Mobile-roaming app Roamer has raised $1.3m in seed investment which will be used primarily to increase its user-base.
The London-based company enables users to link their existing mobile number to a local SIM card when they are abroad so that they can continue to use their phones for low-cost calls and data.
The investment comes from a number of telecoms industry veterans, including Dial-a-Phone founder Richard Frank.
Why not Skype?
The difference between Roamer and other services including Voice over IP services like Skype, is that it doesn’t require the second user to register to the service.
They can make and receive calls to and from the person abroad through their existing number from home.
Cofounder Simon Rabin says the investment will help the company “widen their unique service and bring it to a mainstream audience”.
Our beta customers have already reaped the benefits of Roamer while on their travels.
With the proliferation of mobile use in everyday life, there is really no excuse for hitting consumers with excessive roaming charges anymore.
Other features
Customers can now also use Roamer via wifi in order to make calls from their own number, without the need to swap their SIM card.
The company plan to launch its own local SIM card delivery service in their most popular travel destinations.