Using iPhone when overseas.

[danielribo]

About to (well hopefully) head off overseas for the first time since getting my new iPhone.

Given i'm sure plenty of you use them, does anyone know a 100% effective way of ensuring that it doesn't attempt to source any data while roaming. The last thing I want is to come home to a $5000 data bill...

I know in settings you can turn off "data roaming", but does this work for every application, email etc etc? I'm guessing that the phone detects its "roaming" overseas and just doesn't use the data stuff? I've just checked mine and it's had "data roaming" off since I started using it and obviously has been online.

The plan is that I'd like to update my converter software etc before leaving so I can just reference it while I'm away (but not have it update) or just WIFI in the hotels.

[Will]

I had the same question as you before going away with my iPhone. I was particularly worried because my phone roams within Australia onto Telstra (I am with 3) and setting the iPhone to 'disable roaming' does NOT stop this from happening. I also called 3 to ask them to disable international data roaming, but they told me they couldn't disable it without completely removing all roaming capability (ie including voice).

I risked it anyway, and received a bill as expected - no data roaming from overseas. The iPhone seems to recognise overseas roaming as 'roaming', even if it doesn't within Australia.

[tuppaware]

After a $900 phone bill from optus I learnt my lesson:

Turn off 3g and data roaming.
Dont use Calendar as that starts mail downloads.
Make sure that you set your mail is not set to push.

Depending on your country buy a local sim. O2 in england 30 pounds got me 450mb data and 100 mins of calls.

[danielribo]

That was one of my concerns, I had hoped that the "data roaming" off would have stopped the little things like emails, callender, application updates. I guess not.

[MelUser]

I have a relative who had a $3000 Telstra bill waiting after her return from O/S.

She swears black and blue that she didn't use the thing overseas except for SMSing.

It appears that the I-phone is really an obsessive compulsive computer that constantly checks by sending data in and out without being asked to!

[danielribo]

I'm starting to think that I should downgrade to the old Motorola while out of the country!

[Mal]

Not an iPhone user (as I've previously noted!), but surely there is a way in the phone to neuter the Data profiles. It's what I've done on other phones when faced with a similar issue.

And while doing some background searches, there are lots of reports of people having applications self-update while away etc etc even with disable roaming 'supposedly' set (like everything, you can't validate all information).

[danielribo]

I think the iPhone problem is that there is no master "data off" switch, from what I've found.

Given there are so many applications from so many different sources, its probably difficult to predict exactly what they will all do in regards to auto-updates etc.

[Mal]

I think the iPhone problem is that there is no master "data off" switch, from what I've found.

But if you change the "Cellular data Network profile" so that it can't physically connect to the network, then that should be the equivalent of a "data off" switch.

I'll leave my advice at that - because I'm out of my depth discussing iphone settings.

[serfty]

I can easily delete web access profiles on my Ericsson - quite simple to reload when back in Oz.

However, with my wife's Motorola, the delete option is disabled.

It does depend upon the phone.

BTW Mal, I still use my K800i ... nothing like being in control ...