I'll be traveling to Italy for 2 weeks and wanted to use the Wifi on my Iphone4 while I'm there. Will I incur any extra charges from VzW if I use Wifi on my phone to check email, surf web, etc...
BarbLaman wrote: What is GSM and is that the same as in Austria? I am in Austria and skyped with my daughter in England. At least it works. But will I incur extra charges?
What is GSM and is that the same as in Austria? I am in Austria and skyped with my daughter in England. At least it works. But will I incur extra charges?
GSM is one of the two main protocols used for wireless networks. Verizon (and Sprint) uses the other one, CDMA, AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. Europe is GSM, which means that your iPhone can't use the cell network for calls or data, but Wifi will work. There will be no charges from Verizon as there is no interaction with their network. You may or may not pay for Wifi, but that will be obvious when you join the Wifi network. (Some hotels for example charge per day, per week etc, others are free).
As long as you're somewhere where you have wifi access then you're fine. Italy is GSM so you don't have to worry about incur any accidental roaming charges or anything.
You may also make and receive calls over the WiFi using an app such as Skype that provides low cost international calling over the Internet without any carrier charges. You can download Skype as a free app in the App Store.
Leave your phone in airplane mode with Wifi ON or you may get r.e.a.m.e.d. with roaming data charges. According to some of the maps I have seen, it may be possible in some countries to be in GSM voice territory but also have 3g data coverage. Your phone may roam if you let it.
If you want Internet coverage everywhere (but not make voice calls) you can rent a mobile hotspot - not too expensive in France for $15/day.
wsanders wrote: Leave your phone in airplane mode with Wifi ON or you will get r.e.a.m.e.d. with roaming data charges. It is possible in some countries to be in GSM voice territory but also have EDGE data coverage. You phone will roam if you let it. If you want Internet coverage everywhere (but not make voice calls) you can rent a mobile hotspot - not too expensive in France for $15/day.
Leave your phone in airplane mode with Wifi ON or you will get r.e.a.m.e.d. with roaming data charges. It is possible in some countries to be in GSM voice territory but also have EDGE data coverage. You phone will roam if you let it.
There won't be roamng data charges in this case! The phone is CDMA, all the networks there are GSM, so there is no way to connect to get hit with data charges. If this was an AT&T iPhone, yes, that would be an issue.
I'm going to Europe for 3 weeks in Sept 2011. I want to take my iphone for internet. It was mentioned that a "hotspot" could be rented for internet access. How/where do you rent that?
