Technology & Online

iPhone abroad

Technology & Online

Posted by: Razorfish

16th Feb 2010 05:15pm

Anyone got an iphone and used it abroad?

I am thinking of using hot spots to hook into a wireless network then getting Skype and using VOIP calls instead being totally ripped off by telcos on their roaming changes.

Anyone done this?


Comments 74

Ajit
  • 10th Dec 2016 03:16am

Our family members have already iphones .We are using Skye and void pl

K13
  • 27th Sep 2016 06:21am

I do this all the time when I go overseas. Roaming charges are so expensive and many places overseas have free hotspots. I found in New Zealand that there were not a lot of hotspots but there was enough to get me by. Also most hotels offer you internet (some you have to pay for) and I usually use their wifi for my phone.

Meowsha
  • 15th Jul 2016 11:11pm

Yes, used an iPhone abroad. However, the thing is that I turned off my roaming in telephone settings and only got onto wifi. This saved a lot of money but also made me really appreciate why tourists love wifi spots.

Ziah
  • 29th Oct 2014 07:53pm

We had iPhones and iPads on our ten week tour of the US - we went into the Apple store and bought $10 sim cards for one iPad and one phone, leaving one phone on our Aussie sim (for emergencies) and using the second iPad on personal hotspot sharing the the data on the main iPad. We got monthly prepaid data and voice plans form AT&T (the cheapest and the best coverage) - and I think it cost us $30 for virtually unlimited data and calls each month - we just had to make sure we cancelled the plans as we were leaving the US, and turned off global roaming on the Aussie sim phone..

The other really cheap way for calls is to walk into any big box store like Wal*Mart and grab a $15 burner phone and and a $2 sim on a $2 a day prepaid plan (Pay $2 on the day you use the phone and get unlimited call minutes and texts, don't use it, don't pay anything at all)

Instnx
  • 27th Oct 2014 09:30pm

I've used WiFi which is convenient 'but wow talk about advanced technology - we are walking robots :) haha

kieran
  • 12th Jul 2014 01:16am

brilliant idea. I wish I thought of it myself

antzy
  • 31st May 2014 01:16pm

I always take my iPhone. If I can get a sim, I get it, otherwise I'll use free wifi anywhere I can get (recently went to Korea and I relied on free wifi!).

Squizzy
  • 28th Apr 2014 12:02pm

have a dual sim LG smart phone and thinking of buying a sims card when i get to London later this year anyone done this David

Anonymous
  • 22nd Apr 2014 12:14pm

yeah me it is a good idea

Anonymous
  • 17th Apr 2014 08:36am

my son did it also he said its really handy and it cost less for him sometimes nothing at all

Anonymous
  • 15th Apr 2014 12:49pm

Great way to keep in touch with home for free. If you can access free wifi. Although in the US they have some really great cheap sim cards you can purchase to allow you to use your phone just like at home.

Joshik
  • 11th Apr 2014 09:33pm

Went to Moscow recently and this worked. Great idea.

Anonymous
  • 6th Apr 2014 03:28pm

i have an iphone 4s with 2degree (new zealand) and the roaming charges are affordable. I'm a student at Wellington Institute of Technology, and I can still pay for it well :)

Hollygal
  • 5th Apr 2014 07:57pm

I've used mine in America, china and Australia. It's always done well for me with no problems.

Anonymous
  • 2nd Apr 2014 04:02am

Yes

Ziah
  • 23rd Mar 2014 03:45pm

Get your phone unlocked. then when you get to your destination, walk into the local telco or Apple store and get a prepaid mini or micro sim (depending on your model) for cheap calls in local currency using local networks. We've done this all over the US, Canada and Vanuatu, and people we know have done it right across Europe and Asia as well as Indonesia. No roaming charges whatsoever. Wi-Fi hotspots are excellent for data, if a little slow at times, and some can be subject to limits on data or time, so be careful.

Anonymous
  • 18th Mar 2014 01:01pm

you can jail break it if you wanna take advantage of all the facilities that IPhone has to offer. What is your current operating version?

Beck
  • 18th Mar 2014 09:46am

I've used my iphone and ipad while travelling in Europe and through the US.

I would occasionally text using my standard carrier's international roaming charges (optus), and that was not too exorbitant. otherwise, I would rely on wifi hotspots (hotels, McDonalds and Starbucks are great for these!) to either Skype (using the app downloaded on my device) or using Apple's Facetime program

Good luck and enjoy your travels!

Anonymous
  • 14th Mar 2014 11:09pm

My Iphone never connected to any hotspots or wireless when in China. But my BFF got a special plan that allowed her to call and text form there. I know the other's in our tour group used the hotel wireless in most circumstances.
What's the wi-fi like in the hotels you're staying at?

