Frequent travellers will be aware that hops over the pond can end up being far more expensive than budgeted, largely because of the extortionate costs charged for data roaming. A quick burst of 3G or LTE can rack up enormous additional costs. A few emails here, or a map search to get you there can end up being some of the most expensive mistakes going. Now Three mobile have drawn a line in the sand by adding the United States to their ‘Feel at Home’ incentive plan.
Contract holders with Three Mobile will be aware of the company’s ‘feel at home’ incentive package. For the less enlightened, feel at home allows Three customers to access their existing contract whilst travelling to certain countries. Besides the basics like minutes and texts, this package includes the data element, and any frequent traveller will know that its data which causes all of the damage whilst travelling abroad. Three mobile have today announced that they have added the USA to their Feel at Home programme, and this means that their customers can now dramatically lower he cost of transatlantic trips.
Up until now, the incentive has largely focussed on the EU (Ireland, Italy and Scandinavia covered) as well as popular expat locations like Hong Kong and Australia. These countries are now joined by the USA, Sri lanka and Indonesia. Whilst visiting these countries, it now doesn’t matter which local network you connect to, you will remain on your regular contract terms.
For Three, the plan is about empowering their customers to break down geographical boundaries, allowing them to enjoy their phone in more locations around the world.”We want customers to get the most out of their devices at home or abroad. High roaming charges stop people enjoying their phones while they’re away and Feel At Home is the antidote to that,” said Dave Dyson, CEO at Three. Dyson added that he plans to “Add more countries to the mix soon.” As part of wider ranging upgrades, the network are also introducing 4G to all customers who have 4G compatible handsets by the end of the first quarter of 2014. The network expect that they will cover 98% of the UK by the end of 2015.
