according to Time Magazine, I've been wondering what it takes to actually go viral.

1)      Everyone loves kids. Whether you think they're cute or not, kids do say the darndest things.  Video 'Charlie Bit My Finger' has hit #1 on Times' list, though I'm unsure if it's due to the kid or accent content, or an unstoppable hybrid of the two.  Video #3, ‘David After Dentist’ also features kid content, though a child out of it from a visit to the dentist is always a laugh riot, as does #20, the Laughing Baby.

2)      Animals are always a hit.  Whether we’re talking about your friendly neighbourhood #8’s ‘Keyboard Cat’, ‘Dramatic Chipmunk’ (#9), ‘Sneezing Panda’ (#16) or the crowd favorite ‘Otters Holding Hands’ (#17, which happen to be living at the Vancouver Aquarium!), everyone loves critters doing funny things, or better yet, things that humans normally do. 

3)      Getting animated always helps, whether you’re talking literally or metaphorically.  ‘Charlie The Unicorn’ (#49) always earned snorts of laugher from everyone I’ve witnessed watching, while those wanting a reality driven fix of livelihood can always depend on the classic laugh out loud instagator ‘Evolution of Dance’ (#2) and ‘’Thriller’ In Manila’ are sure to get you moving in real life.

4)      Being a freak on a pedestal always helps, especially when you’re publically moping about how hard your life is, or generally making a spectacle of your ‘uniqueness’ as LonelyGirl15 (#45), the ‘Leave Britney Alone’ guy (#6), ‘Chocolate Rain’ (#38) singer Tay Zonday and Susan Boyle’s debut (#21).  Would Justin Beiber (#34) fit within this category? I’ll let you decide.

There are, of course, many more videos within this Top 50 list that we haven’t included links to, so be sure to check out the full fifty to get an accurate picture of what humanity has been thinking was very entertaining over the last few years! What YouTube hits were your favorites? Let us know in the comments, on our Facebook, over Twitter, or Google+.

When traveling as a photographer, packing all your essential equipment and day to day shooting can become quite complicated and overwhelming. Juggling expensive equipment, multiple accessories and yet being able to access all of it at a moment’s notice is critical. As a documentary photographer, I will be offering my best tips for keeping travel imaging trouble free.

Invest in a quality bag. This is crucial; a proper camera bag with a properly fitting compartment for your camera (be it a point and shoot, or an SLR), lenses, cleaning supplies and additional batteries.  A proper bag also prevents theft, due to a more secure storage style which is typically worn on the body [comfortably] at all times. 

Always come with an extra battery.  It’s key, especially when you’re shooting with a camera that does not take batteries available at a corner store.  Keep the fully charged backup in your camera bag, just in case – you never know what you will be stumbling upon in your day to day adventuring.

Bring a few lenses.  This only applies for friends with SLRs or those fancy point and shoots with interchangeable lenses, but it’s valuable to remember if you’re thinking about trading up in the photo world.  My daily go to, a Nikon 50mm F1.4, may be incredibly bright and wonderful for portraits, yet dismal for anything more landscape oriented. I recommend bringing a portrait lens, a more versatile F3.5 18-120mm for zooms and a wide angle, such as a 12-24mm.

Be careful with your gear.  Big cameras, lenses and even smartphones translate to quick cash to would be thieves, no matter what part of the world you are in.  If you have your gear out, you must always have half of your mind on what you’re shooting, and half on who may be watching you with your investment in your hands.

Don’t over pack your camera bag.  It’s great to have a variance of lenses, but it is not wise to bring a backpack full of gear to a new environment, especially one you are not familiar in.  Unless you have an entourage to keep an eye on your bag and gear, bringing that much equipment into the field is not advisable. Before journeying out each day, choose the few lenses that would best suit capturing your day's adventure, and leave your other lenses behind.


Be involved with the community you’re shooting in. Instead of observing as a third party, talk to the people you want to shoot.  More often than not, they will let you take their photograph, and due to this the result will be more intimate and valuable as a finished work.  Speaking with people before snapping their photo is also much more respectful than the alternative, and I guarantee you will have more experiential takeaway than if you were to walk around without speaking to locals. Of course having a discussion and asking permission is not always possible, but if the situation allows, it is always advisable to have a short chat and understand who you are about to immortalize.

Take multiple walks around the same community.  There is always something more to discover in the same neighbourhood, especially if you are going to photograph. If possible, return to communities you want to shoot multiple times, and you will find gems that were missed during the first round. Often we are so focused on one aspect of our environment that we miss others, even if we’re looking straight at them, so return and absorb everything you can from that particular location before truly moving on.

Have some tips for the photographer that you'd like to share? Give us a pointer in the comment section, start a conversation on our Facebook wall, or tweet us a tip on Twitter.

Instead of diving through piles of menus, driving to a retail location to purchase a new plan, or having to spend precious time on hold, we've streamlined our Top-Up process. We have 3 easy ways to purchase and use a new plan: Quick Call, Online Account, and Auto-SMS. This blog post details how the Auto-SMS top-up function works:

Step 1 

Send a text message to 7850. You will recieve a prompt asking you which type of plan you'd like to choose, as well as being able to see when your current plan expires. Reply back with the number associated with the plan (ie. "1" for talk+text+data), and the next prompt will appear.

Step 2

Now you can decide which amount of days or the data size you're going to need your plan for . Choose from one of the 5 choices and text back the number associated with that timeframe.

Step 3

Just to make sure you've chosen the plan you want, this prompt asks you to confirm your order, by pressing 1 to confirm or 2 to start over. Remember: plans purchased via the SMS Top-Up start immediately.

Easy as that

Just 3 easy steps get you from start to finish. Your plan will now immediately be active, so you can start using your plan right away. You'll get one final message, to let you know that your top-up has successfully gone through.

Have a question about doing the top-up or the plans you can choose from? Drop us a line in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you for roaming with us.

Your trip is booked and you’re ready for that time away from work and home. If you’ve planned out your trip the right way (see our last vacation blog post for some tips), then you’ve got a good leg-up on many March Break travellers. Now, to turn all that planning into a great time with the family. Here are some tips on how to do that, while you’re vacationing:

You’re on your way

Driving, flying, or hopping to your vacation location, there are often delays. Between traffic, weather and plane repairs, be prepared to have a bit of a wait, while you’re in transit. Nothing can spoil a vacation quite like having a case of the layover blues- so ease up, have something to eat, and have a group think on how great this vacation is going to be. Bring something along to kill time, be it mobile phone, tablet, books, etc. The Liberty hotspot is a great choice, for keeping a group of people entertained, as it allows up to 5 devices to connect to it's data source.

