What is Roaming?

Answer

Using your cellular phone outside of your carriers’ limited service area or Home calling area is known as ‘roaming’. It is a service made available by cellular communications network operators by which you, as a subscriber, can use your cell phone even when you are in the coverage area of another service provider. It can be described as a movable communications device changing its network connection from one Access Point to another access point.

When a cell phone moves between different access points, it ‘roams’. When we use our cell phones on the move, at times we notice that the signal strength starts to diminish and as we move along it picks up again. When this happens, it usually means that the cell phone has ‘roamed’ from one wireless cell to another. The same is the case with wireless Local Area Networks. When a cell phone moves outside the area of one access point, it switches to another access point within the same network. If another point is not available inside the same network, then it tries to find one in another totally different network which is available to it. In such cases the cell not only ‘roams’ between access points but also between networks.

Types of Roaming

Roaming can either be National or International. If the visited network is in the same country as the home network, it is called National Roaming whereas if it is in a different country then it is called International Roaming or Global Roaming. Where the new network uses different technical standards altogether, it is known as Inter-standard roaming.

Roaming Agreements

In principle, roaming is supported by mobility administration, verification, and billing procedures. Setting up roaming between various networks is founded on Roaming Agreements wherein lie all the terms and conditions of roaming. For carriers to provide roaming, they need to have an arrangement with different compatible networks so that users of either network have access to other networks. Such agreements help to expand the possible areas for cell phone usage.

Roaming is not a free service. Carriers charge a higher per minute rate for roaming facility. Fees for roaming are not standard and differ from carrier to carrier. Charges may also involve long distance charges.

In all, ‘roaming’ is a very useful facility which allows cell phone users to continually make and receive calls while traveling outside the geographical constraints of their home network by using a visited network.

Note: There are comments associated with this question. See the discussion page to add to the conversation.

First answer by ID3400636332. Last edit by Anonymous. Question popularity: 162 [recommend question].