Can I Still Call/Text Without Cellular Data?

[rrm74001]

I did a quick search for this but could not find a clear answer.

I will be traveling outside the US later this week, and the international plans my carrier is offering me are kind of ridiculous (100 min/txt/data $40 or 250 min/txt/data $80). I think with those I would use all the data the first day (even just doing simple things like Google Maps, etc), so I am thinking I will just go without data while I am there.

So the question is, if I turn off Cellular Data in Settings (Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data), will I still be able to make/receive calls/texts?

 

[C DM]

Regular voice calls and SMS do not use data, so you should be fine.

 

[Jay43]

Of course it will work. Why wouldn't it?

If you want to see it by yourself just disable your cellular data and try to call / text

 

[lordofthereef]

Some folks on this forum weren't around (or didn't have mobile phones) pre data days. It's a fairly innocent question and I don't think it's helpful to question why the oP would ask this...

That said, the OP wasn't clear on what the plan looked like without data or if that was even an option. Depending on the carrier, roaming charges for texts and calls would still apply.

 

[T5BRICK]

Calls and texts will work, but as far as I know, you can't send picture messages on an iPhone without data. At least that's how it works on AT&T.

 

[vault]

Keep in mind that unlike normal texts, iMessage needs data, so you should probably disable it. On the other hand, it's free when you DO have some kind of internet access.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Keep in mind that unlike normal texts, iMessage needs data, so you should probably disable it. On the other hand, it's free when you DO have some kind of internet access.

Turning Cellular data off will solve that problem. You don't need to disable iMessage. Just turn off cellular and make sure SMS is turned on in Message settings.

 

[vault]

Turning Cellular data off will solve that problem. You don't need to disable iMessage. Just turn off cellular and make sure SMS is turned on in Message settings.

If he doesn't de-register with iMessage he won't be able to receive the ones others send him.

 

[decafjava]

If he doesn't de-register with iMessage he won't be able to receive the ones others send him.

How do you do that?

 

[vault]

How do you do that?

Simply turn off iMessage in Settings->Messages. That will tell other Apple devices to send you normal SMS texts instead of iMessages.

 

[willmtaylor]

No visual voicemail either. You'll probably see a red badge above your phone icon while you travel.

 

[jetsam]

With a US carrier and no international plan, you'll be paying potentially very expensive pay-per-use voice rates. On some carriers, if the phone rings overseas, you're billed for a call, even if you don't pick up. For instance, when roaming internationally on AT&T:

• 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.

 

[Mlrollin91]

If he doesn't de-register with iMessage he won't be able to receive the ones others send him.

I've never had to turn off iMessage when traveling abroad. Even people that I would text with iPhones would automatically turn to SMS. Both incoming and outgoing.