Internet anytime? No problem. Now the kids will always have something to do

Set the rules but always prepare to bend them

 You’re on vacation: make sure you act like it. While it’s always important to set a few guidelines, everyone needs to enjoy themselves: even the person who planned the vacation. Don’t rely too heavily on a stringent itinerary and keep in mind the fact that everyone is going to want to have a slightly different experience. The sooner you start being too strict, the sooner you're going to experience traveller's mutiny.

So you’ve “lost” the kids

Just as teens are going to need a little alone time, so are the parents. Teenagers are going to need to be able to wander off on their own to hangout and find other people their own age. Parents, take this time to get some alone time and do your own thing. Part of a family vacation is still doing your own thing. Do some things only you want to do, so that group activities can be tailored to everyone. Set some times for meeting up later in the day and plan an activity around it: go for dinner, head to the beach or into town, or see a show.

Umbrella warriors!

Weather delays aren’t a vacation stopper

Just because it’s a little wet doesn’t mean it’s ruined. If you’ve brought along some travel essentials like a portal dvd player/tablet, books, games, etc, you should be prepared for a rain delay. Spend some time shopping, checking out museums or other activities that can take up a whole afternoon. If you’re feeling adventurous, don some rain gear and go for a hike. You can also spend a little time indoors just relaxing; preparing for the next day's outings.

The final leg of the tour

 Depending on the length of your vacation and how rigorous your activities, you’re going to need a little down time. It’s often better to have more of your activities planned for the first leg of the trip, in order to leave a bit more relaxation time towards the end. Go for a walk, enjoy the scenery, check out the local food, and relax: you’ve earned it. If you're bringing back a lot of purchases from the trip, remember to plan ahead for baggage space and otherwise.

No matter your vacation type, it’s important to keep connected with both the people you’re vacationing with as well as people back home. That’s what we at Roam Mobility pride ourselves on. We’re prepared to support all Canadian travellers headed State-side, with our talk, text, and data packages. We hope your March Break adventure is a great one.

Have some advice on how to handle a March Break vacation? Let us know in the comment section or give us a shout on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you for roaming with us

When it comes to packing style, most people fall into one of two categories - the over-packer, or the "I only brought two t-shirts".  Since neither approach is ideal, we've compiled a quick list for packing reference. Especially for those gearing up for a March Break trip to somewhere sunny, take note.

1. Sunblock. It may seem like a no brainer, but even if you're shooting for a tan during your March Break holiday, a high level sunblock is essential. Getting a small burn greatly increases your risk of skin diseases, like cancer.

2. An extra swimsuit. It's true that your desire to jump into the pool or run into the ocean greatly increases while in vacation mode. Thus having just one swimsuite may not suffice. Bringing extra swim gear takes up minimal luggage space but gives you a dry option always.

3. A hat. Whether you're a fitted cap guy or a floppy hat lady, hats not only shield your head from heat and prevent sunburns and sunstroke, they are an awesome fashion accessory.  We suggest stopping into a local hat shop to broaden your style horizons while you stretch your travel legs.

4. Boat shoes. While plain 'ol sneakers will always be a go-to look, boat shoes are like your sneakers amplified. They're easy to slip on and off, give you more protection than sandals and takes your outfit up a feel style notches.

5. Light evening layers. Even if you're heading down to Florida, California or Hawaii this March Break, the evenings will still be chilly enough for a light jacket.  Think of it this way: your days will be so hot that you'll be freezing in 10 degree weather.

6. An amazing playlist. Whether you'll be waiting in a train, bus or car to get to your destination, music is essential to remain sane during travels.  Pre select a few different playlists; select groups of sounds that are chill, hyper and in between to cover every mood.

7.  A travel kit. Cuts, broken nails and everything in between can and may happen if you're in transit, especially if your travel is on the longer side.  Invest in a small 'just in case' kit, and you (or your friends) will thank you when the time comes to break it open.

8. Noise canceling headphones. You've armed yourself with some amazing music, but there's a screaming toddler six aisles ahead of you.  This could be a downer, but if you've got noise canceling headphones they will drown out a lot of that excess sound around you.

9. Sunglasses. Protecting yourself from UV rays and Squint Face is essential.  Pack them in their protective casing to prevent them from being crushed with the rest of your luggage. Broken sunglasses is not fun to replace during a trip.

10. Roam's talk, text and data package. At about $3 per day, you'll never miss a Facebook photo upload, a Twitter update, or a work email while you're having fun in the USA!

Saint Patrick’s Day, celebrated internationally on March 17th, is a cultural and religious holiday commemorating Saint Patrick, the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland. In North America, it's commonly known as the holiday where people wear green and drink lots of Guinness (if you're into that, of course). It is also the day that Lent ends.


For all those reasons and more, there are usually many local events (and definitely pubs) celebrating St. Patrick's Day; especially if you are in the States. Every year, Chicago dyes its river green (shown above) and is said to have the best presentation for the holiday in the USA at their parade. Alternatively, over at Hot Springs, Arkansas, they put on the shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade. And if you happen to be in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, enjoy a pop-up concept party: Shamrock City.

Imagine the photos and videos you could snap up and share during some of these celebrations! If you’re not so much for the public presentations, most every pub will have dyed green beers, milkshakes and other fun interpretations of this fun holiday.

We’d like to know how you celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Where will you be? Let us know in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

Bar your windows and lock your doors: the invasion of the tablets is upon us…well, it really has been upon us for quite some time. You might not see them on the street - the way you do with smartphones - but they have been flying off the shelves for over the last year. While this technical newcomer has only been around for a couple of years, 2011 boasted over 65.2 million units sold, with top honors (40.2 million units) going to the iPad2.

Any Apple fan or tech savvy adventurer probably knows a fair amount about the iPad: people love their Apple products. However, one of the largest factors keeping many back from purchasing tablets is the cost. Being that the iPad is the most prolific, people expect to spend $600 on a tablet: a number much higher than some of the competitors. While the iPad is a great device, options like the Kindle Fire have access to Android apps - through Amazon's app store - and come in at a much more affordable $200. While the older Kindles worked simply as E-Readers, the Fire has full color touch screen with plenty of useful apps.

The iPad and other tablets may just become the traveller’s best friend. Besides putting hotel and resort owners in a tizzy, based on their popularity (see this article), there are a myriad of great travel apps available. We recently did a blog post on our top travel apps, if you want to get some ideas. With more usability than a smartphone and more practicality while traveling than a laptop, tablets give you the best of both worlds. Having the convenience of all your books, maps, guides, movies, music, etc in one portable spot is efficiency at its best.

