Traveling with iPhone- Avoiding huge bills?

"Im slightly confused by something. I just turned off my data roaming and went onto safari and it allows me to use internet still?"

Are you in a different country roaming on their data network?

Turning data roaming off, doesn't do anything if you are on your home network.

Read about it in the manual:

http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/iPhone_UserGuide.pdf

I am having the same problem here, I don't wanna risk high charges but still want to use free wi fi in hotel etc.

Looking at different forums, I can see that this is a major problem, even with data roaming turned off people are still getting high charges.

One guy I saw, got a bill for £500 when he was abroad with phone, he said it didn't ring once and he didn't send any texts or MMS (can cause high charge)

That's put me off even bringing my phone. Until this issue has a gospel fix, I would advise leaving the phone off the whole time or don't even bring it, it's far too risky at mo in my opinion even with data turned off and push off etc etc. Also, visual voicemail must be turned off as this also carries high charges when abroad.

Can anyone prove me wrong on this?

If you are roaming internationally, have data roaming off, you are not connected to an available wi-fi network and you are able to access the internet, something is wrong.

If you aren't interested in placing or recieving any calls and the same for SMS/MMS when roaming internationally, you can enable Airplane mode followed by turning on wi-fi access. All other iPhone radios will be off.

Hi,

I did think of trying that, turning off data, putting on airplane mode and then turning on wi fi for my hotel room.

This will deffo work?

I'm hearing all sorts of terrible stories of people recieveing large bills when they havent actually used their phone.

Do I need to turn all push off both for email and apps etc?

Thanks

adam,

Hi Allan,

Im slightly confused by something. I just turned off my data roaming and went onto safari and it allows me to use internet still?

Am I missing somethinig here?

Its asking if I wanna join a wifi network as it always does but Im selecting no but the internet is still working on 3G

Surely this would be the same when I go abroad meaning that turning data roamimg off is not stopping me from accessing the internet?

Can you shed some light, I'm obviously missing something here?

Thanks

Adam

Turning data roaming on or off is for when roaming internationally only.

Data roaming is turned off by default. Having data roaming off when connected to your carrier's network at home has no effect whatsoever.

When roaming internationally with data roaming turned off, you should be provided a error message that data roaming must be turned on when trying to access the internet via the cellular network.

Oh I see, you need to be in a different country. So am I right in saying if Im abroad, my data roaming is off but my wi fi is on,I won't be on the 3G network in that country?

Or, I will be on 3G network but wont be able to use data services if the roaming is off?

Is the latter right, Im assuming it is?

I find the manual useless, I think it's a watered down version in the UK cause I can't seem to find anything I need to know about it when looking.

All it seems to show is how to store numbers or attach pics to contacts etc, very basic stuff.

Thanks anyway,

Adam

Page 57:

"Turn Data Roaming on or off: In Settings, choose General > Network and turn Data
Roaming on or off. Data Roaming is turned off by default.
Turning Data Roaming off helps to avoid data roaming charges when traveling outside
your carrier’s network by disabling data transmission over the cellular network. You
can still access the Internet if you have a Wi-Fi connection. If Wi-Fi network access isn’t
available, however, you cannot:
Send or receive email
•
Browse the Internet
•
Sync your contacts, calendars, or bookmarks with MobileMe or Exchange
•
Stream YouTube videos
•
Get stock quotes
•
Get map locations
•
Get weather reports
•
Purchase music or applications
•
Other third-party applications that use data roaming may also be disabled.
If Data Roaming is turned off, you can still make and receive phone calls, and send and
receive text messages. Voice roaming charges may apply. Visual voicemail is delivered
if there’s no charge; if your carrier charges for delivery of visual voicemail when
roaming, turning Data Roaming off prevents the delivery of visual voicemail.
To enable email, web browsing, and other data services, turn Data Roaming on. "

Page143:

"Turn Data Roaming on or off: Choose General > Network, then turn Data Roaming on
or off.
Data Roaming turns on Internet and visual voicemail access over a cellular data
network when you’re in an area not covered by your carrier’s network. For example,
when you’re traveling, you can turn off Data Roaming to avoid potential roaming
charges. By default, Data Roaming is turned off.
"

The manual is very thorough on the features of the phone, you just need to be proficient in using the search function in your specific PDF reader.

If people did this (RTM), the number of threads (not posts) on this forum would be dramatically less.

Message was edited by: paulcb

Adam Mac User wrote:
I am having the same problem here, I don't wanna risk high charges but still want to use free wi fi in hotel etc.

Looking at different forums, I can see that this is a major problem, even with data roaming turned off people are still getting high charges.

One guy I saw, got a bill for £500 when he was abroad with phone, he said it didn't ring once and he didn't send any texts or MMS (can cause high charge)

That's put me off even bringing my phone. Until this issue has a gospel fix, I would advise leaving the phone off the whole time or don't even bring it, it's far too risky at mo in my opinion even with data turned off and push off etc etc. Also, visual voicemail must be turned off as this also carries high charges when abroad.

Can anyone prove me wrong on this?

One guy I saw, got a bill for £500 when he was abroad with phone, he said it didn't ring once and he didn't send any texts or MMS (can cause high charge)

That's put me off even bringing my phone. Until this issue has a gospel fix, I would advise leaving the phone off the whole time or don't even bring it, it's far too risky at mo in my opinion even with data turned off and push off etc etc. Also, visual voicemail must be turned off as this also carries high charges when abroad.

That's interesting.. I would investignate if I traveled abroard - that's trivial to do. Just reset data counters in "Preferences->Use" before traveling abroad (and also disable data roaming). If at some point of time those counters become non-zero, then iPhone is using mobile internet even if data roaming is off..

And to find out detailed day-by-day data use of mobile internet while abroad, one can use an app from AppStore called "Download Meter".

One way is to use a VoIP phone service from Veep Mobile to talk as much as you want if you can connect to the Internet over Wi-Fi. No roaming, international phone charges and doesn't use any your cell mins.

Contact me blackiphoneuser(at)gmail.com for details.

Data Roaming is turned off by default and if you leave Data Roaming off, you shouldn't be able to access the internet via a cellular network when roaming internationally.

Here is O2's advice on using the iPhone abroad.