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Traveling Abroad with AT&T iPhone 4S

The link above is accurate. We're sort of all correct. If you have a dumb phone with international calling turned on, you will be charged for voicemail even if you don't answer.

With iPhone visual voicemail is a data plan. Your voicemail is sent via the data plan and stored on your phone. So with data off you get the solid red circle and no message. And I think ATT treats it as if the phone is off and hence no charge. It's been a long time once I travelled w/o data, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the following : turning wifi on wont deliver the voicemail, but tapping the red circle will and then you may be charged. Not sure.

But with data on you will be charged for the voice minutes.

Att does make mistakes. For almost 2 years I was never charged for sending text while roaming!
 
Get an unlocked phone for data with a local SIM card for data. It's probably a good idea to have an international data plan on the iPhone as a backup. With the VOIP apps, Google Voice, and Email, you can communicate via voice and text without using an of the exorbitant carrier-based services.

Why international roaming is so absurdly expensive is a whole different topic.
 
viewfly said:
With iPhone visual voicemail is a data plan. Your voicemail is sent via the data plan and stored on your phone. So with data off you get the solid red circle and no message. And I think ATT treats it as if the phone is off and hence no charge.
Click to expand...

The mechanics of accessing Voicemail change with Visual Voicemail, but they still need to try and deliver the call to you - you'd never be able to answer calls otherwise.

It's possible that AT&T makes a billing exception for iPhone users I suppose.
 
Daveoc64 said:
The mechanics of accessing Voicemail change with Visual Voicemail, but they still need to try and deliver the call to you - you'd never be able to answer calls otherwise.

It's possible that AT&T makes a billing exception for iPhone users I suppose.
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You have to disable voicemail, otherwise you are charged per minute for people leaving voicemails when the phone is roaming internationally. That's the only thing that's kind of a PITA.
 
viewfly said:
The link above is accurate. We're sort of all correct. If you have a dumb phone with international calling turned on, you will be charged for voicemail even if you don't answer.

With iPhone visual voicemail is a data plan. Your voicemail is sent via the data plan and stored on your phone.
Click to expand...
Regardless of whether the phone is smart or dumb an attempt is made to route the call to the phone. The call is voice not data and you are billed for this attempt if your phone is on. If you don't answer and the call is routed back to your voicemail center in the US then you run the risk of being double charged. The "data" mentioned above applies once the voicemail center has the VM message and then sends the data to your device.

If you want to avoid all this then you need to turn your device off or activate airplane mode, etc.
 
617aircav said:
European Sims are much much cheaper than roaming on Att. I went to England and bought a Vodafone SIM for a pound and put 10 pounds of service on it. You can get the phone unlocked through eBay for less than 5 bucks. Also in Europe incoming texts and calls are free.
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They aren't always much cheaper, and it does depend on what you are doing. When I went to England I ended up with a Lebara SIM. For data the rates were about the same as the AT&T package I was paying for on my second phone. Calls were much cheaper though, so it did work out for me since I made a lot of local calls.
 
dave420 said:
They aren't always much cheaper, and it does depend on what you are doing. When I went to England I ended up with a Lebara SIM. For data the rates were about the same as the AT&T package I was paying for on my second phone. Calls were much cheaper though, so it did work out for me since I made a lot of local calls.
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Lebara is an MVNO aimed solely at foreign people who want to call back home.

They don't compete with the local carriers on anything other than international calls.
 
There's no reason to use international calling when you can just use a VOIP app over 3G. Some local calling might be useful if you need to call businesses or people you're meeting or whatnot.
 
takeshi74 said:
Regardless of whether the phone is smart or dumb an attempt is made to route the call to the phone. The call is voice not data and you are billed for this attempt if your phone is on. If you don't answer and the call is routed back to your voicemail center in the US then you run the risk of being double charged. The "data" mentioned above applies once the voicemail center has the VM message and then sends the data to your device.

If you want to avoid all this then you need to turn your device off or activate airplane mode, etc.
Click to expand...

Except that doesn't agree with CosmoPilot's 5 years of experience does it?

The audio download of voicemail requires data roaming to be on AND a carrier signal. It won't download with wifi alone. So unless CosmoPilot calls his VM box( and then charged 2x), AT&T seems to view the VM not received with data roaming off and he may not be charged.

The details of billing for iphone VM has changed over time and with carriers. I'm traveling in Mexico right now and it's not working at all. :)

Even the carriers sometimes don't know, as I said before.

