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Data When Abroad

Apreciar
Apreciar Posts: 627 Forumite
in Mobiles
I have a Samsung s4 on contract with Three and plan to spend a few months abroad, I will only want to use my phone for receiving texts and free wifi. What do I need to do to ensure I have no data usage and costs. Will just turning off background data and auto sync be enough or is there anything else I need to do.
Change is here to stay
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Comments

  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
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    Just turn mobile data off and data roaming as well just in case. I don't see any point in turning the sync off.

    Disabling voicemail (on Three side) is worth doing too.
  • Apreciar
    Apreciar Posts: 627 Forumite
    grumbler wrote: »
    Just turn mobile data off and data roaming as well just in case. I don't see any point in turning the sync off.

    Disabling voicemail (on Three side) is worth doing too.

    So having done this there should be no nasty surprises, I have hear that some apps update themselves in the background without you knowing.
    Change is here to stay
  • NFH
    NFH Posts: 4,413 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Get a local SIM card in the country you're visiting and you can carry on using your phone as normal.
  • ossie
    ossie Posts: 354 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Photogenic
    Turning off data on phone is NOT the best best way!
    Log on to your Three Account online and under International / Internet Access set option in settings to UK only.
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Apreciar wrote: »
    I have hear that some apps update themselves in the background without you knowing.
    They do, but if mobile data is switched off they can do this only via WiFi if you connect to it.
  • Apreciar
    Apreciar Posts: 627 Forumite
    NFH wrote: »
    Get a local SIM card in the country you're visiting and you can carry on using your phone as normal.

    I Already have a separate phone for over there the thing is I want to receive my text messages on my uk number too.
    Change is here to stay
  • Apreciar
    Apreciar Posts: 627 Forumite
    ossie wrote: »
    Turning off data on phone is NOT the best best way!
    Log on to your Three Account online and under International / Internet Access set option in settings to UK only.

    But then I could not get my text messages. Also, I don't want to mess up the settings for when I return to the UK.
    Change is here to stay
  • ossie
    ossie Posts: 354 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Photogenic
    edited 20 July 2013 at 7:24PM
    Apreciar wrote: »
    But then I could not get my text messages. Also, I don't want to mess up the settings for when I return to the UK.

    Texts are not data! You will still get text messages (free) and can reply (cost).

    You will not mess up your data settings in UK because as soon as you are on a UK network you automtically get your data re-enabled.

    That is how I have mine set up and I have never paid a penny roaming charges on Three unless I reply to a text!
  • Apreciar
    Apreciar Posts: 627 Forumite
    ossie wrote: »
    Texts are not data! You will still get text messages (free) and can reply (cost).

    You will not mess up your data settings in UK because as soon as you are on a UK network you automtically get your data re-enabled.

    That is how I have mine set up and I have never paid a penny roaming charges on Three unless I reply to a text!

    How exactly have you got it set up, sorry to appear thick.
    Change is here to stay
  • ossie
    ossie Posts: 354 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Photogenic
    edited 20 July 2013 at 10:22PM
    Apreciar wrote: »
    How exactly have you got it set up, sorry to appear thick.


    1. goto www.three.co.uk on PC not phone.
    2. Log on to your Three Account by clicking on MyThreeAccount on right.
    3. Scroll down to International Settings
    4. Click on Internet Settings
    5. Click on Edit Internet Settings
    6. Click On UK only
    7. Click Save

    Your phone will then roam, accept texts (and allow you to reply at a cost) but will not use any data outside UK.
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