ATT/iPhone international - using wireless?
 

I am traveling to London next week and Singapore + Hong Kong in April.
I have an iPhone and I feel the ATT international calling/data add on is too expensive and not all inclusive. Also, I dont want to pay 2 full months for a total use of 14 days.
So, I am planning to turn it off and suffer the agony.
My question is this... is it possible to turn off my connection to ATT and use the iPhone with onsite wireless completely independant of ATT?
I think I could do this with my Blackberry... but I want to make sure I understand the settings so ATT charges me nothing for using it.
Help???
I leave this week!

I don't think you can do this (we tried something similar with my android and it didn't work) but I'm topping for you as I'd be interested in the responses.

Yes, you can do this. I survived for a month in Paris using wifi almost exclusively.

Keep in mind that your google maps will be nearly worthless without being able to load maps away from wifi sources.

Also, you should look into the Truphone app, which allowed me to call the US for about a nickel per minute, vs. a dollar a minute on gsm service.

I travel often with my iphone, here is what I do:
Turn the "data roaming" and "fetch new data" to off in the settings. Then, connect via a free wireless connection to browse the internet, get data, etc. There is not a charge since you are connected free to wi fi. For phone calls, I have an international package (extra $5 per month) that makes the per minute fee cheaper in case I need to make calls. But, you can download the skype app and make calls over wi fi, it is cheap. Text messages are pretty inexpensive so it is also a good way to communicate if needed.

Turn Wi-Fi "on" by clicking settings>general>wi-fi.

Turn Data Roaming "off" in the same screen.

One other thing - if you have only a wi-fi connection, I think (but I'll check with my IT guy) to get Microsoft Exchange emails (as opposed to gmail, hotmail, and other web-based email services), you'll have to forward them somehow to an internet-based email account.

You need to turn off "data roaming" under settings/general/network. (You can also put it in airplane mode, and then turn on wifi).

I'm not sure you need to pay for 2 months-- you might be able to turn it on right before you go and turn it off when you get back, but I am not sure about that (and you can buy chunks of data, but it is overpriced).

Skype will also let you call over wifi cheaply.

I prefer Skype over Truphone for an internet calling plan, but you can certainly do this. Even without the "phone" part of the phone, the iphone is actually pretty useful as a Wi-Fi device to send and receive email. I do this all the time when I travel because I don't like paying huge surcharges. But it's nice to know the phone will work in an emergency, when the charges don't matter as much.

** Very Important: Turn off Data Roaming! ***

We had the pleasure of finding out the hard way with ATT. Our bill, after one week, was over $2,000 because we didn't turn off data roaming.

We just returned from the Dominican Republic and it worked great for wi-fi. Just no emails or phone capability. Texts were 50 cents each.

<<<Just no emails or phone capability. >>>

Why couldn't you use your phone, even if just for emergencies, or infrequently? We used text messaging when in Egypt, because calls were very expensive ($2.29 a minute), but in London, where calls were $.99-$1.29, we made phone calls from time to time (just didn't talk long, but it was nice to have the phone available).

Our plan would have charged us $2.25 per minute to the states. So, we didn't use our iPhones for calls. We could have turned it on for an emergency if we needed it.

Got it. I thought you meant you couldn't use it if you turned off data roaming.

I think I am comfortable with what I have learned. Thanks so much!
I have a corporate voip pn my laptop, so I can call home at night.
It may even be nice... not staring transfixed 24/7 at my iPhone!

TTP, I have only had an iphone for 3 days, and I haven't stopped staring at mine :-)

BeachGirl, ouch! Thanks for the warning.

Great info, everyone--thank you.