Can't I just put the phone on airplane mode, switch the data to manual retrieval and not worry about text, phone calls or mail coming in to the phone. Then I can use the phone at the wifi places for free, take pictures with the camera and use it with the new Rick Steves app for audio tours?
Posted by
Carbondale, IL, USA
1201 posts
Airplane mode automatically turns off both the cellular radio and the wifi radio. So while in the settings screen. Turn airplane mode ON then select wifi and turn wifi back on. No phone, no text, no cellular data while airplane mode is on but re-enabling wifi will make it work.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32349 posts
Joe, Although I don't have an iPhone, "Airplane mode" might not be the best choice as that will block ALL wireless including Wi-Fi. If you were to switch back to normal mode in order to use Wi-Fi, that would also enable the cellular data roaming at the same time (possibly resulting in expensive charges!). According to Apple, you might want to consider these steps to block cellular roaming. From the Settings menu: * Settings > General > Network > Data Roaming
* Settings > General > Network > Enable Cellular Data (iOS 4 or later) Hopefully one of the iPhone users here can confirm that. Happy travels!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, United States
8 posts
Yes you can! Turn airplane mode on and then Wi-Fi to on! Download the skype app and you can make skype out calls when you're near wifi to back home or any hotel or other place you may need to call over there. It works great, and in a pinch you can turn off airplane mode to call a taxi or some other urgent call.
Posted by
Portland, OR, United States of America
59 posts
I used Skype last year from Spain and the one caution I would make is that a saturated wi-fi and/or poor reception will make it pretty useless. At a hotel, this means that your best bet for making calls will be after people have departed in the morning and before they return in the evening and making calls from the lobby or wherever the hotspot is located. Trying to make calls in the evening or doing anything via wi-fi can be an exercise in frustration. Unfortunately, the good times for using the net are probably when you're also out enjoying your trip. There were a couple spots where I ended up using 3G and got better performance than over wi-fi. If you are using wi-fi at an internet cafe or someplace where you are closer to the hotspot and the network isn't saturated you'll probably get better results than at your hotel.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, United States
873 posts
Yes, just turn on Airplane Mode and make sure that the Wifi switch, which is right below, is turned on. Just as an extra precaution, turn off data roaming, too. I did this and used my iPhone every day of my trip.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1895 posts
Anna is right on. Turn DATA ROAMING off, and you will not get any additional charges when in Europe. You can use Wi-fi when available. I found that most hotels in France offered free wi-fi, but you had to get a code from the front desk. Italy was a bit more of a problem finding free wi-fi. In Germany I tried to get free wi-fi at an Apple store, and couldn't find the signal! I've traveled with my iphone3Gs in Italy, France, Germany and England. Totally wonderful! Took a few videos, posted on Facebook, got text messages (kept that to a minimum) I didn't make any calls, just to save money, communicated via email mostly.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
Check with your carrier. You really only incur the really big charges when you use the data aspect of your iPhone I have turned off my data, and then used the phone and not found the charges to be exorbitant. It was easier for people to reach me. I only used the wifi for email. Sure you can Skype, but I use my phone in the UK to reach hotels and for them to reach me. I just found it simpler use the iPhone as a phone. ; ) Check with your carrier on rates. Pam
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
Don't forget; Calls to your iPhone that are unanswered and go to voicemail will incur per-minute charges. The call actually makes it all the way to your phone in the foreign country and then is forwarded back to your voice mail number the US -- hence the charges. More info and ideas on how to keep your costs down: http://www.lodgephoto.com/blog/set-up-iphone-for-europe-travel-save-money/277/
Posted by
Dallas
1022 posts
The article which Steve posted is very good. We discovered that "AT&T World Traveler(SM)" voice roaming must be chosen or data can't be received by the phone. Also, posters on TA have advised to leave a data roaming plan in effect for a few days into the next billing cycle after return from the trip. If AT&T receives delayed charges from the foreign service provider, it would then bill the customer in absence of the plan.