Mobile use outside EU

goodValue

I'm doing a short trip outside the EU, but not expecting to make phone calls or text.

I don't normally use much data, but would like to be able to use a couple of financial apps if needed.

If I turn Roaming off, will I still be able to use wiFi to access apps?

Nearlyold

Yes provided you can find an available  WiFi source that will let you connect.

Murmansk

Roaming refers to using the mobile phone network in other countries. Wi-fi will indeed allow your apps to access the internet

vacheron

Also, if you are only planning on using data (websites, email, whatsapp etc) and your phone supports e-SIMs, you can buy a 7 day, 1GB eSIM which you can install alongside your usual SIM for many non-EU countires for less than a fiver.

Could be a good fallback to have installed just in case?

PlatinumChaos

Also, double-check your mobile data network settings. I used to be with Virgin but was switched to O2 after their takeover, and when I was in Germany last week, I was initially unable to get any internet connection because my phone still had the old Virgin data network settings. A quick google got me the correct information, which I was able to quickly change myself. It had me stumped for a while though.

Neil49

Where exactly are you going? Although you say outside the EU, many of the providers include countries outside the EU in their list of inclusive countries. For example, I'm with O2 and they include the Channel Islands in their roaming (most do not). Lebara include India and China in their inclusive roaming allowance.

Check other providers to see if they cover your country

goodValue

Also, double-check your mobile data network settings.

I don't think I've touched my Mobile network settings.
I've just looked on my phone, and there is one row for Wi-Fi, and another row for Mobile network.
So aren't the two completely separate.

goodValue

Neil49 said:

Where exactly are you going? Although you say outside the EU, many of the providers include countries outside the EU in their list of inclusive countries. For example, I'm with O2 and they include the Channel Islands in their roaming (most do not). Lebara include India and China in their inclusive roaming allowance.

Check other providers to see if they cover your country

I'm going to Morocco.
I use 1pMobile (EE), and as I don't intend making calls, wiFi would be suitable.

zagfles

Be aware that receiving calls, even voicemail, costs £1 a minute. It may be worth keeping the phone in flight mode for the entire holiday, you can turn wi-fi on in flight mode. That might even allow you to use wi-fi calling but not sure about that!

vacheron

zagfles said:

Be aware that receiving calls, even voicemail, costs £1 a minute. It may be worth keeping the phone in flight mode for the entire holiday, you can turn wi-fi on in flight mode. That might even allow you to use wi-fi calling but not sure about that!

Another good reason to use the e-SIM option I mentioned above. You can completely disable your usual UK SIM while on the plane out so you can't receive expensive calls or accidently use out of region data but you can still use data messaging, whatsapp maps etc. if needed, and enable it again on the flight home.

Just as an idea of the possible prices you could face, when I used to travel to Russia (even before recent events) receiving or sending phone calls using my UK network provider would have cost £3.56 per minute, and data was charged at £5 per MEGAbyte! 

To put that into perspective, that would cost about £40 to send ONE good quality photograph! 

zagfles

vacheron said:

zagfles said:

Be aware that receiving calls, even voicemail, costs £1 a minute. It may be worth keeping the phone in flight mode for the entire holiday, you can turn wi-fi on in flight mode. That might even allow you to use wi-fi calling but not sure about that!

Another good reason to use the e-SIM option I mentioned above. You can completely disable your usual UK SIM while on the plane out so you can't receive expensive calls or accidently use out of region data but you can still use data messaging, whatsapp maps etc. if needed, and enable it again on the flight home.

Just as an idea of the possible prices you could face, when I used to travel to Russia (even before recent events) receiving or sending phone calls using my UK network provider would have cost £3.56 per minute, and data was charged at £5 per MEGAbyte! 

To put that into perspective, that would cost about £40 to send ONE good quality photograph! 

£5 a MB is simply a rip-off, I'd cancel my plan with any provider that charged those rates on principle, even if i didn't intend to use it. 1pmobile at least "only" charge 20p/MB, in both Russia and Morocco. Still massively expensive at £200 per GB. But better than £5000 per GB. 

About time our useless regulator banned such obviously predatory pricing. Or at least force them to specify the cost per GB, as that's what virtually all monthly plans/boosts price their data usage in.