In order to facilitate a tablet's need for speedy Wi-Fi, our Liberty mobile hotspot is a great way to keep the data connection running smoothly, without trading in an organ to pay for roaming fees. Fast speeds and a reliable connection are the best way to power apps you rely on to get around. As well, you can connect 5 devices to the Liberty at once: bring your friends. It can greatly improve how you can access your technology, while on the road, by keeping you connected to fellow travellers, people back home, and any applications you might require.

We’d like to know if you have a tablet or are considering one. What are your top choices? Let us know in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. We hope to see you roaming with us soon!

UPDATE: As of Friday, September 7th, we are no longer offering free shipping. Please refer to our shipping policy for available shipping options, or locate a Roam Mobility dealer to pick up a product in your area.

Starting last week, Roam Mobility announced not only free shipping included with all device purchases, but also new shipping options. These options are expedited, express post and priority courier.

Canada Post

Before we dive into the details about our new shipping options, we thought it was pertinent to mention that Canada Post now handles all of our shipping deliveries. We have pick-ups every day from our Vancouver office, meaning that your orders are shipped within one business day of being placed. Later this year, we will be adding a shipping facility in the Toronto area, which means that delivery times to our customers in Ontario and further east will significantly reduced.

Expedited Shipping

Expedited shipping is our free shipping service. Typically, expedited shipments take between 2-5 business days depending on where you live. If you live in the Vancouver area, you can expect to receive your order in 2 business days. Calgary and Edmonton - 2 business days. Winnipeg - 3 business days. Toronto and Ottawa - 4 business days. 

Express Post

Express Post means that your order will arrive within 2 business days if you live in a major metropolitan area, or 3-4 days if you live in a rural area. It really depends on where you live and how quickly Canada Post can get to you, but Express Post is sufficient for most rush orders. At checkout, enter your postal code into our shipping estimator tool to see how long it will take to ready your address and how much it will cost.

Priority Courier

If you're really in a rush, choose Priority Courier. This translates into next-day delivery for more Canadians, with orders taking only 1 business day to reach most cities. Unfortunately we can't reach everywhere in Canada the next day, so make sure you use the shipping estimator tool to see the estimated delivery date for your address.

Tracking

All shipments now include a tracking number, so you can follow your order leaving the Roam Mobility office and making its way to your doorstep. Once the order ships, an email notification will be sent to you including your tracking number.

Delivery to the US

We can also deliver product to the US. Before you place an order, chat with our customer care team either by email (info@roammobility.com) or call toll-free 1-888-762-6487 and ask about your options for US delivery.

Problems with Shipping

Something wrong with your shipping request? Need to change the delivery address or is your order not getting to you soon enough? Contact our customer care team and we'll do our best to get your order to you in time for your next trip.

Camels might not be the most traditional method of family transit

With March Break season around the corner, many families are booking that well-deserved vacation. You've got the vacation time booked, your kids are beyond eager to get out of school for a week, but what do you do next? How do you go from patient parent to vindicated vacationer? Here are some suggestions on how to plan for your upcoming adventure:

Um...where are we going?

The age-old question: what do we do? While the parents may have the perfect idea that works for them, you might want to make sure the kids aren’t going to be bored or terrorizing the hotel like adventure-starved gremlins. Whether you’re interested in sea, snow, sightseeing, or something else, make sure there is something for the whole family, to keep everyone happy.

Itinerary? Mmm kind of

While it’s always a good idea to have a firm grasp of how you want the vacation to go, give it a little wiggle room. Don’t start planning everything to the hour: it won’t fly. Something will always come up. While in the planning stages, make sure you leave time to experience the things you might not have heard about. Often times, unexpected events turn out to be trip highlights. Not only that but you’re bound to want a little more down time than you’re planning for.

Planning for the individual, as well as the group

Planning small excursions or events for each individual on the trip is a great way to keep the family happy and appreciated. Letting everyone make a small decision about the vacation keeps them involved in the planning process and greatly increases the chances of a great vacation adventure. Likewise, the more activities the whole group can enjoy, the more likely you’re going to have fond memories of your trip for years to come.

What's in your wallet?

Whether you’re driving the station wagon to a campground or flying your private jet to Dubai, everyone has some sort of budget. Know how much you want to spend but definitely have some cash on reserve: be prepared for emergency situations or better yet, an impromptu shopping spree. Just don’t go overboard with it. No one likes getting home to a credit card bill shaped like a phonebook.

My documents!

Passports, licenses, tickets, booking numbers, or any other relevant documentation should be updated, obtained, and safely stored, well before it’s go time. Make sure you are on top of all of the paperwork for the whole family, having your documents prepared and organized will be a lifesaver if you are caught in a situation where you need to reference key data. Missing an ID or a reservation slip has foiled many trips.

Have some great tips for families planning a vacation? Give us your top tips in the comment section, on our Facebook wall, or tweet us over on Twitter.

Camera apps are essential to the smart phone user, not only for those who like to share, but those who want to ensure the highest quality image is captured.  After all, we may not always have our cameras on hand, but we'll always have our smart phones ready for quick draw!

Instagram, Free (filters)

Instagram is the hippest of the camera filter crew at the moment, not just for its many filters, but for easy social media sharing capabilities.  It doesn't hurt that Instagram is also free; you won't find another app of this caliber within the free download bin.

Magic Shutter, $2.99 (long exposure)

Long exposures used to be the realm of the manual camera, but no longer! Basically, Magic Shutter keeps your light collecting sensor open longer than normal, which allows you to pick up images in low light where you wouldn't be able to before. 

Pro HDR, $1.99 (combining exposures)

Even for those that aren't HDR superfans, this app is a great backup for creating images where you would need multiple exposures for it to look good.  Hint: imagine someone standing beside a window; either outside the window would look too bright, or inside would be far too dark. This app combines three or more images to create a balanced photo automatically. 

Iris Photo Suite, $1.99 (editing)

Iris is a fairly powerful editing tool; you can replace colors, create double exposures, blend images or layer with texture in addition to the expected contrast, brightness, etc.  It features an easy drag feature so you can toggle multiple options on a single screen to create your best photo. 

Photoshop Express, Free (editing)

For the most basic edits, Photoshop Express is just the thing. For simple edits like cropping, exposure adjustment and noise control, this freebie will do the trick, but it won't give you much in the way of more intuitive editing. 

Pano, $1.99 (panoramic stitching)

Not only can you stitch together multiple images to create a seamless panoramic photo, but Pano allows you to have a higher resolution image (up to 800 x 6800). Shooting landscapes and family portraits on your phone will never be the same! 

