Smartphone

A smartphone is a versatile device, the successor to the mobile phone, capable of a multitude of function which can be very very useful to hitchhikers. As of 2017 smartphones and mobile network coverage are ubiquitous in modern society in first-world countries, the consequence being that the average cost of the device as well as communication and mobile internet have fallen to the point of being a worthwhile investment for someone planning to hitchhike, if they don't owe one already. This article intends to show all the uses, most of which have no cost, a smartphone can give in hitchhiking.

Why get a phone at all?

If your goal is to get lost in the world, and way from dependence on any kind of technology as a principle, then yes you don't need a phone. Remember though that, if you're hitchhiking, you're already dependent on technology, and high-technology at that: Cars. But if the point of hitchhiking for you is to be able to go anywhere and see places, using as little money as possible and wasting as little time as possible (time is also money), then consider the cost and weight of these useful travel items: Map, GPS, flashlight, calculator, currency converter, books and, of course, phone. All of those are included, free of charge and weightless, in a smartphone.

Why get a smartphone?

Specifically, why get one instead of just the cheapest cellphone? Well, for the price of a cellphone, you can get a used smartphone from anywhere and all its functions. With a cellphone you still need to buy a SIM card to be able to make calls, whereas with the smartphone you have that and plenty of ways of contacting people without a SIM card, such as Skype, Whatsapp or Gmail. Most smartphones, except the ones made by Apple have the operating system - Android - developed by Google, and the main standard that people develop programs for, so there isn't a risk of it being rendered useless by lack of updates. This means that, though your phone may not be very powerful (if it was cheap), all apps will work on it, if a bit slowly. Some more advanced apps may not work properly, but those are really superflous for hitchhiking. The basics work fine. This means that your parents' or friends' old phone, which they don't use anymore since it's "too old and slow" can be an immense help for you while hitchhiking.

Where can I charge my phone?

That's an important question, if you're hitchhiking, then you are, at least temporarily, homeless. Smartphones can consume batteries relatively fast. For anyone who remembers their old monochrome cellphone lasting a whole week without charging, times are different. Most smartphones, with regular use, barely last through the day. Here, there is an advantage to having a less pricey phone as its components, notably the processor and the LED display, will be less power-hungry, increasing battery life. Most smartphones have also, somewhere in the settings, a Saving Mode option, limiting the use of the resources of the phone. If you turn this on at full battery, it could last twice as long. Of course the best way to increase battery life is simply not to use the phone unless you have to. Remember, you need to save it for when you really need it. While in the car with someone you will usually have a chance to charge your phone if you really need it since most drivers nowadays have a cellphone charger in their car.

Powerbank

An investment you could look into is getting a powerbank. This is portable battery you can use to charge your phone if you have no way of connecting it to a socket anywhere and really need it. They have different capacities. To find out what it can do for your phone you can check how many "mAh" it has, and how many "mAh" your phone's battery has (which is written on your battery or you can find it online.) Example: If your phone has 2500 mAh and the powerbank has 10000 mAH, that means you'll be able to fully charge your phone 4 times with it. This can save time on your trip, since you won't be forced to sit somewhere waiting for your phone to charge.

Solar charger

There are also such things as solar chargers, which charge your phone with light from the sun. It could be worth it to get one if you plan you staying long periods in the sun, or if you camp in a tent and leave it outside charging. The charging tends to be slow and is of course dependant on how much light is outside, so if it isn't summer or if you're not in a usually sunny location it can be useless. Before taking these gadgets on a trip it would be wise to test them out first to see what you can count on and if they're worth bringing along.

McDonalds

Of course, no battery lasts forever, so you'll need a place to charge it. Most restaurants and coffee shops will be fine with you charging your phone there, provided you spend some money there. You don't have to worry about this though if you head to the nearest McDonald's. Now, everyone knows giant corporations are evil. But a consequence of them being so huge is that their image is more important than tiny losses in profit. Which means that mostly - except for that one McDonald's in Avignon - you can walk into any McDonald's, sit down for as long as you want without ordering anything, connect to the internet, even use the bathroom without anyone kicking you out. Another advantage is that there is a McDonald's practically everywhere, in your own hometown as well probably. And in big cities, there is one McDonald's strategically right in the center, so you know you will find one there if you need it. Of course, if not there are many other places people will let you charge your phone if you ask nicely or buy a coffee there.

