How to Keep in Touch With Family Abroad

Stay in Contact With Relatives Over the River or Overseas

Sep 18, 2009

Staying in touch with family abroad used to be a hassle. With today's technologies, it's easier than ever.

The traditional way of getting in touch with family members is to place a phone call. Phone calls do keep one in touch with family, but will also keep the phone bills at astronomical levels. To avoid busting the budget, a person should maximize the latest communication devices, as well as Internet technologies available today. Consider options such as using social media, VoIP, and free international calling services. Learning how to keep in touch with family abroad is not complicated; just requires a little planning.

Keep in Touch With Family Through Social Networking Sites

Almost all social networking websites are free (for now anyway). Maximize these modern social media tools to keep in touch with friends and family abroad. It is very easy to open accounts with these sites, and have accounts with as many of them as it requires to keep in touch with family. All that is required is both parties have an Internet connection in order to establish linkages. Social networking sites make it easy to "talk" with family whether at home, in a Wi-Fi cafe, or even at a local library. If using a library computer, always remember to log off from the site being used, and change passwords regularly.

Facebook, which offers a comprehensive platform for families to stay in touch in the virtual world. This is one of the fastest growing sites on the Internet because it can really connect people throughout the world. And, it not only lets a person stay in touch with family, but can find long lost friends from high school and college, too. Facebook enables users to send e-mails, share photos and videos, and stay up-to-date with its micro blogging platform.

Twitter is also one of the best online engines to keep in touch with family abroad. This is a micro blogging communication tool where a person can send update tweets to family and friends. It requires that people follow each other in order to see updates, but registration is free. Although this is a more public site, the speed of Twitter as a communication tool is virtually unmatched.

Use VoIP Services to Stay in Touch with Family

VoIP may sound geeky, but this technology is fairly simple. The simplest way to make VoIP calls is to use instant messaging (IM) services such as Skype, Yahoo Chat, or Google Talk. These IM platforms provide PC to PC calls for free. A person can spend hours of talk time in order to bond with family abroad through PC to PC calls.

The big advantage of PC to PC call service is that one can use a webcam with it. By using a webcam, not only can a person speak with family members, but can also see them, which could certainly enrich the relationship even if both parties are far away from each other.

Take Advantage of Free International Calling Services

Getting unlimited international calls may sound too good to be true. However, the technology for calling international telephone numbers using a local number has been in place for many years already. All a person needs to do is look for an online Telco offering this kind of service.

The Telco will give local numbers for the caller and the receiver. By using these local numbers, one can avoid paying international toll charges. In fact, there are online telecommunication companies that provide free unlimited call services through the use of this technology.

Of course, a person needs to pay a fee when signing up with the service. If using a mobile phone to make an international call, the mobile provider may also charge standard local call rates. Nevertheless, these fees and charges will be much cheaper than standard international call rates. Consider getting a dedicated mobile phone service that provides unlimited international calls, if frequent calls will be made. Again, there are costs involved in this type of service, but would be cheaper than standard rates.

Learning how to keep in touch with family abroad is not really complicated. With the existence of modern communication technologies and tools, a person can easily communicate with loved ones without incurring massive phone call expenses. All one has to do is to maximize modern social media, PC to PC call services, and free international call service.

The copyright of the article How to Keep in Touch With Family Abroad in Family Budgeting is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish How to Keep in Touch With Family Abroad in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.