What is roaming and when do I need to worry about it?

Roaming and when it may concern you

Roaming is classically defined as using your cell phone when outside of your “home” service area, as defined by your wireless carrier. If you have a wireless plan that clearly defines your “home” service area as your county or state, every time you use your cell phone outside of this jurisdiction, you will typically pay “roaming charges”. Understand that these fees can be both annoying and, at times, quite expensive.

These extra charges exist because when you’re roaming you’re using cell towers not defined as home transmitters, or you are using another carrier’s roaming network, for which they demand a fee. Therefore, while you may be disappointed in your wireless carrier, they may simply be passing through a charge they incurred by the other network.

For example, you use network A and are based in New York. You travel to Arizona and need to access network B to make or receive cell phone calls. You are not a subscriber of network B, but you are using their towers to communicate. They want to be paid for this use of their network.

There are now many wireless carriers that offer plans without roaming fees. Another option is to opt for a plan that has a wide “home” service area. For example, you live in Boston and your business or pleasure travels typically involve all of New England, but few other areas. Having a “regional” service area plan that covers the Northeast might save you all but the most unusual roaming charges; beware of that trip to New Mexico.