AT&T website not very helpful for me and can't bear calling customer service. So,
please tell me if you have experience using their Global Messaging which started in March. It offers 50 text messages for $10.00 per month. I would like to do that, but don't know what other charges I will incur. I will not be using AT&T internatioal plan and will turn off my iPhone, data roaming, etc. so need to know about turning on just to use the GM. Somehow with AT&T I don't think I am going to manage to send 50 text messages for only $10.00. Thanks for your help.

Hi violetduck, I don't know but if you have an AT&T store in your area you might get good information there. At least the people in our local AT&T store are so helpful and informative. Or on the AT&T website is there cotact info where you could email them your questions? I haven't looked at their website in ages so am not sure. Good luck!

Good idea,I much prefer talking to a person and hate being in the "your call is important to us" holding pattern. We do have a store very near our house and I will go there. Many
thanks!!!!

It would be a good idea to get it in writing, though. Note that "Messages received when roaming abroad will be charged at domestic rates." Find out what this means, and how much. Most US providers bill you for incoming messages, whether you open them or not.

If you turn off you phone, you will not get any messages/be able to message. If you turn on your phone, any texts messages that you had received will be billed outside of that 50 text plan as they will be pushed through. On the global messaging plan, you can send 50 messages for $10, but you pay international charges to receive messages. Also, if your phone rings and it is on, you will start incurring international data charges. You may be better off just using wifi to connect to email on your iphone to avoid any international roaming charges.

Thanks to all. I have decided to skip all AT&T options to be on the safe side.

Don't know about messaging, but we have AT&T and the international option. Just call them to be sure your phone works there. I get better reception calling on my Samsung from Portugal to home (Seattle) than I do calling the neighbor next door. go figure.