questions regarding wifi connection

[SteveUK]

Hi all
Just have a few questions regarding wifi on the iPhone, as I'm looking at getting one in the next few days.

1. If I'm at home where I have a wifi network, will the iPhone automatically use wifi as a connection for all web surfing, email, google maps etc ?

2. If I leave the house, out of range of my wireless router, will the phone switch to GPRS/Edge and keep the connection going, or would I have to respond to a warning that the connection was lost?

3. Will the connection switch when using, for example msn on meebo? where a constant connection is always active?

Or is it simply a matter of disabling GPRS/Edge, and only enable it when not in wifi range. (I presume you can do this on the iPhone) ?

Hope I've explained the questions clearly enough. My concern is that I don't want to eat into my allocated web data by mistake. (Even unlimited on O2 has a fair usage policy of only around 200mb)

Thanks in advance.

 

[chicagdan]

1. If I'm at home where I have a wifi network, will the iPhone automatically use wifi as a connection for all web surfing, email, google maps etc ?

Yes, once you have selected a network (and if necessary entered password info) the iPhone remembers it and as long as you have wifi turned on, it will use that connection. There are settings to adjust this ... it isn't necessarily automatic but can be.

2. If I leave the house, out of range of my wireless router, will the phone switch to GPRS/Edge and keep the connection going, or would I have to respond to a warning that the connection was lost?

It will tell you that the wifi connection was lost but will switch to EDGE automatically.

3. Will the connection switch when using, for example msn on meebo? where a constant connection is always active?

Or is it simply a matter of disabling GPRS/Edge, and only enable it when not in wifi range. (I presume you can do this on the iPhone) ?

You can't disable Edge, but you can disable wifi. It works the other way around, EDGE is on unless you are in wifi range.

 

[TEG]

1) Don't worry about the data. Apple had cajoled the providers to remove all caps. That being said, if you are connected to Wi-Fi, and the phone has no difficulties accessing the internet with it, that is how it will connect.

2) The iPhone automatically switches between EDGE and Wi-Fi, and if you are in range of another Wi-Fi Network while online, a window will pop up letting you know and giving you the option to connect or cancel.

3) I don't know what you mean by MSN on Meebo. If you mean, IM, don't worry, it doesn't exist (except on jailborken phones, and it should act like any other continious connection.

TEG

 

[chicagdan]

3) I don't know what you mean by MSN on Meebo. If you mean, IM, don't worry, it doesn't exist (except on jailborken phones, and it should act like any other continious connection.

TEG

Actually, Meebo is the one way that I know to use IM on a non-jailbreak iPhone. I haven't roamed around with it like the OP suggested, but it works fine within the same Wi-Fi or EDGE range.

 

[SteveUK]

Thanks for the quick replies!

My main concern with MSN instant messenger was whether O2 allow this type of service over EDGE or their wifi hotspots.
Vodafone say this in their fair usage policy....

services like Skype or Peer-to-Peer services (like instant messenger services, text messaging clients or file sharing). These services are charged separately at £2 per MB

Just need to be sure I'm doing the right thing moving from an iPod Touch to an iPhone.

Thanks again.