Anonymous
  • 5th Mar 2014 09:01am

Yes, I mostly used the hotels that I stayed in's wifi connection in order to avoid the heavy costs when accessing the internet and only used it for text messages and not calls to also avoid paying a large bill at the end.

kidwithsmurf
  • 27th Feb 2014 02:43pm

Best thing I think to do, if you don't want to have a massive phone bill for using your countries sim card abroad and racking up a huge roaming fee... which you may not even know you are getting (No-one really notifies you until you have to pay a 10k phone bill). But yes the best thing would be, this goes for any phone, to leave your sim card at home when travelling abroad. Copy your contacts to an SD card in the phone and buying a cheap travel sim or a sim card in the abroad country.

But as you say you are using Skype and hot spots you may not even need a to purchase a sim card abroad. I say that using Skype is the best and cheapest method if you still need to use your phone abroad and make phone calls.

Ulternatively aswell what some people don't understand if people ring you abroad it costs you for the call, not them. So maybe you could set up a temp Skype Number and email it to everyone, that needs to call you before you go? Alternatively you could just re-direct your current sim cards phone number to the Skype Number (can still have sim card in your home country and out of your phone and this option will work). This ill mean that whenever someone calls your original mobile number, it will re-direct them to your skype and call skype that way.

The re-direct method not only saves you having to pay for other people's phone call fees to you, but saves you having ot give them your abroads sim card phone number or another number such as Skypes. It also saves people the hassel of having to remember your temp number while you are abroad.

So all in all, the Skye and VOIP option is good to use to save you roaming charges. But also leave your sim card in your country and buy one over there. You can get cheep disposable abroad sim cards that last week and give you internet and some phone calls (This will help if you can't find wifi 24/7 for when you need it, you have a backup).

Hope this helps :)

kidwithsmurf
  • 27th Feb 2014 02:42pm

Best thing I think to do, if you don't want to have a massive phone bill for using your countries sim card abroad and racking up a huge roaming fee... which you may not even know you are getting (No-one really notifies you until you have to pay a 10k phone bill). But yes the best thing would be, this goes for any phone, to leave your sim card at home when travelling abroad. Copy your contacts to an SD card in the phone and buying a cheap travel sim or a sim card in the abroad country.

But as you say you are using Skype and hot spots you may not even need a to purchase a sim card abroad. I say that using Skype is the best and cheapest method if you still need to use your phone abroad and make phone calls.

Ulternatively aswell what some people don't understand if people ring you abroad it costs you for the call, not them. So maybe you could set up a temp Skype Number and email it to everyone, that needs to call you before you go? Alternatively you could just re-direct your current sim cards phone number to the Skype Number (can still have sim card in your home country and out of your phone and this option will work). This ill mean that whenever someone calls your original mobile number, it will re-direct them to your skype and call skype that way.

The re-direct method not only saves you having to pay for other people's phone call fees to you, but saves you having ot give them your abroads sim card phone number or another number such as Skypes. It also saves people the hassel of having to remember your temp number while you are abroad.

So all in all, the Skye and VOIP option is good to use to save you roaming charges. But also leave your sim card in your country and buy one over there. You can get cheep disposable abroad sim cards that last week and give you internet and some phone calls (This will help if you can't find wifi 24/7 for when you need it, you have a backup).

Hope this helps :)

Anonymous
  • 23rd Feb 2014 08:29pm

Done it before whilst abroad. Great idea, definitely works :)

nicholas dunn
  • 10th Feb 2014 06:37am

i've been travelling through south america for six months, and disconnected my phone contract before i left australia.
i use it only with wifi hotspots in hostels, hotels, cafes, airports, etc...
i spend a couple dollars a week on wifi to call my parents/grandmother, but all else is free with facetiming or skypeing people when they are online. its way cheaper, and very easy. also if you have your phone unlocked you can just buy local sim cards for cheap.

frannymanny
  • 31st Jan 2014 04:32pm

too worried about runing up bills. Prefer to go to interner cafes

Anonymous
  • 29th Jan 2014 07:49pm

I have but I bought a prepaid sim and as my iPhone was unlocked so I was able to use that sim; bought a data pack as well and it was fantastic. I used Skype to make overseas calls. Every now and then I was using the old sim to check on missed calls and messages.

Anonymous
  • 22nd Jul 2013 05:53pm

i do this every chance i get. wifi should be shared if you ask me not blocked....

hispania
  • 22nd Jul 2013 03:45pm

I have an iPhone and used Viber for free calls and texts when in a hot spot. sometimes Viber phone calls are a bit unreliable but texting is great. Just google Viber to set it up instantly on your phone.