Wifi

Another thing in society that is everywhere in modern society is internet, but more usefully, Wifi (wireless internet) and free Wifi internet hotspots are everywhere. That means in many places you need only ask for the password of the internet of the establishment you're in to get access. As a consequence of this also, cybercafés has almost completely died out, making it hard for a "deviceless" person to access the internet. Good news for hitchhikers is that free wifi is common on gas stations on European highways and, once more, in any McDonald's. Internet is useful for hitchhiking mainly to check Hitchwiki for a good spot in the city you're in, or to check Google Maps (bundled with most phones) for your location. Furthermore, don't need a SIM card to take advantage of this. If you're dropped off somewhere in a city you don't know, simply ask people around for the nearest McDonalds (everyone will know where it is) or just head towards the city center - one will be there for sure.

Roaming

In 2017 the European Union decided there would be no roaming charges across European countries, which means that if you take your cellphone with a SIM card outside of your country you will pay the same you would in your home country. So if in your home country you have unlimited calls, you will have the same abroad. Nowadays most phone plans also include mobile data, meaning internet on the smartphone without being connected to Wifi. If you have unlimited internet on your plan in your home country, it doesn't mean that you will have unlimited mobile data abroad though, only a "responsible amount" of data. Usually when you cross the border you will receive a message from your operator giving you info on finding out how much data you'll have. You could try asking you parents also what internet deal they have at home since nowadays most families have a package which includes digital cable television, internet at home, and several SIM cards usually with unlimited calls and internet. The cost of one extra SIM card in those packages would be negligible but for you it can mean use of calls and plenty of mobile data automatically everywhere in Europe.

Uses

Google Maps

Google Maps is an application bundled with most smartphones, thus free. It works as a GPS and can, if connected to the internet, show you a map of any place in the world. Moreover, there is an option to download an area of map so that you will be able to use it even if not connected to the internet. Not only that, but most phones have a GPS (global positioning system) which tell you, anywhere on earth where you are, and yes, Google Maps can tell you where you are with this even without internet. And all of this is free, takes up less space and is more useful than a physical map. Also useful in Google Maps is the fact that, if you're connected to the internet (through mobile date or Wifi from the nearest McDonalds or whatever) then it can give you directions from where you are to where you want to go by car. This is very useful because, to get out of a town back into the highway, a hitchhiker has too look for the on-ramp leading up to the highway or at least something on the way, and as a pedestrian, to the naked eye, this is not always obvious. Put if you ask Google Maps for the directions to the next city, via the highway, from your current position, and select the mode of transportation as car (public transport, by bike or on foot are the other options) you can then follow the path on the map that cars will have to take to get where you're going and finding a good hitchhiking spot will be much easier. Plus, since the GPS will keep working even after you've left the range of the free Wifi, you can keep following the map till you get there.

Currency Converter

There are many free apps that can convert an amount in one currency to another so you can check prices. Not critical, but always nice to have since it's free.

Internet Browser

All smartphones include a web browser. In the context of hitchhiking the most useful places to visit are:

• Hitchwiki - So you can find the next good hitchhiking spot and useful info. Also check out the Hitchwiki Map and Trustroots.
• Couchsurfing - So you can find places to sleep for free if you really need

e-book Reader

You can carry some books around when you travel, for those long waiting times, but they weigh you down, and are not absolutely necessary. And if you'd like to read them at night when your camping in a tent, you'd need some light source, which requires batteries. Instead you could get an e-book reader app and download books from the internet. You can get an infinite amount of classic books for free in English and other languages. 'Aldiko is a good app. It has a very useful night mode which switches the background color to black instead of white so it doesn't hurt your eyes at night and it also doesn't use a lot of battery if you use it wisely. And of course, since the screen is backlit, you don't need to have a flashlight pointed at a book to read in the dark.

Flashlight

But if you need a flashlight see better in the dark, again, it comes included with most phones, even some non-smartphones.