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CarlyLyon

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 28, 2009
80
0
i was wondering if i go overseas.. and i take my iphone with me could i turn off all the roaming with att and just be able to use my wifi? How would i be able to do this

thanks a bunch!!
 
i was wondering if i go overseas.. and i take my iphone with me could i turn off all the roaming with att and just be able to use my wifi? How would i be able to do this

thanks a bunch!!

Sure! Settings>General>Network>Data Roaming>OFF

That will disable the Data, but not the voice.
 
I found that if you do not activate any of the networks overseas, your phone will not log onto the cell networks. Thus preventing inbound text messages, visual voicemail etc. I was able to use everything else via wifi.

I also had push off, location services off etc. Go to ATT's page on international travel for more details. If you don't do it right, you could be looking at a very large bill.
 
I read in several other posts to put the phone into airplane mode and then turn on WiFi. I'd turn off data roaming, as mentioned, to be sure. I just went on a cruise and it worked great for me.
 
i was wondering if i go overseas.. and i take my iphone with me could i turn off all the roaming with att and just be able to use my wifi? How would i be able to do this

thanks a bunch!!

Hiya

My experience may not be relevent, but I include it in case it is helpful even if I drift off topic...

I'm based in the UK and recently went to Mexico, and I too considered the roaming apect before I went.

When I got there to Mexico, the hotel did not have wifi despite implying they had. I found a nearby place where I was able to just about use wifi.

Turning off roaming will save you a fortune... HOWEVER... before I went I thought that the possibilty existed that I might 'just' possibly want to use the iPhone when there was no wifi link. I was glad I did consider this.

Before we left I chose to buy a 5 Gb data 'bolt on' from my UK provider 'O2' on a 'just in case' / convenience basis.

Cutting a long story short, I was astonished to see that this nearly got used up by the end of a week. I rang O2 and increased this to 10Gb. This lasted for a fortnight.
A couple of apps I used infrequently were to blame (especially map based ones) and also some 'just for the fun of it' moments in the bar. But they were not the main culprit....

MAIN CULPRIT
-------------
The main culprit for me was down to the fact that the iPhone does not seem to offer a choice to download just e-mail headers. You get all the messages and all of each message, and this caught me out when I was not expecting it.

So I hesitate to think what the phone bill would have been without this bolt on! Give it some thought.

--something else, a couple of tips --

VOICEMAIL
------------
I don't know whether it's different where you live, and I hope this does not sound patronising, because it's described in other places, but as a useful tip turn your voicemail off BEFORE you leave your country to avoid any bigger than normal bills due to you being charged more for just receiving the voicemail. (Obviously not data). The caller will also be charged more. :-(

TOTAL DATA LOSS
-------------------
My only other tip is that my iPhone nearly lost all its charge on the 10.5 hour flight to Mexico - and annoyingly even without listening to music - which is what I wanted to do with my iPhone). Needless to say it was my first really long flight!

On the spur of the moment, in the airport departure lounge, I had bought a recharger device which fitted lots of electronic stuff (including iPhone) and used rechargeable / ordinary batteries. I got this on a whim - a 'just in case' basis and popped it in my carry on stuff even without buying ordinary batteries. I'm glad I did!

And fortunately too, the manufacturers had partially charged the rechargeable batteries - and I say fortunately - because, sure enough, the 20% came up far too quickly, before we were even near landing, even though I had carefully prepared the iPhone before we took off. I had checked everything powerwise was either off or set to minimum.

So I plugged the iPhone into this while on the aircraft and it gave me 50% more. (I also discovered that some larger chargers can fit into aircraft power sockets - but I wasnt sure whether there'd be one near me or I'd be allowed on my bucket and spade airline).

This 50% was more than enough to last until I got to the hotel and was able to plug the iPhone in the normal mains - USB - iPhone bit.

On the way back I was therefore prepared. Charged up both. I was then able to listen/watch movie on my iPhone, and when 20%, I gave it a recharge from the unit. Worked fine. I resumed with music but then I fell asleep <lol>. :)

Anyways - the point is I did not lose my data due to the iPhone draining!

Hope this helps, if not sorry about the ramblings...

All the best
 
Airplane mode

Can anyone tell me if it is possible for the iphone to switch itself from airplane mode to regular mode (voice and data "on") after the phone has been turned on (and previously being in airplane mode before it was shut off)?

Situation: iphone turned to airplane mode; iphone shut-off at some point while in Mexico; iphone turned back on; iphone switched into voice/data "on" mode.

Lou
 
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