Fringe Benefits by Matrix – A lot more than you expected

Matrix international SIM cards, one of the world's most preferred communication partners, does not only offer great savings and fantastic network coverage. There are also a host of benefits, thanks to the widespread affiliate network across various domains.

To begin with, Matrix is now a reward partner with American Express, and all American Express card holders now have the option of redeeming their points for a Matrix gift voucher worth Rs. 5000. Another benefit is in the form of travellers cheques from American Express, as a person issuing the same can get a rental free SIM card with 15 minutes of talk time for calls to India. In the USA, the same entails 200 minutes of local talk time, while a person in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand gets free value worth Rs. 400. Also, if a person is in China, then he/she can get a permanent SIM card with Rs. 999 if he/she goes for a China Matrix connection. There is also an offer for Lufthansa Miles and More members, who can earn 10,000 award miles upon purchase of a Matrix connection. Further, every Rs. 100 spent on a Matrix connection gives a person double the mile, i.e., 10 miles instead of 5. One can also earn 1000 miles by signing up for the Rs. 1999 Germany annual plan, and 500 miles for the Rs. 999 Germany or UK annual plans.

Also, Miles and More Senators, along with Lufthansa First and Business Class travellers can get a free talk time credit of €100 for Germany/Europe, and free local minutes in the US, with Matrix SIM cards. Economy travellers will get a rental free SIM card for the UK and Europe, along with 10 anytime minutes absolutely free of cost. Members of Miles and More will also get an additional 5 miles for every Rs. 100 spent on the Matrix connection or recharge. Lufthansa also has some special offers for students, the first one of them being free talk time worth $50 upon subscribing to the Matrix US student connection. Also, there is free talk time worth Rs. 1250 for students availing Matrix UK annual student contracts, while the Matrix German student 3 month contract gives Rs. 500 worth of free talk time. Coming to other airlines, one can get up to 8 Partner King Miles for every Rs. 100 spent on a Matrix connection. In case of long term deals and student plans, 3 Partner King miles will be credited for every Rs. 100 spent.

If one is a Deutsche Bank credit card member, there are special offers on Matrix international SIM card for the US and UK (in case of DB Platinum card) and for the US, UK, Germany and France (for DB M&M). All in all, there is a whole lot of things one can look forward to, along with great network coverage and savings up to 80% on every international call from major destinations across the world, making it the best communication partner in every sense of the word.

Matrix Forex card: The window to secure and convenient forex

While travelling abroad, foreign exchange, or forex, for short, is always a big area of concern, simply because money is needed practically everywhere, but unfortunately, a stack of notes that is worth quite a substantial amount in one country is probably just a stack of paper in another. If it's a short trip, i.e., 3-4 days, carrying cash probably makes sense (although there is always a risk of the same getting stolen, irrespective of the part of the world one is in), but in case it's a longer trip, or one requiring excessive purchases, there is a problem. Travellers' Cheques have, till date, sufficed as the preferred alternative. However, there is now another great opportunity in the form of the Matrix Forex card. One can get instant access to the currency of choice and use it across merchant establishments and VISA ATMs around the world, without paying any currency interest charges, which makes it a much better alternative than travellers' cheques.

Coming to other advantages, the moment one signs up, there is a standby card provided, to counter the unforeseen circumstance that the primary card is lost, as the secondary card performs all the functions of the former. Even in case of online transaction, one can use the Matrix Forex card for purchases. For instance, if any bill has to be paid, or an air ticket purchased, it's only a matter of a few moments! Another great advantage is that foreign exchange fluctuations, which are another grave area of concern, even though many don't pay attention to it till the time they face the consequences, are circumvented via this card. One can reload the card from anywhere, at any time, to maximise the convenience factor. Often, it so happens that one is unable to find the right shop for currency exchange, and when finally it is found, time has run out. However, that is not the case with the Matrix Forex card, and that is yet another reason why it is a preferred medium of transaction by millions of people flying abroad each year.

Another domain of prime importance is the security part. As mentioned earlier, it is not advisable to carry large amounts of cash for the fear of the same getting stolen. In a similar manner, even in case of a card, it is important for the same to be very secure while one is carrying out transactions. Matrix Forex card offers the very best of security with an embedded chip that stores encrypted and confidential information, so that the card cannot be misused in any manner. Also, there is no limitation regarding the variation of currencies, as the Matrix Forex card is available in 8 prominent currencies that are used in all the major countries across the world. One can also access the card account to check details like balance, etc. via the internet. And to top it all, there is and insurance cover that can be availed in case of emergencies. With so much to look forward to in one card, there is little reason to look anywhere else!