Montage, $1.99 (collage editing)

For the collage lover, Montage is perfect for combining elements of photos, text and supplied images to slice and dice your pictures.  One cool aspect is you can save images in layering format, so you can go back and change your work if you feel the need. 

Touch Retouch, $0.99 (removing unwanted elements)

This app is, hands down, one of the coolest ones we've come across: you can remove unwanted things or people from your photos with a few finger taps. Just think of all those travel photos you have in your albums where you wish you could pluck all of the other tourists out..  

FX Photo Studio, $0.99 (filters)

FX is basically Instagram on steroids; they have 187 photo filters available within a single app. With a clean design and easy usage, this app is a win, especially for under a dollar. 

Autostitch Panorama, $1.99 (stitching)

For those who wish to do their panoramic stitching at a later time after shooting, or want a thicker image rather than a super long one, Autostitch Panorama is just what you need. 


What are your go-to photo apps? Share your favorite photo app, or better yet, share your cool travel photos with us via our Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ pages.

Film festival lovers, never fear – Sundance may have completed last month, but there is still a run of notable film festivals, particularly the Cleveland International Film Festival, about to begin.

The Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) has been an environment for many notable documentaries, art house films and thrillers from all over the world. By viewing the archive of films, one can get a fair handle on the types of films CIFF typically shows.

The opportunity to discuss current films, screening and work with their filmmakers is also available within special forums, which is a unique opportunity to directly access the creative minds responsible for the work you have seen at CIFF.

Also worth noting is the CIFF’s Someone To Watch award series; a young filmmaker is highlighted and their work screened and judged by a panel.  This is a fantastic opportunity to identify the next generation of film greats!

The Cleveland Film Festival occurs from March 22^nd to April 1^st in Cleveland, Ohio.  You can find more information within the CIFF community online, as well as purchase tickets if you’re ready to jump down to Ohio for the ‘fest!

If you are a film fanatic who will be attending CIFF or any other film festivals this year, let us know in the comment section or head over to our Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ pages.

There has been a fair amount of coverage recently on Rogers' One Number app/program. One Number is a VoIP service which allows you to call and text other people from your computer, using only a data connection. By allowing you to sync your contact lists between devices, you always have all your contacts close at hand. A video chat function is also available, helping the app to become an all-in-one suite which seeks to keep people connected. More over, you may use the Follow Me list to make your other devices (ie. web app, home phone, cell phone) pick up your calls from the number you want to be reached it.

While Rogers does have many different functions within this one application, there are many other VoIP programs to choose from, for customers of other providers: see our VoIP blog post for more details. For those who don't already sync their contacts using Gmail or iCloud, many VoIP applications use the contact list already on your device, to save you the trouble. Furthermore, many VoIP apps are centred around your mobile device, while Rogers One Number is created more for home use on your computer. While it boasts more functionality that many other desktop apps, there are better choices for mobile use.

If Rogers customers are interested in using this service, there are several things to be aware of. When traveling, the Follow Me list can be used with your US number, to easily call-forward calls from your Canadian number to your US one, such as if you were using our SIM card or Breeze phone. However, this is a paid service by your provider and they will charge you a forwarding fee. Furthermore, it is very important to see that One Number requires a lot of data to run. Many VoIP apps require 1MB per minute for voice functionality: racking up your data bill very quickly, if you are on a regular Canadian provider. To combat this, we suggest using our Liberty device, to maximize your data capabilities, without being charged an arm and a leg. Video chat also requires a strong connection: something the Liberty device specializes in.

If you have any further questions about using One Number with our service, let us know in the comment section or head over to our Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ pages.

We're often asked by clients and potential Roam customers about how data works on Blackberry devices, on our network and in general. As all Blackberry branded applications (ie. Mail, BBM, browser) runs on RIM's secure network, each mobility provider must broker a deal with RIM to have access to that network. Currently, we're in talks with RIM to have full access to the networks for Roam customers. While we would have liked to have launched with full Blackberry capabilities, the process can take a fair amount of time. It's expected for roll-out in late spring or early summer.

Until then, all other data functions for Blackberry devices are still available. While you won't have access to the Blackberry branded applications named above, you will still have full capabilities with all other data uses. This includes third-party applications such as the GMAIL web app, browsers such as Opera Mini, games, VoIP apps, Twitter, Facebook, and many others. While many third-party apps like WhatsApp provide digital messaging similar to BBM, email apps can also come with the same functionality of the native mail service that comes standard with your Blackberry device.

Do you have any favorite third-party blackberry applications? We'd like to hear what they are. Drop us a line in the comment section, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you for roaming with us.

It's always good to have a few go-to romantic travel destinations in your back pocket, especially when you have a special somebody to impress, or a question to pop.  Below are our favorite romantic destinations within the USA; we think you will agree with why these cities made the cut:


Miami

Who could resist the feeling of Miami on Valentine’s Day? The beaches, warm climate and endless rolodex of fantastic restaurants, Miami is sure to hit a romantic home run. If you're in the mood for a dip, check out Venetian Pool, often described as the most glamorous municipal pool in the world, it is the perfect spot for swimming and sunbathing. Being there will make you feel like you've escaped the big city. 

New York

New York is always a romantic destination, if only due to its celebrity status within the entertainment industry and glamorous Broadway shows. The city is literally packed with great date ideas including taking a carriage ride in Central Park, or checking out the panoramic view from the Empire State building, or taking a walk down the Brooklyn Promenade [shown], or visiting Lincoln Centre at dusk. The possibilities are endless.

New Orleans

When a city is so steeped in French history as New Orleans, you cannot deny the romantic possibilities within its limits. Visit the Sculpture Gardens in City Park (which features the iconic stacked letters spelling ‘Love’). Afterwards, hang out at Carousel Bar , its unforgettable venue design is pure whimsical magic.

San Francisco

We recommend taking a sunset stroll through Crissy Field for a stunning view of one of the most iconic stuctures in America - the Golden Gate Bridge, or if you're up for a drive, soak in the view of the city from Treasure Island. If you prefer to dine, then Starlight Room certainly offers a special restaurant experience with its glamorous 1930s style dress-up nightclub.

Savannah

If you prefer a lower key trip, than make your way to Savannah and check into the popular B&B, The Kehoe House.  You can make a stop at the Olde Pink House for a delicious bite while making your way around the historic district, which is one of the most notoriously romantic spots to eat and hangout in the city.


Which city stirs up the feeling of romance for you? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

(Photo by Vandan Desai)

Depending on the area and neighbourhoods you will be visiting, preparing yourself and your bags for unfortunate situations can save you a lot of trouble.  Even if you don’t think you will need to prepare for the worst, it’s always a good idea to take a few precautions.  After all, if you lose a credit card or your ID, things can get very complicated.

