When I traveled internationally for the first time after buying my iPhone, I was concerned about the potential for racking up huge phone bills. I’d heard horror stories about people who used their ATT iPhone for international travel, only to discover they had mounted up thousands of dollars in cell phone charges upon returning home. As an underpaid writer, I needed to make very sure this didn’t happen to me.
I started by calling AT&T and was told that I needed to add an International Calling Plan for $24.99 per month. Initially that seemed like a reasonable solution, until I read the small print. The plan provides 20MB of usage within 65 countries, and the list of countries did not include my destination. Additionally, usage over 20MB would have been charged at $.005 per KB. If that all sounds like a lot of gibberish, let me put it in perspective: opening an email with a five megapixel picture in it or downloading a three-minute video on YouTube each require about 2MB of data, so it wouldn’t take long to eat up 20MB of data. Additionally, there are 1,000 KB in each MB, so if I was over my limit, opening a 2MB email would cost me $10! Obviously, this plan was not acceptable.
Since I intended to access my email and the Internet solely through the hotel’s WiFi network, I asked AT&T for instructions to block the cellular network completely. Although it was a struggle to get the rep to agree to send me the appropriate information, she finally offered to send an email with instructions. The instructions were somewhat incomplete, but with research I was able to fill in the missing details and the steps I took successfully shut off the 3G network (I have since traveled internationally for months without incurring any roaming charges). The following are the specific instructions for using ATT iPhone for international travel without incurring high international roaming charges (3Gs, 4 and 4s):
Settings for iPhone 3GS:
- Make sure that standard International Roaming and International Long Distance feature, if it is included in your cellular plan, is removed (call AT&T and make sure the rep adds a note to your account confirming that you requested this)
- If you are going to forward your number, do so before you change any other settings (Settings->Phone->Call Forwarding->Turn ON->Enter number to which you want calls forwarded)
- Disable 3G (Settings->General->Network-Enable 3G->OFF)
- Turn off data roaming (Settings->General-Network->Data Roaming->OFF)
- Make sure WiFi is enabled (Settings->WiFi->WiFi->ON)
- Turn of automatic pushing of email (Settings->Mail, Contacts, Calendars->Fetch New Data-Push->OFF and set Fetch to Manually)
- Put the phone in airplane mode (Settings->Airplane Mode->ON)
- Although not absolutely necessary, I wanted to be very sure I was not mounting up the MB’s, so I reset the usage counter to zero in order to monitor it throughout the trip, ensuring my usage remained at zero. To do so, go to Settings->General->Usage->Reset Statistics (scroll to the very bottom).
Settings for iPhone 4 and 4s:
- If you are going to forward your number, do so before you change any other settings (Settings->Phone->Call Forwarding->Turn ON->Enter number to which you want calls forwarded)
- Disable 3G (Settings->General->Network->Cellular Data->OFF). Also check your Data Roaming; it should be off by default, but for some reason if it is on, turn it off here as well
- Make sure WiFi is enabled (Settings->WiFi->WiFi->ON)
- Turn of automatic pushing of email (Settings->Mail, Contacts, Calendars->Fetch New Data-Push->OFF and set Fetch to Manually)
- Put the phone in airplane mode (Settings->Airplane Mode->ON)
- If you wish to reset the usage counter to zero in order to monitor it throughout the trip and ensure usage remains at zero, go to Settings->General->Usage->Cellular Usage->Reset Statistics
- NOTE: In my 4s I do not turn off Location Services and Notifications, as they both work over wifi as well as a cellular network. Disabling 3G and putting the phone in Airplane Mode ensures that they will use only the wifi network and not rack up expensive roaming charges.
When I arrive in an international destination, I simply log into an available WiFi network and Voila! I have access to the Internet, email, Twitter, and can even make international phone calls with the iPhone Skype app without incurring cellular charges. When you return to the U.S., simply reverse the process, although you may choose not to reinstate the International Roaming and International Long Distance feature.