It's very confusing. But if you decline a call and there no connection made to VM there is no charge.
 
Hey OP, how long have you had your 4S? Is it a launch day one or around that time or did you get it recently? I ask because if you're out-of-contract, you can have AT&T unlock your phone free of charge. Additionally, you can have that done for minimal cash from a variety of IMEI unlock services on eBay like Swift Unlocks, for example. I would wholly suggest you unlock your 4S since it's simpler to do than worrying about AT&T's asinine international plans, and just drop a local SIM in it.

I hope this helps!
 
Just pay the $30 for the 120MB International Roaming Data plan. Check AT&T's website to ensure the countries you are going to are included in the plan.

120MB goes a long way when you're just using your phone for maps, reading E-mail (without downloading attachments), and iMessaging. You can also sign up for a Google Voice account, and use that to SMS with your data plan. You'll have to tell people the number you'll be using while abroad, but it works.

I made good use of this plan while traveling in Canada. It's less hassle than unlocking your phone and getting a local SIM if it's a reasonably short trip.

----------
Chocolatemilty said:
...and just drop a local SIM in it.
Click to expand...

I looked into it, and it's typically not always easy or convenient. Or cheap.

For instance, while in Canada I saw SIM cards being sold at a supermarket. Only none of them were micro or nano SIMs. All were full size so you would have to cut them down to work on a 4s or 5.

All of them had $30 activation fees. The same cost as the $30 international data plan I mentioned in my previous response. Unless you're going to be spending several months abroad, this route is not worth the hassle.
 
zorinlynx said:
Just pay the $30 for the 120MB International Roaming Data plan. Check AT&T's website to ensure the countries you are going to are included in the plan.

120MB goes a long way when you're just using your phone for maps, reading E-mail (without downloading attachments), and iMessaging. You can also sign up for a Google Voice account, and use that to SMS with your data plan. You'll have to tell people the number you'll be using while abroad, but it works.

I made good use of this plan while traveling in Canada. It's less hassle than unlocking your phone and getting a local SIM if it's a reasonably short trip.

----------



I looked into it, and it's typically not always easy or convenient. Or cheap.

For instance, while in Canada I saw SIM cards being sold at a supermarket. Only none of them were micro or nano SIMs. All were full size so you would have to cut them down to work on a 4s or 5.

All of them had $30 activation fees. The same cost as the $30 international data plan I mentioned in my previous response. Unless you're going to be spending several months abroad, this route is not worth the hassle.
Click to expand...

European carriers do things a bit differently than North American carriers. When I was in Europe last summer with my unlocked 4S, I paid €15 for a month of 2GB of data for a Vodafone micro SIM that worked in Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy with no start up fees or anything. The OP mentioned European travels, so I still think they should look into it.
 
Chocolatemilty said:
Hey OP, how long have you had your 4S? Is it a launch day one or around that time or did you get it recently? I ask because if you're out-of-contract, you can have AT&T unlock your phone free of charge. Additionally, you can have that done for minimal cash from a variety of IMEI unlock services on eBay like Swift Unlocks, for example. I would wholly suggest you unlock your 4S since it's simpler to do than worrying about AT&T's asinine international plans, and just drop a local SIM in it.

I hope this helps!
Click to expand...

It's impossible to be out of contract yet. I bought mine on launch day, and it's only about 19 months old. I guess I'm coming up on an upgrade soon, but not the end of the contract until the fall.

The international plans work better for some countries, and worse for others. You're also guaranteed connectivity if it's available, whereas with the SIM you have to find it, and it only works on one network (AT&T seems to be partnered with most carriers out there). My plan for international travel is an unlocked phone with a roamer SIM (like iPhoneTrip) or a local SIM, depending on country, plus the iPhone with an AT&T SIM with global data as backup.
 
BiggAW said:
It's impossible to be out of contract yet. I bought mine on launch day, and it's only about 19 months old. I guess I'm coming up on an upgrade soon, but not the end of the contract until the fall.

The international plans work better for some countries, and worse for others. You're also guaranteed connectivity if it's available, whereas with the SIM you have to find it, and it only works on one network (AT&T seems to be partnered with most carriers out there). My plan for international travel is an unlocked phone with a roamer SIM (like iPhoneTrip) or a local SIM, depending on country, plus the iPhone with an AT&T SIM with global data as backup.
Click to expand...

