But before you can use your UK mobile telephone abroad to make or receive calls and messages, you need something called international roaming.

So before you leave, remember to:

• Contact your UK network provider to ensure your phone is enabled for international roaming. Do this well in advance of your departure date, as it can take up to two weeks, and you cannot do it while overseas. Check that your handset will work in the country you are travelling to; this may not be the case, particularly outside Europe.
• Check with your network provider how much the service will cost. Charges can be a lot higher than, and very different to, those for calls in the UK. For example, while roaming you will pay to receive calls and listen to voicemail. Sending text messages may be much cheaper, but you can be charged twice per message (once by your operator and once by the overseas operator) to convey messages to and from home. Rates can vary according to your network and the country you are visiting. Find out from your network's web site, customer services or literature.
• Confirm the current charges just before you leave, as some charges can change at short notice.

If you’ll be using your mobile a lot, consider the following options:

• Some mobile services offer international traveller services, giving cheaper calls abroad in return for a monthly fee. Check with your provider what the costs are and how long you would be committed to paying for the service.
• It is usually cheaper to use an alternative SIM card in your phone (this card that lets the phone work on a particular mobile network). SIM cards for foreign networks can be bought abroad (e.g. at international airports and holiday destinations) or, for some European countries, from some UK retailers. Find out if the alternative SIM cards will expire after a fixed time. Also ask your network provider whether it has locked your phone against use with a different SIM card, and what, if anything, it will charge to unlock the phone.
• You should be able to rent a mobile telephone handset for the duration of your stay from most mobile telephone companies at your destination.
• If you are particularly concerned about coverage or call quality, you may be able to select a particular network for international roaming. Ask your network provider whether it offers a choice of networks and how you can change between them.
• If you are using your own network provider's pre-paid mobile international roaming service, make sure you know how to use your credit card to top up your calling credit before you leave, or take extra vouchers, as they may be hard to obtain abroad.
• Ask your provider what you have to dial to use international roaming. This may not be as simple as just using the 0044 international prefix for the UK.
• Pre-programme into your mobile the telephone number of the nearest British Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate in the country you are visiting. Do the same with the telephone number of your hotel and tour representative. If you are using an alternative SIM card whilst abroad, you may have to programme the information in after you have inserted the alternative SIM card.
• Familiarise yourself with your mobile's voicemail retrieval system. Voicemail can be difficult to access while abroad, and you should ask your mobile network provider if this is not clear.
• Take an electrical adapter for the charger plug.
• Make a note of your mobile's serial number (also known as the IMEI number), your mobile telephone number and the telephone number of your operator's customer services (including UK dialling code). Keep them with you in a safe place, separate from your mobile. If your phone is stolen you will be able to contact the network operator in the UK and request that they block your phone and/or SIM card. You may need to provide additional information in order to get the phone blocked, such as a password. Contact your operator for details of how they deal with stolen phones before you leave to ensure that you have sufficient information.

Remember:

• Do not rely on your mobile telephone if you have not set up international roaming before you go.
• You should be able to rent a mobile telephone handset for the duration of your stay from most mobile telephone companies in the country you are visiting.
• If you cannot get a good signal, you may be able to change your phone to work with a different network
• You are required to register your mobile telephone if you enter Russian Federation countries.
• Also see the Advice from Oftel (the Office of Telecommunications) to find out how to get the best value when using your mobile phone abroad.