julia1

There was a thread here a few days ago about using an iPhone abroad. Here is a link to tips for controlling costs: http://current.newsweek.com/budgettr...src=newsletter

Patty

I looked up the intl data plans for the iPhone http://tinyurl.com/2ov7lk and it's good for 41 countries. Does that mean outside of those 41 countries, your only data option is pay per use?

The Blackberry intl data plan covers more countries. The downside is that it requires a 12 month commitment.

With the iPhone plans, it sounds like you can sign up for 1 month and cancel.

BTW did you intend to post this on the Europe forum?

isabel25

For those of you with iPhones -- or worse yet, teenagers with iPhones --this is a super-important topic. If you don't have an international plan, it is important to turn international data roaming OFF on your iPhone if you don't want unpleasant surprises on your bill.

Here's an example of the costs of international roaming straight from ATT's website: "For example, opening an email with a 5 megapixel picture in it, or downloading a 3 minute video on YouTube, each takes about 2MB of data. The cost would be almost $40, based on pay-per-use international data rates of $.0195/KB."

hlg22

I'll be honest, I had no idea of this until receiving an email from AT&T recently about it. Luckily the only travel I've done with my iPhone is to the USVI, which is covered under my plan, but I shudder to think of the result otherwise.

Patty, as I understand it, if you are traveling outside the countries listed as available for the package, there is no charge if you can hook into a wi-fi network, but otherwise the price is $.0195 per kilobite of data transfered. I just did an experiment with my phone: checking/updating weather was 7 KB, email was 63 KB, so that would have cost $1.35. Ok to do occasionally, NOT ok to do several times a day! I think text messages are separate and still the $.50/each to send/free to receive.

I may also set up a new gmail account before my November trip and give the address only to work and family that may need to contact me, that way I won't be paying to download the tons of junk mail that comes into my yahoo account and I can get emergency messages, which is all I really care about anyway.

Patty

Thanks, hlg22. I also just leave one email account on my BB for emergency use abroad.