Anonymous
  • 20th Jul 2013 05:02pm

i have and thats a good idea but you should have roaming activated just as a back up. as long as you keep your 3G and roaming turned off in your settings, your iphone will connect to the best wifi option

Anonymous
  • 14th Jul 2013 07:59pm

I have got an iphone and used it abroad. I have tried both the ways. Using skype and VOIP phone is cheaper than cellular service of TELCOs.

Anonymous
  • 6th Jul 2013 06:30pm

My daughter and I both have iPhones and just came back from 5 weeks in Europe. We turned off all data roaming and connected using free wi-fi offered in motels etc. My daughter being 18 thought her throat was cut if she couldn't text and talk to her friends back here. She used Skype to make phone calls and was able to text all her friends with iPhones (as well as some other smart phones) without it costing her anything. They were able to contact her as well using sme methods as long as she was connected to wi-fi. Made staying in touch so much cheaper and easier.

monikakotevski
  • 5th Jul 2013 06:20pm

I find it convenient, give it a try and see how you like it!

Gill
  • 29th Jun 2013 12:32am

I have done throughout Asia, UK and USA. USA is easiest as they have free wifi in cafes, restaurants and shopping centres pretty much everywhere. Even 3rd world countries have free wifi (I used this in Cambodia last month) and usually you just need to ask for a password to log-in. Whereas int he USA it's usually not password protected. I use the Viber app for calls and Whatsapp for txts.

Gill
  • 29th Jun 2013 12:29am

I do this with hot spots, but use viber usually. Have done in about 5 countries.

Anonymous
  • 26th Jun 2013 05:26pm

Its a great idea, it could save some money

Anonymous
  • 17th Jun 2013 04:12am

Anonymous
  • 17th Jun 2013 04:12am

Anonymous
  • 17th Jun 2013 04:11am

Yes it's brillant I use hotspot all the time , but if you are on a bill an going abroad I advise if you are on a bill phone you ask your provider for extra data , as sometimes it can be very expensive an just check your useage eg myvodaphone.:-)

PGS
  • 9th Jun 2013 07:08am

It is a good system. I've been in Paris, Normandy & Manila over the past weeks & been doing just that, but not with an iPhone.

I turned off data roaming on my regular phone & use a cheap 2nd Android phone without a SIM - or use an expired/invalid one - & everything I need installed: Skype, currency converters,

Paris has masses of Free WiFi spots & a website for them. There is another site that shows a lot of the spots globally.

Anonymous
  • 1st Jun 2013 01:07am

It is so much cheaper than having to use data roaming charges where phone companies just grab the chance to rip you off. Plus, the speed is at an acceptable rate too.

Anonymous
  • 31st May 2013 11:30am

Great idea!!!

Anonymous
  • 23rd May 2013 11:31pm

I have only used free wifi spots to access

marang
  • 6th May 2013 09:51am

Yes, it works great. there are a lot of WIFI places around,where you then can use Skype. When staying somewhere I try to stay at a place that has WIFI access.

josh909
  • 2nd May 2013 04:58pm

If you are with Optus, check if their Bridge Alliance covers your destination. I arranged unlimited data for $40 when I went to Singapore last year and used my iPhone for Skype and VOIP as well as tethering to my MacBook.

I was working and uploading / downloading huge artwork files so went through about 2GB. Had i just gone with normal global roaming my bill would have been $30K (yes that's thirty thousand dollars).

Worth checking out :)

Anonymous
  • 30th Apr 2013 05:48pm

Never used abroad

Anonymous
  • 29th Apr 2013 07:55pm

Got an iPhone but never used it abroad

Anonymous
  • 28th Apr 2013 09:16pm

do this please.

Anonymous
  • 28th Apr 2013 09:16pm

This would be very, very hand. I do not think anyone has done something like this yet? but yes please do try it.

emoxhair
  • 28th Apr 2013 03:43pm

Turn off roaming and make sure you turn off all DATA services whilst overseas - only use WIFI networks and you will save heaps - it is what I do when I travel, cheap, reliable and mostly free!

ANUJ
  • 27th Mar 2014 08:51pm
Turn off roaming and make sure you turn off all DATA services whilst overseas - only use WIFI networks and you will save heaps - it is what I do when I travel, cheap, reliable and mostly free!

it saves your money

karlinoz
  • 28th Feb 2014 09:32am
Turn off roaming and make sure you turn off all DATA services whilst overseas - only use WIFI networks and you will save heaps - it is what I do when I travel, cheap, reliable and mostly free!

I agree with Emoxhair, if you dont turn off your roaming data its gone in seconds.

