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iPhone - international traveling

H

HasanDaddy

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 16, 2002
590
32
Los Angeles
hey everyone!

I don't leave the USA that often, but here's my question - lol -

I'm going to be traveling to France, Italy, and Spain in May/June

I have an account, here in the USA, with AT&T

I know the iPhone is a GSM phone, so I was wondering what my international options are, including data?

Am I best off going with the AT&T World Traveler plan, which charges pretty high rates per minute, but its data rates aren't as bad..... or can I switch out the SIM card and go with European companies while I'm there?

overall - what's my best option? I would really like to use my iPhone for both calls and data, while in Europe

thanks so much all!
 
You will only be able to use a foreign SIM if you jailbreak and unlock your phone before leaving the USA.

If you do that, you may save with a local SIM card, it will depend if you will mostly be calling locally (yes, get a local SIM) or calling back home (which is expensive from a mobile, wherever you do it from.)

Data via local wifi spots in hotels, cafes etc will usually be the best option whichever you choose
 
I have an officialy carrier unlocked phone.

In Japan 3 weeks ago, I was able to 'activate' the iPhone with a local pre-paid SIM card. Upon return to my own country, I called my carrier to query. They cldnt explain it too, except to say that they have had similiar responses in the past, without quoting a figure.

My iPhone has never been unofficialy unlocked, only jailbroken. At time of occurance, I was running stock 2.2.1. Interesting.
 
Here in Spain, Vodafone is probably a good option for you as I've been looking at their rates and they have a prepaid option that allows you to pay on a weekly basis for internet. Here's the plan:

---------

TARIFA PLANA SEMANAL LIVE!

Si eres un cliente de Tarjeta, con esta tarifa podrás disfrutar de 35 conexiones de 5 MB cada una.

Tarifa plana semanal Vodafone live!
1,9 €/semana (2,20 IVA incl.) 0,69 €

Tarifa por Conexión
conexión de 5MB (0,8€ con IVA).

--------

Basically what that says is that it charges you either 2.20 Euros (with taxes) a week for data or a plan that charges you per connection. That would be 0.8 cents with taxes per 5mb connection.

Anyway, I would rather talk to a person that works at vodafone before actually getting it just to make sure they won't charge you for anything extra. Spain's like that.... lots of hidden charges!

Here's the link:

http://www.vodafone.es/particulares/tarifas/internet-en-movilidad/navega-movil/
 
thanks so much guys!!! this was very helpful!

I really don't wanna jailbreak --- I may just do a rent-a-phone option in most of these places
 
HasanDaddy said:
thanks so much guys!!! this was very helpful!

I really don't wanna jailbreak --- I may just do a rent-a-phone option in most of these places
Click to expand...

Goes without saying, but Skype for iPhone for when you're on Wi-Fi and want to call back home.
 
I too am going to france spain and italy in may/june and i called att and asked what i could do and they told me that the best thing would do is get a calling card because text range from .25-.50$ a piece data is .01 a kb, and calling is expensive. They have data packages are super expensive. I am just going to put my phone in airplane mode and enjoy the ipod feature, and get a calling card.
 
thisisarcadia said:
I too am going to france spain and italy in may/june and i called att and asked what i could do and they told me that the best thing would do is get a calling card because text range from .25-.50$ a piece data is .01 a kb, and calling is expensive. They have data packages are super expensive. I am just going to put my phone in airplane mode and enjoy the ipod feature, and get a calling card.
Click to expand...

another good idea

however, .01 for data per kb isn't that bad?

thank you all for the suggestions!!!
 
Italy

So... I TOO am traveling to Italy. I have a friend that can unlock/jailbreak my iPhone. I'm not sure why I wouldn't want this done. My plan was to then simply get a SIM card when I get to Italy and put in my iPhone. Suggestions/advice for or against this?

Thx
 
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