Wifi Abroad

1trainer1

I am going on holiday soon and am taking my mobile phone with me, I want to use whatsapp to send pictures to my family while on holiday and was wondering whether using wifi abroad would cost me anything?

Im not too clued up on this sort of thing but if it is free wifi then it should be free shouldnt it?

NiftyDigits

It most certainly will cost you to use mobile Internet. Which network are you on, which tariff and what model your mobile telephone?

NFH

NiftyDigits wrote: »

It most certainly will cost you to use mobile Internet. Which network are you on, which tariff and what model your mobile telephone?

He's asking about using wifi, not mobile internet.

Using wifi will very often cost you nothing. It will be made obvious to you if you have to pay, and payment will be made locally (e.g. to a hotel), not via your mobile bill.

visidigi

just make sure when you are on the plane before you leave to turn off data roaming on your mobile, then when you do connect wifi it should all be free...

macman

Use WhatsApp via 3G roaming and it will most certainly cost you!

NFH

visidigi wrote: »

just make sure when you are on the plane before you leave to turn off data roaming on your mobile, then when you do connect wifi it should all be free...

Why wait until getting on to the plane? Why not do it now?

Frozen_up_north

1trainer1 wrote: »

I am going on holiday soon and am taking my mobile phone with me, I want to use whatsapp to send pictures to my family while on holiday and was wondering whether using wifi abroad would cost me anything?

Im not too clued up on this sort of thing but if it is free wifi then it should be free shouldnt it?

Yes, free WiFi is free as far as your mobile phone/SIM provider is concerned and doesn't use your mobile phone data or calls at all.

On an iPhone if you turn on "Airplane mode" it stops all calls (in and out) and data, however in Airplane mode you can then turn WiFi back on safe in the knowledge that you won't incur any mobile phone call charges. This is how we use our phones when visiting relatives abroad who have their own WiFi... Other phones may have something similar. We don't need to use text or make/receive mobile phone calls.

However, beware that some WiFi locations may say they are free but end up being so awkward to set up that it's not worth the bother. Others just plain don't work. Small bars and coffee shops mostly offer their own free WiFi and are the best as you can talk to the owner if you can't get it working! One we frequent in Torrevieja just gives you their WiFi password on a slip of paper, and the owner is often sat at the bar using his laptop via the WiFi himself...

Roger1

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

On an iPhone if you turn on "Airplane mode" it stops all calls (in and out) and data, however in Airplane mode you can then turn WiFi back on safe in the knowledge that you won't incur any mobile phone call charges. This is how we use our phones when visiting relatives abroad who have their own WiFi... Other phones may have something similar. We don't need to use text or make/receive mobile phone calls.

Useful info! Anybody know if this is true of Android phones such as my Huawei G300?

When away I switched off data roaming and hoped that nobody would call while I was using wifi. This looks a much better idea.