iPhone Roaming Costs

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PDAMan

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#77375 15-Feb-2011 17:44

I thought I read something here of a way to reduce iPhone data roaming costs, but couldn't find it. What I've read says that you don't want to do it, or to get a local SIM card, but that's not a great option to connect to our exchange server back in Auckland. If I'm travelling I really want to get my email and use my apps.

I don't have an iPhone but have been told that the company won't buy them because of the outrageous roaming costs.

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corksta

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#439924 15-Feb-2011 18:04

Well the use of any modern phone can result in outrageous roaming costs, it's more a case of how you use it which dictates your roaming bill rather than the phone itself causing high bills.

By default international data roaming is disabled on the iPhone, so going overseas turns it into just a normal phone, and the only apps that will work are ones that don't require a network connection. You can turn it on and have it function as it would here in NZ but obviously that's where the cost comes in.

Connecting to Wi-Fi allows you to use it without incurring in data roaming costs.

There are apps like Viber and Whatsapp which allow you to call/text other people for much less than it costs to roam, or free if connected to Wi-Fi, but apps like that (and those ones in particular) usually require that the recipient has the same app on their iPhone.

Realistically your options are to keep roaming disabled, connect to Wi-Fi as much as possible, or purchase a local SIM.

nakedmolerat

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#439926 15-Feb-2011 18:05

iphone, dumbphone or any other smartphones will have the same roaming costs. the charges is up to the network (2degrees / vodafone / telecom)

if you get local simcard with data plan, you can still connect to your exchange and use your apps just fine

sbiddle

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#439944 15-Feb-2011 18:47

nakedmolerat: if you get local simcard with data plan, you can still connect to your exchange and use your apps just fine

Connecting back to an exchange server can't be guaranteed. For security purposes many people lock down access to whitelisted IP ranges, so trying to access it from a foreign IP may not be possible. When you roam on a mobile your IP remains the same as being in NZ.

johnr

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#439952 15-Feb-2011 18:54

Tell the device to download headers only of the Email and turn off data roaming in the menu of the handset when not required