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Barbara – I figured out how to use wifi while in airplane mode. I didn’t know that was possible. According to Apple Support:
“you can re-enable Wi-Fi while in airplane mode: tap Settings > Wi-Fi, then turn Wi-Fi on and choose a Wi-Fi network.”
Absolutely Nichole. That was the point of my whole post – leave it in Airplane mode to make sure there are no cell charges and just use the wi-fi.
You’re correct, I was not in airplane mode. I guess the question is, when I do switch it off and connect to a wifi network (the apartment I’m renting has wifi) will texts come through, and will I be charged for them?
Nichole: As long as you have it in Airplane mode and are using only the wi-fi, your texts will not come through and you will not incur any charges.
As everyone else has said, thanks for a such a thorough post. I’ve read through nearly all the comments and think all but one or two of my questions have been addressed.
How do you ensure that text messaging is turned off on the iPhone? I set my phone as explained and sent a test text from another phone. It was delivered.
The second question: Can I use location-based apps such as Foursquare with the phone on these settings?
Hi Nichole: Just did a test on my iPhone to make sure. I followed all the steps in my post and sent myself two texts from my computer. Neither came through – in fact I got a nag message on my screen that told me to turn off airplane mode in order to receive data. When in airplane mode, all voice and data communications are completely disabled, so I suspect you have missed that step. You should be able to use location-based apps like Foursquare when you have access to a wifi network, but be very sure your 3G is off and you are in airplane mode, or you risk connecting with the 3G network, which could result in very high bills.
This is a great article. I am off to Europe next week and am going to follow the tips in this article. I have a few questions though. I purchased the $5.99 roaming plan from AT&T for my iphone so I can make phone calls and because I don’t have Skype on my phone. Will I still be able to turn off 3G AND make phone calls? Or do I have to turn it back on? Also, do you know if there is a way of making sure I am not racking up charges by accident while I am away? I really just want to turn off 3G so I can check emails and Facebook here and there. Lastly, would I be able to use my Clock and Maps app on my iphone normally? Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Anna: Sorry, but I am not familiar with the roaming plan; frankly I cannot imagine why anyone would need a roaming plan in this day and age, as all calls in the U.S. are free and roaming is no longer an issue. But maybe I am misunderstanding and you are speaking of an International Plan of some kind, although the least expensive International Plan I could find was something like $25 per month. So, I’m not sure about your question regarding turning off the 3G and making calls – but it does seem to me that if it is a plan through AT&T, you’d need the 3G connection, and then you risk mounting up huge bills. As for using your apps while the 3G is turned off, they will all work, unless they need the Internet -like the mapping service. In those cases, they will still work as long as you can access a wifi hotspot. Finally, to ensure you are not racking up charges, refer back to the article and set y our counter to zero. If it starts mounting up minutes, you’ve got reason to worry.
Thanks Barbara for your prompt response. I don’t want to come home to a big bill. I can use the old fashion way of GPS, good ole maps. My husband has already done the research on the “how to get there”. So it’s possible to just use the i-phone as a phone with the international plan, for emergency and then use skype or vonage for the free wifi. So I have to keep on change my settings on the phone? That will be no problem, I hope. I can keep on checking my usage counter to make sure I’m not going overboard. I plan only to check my emails with skype or vonage and do my texting then. Thanks again.
Leaving for Ireland soon, and want to take my i-phone, I like to have my phone services handy due to the fact that we will be driving around and need it in case of emergency. Can I have both services, the ATT International Plan and the Skype? Turn on the Skype when in the area of Free Wifi, and then use the International Plan when I’m on the road? I’ll be informing friends and relatives to not send me any big files in emails. I won’t be using my i-phone for all the fun things, but will use it for useful things. I’ll play it smart. Can I use my app, like GPS? Will I have to pay to use those kinds of apps? Thanks!