How students studying abroad can save on expenses

With the growing demand for better education, students often feel the need to study abroad for ensuring a better future for themselves. Also, it is a known fact that education is expensive everywhere, and when it comes to additional costs like hostel fee, living expenses, etc., the costs add up exponentially. In order to ensure that things don't exactly spiral out of control, it is essential to put a tab on expenses. Following are some of the ways for students to achieve the same:

Accommodation: If the college has a hostel, then there's no problem at all, in most of the cases. The convenience factor of staying close to the place of study, as well as the added security are big plus points. Adding to that the fact that hostel accommodation is generally inexpensive makes the whole deal a lot more lucrative. However, there are certain cases wherein hostel accommodation may be very expensive, and it is in situations like these that one needs to consider alternative options. These could be grouping together to rent an apartment or a house. Location is also of prime importance. As a general trend, houses or apartments that are in the down-town locality are much more expensive, and hence, charge higher rent, compared to those on the outskirts. Ideally, it's best for 3-4 students to group together and take accommodation at one place, since it's much more economical that ways. Also, if one has friends or family living in the city where he/she is studying, it's always best to stay with them. In fact, it is always better to even rent a house from a known person, since the security and other factors can be taken care of in a better manner.

Commuting: Local transport is always the best option in most of the cases. However, if the place of study is very far from the house one is staying in, it's more feasible to get a car or motorcycle, since too much commuting takes a lot of toll on one's body, and if multiple buses or trains have to be changed, it's totally up to an individual in terms of whether he/she prefers driving. Here again, it's better if there are 3-4 people living together, so that the fuel expenses can be shared.

Communication: One of the most expensive and recurring expenses that one hardly pays attention to is the communication, i.e., telephone bill. Generally, one can either make calls from pay phones, or purchase a new connection. However, it is a known fact that calling rates in different countries may be expensive for some people. Also, since international calling is going to be a big part of the 'agenda', so to speak, for many students, it's best to go for a connection that is not only economical, but also specialises in giving affordable calling rates for international calls. Matrix international SIM cards offer more than 80% savings in calling rates across the world, besides fantastic network coverage, so that there are no dropped calls, and exceptional voice clarity every time.

Beware of international call forwarding fraud

A mobile phone has become the lifeline of every individual who owns one, simply because it provides a portable solution to communicate with the rest of the world. In the earlier days, a mobile phone only gave the option of calling and sending short messages. However, with the passage of time, the advent of technology made many more things possible as well, like accessing the internet and making video calls. But as is the case with every new development, there were upsides as well as downsides, and the most significant one among the latter to have surfaced recently is the international call forwarding scam. This crime has become a grave matter of concern for mobile phone owners, since it puts their personal as well as financial security in question.

The way this scam is carried out is – one person's SIM card is stolen by a thief, who diverts the mobile phone number to an international switchboard. By doing this, he can route international calls to anywhere in the world via the switchboard. Both data as well as voice SIM cards having international roaming / calling services activated on them. Coming to the other side, a person who has been a victim of this scam will not have received calls, but numerous international calls would have been credited to his/her account. So, anyone who has international roaming and calling activated on their mobile phone are susceptible to being affected by this scam, and the reason why the person would not have received calls is because all the calls coming in to his/her mobile phone would have been diverted to international numbers.

The most negative impact of such an occurrence is that a person would have to pay an exorbitant amount of money as bills for the international calls that have been done fraudulently by somebody else. In order to minimise the damage caused in case a person is faced with such a situation, one should contact the service provider whenever the SIM card is stolen, lost or damaged. This action will hard lock the SIM card on the network. Also, international calling and roaming must be deactivated at all times whenever a person does not need it, i.e., when he/she is not travelling. Also, deactivating the call forwarding feature from the mobile phone is advisable. In order to do so, one needs to dial ##002# from the mobile phone to remove any kind of call forwarding service. Further, the SIM card pin must be activated by modifying the security settings of the phone.

In case one is not using the phone at a particular moment in time, it should be locked, since it is a protection in case the handset gets stolen. The thief would not know how to unlock it, and the SIM card can not be used for the international call forwarding fraud in such a situation. It is also necessary to keep an eye out for a sudden rise in the monthly telephone bills, and if one notices something like this, the network services provider must be contacted at the earliest.

Factors to consider before deciding to study abroad

Owing to the expanding vistas in education and the relative ease of gaining admission to foreign universities, many students are considering studying abroad to improve their chances of a better career ahead. However, before taking this step, there are many things that need to be considered. Following is the list of the main areas of concern:

· Do the courses offered fit into the course of study? It is a very unfortunate situation if a student is forced to graduate one or two semesters late just because the course taken abroad does not fit into the planned curriculum. To avoid this, the moment a student realizes that the course offered at a particular institution is not as per his/her requirements, or does not give the required amount of credit for the courses it is offering, it's best to send emails to check for alternatives.

