Realizing that there are options for jailbreaking/unlocking an iPhones (as well as options for getting other phones), assuming I want to use my iPhone using one of ATT's int'l data packages (mainly for Google Maps outside of WiFi), is there a way to turn off the phone portion of the phone so I don't receive calls?
I want to use the smartphone portion of the phone (i.e., data), but don't want to use the phone portion of the phone.
I don't believe so... You can turn it on airplane mode and then switch WIFI back on, but I don't think that will do what you want.
Steve - any guess at what you spent in $$$ on phone and data for one month using European SIM cards?
Also, if I go the SIM route, do I need a different SIM for each of the 10 countries I'm visiting?
Sure you can turn off the phone so you don't receive calls but still use the phone connection for data. Just unconditionally forward all your incoming calls to voicemail. Even though you've registered with a foreign cell company by turning the phone on, no calls will be sent your way and you won't be charged. Some super cautious folks would tell you to do the forwarding while you are still in the U.S., but I've been able to successfully do it once I was overseas.
I don't have an iPhone, but there should be a menu option to unconditionally forward calls. If not, AT&T should recognize the GSM codes to do that (send me a PM if you have any questions about doing this). Or, call customer service before you leave and ask them to set it for you. Be sure to change it back once you return, of course.
Although you won't get voice calls, you will get text messages and incur the charges for those. Not sure about AT&T, but with a message package with T-Mobile, I only pay for outgoing text messages. Incoming come out of my package even if I'm out of the country.
The iPhone has Call Forwarding but I don't see an option for forwarding all calls to voicemail unconditionally. Moreover, I'm wondering how that would work with Visual Voicemail.
If I go the route of Using AT&T's Int'l voice/text/data packages, I'm probably looking at about a $400 cell phone charge for one month (30 days of calling 5-10 mins/day, 200 MB of data usage, and 50 outgoing texts).
Jailbreaking just seems like a lotta hoops, but if I can using a single SIM card throughout Europe, then it would probably be worth it (assuming the PAYG SIM cards are as cheap as people say and they include data).
OK - just signed up for a Google Voice account and am playing with it.
If this means I can unconditionally forward all calls to voicemaill using the GSM code, and then be able to read/listen to my voicemails on a computer at the hotel using the internet, then .... problem solved.
I understand what you are trying to do, I did something similar and have to tell you that it did not work very well -- I had trouble getting a good 3g connection to use the gps functions of the iphone (and I was in Paris). WIFI service was great in hotels, etc. and it was nice to have the phone for that but not sure you can count on it for navigation. If you know where you are going possibly preload and save bunch of maps and directions on the phone before you need them (that worked). For calls I was happy with an old unlocked phone and sim card from 'call in europe'.