Theresa: Yes, you can have and use both the International Plan and Skype at the same time, however using your iPhone’s international plan for GPS services is playing with fire. Your Int’l plan will only provide you with a small amount of data download for free (20 Mb, I believe – check the post above again); after that the charge is hefty. And it’s pretty easy to mount up the Mb when you’re using one of these data intensive apps. You risk coming home to a bill in the thousands of dollars.
Canadian travelling to Scotland with new baby, leaving daddy at home.
Want to use iPhone for camera, calender, emails, solitaire app, iPod….
Not phone but maybe texts…
Do NOT want huge bill, feeling super stressed about that potential. No way to
afford it on mat leave pay!
What’s my plan? Will your work for me?
Any advice appreciated
Hi Robyn: Can’t really answer anything about your phone plan, but I would assume the hardware for the iPhone is the same in Canada as in the US, so the settings should be the same. I would try to confirm with your carrier about the plan.
Barbara – Yes! I did a quick test with a colleague and what you described re call forwarding seems to work as you described. So that’s one fewer thing to worry about while traveling. Thanks for your help!
Very welcome Gabe – I learned something too, although as usual, I tore my hair out getting straight answers from ATT or even two people who told me the same story.
Thanks for the information. I have had trouble accessing WiFi sometimes when out of the country. Are there simple steps to do this? And also, is there another option if I am no where near free WiFi?
Hi Cheryl: Can’t really help you with connecting with wifi internationally because every wifi netwotk would have it’s own settings. But for any open network, all you should need to do is go to: Settings-WiFi-Turn ON-Select the network you want to join. Password protected networks would prompt you to add a password at this point. No other option that I know of if you’re not near a wifi hotspot.
Barbara: Thanks. I managed to get additional information / clarification from ATT. Everything we’ve said so far seems accurate however there’s one tricky thing with call forwarding. One must notify ATT ahead of time and ask that “immediate” call forwarding be enabled for the iPhone phone number. Setting call forwarding on the iPhone itself will have no effect once airplane mode is turned on.
One way to think of the configuration is as 3 points: point A = caller, point B = ATT, point C = iPhone. My understanding is that when the iPhone is put in airplane mode it signals ATT and then ATT will cease trying to connect to the iPhone (basically point B to point C communication is blocked) until the iPhone is taken out of airplane mode and signals ATT to restore communication. So when in airplane mode, ATT at point B cannot access any call forwarding information from the iPhone at point C. If “immediate” call forwarding is set at point B (by notifying ATT ahead of time) then calls from callers at point A will be forwarded by ATT at point B. Similarly, if “immediate” call forwarding is _not_ in effect then calls and voicemails will be stored at ATT (point B) awaiting retrieval by the iPhone when airplane mode is turned off.
So my plan is to BEFORE leaving the U.S.:
– notify ATT to have my iPhone number “immediately” forwarded to a different number (whose voicemail I can easily retrieve via WiFi)
– turn data roaming OFF
– turn cellular data OFF
– turn fetch new data OFF (I’m not sure this matters except possibly saving on battery)
– turn notifications OFF (I’m not sure this matters except possibly saving on battery)
– turn airplane mode ON
– turn WiFi ON
– reset usage tracker to zero
What did I miss? 🙂
And why is it so difficult to find all this information in one place? I guess we all know the answer to that. 🙂
Now I need to figure all this out for my wife’s Blackberry on the same ATT family plan as my iPhone.