· Language: Often undermined by many as a very minute point of consideration, language does, in fact, play a big role, since the student not only has to study abroad, but also live, interact and socialize with people, things that can not be avoided. A majority of Indians prefer going to the USA, UK and Australia not only because these countries offer the highest quality of education, but because English is a known language in India, and one does not have to undergo training for the same.

· Social surroundings: Something that is seen as a welcome gesture of openness can easily be taken as an offence in another country, where the culture might be totally different. In a similar manner, something that is seen in India as socially unacceptable might be the order of the day in another country. So, before deciding where to pursue studies, it's best to study a bit about details like the night-life, social customs, gender dynamics, etc., since it might be the case that the city sleeps too early, or the culture is too open for one's liking. As mentioned above, the student does not only have to study there, but LIVE abroad as well.

· Food: Similar to the language factor, the kind of food available too, plays a vital role in deciding whether that the person will be able to survive in the country being considered or not. Many people are allergic to certain substances, which might be basic ingredients in all dishes at the new destination,while some might just not like the dishes being cooked in a particular cuisine. All in all, this factor also needs to be considered.

· Communication: Owing to the difference in the exchange rates, and the fact that calling rates in foreign countries are much more expensive compared to India only makes the situation all the more complicated. However, now there is a solution to allow students to keep in touch with family and friends without having to spend a fortune. Matrix international sim cards give as much as 80% concession compared to regular calling charges, and deliver fantastic voice clarity and network coverage.

3G data card for travelling abroad

Business today is not about sitting in a cabin and connecting with clients and peers via the internet, since one needs to be constantly on the move to grab new opportunities, keep up with the present schedule, and simultaneously also be available to all who want to connect. A few years ago, this might not have been possible, but with the inception of WiFi, it became a possibility. Hot spots, present at almost all major restaurants, cafes, and similar places offer high speeds for browsing the internet as well as downloading data. However, even a hot spot is stationary, and one is bound to find a situation wherein instant connectivity is needed. In this regard, 3G data card comes in handy.

This device basically gives access to the internet just by plugging it into the laptop. Many leading cellular services providers have introduced these devices in the past couple of years, and they are working pretty well also. However, the only shortcoming, so to speak, is that while these devices work fantastically in different states and cities (with even small town locations not being an exception for top notch providers) it is only while travelling abroad that one faces problems with regards to staying connected to the internet while on the move. Buying a new connection at a foreign location is always either a problem due to lack of knowledge, not having enough time, or for that matter not knowing which plan would suit one's needs the best. However, with Matrix, one of the world leader in communication solutions, offering 3G data cards for travelling abroad, staying connected with the world is only a matter of seconds without any hassles.

Unlike using the mobile phone as an interface to connect to the internet, (which was a likely option, but was not a great one because of the lack of good speed) a 3G data card facilitates simplified access without the usage of any wires or other connecting media. The best thing, of course, about using a data card as against a wireless connection is that one is assured of great speeds at every major global location, since Matrix has collaboration with services providers across the world, and thus, stands apart as the only service presently that can guarantee flawless and fast connectivity. There is also no need of finding a hot spot. In a way, the entire world is now the user's hot spot!

The payment plans also have a wide range of options, and the user can choose according to his convenience. Summing it all up, it is now clear that 3G data cards are indeed the perfect companions for business persons travelling abroad, irrespective of whether it is one a regular basis or a 'once in a while' trip. With Matrix's expertise backing the service, it is only a guarantee that the browsing experience is going to be fantastic.

Mobile connection offers for students going to UK / US

Acquiring a post-paid mobile connection abroad is a nightmare since you require a credit history or else, you end up paying large deposits. Get a Matrix student post-paid mobile connection instead. It is more convenient to use than any other mobile connection available abroad and we offer customized tariff plans for students going abroad.

USA: Free mobile phone & unlimited free minutes. Range of tariff plans to choose from.

UK: Deals starting from £4.99 where you get free Talk time for £18. Call India at 24 pence/minute from your mobile. Other plans also available.

Features of a Matrix student mobile connection:

• Get the mobile number before you leave
  
• Post-paid mobile connection
  
• Better than any other pre/post-paid mobile connection
• Pay in Indian rupees
  
• 24X7 Customer Care

Do you Matrix when abroad?

The smarter way to stay connected

Call: +91 53222 32222,
Toll-free: 1800 11 1500
(Only from BSNL/MTNL landlines)
E-mail: inquiry@matrix.in

Student post-paid mobile connections are also available for France, Germany and Singapore.