CM1983
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: iMessage while travelling

Hello all,

 

I will be traveling to the US next week, from Canada. Whenever I go, I turn off my data altogether (I don't usually buy the "international data" plan from Telus - my service provider) so as to not incur any ridiculous charges. My phone usually connects automatically to AT&T once I get to the states. Now, the last time I went I had a ton of trouble with my iMessages - I wouldn't be able to receive some, some couldn't be delivered, some went through just fine. This is sending back to Canada (internationally) as well as sending to and from other people that I was with in the US. Is there any way I can text/iMessage without having to be connected to WiFi, or use cellular data?

 

Thanks!

iPhone 5, iOS 8.1.2

Posted on Jan 7, 2015 2:02 PM

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CM1983

Q: iMessage while travelling

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  • by razmee209,

    razmee209 razmee209 Jan 7, 2015 2:23 PM in response to CM1983
    Level 7 (33,946 points)
    Jan 7, 2015 2:23 PM in response to CM1983

    Send messages with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

     

    iOS: Troubleshooting Messages - Apple Support

     

    Sorry no, you will need to be connected to wifi or cellular data to use the texting features.

  • by CM1983,

    CM1983 CM1983 Jan 7, 2015 3:03 PM in response to razmee209
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 7, 2015 3:03 PM in response to razmee209

    Thanks! That stinks, although makes sense. So if I was to keep data turned on only for iMessages, any chance you'd have an idea what those charges would be like (of course depends on how much I would be sending/receiving messages, but I assume it would be like a dollar per or something silly)? Also, if I decide to just go ahead and purchase the international plan for the days I'm gone, and then turn my data on for iMessages I wouldn't be charged anything above what I already paid to purchase? I know this is something I should talk to my provider about,  I'm just trying to get a general idea of how the charges work.

  • by razmee209,

    razmee209 razmee209 Jan 7, 2015 3:05 PM in response to CM1983
    Level 7 (33,946 points)
    Jan 7, 2015 3:05 PM in response to CM1983

    Yea I wouldn't know what the cost would be sorry.

     

    All I know is that if anyone at my work travels out of the country, I contact AT&T and get them an international plan which features: calling, messaging and data plan.

     

    You can always connect to wifi when it is available.

  • by Axel Foley,

    Axel Foley Axel Foley Jan 7, 2015 3:23 PM in response to CM1983
    Level 5 (4,009 points)
    Jan 7, 2015 3:23 PM in response to CM1983

    i did a quick short research for you on www.telus.com and under TRAVEL the following plan appears:

     

    $25

     

    • Unlimited minutes
    • 150 MB of data
    • Unlimited outgoing text messages
    • Free incoming text messages

    Now this is good for 3 days. It is $50 for 10 days and the data limit for 10 days is 300MB. It is $80 for 30 days and 1GB of data.

    With all three above you get Unlimited Talk Minutes and Unlimited SMS Text Messages. The data portion is dependent upon your usage. Since you are only concerned about Text Messages, I recommend that you turn off iMessages, while you travel, and in turn send & receive SMS Text Messages ONLY. iMessages use data (WiFi or Cellular) and by using SMS Text Messages ONLY you will avoid the data burden. I think the cost is very reasonable since it also gives you unlimited talk minutes from Canada to US and US to US or anywhere FROM the world to US. Just my opinion.

     

    Axel F.

  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Jan 7, 2015 3:27 PM in response to CM1983
    Level 6 (10,262 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 7, 2015 3:27 PM in response to CM1983

    The other thing -

    If you can get your phone unlocked for international travel - you can buy a $30 plan from Walmart

    http://see.walmart.com/t-mobile

     

    Scroll down and select "Keep my phone" option - this is of course prepaid - so if you leave something on the table - it is forfeit

  • by CM1983,

    CM1983 CM1983 Jan 7, 2015 7:48 PM in response to CM1983
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 7, 2015 7:48 PM in response to CM1983

    Thanks everyone! I will look into all my options. That Telus $25 plan is the one I usually go with, we will only be gone for 4 days so I don't need much. I just would like the freedom (and security) of being able to use my phone without wracking up a ridiculous bill.

  • by CM1983,

    CM1983 CM1983 Jan 13, 2015 1:15 PM in response to CM1983
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 13, 2015 1:15 PM in response to CM1983

    Okay, so I purchased the Telus $25 plan someone above listed. The guy my husband was speaking with as well as another woman I chatted with today on the Telus site told me that I should be able to send/receive text messages no problem while my cellular data is turned off. Now, after doing some more online reading I remembered a time awhile back when I had my data turned off for a few days and was only able to send/receive texts when connected to WIFI, so clearly, these Telus employees are wrong. I do get 150 MB of data so I am hoping that will cover any texting that I end up doing (plus texting itself is unlimited), but what should my phone settings be like? Data roaming off, but leave cellular data turned on?