KaitSTS
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Q: Figureing out Airplane mode and international charges.

i will be travling internationally soon, and i was wondering how i can avoid charges using airplane mode and wifi. If my hotel has wifi, then can i put my phones airplane mode on, and connect to wifi, and text or facetime other iphone or ipod users without facing charges? will this also use data for texting or facetiming?

iPhone 5

Posted on Mar 18, 2014 9:38 PM

by sberman,Solvedanswer
sberman sberman
Level 8 (40,770 points)
A:

I said you could not SMS text, which requires cellular data.  You are talking about iMessage, which is done to other Apple devices (only) over WiFi.  That should work -- although there may be an initial cellular handshake request made to other iPhones.

Posted on Mar 18, 2014 9:45 PM

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KaitSTS

Q: Figureing out Airplane mode and international charges.

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  • by sberman,Helpful

    sberman sberman Mar 18, 2014 9:41 PM in response to KaitSTS
    Level 8 (40,770 points)
    Mar 18, 2014 9:41 PM in response to KaitSTS

    KaitSTS wrote:

     

    ... If my hotel has wifi, then can i put my phones airplane mode on, and connect to wifi ...

    Yes.

     

    Can you text without cellular data?  Certainly not SMS text, which requires a cellular network.

     

    See also http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1807

  • by KaitSTS,

    KaitSTS KaitSTS Mar 18, 2014 9:44 PM in response to sberman
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    Mar 18, 2014 9:44 PM in response to sberman

    But people with ipods can text with strictly just wifi, but only to other iphone users. So couldnt i text another iphone or ipod with strictly wifi and not have charges or data?

  • by sberman,Solvedanswer

    sberman sberman Mar 18, 2014 9:45 PM in response to KaitSTS
    Level 8 (40,770 points)
    Mar 18, 2014 9:45 PM in response to KaitSTS

    I said you could not SMS text, which requires cellular data.  You are talking about iMessage, which is done to other Apple devices (only) over WiFi.  That should work -- although there may be an initial cellular handshake request made to other iPhones.

  • by KaitSTS,

    KaitSTS KaitSTS Mar 18, 2014 9:50 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 18, 2014 9:50 PM in response to sberman

    Oh okay thank you. I wasnt sure what SMS text meant. Yes i meant Imessage. What so you mean by an initial cellular handshake?

  • by sberman,Helpful

    sberman sberman Mar 18, 2014 9:56 PM in response to KaitSTS
    Level 8 (40,770 points)
    Mar 18, 2014 9:56 PM in response to KaitSTS

    I seem to recall something I read previously (but cannot find right now) led me to believe that if a cellular network is available, it may be used to initially locate the person you are iMessaging.  Sorry I don't recall the details.

     

    It would be at most a very brief use of data.  And if cellular data is turned off on your end, the worst that would happen is the iMessage conversation would not commence.

  • by KaitSTS,

    KaitSTS KaitSTS Mar 18, 2014 10:01 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 18, 2014 10:01 PM in response to sberman

    Thank you, i will also go and talk to the people at the verizon store and see if they know more about the imessaging and such. Thanks for your help!!

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Mar 18, 2014 10:06 PM in response to KaitSTS
    Level 8 (40,770 points)
    Mar 18, 2014 10:06 PM in response to KaitSTS

    Yes, going to the Verizon Store (or simply phoning them at 611 before you leave) is a good idea.

     

    I'm with AT&T, and I can say they provided a nice brochure about international travel (aimed at their customers -- e.g., what cellular rates they offer for travelers to specific parts of the world, etc.).

     

    Have a good trip and enjoy your iPhone.