When you are travelling around, it can be hard to stay up to date with the latest movements in the currency market, as you are often miles from the nearest internet-connected PC. However, if you have a smartphone such as a Samsung Blackjack, a BlackBerry, or a T Mobile G1, then you are in luck, as there are free currency converters available for all of these machines.
BlackBerry users should try and get hold of an app called Worldmate Live, which is available from the BlackBerry App World service. You will need to download App World to your BlackBerry first. This requires a trackball and a BlackBerry operating system version 4.2 or later, and takes around ten minutes to set up. After installation, simply go into App World and search for Worldmate Live. The app itself should take no longer than three minutes to set install after downloading.
As well as keeping you up to date with the movements of over a hundred and sixty currencies, it can also provide you with weather reports for anywhere in the world, itinerary organisers, and even a handy comparison chart for international clothing sizes.
If you have a phone that runs on the Google Android operating system, such as the T Mobile G1 or the HTC Magic can get an app known as a Currency, which takes less than a minute to download, and gives you details of over a hundred and sixty currencies.
The easiest way to get it is to download it straight onto your phone from the Android Market, which is very similar to the iTunes App Store. You should be able to find it fairly easily by searching for the keyword Currency and then looking for the a Currency download from there.The best thing about a Currency is that it always shows you the current exchange rates without requiring any manual updating on your part.
Windows Mobile-equipped smartphones, such as the Samsung Blackjack or the Motorola Q are able to get their own version of the BlackBerry app Worldmate Live, although the procedure is quite different.
You can do this by logging on to the worldmate.com site and choosing to download this app to your phone by opening a link in an SMS message or email. From here, it should take around ten minutes to download and install.
If you are travelling somewhere that lacks internet access, be aware that the currency information in your smartphone will not necessarily be up to date, as it will be basing its calculations on the data that has most recently been downloaded. If you need anything other than an approximation, make sure that you open the app while your device is connected to the internet.