Hi Gabe: Clarification from ATT is an oxymoron. Just spent an hour and a half on the phone trying to get some answers after reading your comment. Three dropped calls, no one called me back as they promised, finally got answers when I asked to be accelerated to tech support. So, here’s the scoop. When you put the iPhone in Airplane Mode, it shuts off all data and voice communication, so if you have not forwarded your cell number to another number, anyone who calls during the time when the phone is in Airplane Mode will get an error message. These messages are generated by an automated system, so the exact message can be different from call to call. Sometimes it will be “This user’s phone is not on at the moment, please call back.” Or it can be ” We’re sorry, we cannot access that number at the moment.” Or even: The number you have called is not a working number.” Totally stupid. I’m paying my bill so it’s obviously a working number. If you set up forwarding on your iPhone, it keeps this from happening, because the call is immediately redirected to the new number without ever trying to connect to your iPhone. However, your information about the need to notify ATT to set up immediate forwarding is incorrect. All you need to do is set up your calls to be forwarded on your iPhone (Settings-Phone-Call Forwarding-turn ON-enter number). Turning call forwarding on at the iPhone is activating immediate forwarding – they are one in the same, and there is no need to call ATT to do this. However you must turn on call forwarding before you put the phone into Airplane mode. If you do this, callers will never get an error message. In my case, incoming calls are intercepted before they hit the iPhone and sent to Skype, where I have set up a voice mail message that callers will hear.
As for turning off fetch and notifications, I do this as an additional assurance against charges. In one conversation with an ATT rep, I was told that international calling was enabled on my phone (I did not have an international package, but the phone itself was enabled to call internationally). Apparently, when this is the case, even with the 3G network connection turned off, if the emails are set to fetch, the iPhone would connect via whatever international network it found and download messages. Same with notifications – like my CNBC app that alerts me whenever there is breaking news in the stock market. If that happened I would have been charged at exorbitant rates. Of course, it would be impossible for any connection to occur in Airplane Mode, but I worried that I might at some point accidentally turn off the Airplane Mode, so I wanted to be extra sure no fetch or notification would occur. And I also had them remove the International enabling, as per my first step in the post, but I just don’t trust them. Better to have multiple layers of safety in place.
Thanks for this conversation. I’m modifying my post to add the caveat about turning on forwarding before enabling Airplane Mode.
Great stuff. I have a couple of questions that I’ve been getting conflicting answers about. For a U.S. resident with a “normal” ATT iPhone data plan traveling in Canada or Europe, what happens if all is configured as you suggest except that your iPhone cell number is not forwarded to a Skype number and someone calls your iPhone and leaves a voicemail? Do you get charged for the voicemail at international rates? I don’t mean charged for you picking up the voicemail, just for the fact that somebody called and left a voicemail. (And subsequently I hope no extra charge for picking up the voicemail upon returning to the U.S.) And a slight variation … what if, instead of being forwarded to a Skype number, your iPhone is forwarded to a home phone number (land line) in the U.S.? Will you incur international rate charges for that forwarding and voicemail left on that number? TIA for any information.
Hi Gabe: As I understand it, people can LEAVE you voice mail messages all day long and it won’t cost you a cent. They are calling you – you are not using your phone at all. The charges would come into play if you retrieved your messages. However, if you have the 3G connection shut down, you wouldn’t even know that there WERE voice mail messages, and if you press the voice mail button you will get a message that says “you must activate the 3G connection in order to access voice mail.” As for your second question, I believe the correct answer is that your voice mail will not incur charges for forwarding to a land line in the US. Forwarding is included in the iPhone plan for free. Where YOU are physically has no effect on the forwarding service; again it is only an issue if you use your iPhone to call and retrieve those messages from an International location.
I tried renting a mifi from mificlub. The 3 day package. The service was really good everywhere except in my hotel. It has decent pricing £5 per day tops. Quick one day delivery was also good.
I would buy my own mifi, but it’s extremely hard to find data only sim cards.
Barbara – of course I”m getting ready to leave for Europe and now just starting to figure this out! THanks for this post first of all – it’s been a life saver!
Can you tell me if you need to do step 1? or if you do the rest – does that cover you?
Also – I”m just curious if you ever really used your iphone while in Mexico to check email, etc?
thanks!