Ah, I understand. My mistake, completely forgot I was still on my iPhone 4 contract and got my 4S off-contract, as mine's month-to-month now. Makes sense now.

It wasn't a problem finding SIMs in Europe, as they were widespread when I was there. For the OP, it'll just take a little bit of pre-departure research on the best for you for coverage, services, and price if you choose to unlock your 4S using an unlock service and go the prepaid SIM route. Your choice, of course, just helps to have options.
 
Chocolatemilty said:
Ah, I understand. My mistake, completely forgot I was still on my iPhone 4 contract and got my 4S off-contract, as mine's month-to-month now. Makes sense now.

It wasn't a problem finding SIMs in Europe, as they were widespread when I was there. For the OP, it'll just take a little bit of pre-departure research on the best for you for coverage, services, and price if you choose to unlock your 4S using an unlock service and go the prepaid SIM route. Your choice, of course, just helps to have options.
Click to expand...

I don't have any experience first hand with finding SIMs, but from what I've heard, it depends on the country. Apparently it's almost impossible to buy one in France, but easy in Italy or the UK.
 
BiggAW said:
I don't have any experience first hand with finding SIMs, but from what I've heard, it depends on the country. Apparently it's almost impossible to buy one in France, but easy in Italy or the UK.
Click to expand...

Actually, France couldn't be easier or cheaper. I've done it with SFR and with Orange. They have stores everywhere; just walk in and walk out with your US iPhone being a europhone. (Unless yours is CDMA Verizon phone)
Obviously if helps to speak French, but almost always there's an English speaking rep, or a customer who could help. If not, there's another phone store close by.

I think SFR has the best deals for a visitor, but if you're going to be in less populated areas Orange usually has better coverage.

SFR also gives you 5 French numbers you can call unlimited for free, so your host, hotel, traveling companion can be free. Your hotel concierge can also be very helpful with the process; tip generously.
 
Cartaphilus said:
Actually, France couldn't be easier or cheaper. I've done it with SFR and with Orange. They have stores everywhere; just walk in and walk out with your US iPhone being a europhone. (Unless yours is CDMA Verizon phone)
Obviously if helps to speak French, but almost always there's an English speaking rep, or a customer who could help. If not, there's another phone store close by.

I think SFR has the best deals for a visitor, but if you're going to be in less populated areas Orange usually has better coverage.

SFR also gives you 5 French numbers you can call unlimited for free, so your host, hotel, traveling companion can be free. Your hotel concierge can also be very helpful with the process; tip generously.
Click to expand...

Really? Wow. I've heard it's nearly impossible unless you're actually French to get a SIM card...
 
BiggAW said:
Really? Wow. I've heard it's nearly impossible unless you're actually French to get a SIM card...
Click to expand...

You have to have a French bank account or credit card to have a contract or "abonnement". But just to buy a prepaid SIM, which is all a visitor with an unlocked phone needs, you're good to go.
 
whidbeyben said:
I just looked into this for my son. AT&T won't unlock the phone because it still has 5 months left on contract, but they have international calling plans that can be added on $30/month for 30 min, and $30/month for 120MB data. Buying a european SIM might not be all that much less. He's taking my old unlocked iPhone3G in case the european SIM is a lot cheaper, but the 4S is so much better a phone, it may turn out better to give AT&T the $60 for 30 min calling and 120MB data. With wifi iMessage and skype, those allowances may be plenty.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't it be better to pay $2 for an unlock and then use the local sims. This also applies to the OP who doesn't want to sell the 4s. Get it unlocked and then use the local sim.
 
viewfly said:
Except that doesn't agree with CosmoPilot's 5 years of experience does it?

The audio download of voicemail requires data roaming to be on AND a carrier signal. It won't download with wifi alone. So unless CosmoPilot calls his VM box( and then charged 2x), AT&T seems to view the VM not received with data roaming off and he may not be charged.

The details of billing for iphone VM has changed over time and with carriers. I'm traveling in Mexico right now and it's not working at all. :)

Even the carriers sometimes don't know, as I said before.

It's very confusing. But if you decline a call and there no connection made to VM there is no charge.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if I'm an anomaly or not...also, remember I've only owned iPhones, but I'm an International pilot and travel overseas every single month. Again, I've never been charged when someone calls my phone and/or leaves a voicemail as long as I don't answer it. Normally I'm gone for about a week and I never touch the phone.app until I return stateside to avoid these charges.
 
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