Sammbo
  • 27th Apr 2013 05:48pm

Wouldn't use it at all. Far too dangerous and open to abuse.

Safer to buy a cheap phone and pre-paid card when you're overseas.

It saved me bundles.

Brad
  • 6th Jul 2014 01:22pm
Wouldn't use it at all. Far too dangerous and open to abuse.

Safer to buy a cheap phone and pre-paid card when you're overseas.

It saved me bundles.

Agreed. We bought a cheapie and used AT&T for very little cost... in Alaska...then later Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. We did find it wasn't usable crossing Canada. No service / reception on that SIM. (We wouldn't ever use AT&T {again} in Australia. All kinds of issues and dramas with them... !!)

We do use Skype on our laptops, travelling around the world. It hasn't failed us in any country, so far... .

Adenarochelle
  • 7th May 2014 04:27pm
Wouldn't use it at all. Far too dangerous and open to abuse.

Safer to buy a cheap phone and pre-paid card when you're overseas.

It saved me bundles.

I have travelled around Europe and in Thailand with an iphone...it's best to get a pre-paid sim for your trip (you can normally get these from the airport once you arrive). Roaming is soo expensive majority of the time, and getting a prepaid with predominately data is a great alternative. Download the Skype app and call people using your internet to call home.
Just make sure it's easy enough to recharge tho. You can normally get re-charges over the net.

Hails1987
  • 24th Apr 2013 11:03pm

facetime is fantastic when you are abroad!!

jairadhekrsna
  • 20th Apr 2013 04:25pm

yes and that's a great idea to use Skype and voip instead of the telcos as they are very expensive.

Anonymous
  • 19th Apr 2013 04:09am

VoIP saves a lot of money

senorita
  • 18th Apr 2013 06:05pm

I've got iphone, but you may need to be careful to use abroad with roaming call charges, which is tricky and might lead to excessive billings

senorita
  • 18th Apr 2013 06:05pm

I've got iphone, but you may need to be careful to use abroad with roaming call charges, which is tricky and might lead to excessive billings

Mary-Anne
  • 11th Apr 2013 09:44am

definately turn off data roaming - a lot of coffe shops offer free wi-fi if you buy somehting. Eg Star Bucks, Pacific Coffee

Anonymous
  • 3rd Apr 2013 08:54am

This is a good idea.

Anonymous
  • 17th Sep 2012 05:05am

I know someone who did and they said it was the most reliable thing on their trip, they went to UK

bydesign
  • 21st Apr 2011 05:20am

remember to turn off your data roaming!! all smartphones (iphone/blackberry/etc) have notoriously massive charges if you don't.

hooking into free WIFI sites (coffee shops, airports, restaurants, hotels, etc) is really easy partic in the USA. You will save heaps.

Razorfish
  • 21st Apr 2011 09:03am
remember to turn off your data roaming!! all smartphones (iphone/blackberry/etc) have notoriously massive charges if you don't.

hooking into free WIFI sites (coffee shops, airports,...

I did this in the US and spent $2.50 for a week on Skype calls - no other charges because i hooked into the many free WiFi networks they have available - and I was in Lake Tahoe!

Shame we wont have more free WiFi in Oz.

stretch
  • 13th Jan 2011 12:41pm

if you follow the plan out lined make sure the pay check is written out to the phone company which you choose to go with as it will clime upwards on costs
have a look around first

Anonymous
  • 11th Jan 2011 11:26am

Sorry never have but curious to know if it's cheaper.

samwise
  • 21st Aug 2010 06:41pm

i have it's a great idea and really handy

samwise
  • 21st Aug 2010 06:38pm

i have it's a great idea and really handy

kieran
  • 12th Jul 2014 01:16am
i have it's a great idea and really handy

I agree with you too.

Anonymous
  • 2nd Apr 2014 04:02am
i have it's a great idea and really handy

yes

JLKhalaf2707
  • 18th Feb 2014 09:20pm
i have it's a great idea and really handy

I think it looks like a great phone.

stretch
  • 16th Jul 2013 12:25pm
Currently in Australia woolworths is a good deal. For 29 bugs you get 5 GB of internet and you can keep your own number for whatsapp etc.

woolworths would be ok as they are world wide as a company and they should be able to us e the phone all over the place and recieve good reception

Ruud2013
  • 15th Jul 2013 06:39pm
ok yes it is handy but did it cost you more in the long time
lets say 12 months on contract

Currently in Australia woolworths is a good deal. For 29 bugs you get 5 GB of internet and you can keep your own number for whatsapp etc.

stretch
  • 13th Jan 2011 12:42pm
i have it's a great idea and really handy

ok yes it is handy but did it cost you more in the long time
lets say 12 months on contract

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