Sherry
Hi Sherry. I don’t know if you absolutely need to do step one, but my view is better safe than sorry. In Airplane Mode all voice and data communication are completely turned off, but if you accidentally turned off Airplane Mode and you had the International enabling in place and emails set to fetch every half hour, my understanding is that you’d risk the system roaming on any international network it found to download emails, even though you have the 3G connection disabled. I used my iPhone in Curacao and Mexico to get email, tweet, surf the web, all using available wifi connections. Worked like a charm.
Thanks Barbara – i was told by att that even if i shut off data roaming, the iphone as a smart phone would automatically update and i would be billed for that data usage. the only solution is for when i am away internationally is to take out my sim card and treat the iphone as an ipod touch. if i put my sim card into a non-smart phone will att give me greif about keeping me on my same data plan (data plans have recently changed and i am on an unlimited data plan for $30) – any suggestions or thoughts?
Hi Renee: That is only partially correct. What AT&T said would be true if you just shut off your data roaming and 3G connection, but the steps I took shut off updating as well (email pushes, app notifications, etc.), so I traveled in the Caribbean and for 4 months in Mexico without a penny of charge. You do have to make sure you do not have an International package on your phone as well – if you do, have it shut off before you go. Not sure what you intend to do with your sim card – it won’t work internationally – you have to purchase a sim card from the country/region you are in. I do know someone who had their data plan removed from their package by explaining they were no longer going to use the iphone and revert back to a regular phone with no data capability. She did that for a couple of months and then slapped the card back in the iphone, which let her access data without having to pay for it….remains to be seen how long before they catch on. But going the other direction gains you nothing. Your plan is your plan and the hardware is something different. I may be wrong – someone please correct me if I am – but you can change phones anytime you want without the need to change your plan. Even though they have changed from an unlimited data plan, you are grandfathered in, as long as you don’t change your plan or cancel your contract, etc.
Barbara,
Have you found anything good for free texting? If not, try installing the free AIM app, it allows you to text(sms) to mobile phone #’s in your contact list via wifi or 3g.
I believe most US carrier’s accept messages from aim via text. I haven’t got to test it out of the US yet. I do know if I go to airplane mode on my iphone with wifi on I can AIM a message to my kids cells and they can text back to my aim name and it pops up like a text on iphone, just leads me back to aim to reply.
Seems like it would work since wifi is wifi.. everywhere we are. They have some other new features like: use your facebook login to log on AIM plus options to get other social media services linked into your aim for updates and responses.
Hope that helps
Thanks Charles! That’s a gripe I hear from people all the time. I’ll check it out.
Hi Barbara,
I am going to Austria to study abroad and I am going to try and do what you suggested so that I can use my iphone while I am over there. So just to understand, when I follow all of the steps you listed, you didn’t have to pay any additional charges on your cell phone bill for using your phone in Europe? (other than your normal monthly bill, plus any Skpye charges??)
I will have access to WiFi the entire time I am in Europe, so this method sounds perfect for me!
Thanks for your help!!
Hi Celina: Yes, I have confirmed it with travels in the Caribbean and Mexico, and others who have commented have confirmed Europe as well. Just to be on the safe side, reset your minutes at zero when you board the plane and check back to see if there is any usage in a couple of days. If it still says zero, you’re good to go. Have a wonderful adventure!
Thank you so much!! I’ll check them out at Best Buy here in NOLA as I’ll also be bringing a laptop to help in teaching my course. Thanks a million for your site and advice/ideas!
What kind of adapter for Europe (Austria) is needed? Barbara, your article is so helpful! I’m a lot less stressed now that I can have my crackphone with me! : )
Hi Caroline: The Apple USB Power Adapter (the small square plug that you put your USB charger cord into) supports 100-240V 0.15A 50/60 Hz. It’s worldwide AC compatible (Apple does this with all their products, so no converters are ever needed). This USB Power Adapter has a plug that looks like any other 2-prong plug we would use in the US, and it will also work in outlets in Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and parts of Latin America (I’ve used mine everywhere in Mexico). However, Europe has different shaped outlets, so you will need a second adapter that changes the prong configuration on the USB Power Adapter into the prong arrangement used in Europe. Apple sells a World Travel Adapter Kit which includes the AC plugs to support outlets in North America, Japan, China, United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Korea, Australia, and Hong Kong, or you can just buy one at any electronics store. But keep in mind that other electrical products you carry with you may not have the built in converter.
