you can use it without being charged by turning off data and going to manual for the mail/vis voicemail. look at the attwireless website for iphone international.

this way, it will ring and work, but won't charge you 'till you answer it.

just don't answer it and skype them later.

 

Thanks for all the info. I head for Paris tonight from EWR and will test it for the first time. Like most of you I will see who is calling and then skype or truphone them back.

 

Do NOT turn your iPhone on while overseas because AT&T's international plan is very expensive. Instead use the WiFi connection (Starbucks, etc) to connect via either Skype OR Google Talk.

Skype IM only offers instant chat (text messaging) via WiFi right now but I think they’re working on the voice interface through WiFi as well. Not sure about Google Talk as it’s a very new iPhone application.

http://www.apple.com/webapps/socialnetworking/imforskype.html

http://www.apple.com/webapps/socialnetworking/googletalk.html

Also, another new and supposedly great option is called Truphone (http://www.truphone.com) which is basically a Skype clone.

Note, I haven’t tried any of those features myself as I’m still waiting for my iPhone to be delivered…

 

Please post your feedback here, it'd be greatly appreciated...

 

New firmware update available through Itunes. Fixes some lag issues and increases battery life.


Sorry if this was posted on an earlier page.

 

I already have 3 phones (family) on an AT&T plan (in my name) with the Fedex discount for several years. My main cellphone has been a Treo with Sprint. The Sprint contract expires at the end of the month. I'm buying an iPhone, adding a line to my current family plan, and porting the number over from Sprint.

I asked at the Apple store today how to go about doing this. They told me that since I was considered a business customer, I'd need to remove the FedEx discount from my account before I could buy and activate at Apple. I could then have the discount added back on later. They thought it'd be simpler to go to an AT&T store and not deal with removing and adding the discount. I told them I'd much prefer to deal with Apple instead of AT&T and AT&T is backordered several weeks on phones.

I talked to AT&T Business on the phone and they said just go to their store and do it, but they thought I'd have to remove the discount and add it back later. That didn't make sense. Anyone run into this? I might as well buy it at Apple.

I should be able to get the iPhone at the $199/$299 price since I'm adding a line or does one of my AT&T have to be due an upgrade?

Any insight on how to proceed when the Sprint contract expires 8/31? Thanks.

 

On my iPhone, an old one, it has an option for turning off Data Roaming. Find it in settings> general> network. To quote " Turn data roaming off when abroad to avoid substantial roaming charges when using email, web browsing and other data services." Seems to me that the phone will still work if you want to make calls or you could use Truphone when in a wi-fi environment without big charges.
I just got this one, used, so I haven't had an opportunity to try it. Anybody done it this way?

 

I just had a Fo who had the old iphone and he siad that he has used it overseas and that if you turn the data roaming off then you are fine. If you look that is the default setting. I am not going to use it to make calls but it is just one more way for my wife to get me without having to go thru schedule. I will use Truphone and skpye from my laptop to call her back. I will post with how it all works out from CDG.

To everyone who has posted here, thanks for all the great info, it has help tons!!

 

What software are we talking about? Generic iPhone software or something else?

 

Plug your iPhone into your computer, fire up iTunes and "update" the software on your iPhone.

Its the iPhone software, not any apps.