Warning Iphone/ATT users in mexico

The international data charges are standard with all cellular carriers. Keep in mind that it is not AT&T charging you these fees but the Mexican cell companies passing the fees on to AT&T. Using the international data package helps alleviate some of the costs but there will always be fees for using EDGE outside the US.

You can turn data roaming off when you visit other countries to avoid these fees in the future.

As for the "monopoly" is just the way it is. If you choose to use an iPhone in the use then you also choose to have AT&T as your carrier.

glongo wrote:
I disagree that it is not ATT charging the rate; they had the flexibility of making it a 1,500 charge or 150.

Disagree if you want, however the facts are the facts.

I do agree that international data is a charge with any service. However, for two days of disfunctional data, come on!

Keep in mind that the iPhone is constantly transfering data even when you don't think about it. Autochecking email, updating weather and stocks, etc. Since the international data can rack up pretty quickly its not an unreasonable charge over two days.

If that is their policy, then how about a bit of a warning? I couldn't have made cell calls without accepting charges, why is data so illusive/sneaky?

Its all outlined on their website. Its not common for cell providers to talk about all their international rates. It seems AT&T took care of the large charges and got them down to a reasonable amount. You'll know in the future to disable data roaming when you travel abroad.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying what they did was right. I'm simply saying that this is the standard with cell phone companies in the US.

Is anyone else concerned with AT&T bringing down the iphone?

I'm not. AT&T is not only the largest provider in the U.S. by number of subscribers, they are the largest GSM network provider in the U.S. and the iPhone is GSM only. The only other major GSM network provider in the U.S. is T-Mobile. GSM networks dominate the overall worldwide market by a significant margin which is probably one of the reasons why Apple went GSM with the iPhone.

It is my understanding that in order to roam internationally with the iPhone - calling or data requires requesting this with AT&T which must be approved and activated for your account. AT&T has partner networks in other countries which determines coverage in a particular country, not AT&T which has no control over coverage provided/available by a partner network in other countries and did you really assume the unlimited data plan was also unlimited when in another country?

Dear Ansuz82,

I cannot hear the argument any more. "If you choose an iPhone then you also choose to have AT&T as your carrier."

Why do you think roaming charges are so high?

=> Exactly. Because nobody pays attention to roaming charges when deciding which phone or carrier to choose. It's just too complicated to make all those calculations.

I tried to find out which phone carrier and/or plan would be the best for me when I was in Germany for a few months a year ago. I spent one and a half hours in a phone shop. Finally I just chose a random carrier and plan. Because I had no chance to calculate which one was the cheapest for me (neither did I have information on service quality then).

This is about making money by obscurity. And as long as all carriers play along (and they have all incentives to do so), we consumers pay too high prices.

Apple's bundling of the iPhone with AT&T is just another step to this wrong direction. Closing markets, making markets narrower to get even higher prices and to exclude competition as far as you ever can. This will not redound to our advantage as consumers, be assured.

BTW: The EC Commission mandated carriers to sharply reduce roaming charges within Europe a few months ago. Looks like they finally understood that roaming charges aren't the competition parameter you believe them to be.

R.

RolloM wrote:
Dear Ansuz82,

I cannot hear the argument any more. "If you choose an iPhone then you also choose to have AT&T as your carrier."

Its not an argument; its a fact. The iPhone is available in the US on AT&T only. I'm not defending the choice - I'm simply stating the fact.

In fact, I haven't been defending AT&T at any point in this post. I don't agree with the locked carrier and I don't agree with the huge roaming bils. I do, however, accept that this is just the way it is for now and the price you must pay if you want and iPhone in the US.

Looks like I misunderstood you then. I apologize.

Nevertheless: You hear such arguments all the time in this forum from completely uncritical Apple admirers. Ad it is beginning to go on my nerves. That's why I wanted to clarify...

R.

Apology accepted.

No problem. Happy to help clarify.

You insinuate that AT&T does this for iPhone users only. This is the same for all AT&T subscribers regardless which cell phone they are using.

If your iPhone didn't work in Mexico, you wouldn't have been able to check email or use Safari for web browsing, etc. so it must have worked part of the time. If AT&T waived the entire $1,500 for data roaming charges, maybe it was due to you not requesting international roaming beforehand which may also had something to do with the iPhone not working consistently and eventually not working at all.

the iPhone allows you to turn off data roaming from within the menus... Should AT&T go down to Mexico with you to assist you in operating your phone? This is not just AT&T all carriers screw you with international service.
I feel for you somewhat but you are complaining about AT&T and yet they droped your roaming charges down 90% if they were such a evil monster would they have done that?, but as with each company having millions of customers, it is upto the customer to read the terms and usage agreements with each provider. The fact that your phone didnt work some may perceive as a saftey valve tp proctect you against accidental charges.

Most folks who are monitoring these discussions know about this. However, many new iPhone users are still getting trapped by these huge roaming charges. The number one support discussion listed on this site is about international calls and the huge bills (the discussion runs into more than 20pages).

Although ATT and Apple made some changes and introduced the international roaming plan and what not, I think it'd be nice if iTunes could give a warning to every new user that's activating an iPhone about the international roaming charges. That way folks will pay attention when they go on their international trips. It's not a perfect solution, but would go a long way I think...