Hi – I wanted to give an update of using my Iphone in Europe (Austria specifically). I followed all of Barbara’s instructions except I did not do number (1). I did not do number (1) because I did not want to be in a position that I could not use the phone if needed. I am happy to report that I did not have any data usage charges. I even reset the usage meter at the beginning of the trip and took a picture of it at the end (showing 0 Bytes used) before re-enabling the 3G and data. I did this in case I got something on the bill showing usage charges. I used only wifi for skype and other internet needs. I would like to provide 1 suggestion. I suggest that if you use your iphone in this manner – take an unlocked phone and purchase a sim card in the country where you are going. This will allow you to make all the calls you need – where ever and whenever you need. This means even if you are not on wifi – on the subway or tram for example. I found that wifi was not as ubiquitious as I thought it would be. Therefore I had to plan when and where to make calls. Thanks Barbara – your instructions were a big help.
Or to make it easy, just pull the Sim and then it’s basically just an iPod touch. I’m going to use my sim in an unlocked Sony Ericson for calls when needed and the iPhone as WiFi device.
As I’ve been preparing for a trip to the Czech Republic and London in about a week I’ve found that the Vonage app represents perhaps a better option than Skype. While Vonage doesn’t allow for an incoming call, all calls using Vonage via WiFi are free to the U.S. In addition, calls to landlines in each country are .02/minute. The Vonage app is free, and unlike Skype, you don’t need an account. I will add a basic international phone/texting plan from AT&T, which provides “discounted” calls and free incoming texts. This will allow family to text me from the U.S. should they need to reach me. If it’s urgent, I call on that AT&T plan if WiFi is not available. If it’s not, I will wait until I get to a hotspot and then use the Vonage app without concern about minutes used. I would be interested if anyone else has run across this option.
Thx…I already have an iphone 3G, so I have a data plan for use here at home. Sorry for the confusion. I’ll be traveling for a total of 2 wks to Europe, so I can survive without doing all my usual iphone fun. I will have a laptop with me too for checking email and such…So, it seemed to make sense to just use the iphone as, imagine that, a phone!
Dear all: this is a wonderful compilation of info. Thank you! I plan to sign up for the AT&T int’l roaming plan to have the ability to make calls while in Czech Rep but don’t plan to make very many calls at all. Rather, it’s just for emergency such as getting separated from my spouse while sightseeing. Then, I plan to NOT sign up for their data plan but to just use wifi when I can find it and to turn off all the things that Barbara says to turn off. Am I missing something?
Hi Ellen: You don’t say which model phone you intend to get from AT&T, but I am assuming it is an iPhone. If so, you MUST sign up for the data plan, as it is a requirement for the iPhone. The data plan will cot you $30 per month.
I am taking my 13 yo son to Europe for a Mom-teen bonding/8th grade graduation trip. I have an IPhone, and he a Samsung something. I would like to be able to use our phones to communicate, especially if one of us gets lost. Any thoughts on how to do this??
Thanks for the above information–I will certainly use it for accessing the web, etc. We went to Mexico and incurred a $400 bill–even after I followed AT&T’s instructions on how to turn off the 3G–oops, they forgot a few steps!
Hi Laurie: If you unlock both phones and “jailbreak” your iPhone, you can buy local simm cards at your European destination and talk to one another quite cheaply.
Before IPhones, we just bought a prepaid phone card in Mexico, then used the hotel phone to dial a 1-800 number to call the US. Would that work using an IPhone, or would we still be charged roaming for dialing the 1-800 number?
Rachel: That would not work, because you’d need to be connected to the 3G network to make the call, and then you’d be charged for international minutes, unless you purchased an International plan.