There may be a time in your life when you make the leap to move to a new country, which can mean that you are leaving your family behind. This can make communicating with them a difficult task, especially if you are moving to a place where time zones differ a lot from where your family are based, which can, in turn, make you feel lonely, and make your family feel as though they are out of the loop. However, all hope is not lost. Thanks to the ease at which people can travel and communicate in the modern world, there are numerous ways in which you can communicate effectively with your family after you have moved away.

Call them regularly

The key to maintaining a healthy family relationship is to make sure you check in with your family on a regular basis. Yet this can sometimes cost a lot when you are making international calls. This is where services like Viber are the best way of you staying in contact over the phone, as you can pay as little as home rates when you sign up for a plan. For example, Viber rates for the Mexico won’t impact your balance as much as you might think.

Make use of social media

As social media grows, people are beginning to see how quickly you can send and receive messages from all over the world. Not only this, but updating people becomes easier when you can make a group chat to post messages and images on, and when you can tailor your preferences over who can see what you are posting on your profile.

Send care packages

There may be times when a loved one is struggling at home, and when you won’t be able to comfort them in their time of need. When this happens, it is a great idea to send a care package using airmail, which will be filled with some of their favorite items. These will act like a hug from across the world, and is a small expense to keep up within the long term. If you can’t afford the postage fees, you can always send a subscription box straight to their door to help them through a tough time.

Invite them to see you

Sometimes, it is easy to feel out of the loop when a loved one has moved away, which is how some of your family may be feeling. In this case, you should consider inviting them to see you in your new life, where they can immerse themselves into your company for a short while. To do this, follow some easy saving plans, which will make it easier to fly them over.

Write a blog

Although social media is a good place to post updates and pictures, your family may feel as though they are not getting the full picture. You can solve this issue by writing a blog often, which details the activities you have gotten up to, and any funny stories that your family will appreciate reading about.

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"The world is being re-shaped by the convergence of social, mobile, cloud, big data, community and other powerful forces," said American entrepreneur, author and philanthropist Marc Benioff. "The combination of these technologies unlocks an incredible opportunity to connect everything together in a new way and is dramatically transforming the way we live and work."

One of these forces for radical change is the mobile phone, and it has become one of the defining technologies for almost everyone.

Here are 10 popular uses for the ubiquitous mobile phone:

1. Organizing events

As an organizer, you want to know what your attendees are interested in. A mobile conference app, like one from DoubleDutch, makes it easy for you as an event organizer or marketer to uncover what attendees really want. You can optimize the entire experience, from sponsors to speakers, and deliver a high ROI in the process.

2. Shopping

As a consumer, you would like to buy the highest quality products at the lowest price. Using your mobile phone, you can search for a product anywhere in the world to find the best deal.
As a retailer, your chances of a customer finding your products increases dramatically when you optimize your website for mobile phones. In fact, mobile commerce is now a multi-billion-dollar industry.

3. Overcoming disabilities

In the past, it was very difficult for those with speech difficulties, for example, to communicate with others over the phone. Now with text and instant messaging, those that don't speak or hear well can still stay in touch. Other mobile advancements for blind and deaf individuals are appearing every day.

4. Unobtrusive communication

It's sometimes not possible to connect with others because they are asleep or at work and can't talk on the phone. However, you can always text them to communicate a short message or find out when they are available to talk. Even if they can't respond right away, the message will be waiting for them as soon as they are available.

5. Staying in Touch

You can talk to anyone in almost any location if there is coverage for that area. It's possible to stay in touch with family, spend more time with friends during your free time regardless of where you are, and inform colleagues about important information instantly.

You can:

6. Emergency Use

There is nothing worse than being stranded somewhere with no way to contact the people who can help you. You might be stranded in a car or stuck at an airport or train station. With a mobile phone, you can call family or friends to pick you up, or if your car won't start, you can call roadside assistance.

If you are in an accident, or even just witness one, your phone can be used to dial 911 and summon emergency first-responders. In fact, many phones will still work to call 911 even if your phone has been disconnected.

7. Entertainment

There are times when you are stuck in lines, waiting rooms, or traffic and bored to tears. With your mobile phone, it's easy enough to pass the time pleasantly listening to music, watching a movie or TV show, or playing a game.

8. Studying

Mobile phones can allow you to listen in on lectures that are broadcast by top universities, through the MOOC program. You can get an education when you have some downtime. You may also be able to access a course that you purchased from an online course center like Udemy. You can now catch up with your studies anytime and anywhere.

9. Taking Care of Business

Business is fast, and the mobile phone can be used in many different ways to improve your efficiency.
Use it to:

10. Navigation

You never have to get lost again, even if you are in a strange city. A GPS application can help you find almost any location and give you directions on how to get there.

Today many users have completely done away with landline phone systems. Smartphones are now more than just phones; they are pocket computers that have become a necessity and a way of life. Most of us couldn't live without them.

Written by Jane Brown