Traveling iPhone owners - beware!

[Toulouse]

I have an iPhone and was planning on bringing it to Europe with me next summer. I was going to use it as an emergency phone, camera to send daily photos to my Flickr so friends and family can see where I am, and to browse the internet (while on a WiFi signal). I just read about people who took their phones to Europe and came home with thousands of dollars in roaming fees! YIKES! So iPhone owners - BEWARE! You will need to get an AT&T International data plan ($24.99 a month for 20MB of data and there are higher plans available too, read: EXPENSIVE!). I'm not sure if you can add and cancel the International data plan at any time, or if you need a yearly contract... Hope not!

gizmodo.com/gadgets/fyi/how-to-avoid-a-3000-international-iphone-data-bill-285966.php

I think I'll just turn off the roaming on my phone and stick to WiFi-only web browsing whenever I want to use the web, and turn on Airport when I'm not using the internet. I guess I won't be doing that whole photo-a-day thing to my family anymore.

[MuvverRussia]

Wifi signals are really, really common, especially in big cities. You can even get wifi on buses now, so that would definitely be my first point of call.

That AT&T plan seems pretty reasonable to me too. I pay a hell of a lot more for roaming data charges (in the region of US$40 per MB - this is on a UK based Vodafone contract). I would imagine that package can be added and removed as needed though.

For uploading photos there's always the traditional approach of using an internet cafe?

[Eagle]

I've also heard some of the "horror stories" about Americans travelling with their I-Phones in Europe, and returning home to find a HUGE bill in the mail for data roaming charges. The AT&T data roaming plan sounds reasonable, however I suspect it would easy to "forget" how much data time you've used while travelling, and therefore exceed the limit of the plan. I'm not sure if Rogers (my carrier in Canada) has a similar plan, I've never checked? I use a standard quad-band Phone but don't use it for E-mail or web browsing (EDGE is just too slow!).

Something that many people don't consider, is that while they may have inexpensive voice + data plans at home, that doesn't automatically apply while roaming as they are using another carrier's network(s). This applies not only to I-Phone users, but also TREO and Blackberry data users. The rates they pay in Europe will be whatever AT&T has negotiated with the other carriers, via the GSM Association (which all GSM carriers belong to AFAIK).

One point about using the I-Phone in Europe is that the current models only offer EDGE data speeds, not the 3G speeds that Europeans are used to. I've been told by those in the Cellular industry that 3G North American 2100 MHz bands will NOT be able to access the European networks on the same frequency band (will have to do some checking to confirm that). This means that data transfer speeds are not going to be anywhere near broadband speed, and data intensive tasks (such as uploading photos) could take a while! I tend to agree with Muvver's suggestion that Internet Cafes (with true broadband speed) would probably be a more efficient method for things like that (take a card reader along).

I'd probably use the E-mail function on a "smart phone" while travelling, but that would be highly dependent on the cost? I found that some locations had good access to Net Cafes, and some were a bit "sparse" so I wasn't able to get to a net terminal every day. I can get by quite nicely just using text, which is really cheap. I have an I-Pod Touch, so not sure I will ever buy an I-Phone (they're not even available in Canada yet). I tend to lean towards the TREO units, as I have some indispensable software that runs on Palm OS.

Muvver, you're fortunate to have ubiquitious Wi-Fi networks (I'm assuming they're free?). I haven't found ANY here in Canada (at least in B.C.) that are free. Our local Starbucks charges Cdn$7.50 an hour for Wi-Fi access, which in my view is an exorbitant and unreasonable charge. I suppose the business types can write-off the cost, so they don't mind paying it?

Toulouse, I got off on a bit of a ramble, but to get back to your original point there's no reason not to take your I-Phone to Europe. Just have the data portion disabled (if that's possible?) and use it as a normal quad-band phone. You'll still be able to text family & friends back home (check with AT&T on the rates) and if you do need to make the occasional short voice call (ie: confirm reservations or whatever), you'll have that option. Also, family will be able to reach you if they need to. One caveat though, the I-Phone will probably have a higher "risk factor" for theft than a "normal" cell phone.

Cheers!

[mango]

If cost is a factor you will probably find it cheaper to get a local pay as you go sim card than pay extortionate international data roaming charges. If your phone is locked and you don't want to unlock it then a cheap sim-free handset is the way to go for the actual phone.

Although there is a burgeoning market for stolen phones I am not sure the apple phones are among them - bear in mind that these phones are on 2-3 year old tech, which is quite old in mobile phones, even for the US. They are well behind the latest nokia/sony ericsson models that have good market presence in europe, not least of all because they are made here.

The hype and hysteria that surrounded apple in the US simply failed to materialise here. The UK launches were notable insofar as there were more journalists than buyers! So I doubt you will find you are a specific target for theft simply due to the phone you own. But, that said, any item of electronics from a phones or camera to an electric shaver or vibrator is at risk if you leave it lying around a place like a youth hostel.

As for a camera depending on your purposes you might get sick of a fixed-focus 1mp phone camera (or whatever your phone has) - camera phones are no substitute for a dedicated digi camera especially in low light conditions. A cheapy ixus will do a better job than even the high-end sony or samsung camera phones.

[MuvverRussia]

Mango - the Iphone is locked to AT&T, so a local sim wouldn't work. And I'd argue that iPhones are pretty desirable and quite high on the 'to steal' list, irrespective of the actual technology inside them.

That said (and going off on a tangent for a bit), I'm surprised Apple didn't update the iPhone for the EU market, to incorporate 3g, video calling etc. I think it's a bit of a missed market. Same goes for making it O2 only.

Can't see someone wanting to steal a vibrator or a shaver though . Although it's definitely worth having some common sense about all 'valuables'.

Definitely agree with what you say regarding cameras though. Phone cameras are in most cases bad and in the best case so-so. A small, cheap P&S digital camera is definitely the way forward.

[babyruthcoming]

Unlock those iPhones and insert local sims wherever you are. These sims will cost for only a few bucks. That would be wise budget enough. Besides iPhone unlocking these days are rampant so no worries about being tied to AT&T. Just don't flash it to those who steal phones.

[stylescriber]

I think if you want to upload photos, why don't you try the internet cafes. I'm sure there are a lot around town.