Bridgewater Systems gives you courage to roam

Darius Chang | Jun 17, 2009

(Credit: Darius Chang/CNET Asia)

It's easy to keep track of your mobile phone data usage if you don't travel. After all, there are third-party tracking applications that can do that. Some service providers have also implemented price caps on their mobile broadband plans, so there are no surprises at the end of the month when customers receive their bills.

However, all that goes out the window when you travel, where your mobile data price caps don't apply and you are at the mercy of the local telco with regard to roaming charges. There have been horror stories of travelers getting bills in the thousands simply because they forgot to turn off an online background application. Bridgewater Systems, a Canadian service developer, has the solution.

By working with the telcos to implement its tracking software, the Canadian company not only enables the end-user to monitor and create usage pattern rules, it also lets the service providers push special promotions if they detect that the customer is overseas.

Here's how it works. Bridgewater provides the backend system to the telcos, which will then let their users install an application on their handsets. Currently, the app works only with iPhone and BlackBerry devices, though support for other mobile platforms is expected to be available later this year. This software allows the consumer to customize a set of notifications and caps based on their usage habits. A different set of rules can be customized for roaming, and also allows telcos to push special promotions or prepaid plans to the end-user.

We asked the company what it will take to convince telcos to implement the system, which essentially lowers the latter's revenue. Bridgewater countered that this system will not only decrease potential lawsuits arising from mobile data bills, but give customers the courage to roam knowing they will not face horrendous bills when they return home. The Canadian developer is currently in talks with several telcos in the region, and expects the first tie-ups will be announced within the next six months. In the meantime, if you really need to go online while overseas, consider getting a prepaid mobile broadband card instead.

Filed under: Handhelds, Mobile Phones
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