1)      Photocopy your ID. This won’t work for bar entry, but if you’re going for walks or wanderings, it’s best to not carry originals in case your bags get stolen, or you happen to be pickpocketed. Alternatively, carry your money and cards in a money belt. Bags and packs are beacons of item possession, so keep your items of high importance under your clothes and on your person at all times.

2)      Photocopy your passport and important documents. This may include your travel insurance papers, medical records, travel itinerary etc. Keep a secured set in your hotel safe. In the instance where trouble arises, it will be life-saving to have all your documents accessible for easy reference.

3)      Before your trip, take a photo of all your luggage pieces traveling with you. If any point of your trip, your luggage goes missing or gets stolen, you will be asked for your luggage's details including brand, color, and size among other identifying factors in order for your airline or hotel to support a search. Moreover, always fill out all the information on your luggage tag correctly and legibaly.

4)      Don’t leave your hotel with multiple IDs with you. Lock up duplicate IDs and other identification in a safe wherever you are staying. The rule of thumb is to only keep one real card on you, and have the rest as photocopies in case of need (insurance cards, etc.)

5)      Choose a meeting spot in case someone in the group goes missing or if you lose communication with them (ie. stolen phone). Ensure the meeting spot is both easy to find and identify.

6)      Leave the leather at home. Nicer bags catch the eyes of would-be thieves faster than something a little less pretty. This may not be popular with the ladies, but it’s for everyone’s own good!

7)      Choose a backpack over a cross body bag.  Backpacks are easier to secure, have more pockets and are closer on your person than a cross body model, which makes it more difficult for a pick-pocketer.

8)      Consider leaving your new smartphone at home and opting for a more utilitarian phone (think our Breeze device). A new iPhone or Android may attract the wrong type of attention, whereas a more basic model likely won't.

9)      If you do have a more expensive phone or music device, keep it in an inside pocket or in your bag if possible, rather than in your back pant pocket or holding it in your hands.

10)   Keep only the amount of cash you need on you. Your remaining cash should be stashed in various safe spots like your hotel safe, or a hidden pocket in your luggage. In the instance your cash gets stolen from one spot, you will have a back-up stash elsewhere. Alternatively, if you carry your credit card around, ensure you know how to cancel it immediately, if it gets stolen or lost.


Travel smart by being aware of your surroundings and being proactive about keeping yourself and your posessions safe. How do you travel smart? Share your travel-safe tips with us on Facebook and Twitter.

The 24^th annual SXSW conference - in Austin, Texas - is one of the most influential, exciting conferences held annually in the USA. The SXSW festival features three legs of entertainment: interactive (which include keynotes on changes in media, technology revolutions and social sharing platforms, to name a few), film and music: all culminating into one massive 10-day event. Subsequently, this festival attracts some of the most innovative brands, creative innovators and emerging artists from all over the world, both as performers or general attendees.

While the interactive and film components of the conference are not to be missed, it is often the musical acts that draw the largest crowds. Standouts from the music ‘fest this year include the Beastie Boys, The Black Keys, Broken Bells, Franz Ferdinand, Florence and the Machine, Interpol, MGMT, Muse, Patti Smith, The White Stripes, and many more. Check out the full listing of shows, to start scheduling your itinerary.

Besides the concerts and the parties, SXSW offers insightful educational panels and workshops daily; many featuring notable keynote speakers and professionals from around the globe. The range of topics discussed are both broad and dynamic. We recommend that you check out a few panels and workshops by day and resume your partying at night, to maximize your SXSW experience. Needless to say, another great draw of this event is the inherent networking opportunity in meeting industry leaders or just some new friends.

Since official SXSW hotels are already sold out, it is definitely time to start securing alternative accommodation.  Your best bet is to try and rent a house in Austin with fellow SXSW-ers, or check around for folks with an extra bed to crash on! You can grab tickets online or pick up a package deal, but don't delay - SXSW always sell out.

SXSW 2012 runs from March 9^th through the 19^th, with some presentation overlap between interactive, film and music. Whether you attend this conference for one day or ten - for business or leisure - you’ll be smart to arm yourself with not only talk and text - with our Breeze phone - but data in the form of a 4G powered Liberty Hotspot.  Doing this will make calling your friends or colleagues to meet up during shows, tweeting about the presentations and musicians, responding quickly to emails, and uploading videos to Facebook that much simpler and stress free.


Are you going to SXSW? Take us with you, by staying in touch on Facebook and Twitter.

For any tech savvy talker, VoIP apps have been a hot topic for the last several years. Using your data connection instead of your carrier’s talk and text plans, these applications are built to save the cost of calling charges; especially when it comes to long distance. The key thing you do have to keep in mind is that you will need a data connection. Here are our top 5 choices for VoIP apps.

Skype

This long-time best-known VoIP application has been used on desktop and laptop computers for years but is also available as a smartphone app. With an additional chat function, Skype allows for multiple ways to connect with other Skype users, along with free calling on many different devices. The cost of calling regular landlines or other mobile devices is low but Skype has the largest following of VoIP providers so many people get away with using only free calls.

Viber

A great aspect of Viber is that the app runs in the background; allowing you to receive calls without having to be sitting around in the app waiting for the call. The service doesn’t require a sign-up feature, and it syncs to your existing address book. Having the ability to use someone's regular number-rather than an app appointed one- is always a plus.

Fring

Fring not only brings VoIP calls to the table but also Twitter alerts, chat client support, and video calling all in one place. The service is available for calling friends using a smartphone for free, if they also use the service.

Bobsled

What started as a Facebook app made by T-Mobile has turned into an iPhone / iPad / iPod app. Calling your Facebook friends or other people's mobile devices is simple, along with a chat client and the ability to record and send voice memos, over your data connection or WiFi.

Acrobits Softphone

With apps for iOS and Android, Acrobits allows you to customize your experience on voice and video calls, while using your native contact list. With Bluetooth integration, you can go hands-free, and with push notifications; you’re always connected. While the app itself isn’t free, it’s worth the low price of admission.

To re-emphasize, all VoIP app services require a data connection to function. However, using VoIP apps running off of data connection is a great alternative to traditional calling. Often times, it is a much more convenient and cost efficient alternative, especially when you are traveling abroad. Before your trip, ensure you equip yourself with a sufficient data plan on a Roam Mobilty SIM card or over our mobile Liberty hotspot, Using VoIP apps is definintely one of the best ways to stay connected.



