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| Thread ID: 127078 | 2012-10-02 22:54:00 | International roaming cellphone advice please | Billy T (70) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1304752 | 2012-10-02 22:54:00 | Hi Team This is way outside of my experience: Billy Jnr (jazz musician) is currently working in Oz and is due to fly out to Dubai in a couple of weeks time for a 6/12 month gig at an Hotel . His current cellphone is on Telecom and is roaming in Oz but is used very little because of roaming costs . He is planning to replace his Samsung cellphone with an iPhone 4s (for various reasons but mainly data storage) and intends to have it set up with Telecom for international roaming in the same way as his present phone . Wireless internet access is free at the Dubai Hotel and he plans to use that for calls, texts and skype, but I have a horrible feeling that he is overlooking something . It seems logical to me that unless the iPhone has a separate wireless connectivity function built in that is able to go online without involving the cellular network, his phone would automatically have to use the local cellsites . In a nutshell I'm not 100% sure that 'free wireless internet' necessarily means that he can use his phone for internet including skype without incurring charges from either a Dubai cellular provider or roaming charges from Telecom . Charges for actual phone calls seem to be unavoidable, and even if he makes them collect, we could get stung for big bills . Can any regular international traveller or other knowledgeable person enlighten me on this please? Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 1304753 | 2012-10-03 00:09:00 | Get him to keep (or get) the 2nd older phone and keep that on telecom roaming - to get an incoming texts etc. But on his new, primary phone, get a local sim card (he should do this in Oz as well)...you'll be ripped a new on in international roaming charges. Much cheaper to get a local sim, and give the new number to those who want to contact you frequently. |
psycik (12851) | ||
| 1304754 | 2012-10-03 00:42:00 | We always buy a local sim card for me and SWMBO's is on roaming Telecom. As we are always together we are covered both ways. Ken |
kenj (9738) | ||
| 1304755 | 2012-10-03 01:33:00 | Most smartphones these days have WiFi, so the iPhone can get online without using the cellular network :) | pcuser42 (130) | ||
| 1304756 | 2012-10-03 02:21:00 | Calls, texts etc will be charged at roaming rates, unless you use an IP-based app like Skype to send them - in which case it will be counted as data traffic (which you should be using via the WiFi available) and billed to your Skype account or similar where applicable. Beats me why you'd use a Telecom NZ (or any other NZ provider for that matter) SIM when you're overseas for that length of time, though... | inphinity (7274) | ||
| 1304757 | 2012-10-03 02:31:00 | I don't have a iPhone but I read that people have been stung when they thought Internet was off . . . I have a Symbian . When I go overeas (and here), I don't use 3G data . When I am overseas and need it, I either get a local prepay simcard like at the airport or I just roam and pay . One time before the days of 2 Degrees, I was in Japan, I think with Vodafone you had to request intl roaming before it's active, not sure, nor did try it out . At the hostel, I connected my phone to their Wifi network . I used Skype for free to call back home . . . and surf the web . . . . on the phone . Yeah . . data will be that figure $25 or whatever per MB . Roaming is for calls, not sure for text . I think they have diff rates for text anyway like to send and to receive (be it from a NZder or from another country) . |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 1304758 | 2012-10-03 02:42:00 | If it is free at the hotel - it would be like using a laptop with wifi (like at home with the router), go online with Firefox, Skype etc .. Skype will be free to Skype users but it may cost money off the Skype account if he wants to say, call a normal landline or mobile no. The 3G feature on the phone (is like a 3G USB stick in NZ) will not be free thou, that's $30 per MB (billed by Telecom). I cannot say for sure re: if the phone goes online silently as I don't have a iPhone, not used one overseas. This table might do some explaining. I like to think of it without roaming costs, just refer to the table for the activity. 4347 |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 1304759 | 2012-10-03 04:50:00 | Switch off Roaming Data is the simplest thing to start with. Once there get a prepay SIM if available. |
HAL9000 (12736) | ||
| 1304760 | 2012-10-03 06:23:00 | Definitely get a local sim. And good to see you didn't talk him out of the iphone | plod (107) | ||
| 1304761 | 2012-10-03 06:45:00 | ALWAYS get a local sim. I don't understand why he wouldn't get a month to month sim in Australia, you can still get data usage and international minutes. iphone 4s and most samsungs have wifi aswell so it won't be an issue using the hotel wifi |
NZSOLAR (16908) | ||
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