How to avoid 3GS roaming in Canada

[CocoaPuffs]

I would say: Game, set, match: anjinhamarota.

He is correct and you got owned by pushing a flawed argument.

Regardless it is clear now.

Flawed, where?

I pointed out two facts, which anjinhamarota simply argues another.

Thanks for trolling. You, too, may keep a cookie as prize.

 

[CocoaPuffs]

For voice roaming, you incur a once per month fee as soon as your signal is dropped from AT&T towers (or their affiliates probably) and picked up by Roger's/Fido towers. Back in the day, this fee was like $5. I'm not sure if that has changed. If you make or receive a call, you incur an additional fee per minute based upon whatever Roger's/Fido charge AT&T to use their towers. This switch from AT&T to Rogers/Fido can happen before you cross the border so it would be in your best interest to turn off data before you get their. After you have incurred the once monthly roaming charge, you may crisscross borders an unlimited number of times within that billing cycle and not have to worry about any additional roaming charges. However, every call will still incur the per minute roaming charge on top of your use of minutes. If you receive a call but reject it, you will incur a roaming charge of 1min despite the call only lasting 6 seconds. You are charged even if you don't answer because Roger's/Fido made you available on the network and gave you the option of answering. If you receive a substantial amount of phone calls, it would be in your best interest to turn on airplane mode unless there is an emergency. If you are not worried about this, then simply turning data roaming off will suffice. If this journey will be a repeat occurrence, you might look into AT&T's international packages.

Thank you for this valuable information. Unfortunately, AT&T does not provide such information and basically leave users in the dark and charge us all day for these petty usages.

 

[Tronic]

Thank you for this valuable information. Unfortunately, AT&T does not provide such information and basically leave users in the dark and charge us all day for these petty usages.

Glad to help. Only reason I knew is because my dad works for AT&T and his department is in charge of tabulating your monthly bill and making sure they get every penny from you they deserve.

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/iphone-travel-tips.jsp

You can travel the world with your iPhone

AT&T knows that the mobile Internet on your iPhone++ is indispensable to you. That's why we want to remind you that international data usage is not covered under your existing U.S. data plan. Any voice or data usage outside the domestic coverage area is considered as an International Roaming charge.
International roaming and data usage is not covered under your existing data plan.

With iPhone's many Internet-based applications, it's natural for users to use more data on their iPhone than they would using other handsets or PDA devices.
International data roaming can get expensive quickly.

For example, opening an email with a 5 megapixel picture in it, or downloading a 3-minute video on YouTube, each takes about 2 MB of data. The cost would be almost $40, based on pay-per-use international data rates of $0.0195/KB.
What can you do to minimize your international data charges?

*
Turn Data Roaming "OFF": By default, the setting for international data roaming will be in the "OFF" position.
To turn data roaming "ON/OFF", tap on Settings>General>Network>Data Roaming
o – Turning "OFF" data roaming blocks email, browsing, visual voicemail and downloads, but it will not block text or picture/video messages.
o – When abroad, international roaming rates apply when you send text or picture/video messages.
o – To access audible voicemail when data roaming is “OFF”, tap on Phone>Voicemail. International roaming voice rates apply.
*
Utilize Wi-Fi instead of 3G/GPRS/EDGE: Wi-Fi is available in many international airports, hotels and restaurants to browse the Web or check email.
*
Turn Fetch New Data “OFF”: Check email and sync contacts and calendars manually instead of having the data pushed to your iPhone automatically. This way you can control the flow of data coming to your iPhone.
To turn off the Auto-Check functionality tap on Settings>Mail, Contacts, Calendars>Fetch New Data, Change Push to “OFF” and select option Fetch Manually
*
Consider Purchasing an International Data Package: If you are traveling outside the U.S., purchasing a Data Global Plan will significantly reduce the cost of using data abroad.
To add an international data package call 1-800-331-0500.
o
$24.99/month: 20 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 20 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
o
$59.99/month: 50 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 50 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
o
$119.99/month: 100 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 100 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
o
$199.99/month: 200 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 200 MB of usage within more than 90 countries

20 MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $0.005/KB within the more than 90 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $0.0195/KB.
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.

50 MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $0.005/KB within the more than 90 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $0.010/KB.1
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.

100 MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $0.005/KB within the more than 90 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $0.010/KB.1
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.

200 MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $0.005/KB within the more than 90 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $0.010/KB.1
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.

1 Rate outside the over 90 countries is $0.010/KB except in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Brunei, Faroe Islands, Kuwait, Macedonia (former Yugoslavia), Maldives, Mongolia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Venezuela where the rate is $0.0195/KB.

Other restrictions and terms and conditions apply for data.

++While using data on iPhone is unlimited within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, international data roaming can get expensive quickly as international roaming rates apply. Voice and data usage, including data usage incurred from delivery of Visual Voicemail messages, will be charged at international rates. For a complete list of countries visit att.com/dataconnectglobal and for rates visit att.com/worldpackages. AT&T offers these iPhone International traveling tips to help you keep control of data usage.

Reset the usage tracker to zero: When you arrive overseas access the usage tracker in the general settings menu and select reset statistics. This will enable you to track your estimated data usage.

To reset Usage Tracker to Zero tap on
Settings>General>Usage>Reset Statistics
Why does iPhone use more data than other devices?

* Full HTML email: All data associated with emails are downloaded to iPhone, including full attachments and associated graphics
* Automatic check for email: Customers who set their device to automatically check for email in 15-, 30-, or 60-minute intervals are incurring international data charges, even if no email is downloaded.
* Enhanced Internet experience: The Safari browser supports full HTML browsing for a more enhanced experience, which uses significantly more data than a WAP browser on a standard handset or PDA.
* Feature-rich applications: iPhone applications like Google Maps, YouTube, and others, depending on frequency of usage, can use a large amount of data

 

[aristobrat]

How certain are you of this fact?

I took my AT&T iPhone to Hong Kong in January for three weeks of work, and it transmitted no "cellular" data when roaming. Data over WiFi worked great.

Thank you for this valuable information. Unfortunately, AT&T does not provide such information and basically leave users in the dark and charge us all day for these petty usages.

FWIW, AT&T's had a FAQ about international roaming on their website for quite awhile now:
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/faq.jsp