Aaron M. Says:
I’m worried about losing touch with my friends back home if I move overseas. How do you stop this from happening?
IL Senior Editor Dan Prescher Writes:
Hi Aaron,
In this age of global technology, distances seem shorter than ever. Today’s VoIP services and free cellphone chat programs are helping millions stay in touch without breaking the bank. They allow you to call or even have video-chats from anywhere in the world.
Applications popular among expats include Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger. Most of these can be installed on both your smartphone and your laptop, for easy access to free communication. You may want to invest in a good headset (earphones and microphone) for the best sound quality.
That said, cellphones tend to come with excellent “hands free” sets. If you have one in an old cellphone box somewhere, dig it out and give it a try.
If you need to dial regular landlines or cellphone numbers, you can buy Skype credit, which allows you to call landlines from your cell or computer. Just download the free app. Call rates can be as low as two cents a minute.=
With Skype, you can dial U.S. and Canadian toll-free numbers at no charge. You can even buy a telephone number so people using landlines can easily call you via Skype, as well.A great way to keep groups of family and friends updated is by setting up an online journal. Lots of expats use Facebook to post photos and updates on their adventures. Services like WordPress make it easy to start your own blog, no special tech-skills required.
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