If you have another VoIP app you prefer, please let us know on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

The Liberty Hotspot isn’t only fast and portable: it also works just like the router or gateway you have at home. Whether you’re an internet surfer or a power user, the Liberty has the same administration options as your stationary hardware, in order to maximize what you can do with it.

To log into your administration settings while in the US, connect your device to the hotspot using the SSID and password underneath the battery of the Liberty. Open your web browser and proceed to http://liberty.hotspot . The default password is “admin” and should be changed after your first log in. If you obtain your IP address from the Home tab, you can use it while in Canada to access your administration options before heading to the US, the next time you travel.

Home Tab

   The Home tab gives basic router information, as well as the phone number attached to your SIM card, IP address associated with your hotspot, WiFi password, and more. There is also an option here to change your network name (SSID) to anything you like. These are some basic settings that users should familiarize themselves with.

Basic Home portal with all your general information

Settings

   The settings section is the advanced user's bread and butter of any gateway. Here we have your broadband and network settings – where you can manually set your band connection. Wi-Fi settings include the MAC address and information of each device connected to your Liberty, as well as wireless network information and security options. You may also use this section to change your WPS mode. The firewall settings are also customizable and allow full functionality of port forwarding. Advanced settings further allows for access to the hotspot’s status, management options, the factory restore function, sleep mode settings, and management of you SIM’s PIN number.

The Port Forwarding function is especially useful for gamers and video streamers

Text Message

   This section not only displays the messages you’ve received from Roam Mobility but also allows you to compose and receive text messages through your Liberty device. As your SIM card has an assigned phone number, people can text that number and their messages will show up here. As well, you may enter the number of any phone number here and send outgoing messages.

Your Liberty comes with a text message function and inbox

Connection

   The final section allows you to set whether or not your device will automatically or manually connect to the internet.

Manage whether or not your device auto-connects to the hotspot

For any further questions regarding administration option with the Liberty hotspot, consult our FAQ section or drop us a line on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Chicago’s Field Museum may not be at the top of your mental list of museums to see, but it features some of the most intriguing traveling exhibits to hit the USA. Being one of America’s premier natural history museums is certainly a plus. Along with spying on 3D films, you can explore the Department of Anthropology, Botany, Zoology, Geology and the Environment, Culture and Conservatism area. But the highlight for us would definitely be meeting “Sue”, the world’s largest complete Tyrannosaurus skeleton ever discovered.

However, if sticks and bones don’t intrigue you enough for a visit, fret not as the Windy City is renowned for many other dynamic hot spots including the Art Institute of Chicago, Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile.

What are your favorite spots in Chicago? Share with us know on Facebook or Twitter.

Packing can be a stressful exercise for even the most seasoned of travelers, and it’s understandable – if you forget a key item, complications during your time abroad can be dramatic. Below are some tips for preparing for a hassle free world roam!

1. Roll your clothes. Rolling not only saves room, but keeps your clothes wrinkle resistant.

2. Keep different types of toiletries in sealable bags. This prevents spills, losing items and saves time when double checking what you already have packed.

3. Keep delicates, like your camera, in the centre of your pack. This helps absorb shock, since your bag will be tossed around during baggage processing.

4. Always leave room in your carry-on. You never know what you`ll find at the duty free, or what snacks you will need to stash.

5. Keep shoes in a sealable bag. This not only ensures the least amount of space is used, but keeps the rest of your bag clean after you’ve rotated wearing a few pairs of shoes.

6. Arm yourself with disposables. It’s the newest craze; disposable travel socks, underwear and other such necessities.

Share your packing tips with us by leaving us a comment on Facebook or Twitter.

What do you think of this video? Let us know on our Facebook wall or over on Twitter .

If you’ve purchased your phone from a telecom provider, chances are your phone is locked. A locked phone is one that will only work on the network that it has been locked to, meaning that you can’t use a SIM card or services from another provider. Companies do this in order to secure your business for an extended period of time, as it ensures that you will not use the device you purchased from them on another network. Along with signing a contract, this is also part of the reason why purchasing a mobile device from a service provider is cheaper than from the manufacturer (ex. Apple, RIM, Samsung, etc.), as providers subsidize the cost of your device, in order to get you locked-in with them.

Having an unlocked device can come with quite a few perks, as it allows you to shop around for the best deal, depending on how you use your device. For instance, it allows you to have a local provider for your Canadian phone needs but you can still do travel with us, to greatly lower your roaming rates. Roam Mobility SIMs work in your unlocked phone, to provide you roaming service without having to switch companies. If you readily upgrade your devices to keep up with the newest phones, unlocked devices also have much higher resale value, as they are much more versatile, in terms of available networks and where you can use them.

Unlocking your device is perfectly legal and can be done in several ways. Some mobile companies will provide an unlock code for your device, upon request. Otherwise, unlocking services are also available from third-party companies, depending on your device. Generally speaking, unlocking your phone is as easy as punching in a numeric code and you're good to go.

Currently, the iPhone is one of the only devices you cannot unlock through a third-party source. While there are some options you can use to unlock an iPhone, many of them are risky, some even causing your phone to lose functionality. Because of this, we highly recommend purchasing an iPhone directly from Apple, if you plan on using different providers. The iPhone4 is available directly from Apple in an unlocked state, unlike many of its predecessors.


In the instance where your phone is locked, and you have no plans to get it unlocked, a quick, easy and affordable solution is to invest in our Breeze phone, as it comes factory unlocked. This means it can be used with SIMs from other providers, as well as on the Roam Mobility network.

If you're wondering if your phone is unlocked or not, find out here. If you have any further questions about unlocked/locked phones or have any recommendations on the subject, please drop us a line on Twitter or Facebook . We suspect owning an unlocked phone will be much more common going forward; as people keep learning its many benefits.

As ubiquitous as internet access is, finding a reliable Wi-Fi hotspot on the run can prove difficult, especially when you are in a foreign country. Oftentimes when an internet connection is made, it can be extremely expensive and comes with many restrictions; limiting users drastically from accessing the internet in the same manner as they would back at home.

For many travelers, this has become the norm but it certainly doesn’t have to be. Now there is an alternative solution to pricey, slow, limited internet connections: meet Roam Mobility’s Liberty Hotspot. It serves to provide Canadians traveling to the US with a freedom of internet access that you can rely on, over a 4G network. Aesthetically, the Liberty Hotspot is very sleek and slim. At an incredibly light 2.6 oz. - smaller in size than an iPhone - the Liberty Hotspot has proven to be extremely portable. Jacket pockets, purses, and back jean pockets are popular places for the device to live while it is being used.

