iPhone-NOT for foreign use!

[Business Bob]

Unless you want to neuter any email, browser or data use of the iPhone, do NOT plan to use it outside the US!! Apple advertises the phone as providing "unlimited" data (email and browser) use at no extra charge once you are signed up with ATT. And Apple advertises the iPhone as appropriate for "international" use. Not so! ATT (which also says its plans include "unlimited" data use) will kill you with extra charges out of the country if you access email or the browser. Four days in Mexico netted me a $660 bill for only occasionally checking email and looking at a few news pages each day. ATT customer reps were rude and insulting ("you should have asked what charges would be leveled before traveling to Mexico!"--of course, there is nothing in the ATT promotional materials to indicate that there is any reason to inquire). After long conversations, an ATT supervisor reluctantly and imperiously "granted" a 50% discount for the outrageous ($20 per meg) data charges.
In short, don't use this thing abroad for any purpose other than as a simple cell phone!!!
Be warned!
BB

 

[TBi]

Well it seems we need another warning sticker for people with no common sense...

I guess you are one of these people who assumes your car insurance is still valid in other countries...

 

[xUKHCx]

To be fair this is standard across the entire phone industry.

Edit: In the minute i spent looking after i left this post i found this (and many more references)

International Roaming: Substantial charges may be incurred if phone is taken out of the U.S. even if no services are intentionally used

Guess where i found it, www.apple.com/iphone then navigated to the rate plans then term and conditions.

Check it out, here

Edit 2: to highlight how little time i spent doing this, i found it and edited this post all before the 5 mint edit limit.

 

[Business Bob]

So Ignore the Apple and AT&T Promo Claims

Well it seems we need another warning sticker for people with no common sense...

I guess you are one of these people who assumes your car insurance is still valid in other countries...

My car insurance doesn't claim to cover unlimited miles in foreign countries.

 

[edesignuk]

Be warned!

Be sensible.

It shouldn't shock anyone with half a brain that unlimited data does not mean unlimited data anywhere in the world.

 

[xUKHCx]

My car insurance doesn't claim to cover unlimited miles in foreign countries.

Well neither does the iPhone and At&T promo claims.

 

[Business Bob]

To be fair this is standard across the entire phone industry.

Edit: In the minute i spent looking after i left this post i found this (and many more references)



Guess where i found it, www.apple.com/iphone then navigated to the rate plans then term and conditions.

Check it out, here

Edit 2: to highlight how little time i spent doing this, i found it and edited this post all before the 5 mint edit limit.

Yeah, yeah, now I know. It's the obscure fine print in the "terms and conditions" of the AT&T (not Apple) site that contradicts the big prominent come-ons in both Apple and AT&T's pages.

 

[apachie2k]

i can't wait until that time happens....

 

[kwood]

Aside from what xUKHCx pointed out, there have been enough stories posted on these boards about people who have traveled to other countries and have been nailed for data usage. It is also just common sense, and like complaining about loosing all of your data without backing up, you will get no sympathy on these boards.

 

[Kamera RAWr]

If the "unlimited data" included all international data as well, I certainly think AT&T would have proudly mentioned that on their site and elsewhere.

 

[Business Bob]

Be sensible.

It shouldn't shock anyone with half a brain that unlimited data does not mean unlimited data anywhere in the world.

And why not, when it is advertised for "international" use.

Aside from what xUKHCx pointed out, there have been enough stories posted on these boards about people who have traveled to other countries and have been nailed for data usage. It is also just common sense, and like complaining about loosing all of your data without backing up, you will get no sympathy on these boards.

I know. Apple lapdog heaven here.

 

[xUKHCx]

Yeah, yeah, now I know. It's the obscure fine print in the "terms and conditions" of the AT&T (not Apple) site that contradicts the big prominent come-ons in both Apple and AT&T's pages.

Obscure fine print, then how come not knowing where it was I found it easily in about 30 seconds.

 

[TBi]

And why not, when it is advertised for "international" use.

Then that would be advertised as unlimited international data.

As they say "caveat emptor", Buyer beware.

Some people spend so much time blaming others for their mistakes that they have no time to read the terms and conditions on their contract.

 

[xUKHCx]

And why not, when it is advertised for "international" use.

So you are taking two different distinct sentences and inferring the result that you would like to see.

The terms and conditions are clearly available and if it is your contract then you should know what they are.

 

[edesignuk]

And why not, when it is advertised for "international" use.

Are you on a wind up or are you actually serious? I'm struggling to believe that anyone with even the slightest knowledge of modern telcos and contracts would actually expect for any bundled data/voice to be usable abroad.

Your ignorance is not AT&T's fault in the slightest. You're lucky they gave you any discount at all.

 

[iBlue]

It's called roaming, and it's expensive.
It's applicable to any phone on any provider. Unless you specifically pay for international roaming (and you'd know, it's not cheap either) then you will get charges like these. It's no one's fault but your own that you racked up a bill like this.

Is this your first mobile phone?

 

[chriswheat]

Just as I wouldn't expect to make a call to my wife's iPhone from my iPhone while traveling in Mexico and have it be free ("O no! AT&T advertised free Mobile-to-Mobile, so I talked for 1000 minutes to her while we were in Mexico and got charged $600!! How can they do this?") it's ridiculous to expect that you would have free unlimited data while roaming.

 

[JBaker122586]

Have you ever owned a cell phone before?
Roaming out of the country you will always incur ridiculous fees.
You really have no common sense. Anytime I've left the country since I've owned a cell phone I've simply turned it off, knowing that if I get phone calls or text messages I'm going to get an insane bill.

 

[rdowns]

OK, you win. Darwin Award on its way.


Thread over.

 

[TBi]

Anytime I've left the country since I've owned a cell phone I've simply turned it off, knowing that if I get phone calls or text messages I'm going to get an insane bill.

Off topic... but thankfully over in europe you aren't charged for incoming text messages while roaming. You are also not charged for incoming calls or txt in your own country which is great. Although i think you might be charged for incoming calls while roaming but only if you answer them. This means i can leave my phone on and if anyone calls me i can text them back instead of answering, or of course email them.

 

[iBlue]

 

[Southern]

View attachment 83053

XD hurr hurr needs more happy cat

 

[rdowns]

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[mastercard]Priceless[/mastercard]

 

[ToddW]

you know i'm heading to mexico next week and plan on just getting a calling card for while i'm there. i'm on vacation I don't need email or the web.

 

[xUKHCx]

This is a reason why the iPhone should be able to be unlocked, because then you could always pickup a local pay as you go card and save a lot of money.