I keep talking about taking my iPhone to Israel.
On one hand, I want to be able to check emails throughout the day when I am roaming the streets and doing tourist-like things. On the other hand, I don't want to be hit with a huge bill when I get home. Since AT&T has yet to support an international plan designed for Israel and the iPhone (they have for the Treo and Israel), I don't plan on making calls from my phone or using data.
But what about the wifi option? Can I get away with using just that?
The iPhone Tips for International Roamers describes how you can use Wifi to get data on your iPhone while traveling internationally. But what scares me is the language is not very encouraging...
When I go ahead and look at Keep Data Roaming "OFF" section under Settings > General > Network > Data Roaming, it reads:
When abroad, turning off data roaming may avoid roaming charges when using email, web browsing, and other data services.
The word "may" is what concerns me. Here is a picture:
If I was in Israel today, I bet I would follow the instructions, and try to just use Wifi only and make sure the data roaming is off. But I know I would check my AT&T account the day after to see if I was being billed.
Comments
I took my iPhone to Israel, and found out painfully what everyone else who took their iPhone outside the US found out - you are billed for wifi usage exactly the same as data usage through the cellular network. After 2 weeks in Israel, with not a single called made or received, but using the phone daily mostly in free wifi spots (cafe's, private offices and friends homes) I got a bill from AT&T for over $500 in data roaming charges. This is the only instance of a cellular carrier charging for wifi usage on your phone. It does not happen when using wifi on any other device (Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, etc.).
Posted by: Tamir | February 23, 2008 6:38 PM
hi barry - did u get charged by at&t for using wifi on ur iphone in israel? im going next week...
thanks
Posted by: Louis | March 5, 2008 9:53 PM
Hi Tamir, I believe you were charged only because you did not turn the data roaming off like shown on the picture above. Using data on the iPhone, even on WI-FI will sync data over the cell network (i.e.: Maps application uses cell phone signals and wi-fi spots information to average out your location on a map and I am sure that are another behind the scenes processes that will tap on your cell network without you noticing.
My advice is turn airplane mode on and turn OFF data roaming and you should be golden. I am going to Israel on June and I will bring my iPhone with me to use as a Wi-Fi device.
Posted by: Xande Macedo | March 15, 2008 9:28 PM
yooo
im in israel i dont have an iphone but i brought my itouch
wifi work great the only thing is that the maps dont only satellite images no roads n its a real bitch
does anyone know how to get maps to worl for israel??
Posted by: david pereque | September 4, 2008 3:01 AM