The Liberty Hotspot also allows up to five devices to be connected to it simultaneously. That means on your next family road trip, forget paying to use your hotel’s non-transparent and slow internet service. Rather, picture dad on his iPad checking his stocks, mom on her laptop uploading photos to Facebook, sister on her mobile phone tweeting, while brother is streaming a movie on his. The same is true for a business trip. One Liberty Hotspot powering secure, unrestricted internet usage for all. With data rates starting at 2 cent per megabyte, there’s never been a better time to go roaming.

With so many travel apps available on the market for easy download, it's hard to distinguish what apps are really going to be helpful while traveling and which ones will be able to help you on the fly, when you need it most. Here are 5 apps we recommend that might make your next adventure a little bit easier and a whole lot less stressful:

Trip It

Trip It acts as a sort of travel concierge. Instead of having to dig through your email inbox for flight updates, confirmation numbers, etc., Trip It organizes them all inside of the app, so you always have the information you need in one spot. You can even send your updates to other people, allowing them to see what your next step of the trip is.

Foodspotting

Let’s be honest: food can easily be one of the best things about traveling. A little different than your traditional foodie app offering, Foodspotting allows you to get reviews on specific dishes, instead of simple restaurant recommendations. You can even browse photos, to get you even hungrier before hitting up a local bistro. Also, positive ratings are rated in “noms”…that in itself is great.

Google Translate

Google Translate may not be something you would expect in a list of travel apps but, when in Rome, you might want to do as they do. Having a working translator you don’t have to flip through or fumble for can mean the difference between getting a courteous smile or being run out of town. Let’s not go for the second option, shall we? Especially handy are the text-to-speech and voice input options, to keep you ahead of the game.

FlightTrack

No one wants to miss a flight and that’s where FlightTrack shines. The app brings in live information on where a plane currently is, what time it left the gate, and gives you access to an international database of over 1,400 airlines and 4,000 airports. Zoom-able mapping keeps it visual and alternate flight sourcing helps you grab another flight, if something does happen to come up.

WeatherPro

Far from simply making it easier to make small talk with fellow travelers, WeatherPro keeps you up to date with live-feed weather updates, so you aren’t leaving the hotel in swim trunks and walking out into a blizzard. With full radar support (so you can see when storm fronts are on the move) and iCloud support, WeatherPro will have you prepared for any weather-related unknowns.

What are your must-have travel apps? Share with us on Twitter or Facebook.

Last week, Roam Mobility's CEO, Emir Aboulhosn, was invited to join Mike and Andy of Get Connected Radio for a phone interview broadcasted across Canada.

If you missed it, tune in here to hear Emir speak about building a mobile network that prevents Canadians from paying roaming bills, to revealing which country Roam Mobility plans to expand their services to next.

If you are interested in having a conversation with Emir, connect with him on Twitter: @eaboulhosn He would be happy to roam with you.

For more updates, follow us on Twitter @roammobility

Just got my Roam Mobility Liberty - looks sweet and even sweeter is no US data roaming rates!

— Bruce Patterson (@bruce_patterson) January 27, 2012

I just lowered my roaming bill with @roammobility bit.ly/z59Knq Now I can now roam freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

— Mark Busse (@MarkBusse) January 26, 2012

Hey Canada! I just lowered my roaming bill with @roammobility bit.ly/z59Knq

— Alan K'necht (@aknecht) January 25, 2012

I just significantly lowered my roaming bill to the US with @roammobility bit.ly/z59Knq

— Omri Tintpulver (@omri) January 24, 2012

I just lowered my US roaming bill with @roammobility bit.ly/z59Knq

— steve (@saintjin) January 25, 2012

I just lowered my roaming bill with @roammobility bit.ly/z59Knq

— P Smerdo (@psmerdo) January 25, 2012

If you're traveling to San Francisco, Pier 39 will likely be a high point of your visit. Shopping and dining is available at many destinations, but Pier 39 offers a unique angle - you will be amongst hundreds of sea lions that make the wharf their home.

The sea lions have made the pier their home since 1989, which have caused quite a commotion for both visitors and locals alike. While they make a racket, it's certain that these creatures will remain a highlight of the community!

For those anxious to catch a glimpse of the beasts, but with no iminent travel plans, Pier 39's live webcam is a must see.

It was quite a whirlwind four days, but I'm back home in Vancouver after a trip to New York. Without any exaggeration, the Liberty Hotspot device was the hero of my trip. Since I kept my hotspot in my pocket, I FaceTimed friends and family on my iPhone (without delay thanks to the 4G network), always had Googlemaps available (which was huge), could use the iPhone apps Viber and Skype to contact friends from Europe who were Stateside, and stream video after I got food poisioning from a Lower East Side diner!

My trip began with hours waiting for my plane at SEA-TAC. Right away I found myself turning to the Liberty Hotspot to stream movies, and getting quite excited as the moments passed. Without a doubt, I would have been bored and lost so many times over without this little piece of technology, it's almost scary.

It was the overall ability to do anything you wanted on your iPhone coupled with a 4G network, anywhere you wanted, that made things so easy. My iPhone is locked with Rogers, but I could still hook up to any wifi signal, hence the portability of the Liberty Hotspot being so lifesaving. The ability to use your iPhone while traveling the same way you would be using it back home is truly priceless. There were a few moments where I stepped back and wondered how my trip would be going without the Liberty Hotspot, and just shook my head and said 'forget it'; I didn't even want to consider that possibility.

A happy roamer,
Victoria

Xin Nian Kuai Le! Happy Chinese New Year! Today we say goodbye to the year of the Rabbit and welcome the year of the Dragon. Take this opportunity to embrace a few Chinese traditions and customs to ring in a year of good fortune.

Dress yourself in red and gold- red is the color of happiness and gold is the color of wealth. Eat plenty of oranges and tangerines, they are symbols of good health. Fill your home with fresh flowers; blooming flowers represent prosperity. Finally, gather your family together for a festive dinner feast.

These are just a few of many Chinese customs practiced on this day. How do you spend your Chinese New Year?

Last year, 75,000 people flocked to Indio, California for three days of Coachella music magic. This year, the ever popular music event has expanded to take place over two weekends: April 13-15 and April 20-22. Headlining this year's music lineup are The Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.

If you are one of the lucky Canadian heading down South to participate in this sold out event, ensure you pick a plan with a generous data package. Trust us when we say that you'll be dying to share every minute of your Coachella journey with your buddies back at home - as it happens. Yes, it's okay to rub it in their face. And no, your buddies will not mind you cluttering their Facebook newsfeed with live video-footage of Snoop Dogg rhyming shizzle with dizzle.

