Iphone use for camera only

Paula, One question - which cellular network is your iPhone 4S with? That will have a bearing on how to set the phone while you're travelling. IF your phone is capable of operating on GSM networks, switching only the cellular data "off" will not be enough to avoid roaming costs, as the phone portion will still be active. Therefore, anyone calling your home number will reach you in Europe (perhaps at 03:00 when you're sound asleep) and YOU will pay for EACH incoming call (perhaps at $1-2 per minute!). Cheers!

I put my iPhone on mute at night (any pre-set alarms set in the Clock app will still work). Any incoming calls then go to voicemail (no charge). During the day if the phone rings I just don't answer. If you're ultra worried about it, put it in Airplane Mode to turn off both cellular data AND the cellular radio. Then use free WiFi in your hotel or other places to use Facebook, Twitter, Skype, text via WhatsApp or Viber, etc. The downside: Airplane Mode shuts down the GPS - if you care about using an offline maps app. If you have time, and want reassurance about all this, go to your nearest Apple store and chat to a support rep there. They'll be happy to help you get it sorted and answer all your questions.

Not much need for a book. Turn Cellular Data OFF. Don't touch anything else and you've got wifi, gps, camera, and voice - - plus all the other apps that don't need data to operate (books, games, tunes, etc). The camera uses no data (assuming you don't transmit photos) so there can be no charge.

Thanks George and Ed....do I need to put phone on Airplane Mode as well?

NOOOOO! See 'Don't touch anything else' above. That damn airplane switch opens a whole new can of worms and submenue use requirements. Turning cell data off solves the whole charge problem. And, if you actually need it for a few minutes, switch it on. It's not going to bust the bank like everybody says unless you start streaming videos or something.

Thanks Ed.....I have read all the horror stories and am just still a little afraid....my iphone takes such great pics. I hate to use anything else..and I am soooo computer illiterate. Thanks again for you time.

@ken...I use Sprint network. Thanks everyonee for you input....really appreciate it.

Data Roaming off. You can use the camera without getting any charges on your phone. If you however decide to email the pictures back home, or post to Facebook (but it sounds like you aren't a Facebook kind of gal?) Then only do so when you have wi-fi. Most hotels in Rome offer free wi-fi, you might have to ask for a password when you check in. Someone said they put their phone on mute over night. I've taken it one step further and I forward all my phone calls to my home number while I'm on vacation. I tell my kids to text me if needed, it's easier. Nothing like having your doctors office call to confirm an appointment at 1AM in Italy. Caller ID doesn't work over seas, so you never know if it's an emergency or not. I figure the only people that matter are my family members, and they know if they text me they can reach me. Plus we use Facetime (both kids are on iphones/ipads) No charge what so ever, and it's so much better to see my kids. It's fun because I can share some experiences...like showing them our room, or Italy from the window.

@Ellen - excellent advice. Was awakened in Venice at 3am by somebody wanting a recipe of mine...yikes! My kids and I have a "no news is good news" policy when I'm overseas.

Paula, Thanks for the additional information. As you're with Sprint, it would be a good idea to speak with their customer service regarding travel with the iPhone 4S. You may find it helpful to have a look at these articles (somewhat dated, but still some good points)..... www.macworld.com/article/1163545/sprint.html www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/sprint-unlocks-iphone-4s-sim-card-confusion/27899 While your phone is primarily set-up to work on CDMA networks, it is also capable of use on GSM networks. However, it appears that since the SIM is "locked", you'll be limited to using Sprint's international roaming partners at whatever rates they charge. Therefore, unless you disable ALL wireless functions (ie: "Airplane mode") your phone may still be capable of receiving calls or texts when you're in Europe. If you'd prefer to keep the phone part switched "on", you should still block cellular data. You may be able to by a "travel pack" from Sprint that will reduce the roaming charges (again, speak with them). You could (for example) place the phone in "Airplane mode" and then manually switch Wi-Fi "on". This would disable all wireless functions but would still allow you to check E-mail or browse the web in Wi-Fi areas, and would still allow you to use the Camera. Cheers!

Rose wrote: "I put my iPhone on mute at night (any pre-set alarms set in the Clock app will still work). Any incoming calls then go to voicemail (no charge)." There is some question as to whether you get charged for a call from home that rings your phone when overseas (even if the ringer is off). I'm afraid I'm on the side that you do get charged for such calls. As I understand it, the call is routed to your phone overseas - an international call to you - and then bounced back to your voicemail when you don't pick up. Here is one option I recommend: Change how your phone treats incoming calls. Forward them unconditionally to voicemail. Choose the option on your phone's calling menu to Forward all calls and then use your voicemail number as the number that is used. The call never travels overseas. I've been successful changing this setting while overseas, but your experience may differ and you may want to make the change while still at home. You can still use your phone to make outgoing calls, and you will get text messages, but no incoming calls. To really do it up right, get a google voice number (still free) and forward the calls to that number. Google voice will try and transcribe to text any recordings made by callers and can send you the transcription by email or text message. Or, you can wait and view them online. If you send them to your email address and check email only through a wifi connection, checking your voicemail should be cost-free.

Paul is correct on what happens to phone calls.

I realized after reading subsequent replies that my situation is atypical; I don't have a regular consumer plan. Here's what AT&T says in their FAQ (no idea about other providers): - - - - Q. How am I charged for voicemail calls while roaming internationally? A. Voicemail calls are charged as follows: When your device is on: - Calls that you do not answer that are routed to the AT&T voicemail system will be charged as an international roaming incoming call to your device. In addition, the foreign carrier's routing of that call to the AT&T voicemail system may generate an outgoing call charge from your device's location to the U.S. These charges apply even if the caller disconnects from the voicemail system without leaving a message. If your device is turned off or in flight mode and the wireless network is off:
- When someone tries to call you, the call will go directly to your personal voicemail greeting. Since the network does not try to deliver the call to you in a foreign country, there are no international roaming charges. - - - - So, forwarding all calls to another phone before leaving home may be a viable solution. We are now in the second decade of the 21st Century. Isn't progress supposed to make life easier? :)

......my iphone takes such great pics....... It really doesn't. The pictures look good on the phone and good on facebook but the reality is that the iphone camera is fairly marginal. There are a lot of good simple point and shoot camera less than $100 that out perform the iphone with more features. You might just consider a simple camera and not worry about the iphone and data usage. And then have really nice pictures. Just a thought.

@Frank, I definitely agree with you on the quality of iPhone photos. It can take reasonably good photos under ideal conditions, and if that's the only camera available then it's "better than nothing". However, it has some serious limitations, especially with low light conditions or moving subjects. If you've ever seen the camera sensor on an iPhone, it's easy to see why it has limitations. I used an iPhone 4S for the first time last year and got some photos that I was quite pleased with. However, I always carry a P&S in addition to my DSLR, as they provide much more consistent results. Cheers!