Using my iPhone 4S while in Paris

Sometimes it is worth the extra expense to make it less confusing. If you won't be using your phone for long calls, or will stick mainly with text you might be better off using your regular phone. Just make sure that the data is turned off or you might come home to a nasty bill.

I would recommend using i-phone. I used verizon service (at the same rates you quoted) last year with my blackberry while staying in the South of France for 3 weeks. It was just a lot easier. But I would definitely make sure that you have your data off as the last person recommended as well. If you do not do that you will get charged a lot. Verizon recommended that too me as well they helped me to make sure I knew where and how to turn it off. One last thought I would not use your GPS on your i-phone or you will end up with a huge bill. My sister did that last year in france and had a huge bill.

Thank you both for your suggestions. We are going to be in Paris for a week. I don't see where it makes economical sense to purchase an unlocked phone to avoid roaming charges when we can simply purchase a plan from our provider and turn off the data and GPS.

Leslie... i always use my own phone as well. I have AT&T and the international call rates are about the same. Just check on your text rates... mine it was $10 for 50 outgoing texts, but incoming were all free. Not sure how they calculate if its by the minute??? Are you charged for incoming? Its so much easier to have my own phone and my own number for the few calls I would need to make. The unlocked phon e is just too much trouble for me. Plus, I would need my phone anyway for when I land back in the US.

Leslie, I tend to agree with the others. If you're only planning to make occasional voice calls (in country or back to the U.S.) and use text messaging, roaming with your home network is a reasonably cost effective option. HOWEVER, one important point to mention is that you'll also be charged for incoming calls from anyone that dials your cell number. Those will also be charged at 99¢ per minute. In addition, you may find that you're awakened in the "wee hours" of the morning by inconsiderate friends that are too darn lazy to check the time difference. I'd suggest telling ALL of your contacts NOT to call you unless it's really urgent (or least tell them to check the time). As previously mentioned, it's extremely important to switch off data roaming and cellular data, and use ONLY Wi-Fi for accessing the net or checking E-mail. Check the "data usage" indicator from time-to-time just to make sure that you're not using any data. I vaguely recall that the Verizon iPhone 4S has an additional menu setting for "Primary CDMA" or something like that. You may have to switch that off to "force" the phone to search for a GSM network when you first turn the phone on in Europe. Happy travels!

I would suggest using your iphone only on a wifi network and using skype to make calls and one of several free sms services for texts. The cost per minute for skype from France to US is pennies. You can put your phone into airplane mode which turns off data and voice, but allows wifi connections. Of course, this depends on being able to find a local wifi hotspot, but that won't be a problem in Paris. And, of course, you can always turn data and voice back on as needed. Good luck,
--Greg

We used the international plan you mentioned in May and it was great for our iPhone 4S. The phone company "unlocked" the phone when we called them. In Paris we turned off "data roaming" on the phone and used it for checking and sending email and photos. Also made a few local calls. Total bill $10.89. We are not very tech-savvy, and if we could do this, so can you! Very simple.

My husband has that phone, and we have Verizon. When he went to Europe a few months ago, I just called Verizon and threw myself on their mercy. They did EVERYTHING. Basically, they FedExed us a Blackberry that would work in Europe, walked us through all aspects of set-up, switched service from his iPhone to the Blackberry RIGHT AS HE BOARDED THE PLANE (how cool is that?!) so when he got to Heathrow he fired it up and called me to say he had landed. And when I called him, it was the same number. You quote the rate they offered us. It was VERY reasonable. I barely noticed the upcharge on the next bill - and yes, they just added the charges to our regular billing cycle. When he got home we FedExed the phone back using the same box and the label provided (they give you 30 days to return it) and that was that. No muss, no fuss. Excellent service, too - the people on their "international desk" (I think that's what they call it?) know all the wrinkles, and are extremely helpful. Sorry - didn't mean this to be a love-fest/commercial for Verizon... but it was a great experience.

Leslie, you might look into downloading a magicjack app for the iphone. I know they have it for ipad. With magicjack, where ever you have an internet connection - where ever you find wifi - you are connected to magicjack via the internet. Fixed cost per year. Calls from Europe home are local calls.

Additional item: I believe you can purchase international minutes in increments of $10. Calls to European landline numbers are generally 2 cents per minute. My understanding is that when you connect to the internet via wifi, it is just like you are calling from home.