Going abroad in 2 weeks

timberflake

I'm off on my hols in a couple of weeks and will be taking my iPhone 4 with me. However, I've heard a load of stories about people coming home to massive mobile bills.

Simple question really, do I just have to turn off 3G, or is there anything else I need to do to ensure I don't continue using data whilst I'm away?

I'll be using the phone to send texts, I assume these will come out of my inclusive allowance? I wont be making any calls.

Inner_Zone

timberflake wrote: »

I'll be using the phone to send texts, I assume these will come out of my inclusive allowance? I wont be making any calls.

Never assume check with your network.

grumbler

timberflake wrote: »

I'm off on my hols in a couple of weeks and will be taking my iPhone 4 with me. However, I've heard a load of stories about people coming home to massive mobile bills.

Simple question really, do I just have to turn off 3G, or is there anything else I need to do to ensure I don't continue using data whilst I'm away?

I think data can bet transmitted over 2g too. You have to switch data roaming off. I don't know how to do this for iP.

I'll be using the phone to send texts, I assume these will come out of my inclusive allowance?

I am pretty sure they will not unless you have some international bolt-on.

lucylucky

Make sure all capability to send and receive data is switched off.

I would thought it unlikely that your texts would be part of your allowance, but do check.

timberflake

I've found out how to turn off data roaming - thanks guys. Will look into what texts will cost.

drbesty

I wouldnt trust the data roaming switch on the phone, I'd call your network and ask them to block the data services on their side until you come home

davetrousers

There have been cases on here where people have turned off data roaming on iphones but it has still connected, and they have incurred significant bills.

When I went to America last year I used a PAYG simcard, I put £20 on it, so that if my phone did connect it couldn't run up a big bill. I saw it as a £20 insurance policy.

jayme1

yep turn off 'data roaming' in the settings but I would also before you leave the UK turn off 'Data' entirely, then turn it back on when you get back to the UK, better to be safe than sorry.

also there was a glitch in early iphone 4 iOS versions which ment the 'data roaming' switch didnt work so if you are not already, plug the phone into itunes and update to the latest iOS version.

also texts will almost certainly be charged extra (though should be free to recieve) find out how much they will be so you are not shocked by sending too many.

davetrousers wrote: »

When I went to America last year I used a PAYG simcard, I put £20 on it, so that if my phone did connect it couldn't run up a big bill. I saw it as a £20 insurance policy.

this is actually a really really good idea, I am on PAYG anyway so have always in the back of my mind been using this method, but have never thought about applying it to contract users.

Mezzo

By default, data roaming should already be set to OFF on an iPhone 4.
When I first took mine away, a friend recommended I also turn off Mobile Data (settings - general - network - mobile data) but I'm not sure if that's really necessary.

OP - where are you going, and what network are you on?
I went to Spain for a few days in January, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that in Europe Vodafone do a secret package you can opt in to called Data Traveller.
It costs £2 a day for 25mb on the days that you use it, which I thought was quite a good deal.