Our activation process is steamlined so that you can start roaming without hassle as efficiently and easily as possible. Once you've recieved your SIM card, you can get started by heading over to the Activate page:

Step 1: Enter the 19-digit code on the back of your SIM and click Activate. The site will have the number you need bolded, to make it easier to find.

Step 2: You will then be prompted to either create your new user account or sign into your existing Roam Mobility account.

Step 3: Upon signing in, your SIM card will be registered. You can now view your SIM card and rename it. Re-naming your SIM card is useful if you are managing multiple SIM card from your account (ie. family or business team travel).

Step 4: Click Top Up to purchase your new plan.

For further explaination and screenshots of the process, please see the Activate FAQ

At Roam Mobility, we love to travel as much as you do. It just so happens one of own, Victoria, will be visiting New York from Vancouver for the next five days, and she wants to take you with her.

We geared her up with the Liberty Hotspot device for 4G Wi-Fi, a Breeze phone for unlimited talk and text, and the Roam SIM card to use in her unlocked iPhone. Now we can all vicariously roam the streets of New York as Victoria shares her Big Apple adventure with us every step of the way. If you want to connect with Victoria, reach her at @roammobility, she will be tweeting lots and she is not scared of roaming charges.

When traveling from Canada to the United States, Roam Mobility is here to help you travel with ease and without a hefty bill. Between great roaming plans, simple-to-use hardware, extensive coverage across the US and online services that allow you to add to your plan at any time, it's never been easier to travel south. Interested in seeing how it all works?

We offer 3 different types of hardware: the Roam Mobility SIM card, Breeze phone, and Liberty mobile hotspot. Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, we've got you covered so that you can either use your existing phone with one of our SIM cards, a new phone for travel, or a hotspot for connecting up to 5 devices to that gives you 4G speeds across the United States.

We've designed our plans to not only tailor towards your needs but also to your budget. With pricing significantly lower than other major Canadian providers, it's now affordable to keep on roaming without that concern. If you're a business looking to increase productivity and decrease overhead, we also offer business solutions to help you meet your bottom line.

Whatever your travel plans to the US may be, we're here to make sure you stay connected.

Roam Mobility plans to launch the service in partnership with T-Mobile USA on Jan. 16. The company will provide the service through its continent-wide network, built for use by its Canadian customers only, that piggybacks on T-Mobile's massive servers.

"It's a game-changer," Roam Mobility CEO Emir Aboulhosen told CBC News in a telephone interview from Vancouver. "The minute you land in the U.S. you're calling home and never have to think about roaming charges again."

Canadians pay among the highest roaming fees in the world – about $800 million a year, half of that for charges incurred in the U.S., said Aboulhosen.

"The shocking part is that for a population of 34 million people, we're generating $800 million in roaming charges, Aboulhosen said. "It's a disproportionate number. We'd like to change that."

Aboulhosen said he got the idea because in his previous job as a software marketer he travelled widely and was spending $500 to $1,000 a month on roaming fees.

To access Roam's U.S. server, customers need to buy a roaming device or a SIM card to put into their own cellphones, as well as an unlimited voice, text or data plan, which range in price from $9.95 for one day to $59.95 for 30 days.

The roaming devices, which can be used with any wireless carrier for an unlimited number of trips to the U.S., range in price from $30 for a Breeze that allows voice and text connectivity for a single phone or computer, to the $100 Liberty Hotspot that lets customers have five wireless connections simultaneously.

The new service – a partnership between Roam Mobility and T-Mobile in the U.S. – is designed for Canadian tourists and business travellers who want to stay connected while travelling to the U.S., but who are afraid of racking up roaming charges.

“We’ve got a major carrier backing us to drop roaming rates by, in some cases, over 99%,” said Roam Mobility founder Emir Aboulhosn, who is also the founder of the social media network Kinjoe. “It circumvents roaming agreements. We do direct agreements with carriers. The pricing is at local rates.”

The new service is available in most U.S. states – including Hawaii – and Puerto Rico. Aboulhosn said it will also be available in Mexico and Western Europe in the coming months,

Subscribers have three options. Owners of unlocked phones and devices can buy unlimited talk and text plans for periods of one day ($10) to 30 days ($60.) Those who don’t own unlocked phones can buy a basic phone, called the Breeze, for $40 (plus tax), and a talk and text plan. Roam will allow Breeze phone owners to loan their phones and transfer accounts to friends and family.

A third option is the Liberty – a mobile hotspot that costs $130 – and data plans that range from $30 for 500 megabytes up to $100 for 5MB.

The Liberty will appeal to vacationing families, as it can provide 4G cellular service for up to five WiFi enabled devices. So while Dad uses Googlemap on his iPhone while driving the family to Disneyland, and Mom downloads books on her Kindle Fire tablet, the kids can watch Youtube videos on their iPod Touches.

James Shuttleworth, B.C. sales manager for Corporate Traveller – FlightCentre’s business travel division – said clients often ask about alternatives to roaming.

“If there’s a company that’s offering a more cost effective way of communicting, then that’s got to be a good thing for the consumer,” Shuttleworth said.

Mark Goldberg, a telecommunications analyst, said there are alternatives to roaming, so he predicts the company’s success will be based on increasing brand awareness, providing convenient access to Roam products, and maintaining good customer service.

“The real benefit of this arrangement – if they get it right – is making it easy for people before they leave to have it, and the key to the success is going to be in the whole relationship and interface with consumers,” Goldberg said. “The key is establishing the distribution – making it simple. And then they’ve got to build the awareness.”

Aboulhosn said Roam products will be available in duty free shops at border crossings and airports.

“It’s designed to be sold while people are en route,” he said.

The major telecoms in Canada offer special reduced roaming packages for Canadian travellers, but Aboulhosn said the rates are still much higher than what his company will offer.

“If you take their best plan, discount it by another 95%, you’ve gotten to our rates,” he said.

Some Canadian travellers simply buy a cheap cellphone and prepaid airtime when they travel to the U.S. But with the growth of smartphones and tablets, many business travellers and tourists want more than just basic talk and text – they want full high-speed service for email and Internet surfing.

As Goldberg points out, however, Roam will have to offer more than just good rates and convenience, if it wants to get widespread market penetration.

“They’re going to have to overwhelm their customers with excellence so that you get strong word-of-mouth pull-through.”

http://bit.ly/xBYXcc

Welcome to the Roam Mobility blog! We will be covering everything from industry trends, to travel tips to reader questions.  We want you to get the most out of your Roam experience, no matter how often you travel.  

From now on, staying connected with your friends and family while traveling is easy and affordable. You can upload photos, stream videos, talk and text as much on the road as you would at home.

If there is anything in particular you want to us to write about, just leave us a comment. Or join us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Let's get the conversation started!