International Pilots and smartphones

[BoxFlyr]

I use Tango and Vonage using wifi, just watch your data usage.

 

[SIG600]

I use Skype via Wi-Fi. In fact, I've done that domestically as well.

Same. Unless you're going to some off the wall third world countires, for $12/month Skype phone calls via wifi work great.

 

[Whine Lover]

I don't even own a cell phone, let alone a smart phone.

I travel internationally 17 days/mo. and I talk for free on my Netbook, all around the World, via Skype. ( Hours at a time like a teenage girl. )

I do have some Skype minutes I have purchased to talk to folks like my 89 year old step-dad who doesn't have the "interwebs"...and to talk to a few friends that won't sign up and believe that Skype is part of some conspiracy. In 2 years of this type of flying I have spent about $25.00 of Skype time.

Then again, I have met some people that I work with that are spending $300-600 dollars / mo. with their "Smart" phones to keep in touch with friends and family.

I guess having one of these devices doesn't necessarily make one so...




YKW

 

[Dewey Oxberger]

Magic Jack app works great for me, free and you can call any number in the US except Alaska (not sure about Hawaii) over wifi. I also drop $30 a month on 120MB of Int'l data with AT+T, which is more than adequate for keeping me entertained on the van rides for the month. I do avoid videos unless on wifi though.

 

[Draginass]

I use my iPhone 5 in wifi, and a unlocked Razor phone off eBay with a sim card from the company below for walking-around calls/emergency phone.

http://www.onesimcard.com/

 

[MQAAord]

Google Voice app for texting and Talkatone app uses your Google Voice number for calls, free internationally if both parties are using Talkatone. Use over wifi with phone in 'airplane' mode.

 

[General Lee]

Use a smart phone and Skype. You can get a refillable option on a $20 deposit for the Skype App on ITunes. It costs 2 cents per minute, and when you go through $20, it automatically charges you $20 to fill it up again. Really easy.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Freebrd]

Really easy.
Bye Bye---General Lee

And it's just wonderful if you do a lot of posting on FI, especially if you're on a European trip for days on end.

Whaaaat....too soon?

 

[HAL]

On Androids, once you're in the other country go to 'settings', then 'battery & data manager'. Turn off all data and background data. Then in 'wireless & networks' turn on 'automatic' for network if you have a global phone. Some phones, especially if you are with Sprint, won't work outside the USA. Also, at least with Sprint, you have to call customer service before you leave home and tell them to activate worldwide service, otherwise the foreign networks won't recognize your phone.

There is a charge for texts on Sprint too, 5 cents incoming and 50 cents outgoing. For data, I just use Wi-Fi. Unless you answer a phone call or make one yourself, there isn't a charge for being hooked up to the network.

I just came back from a three-week vacation in Australia, and the phone worked perfectly the whole time. I could choose which calls to answer or texts to send, and used Wi-Fi for data. I also use that for Skype to talk to family & friends back home instead of racking up data charges. Piece of cake.

HAL

 

[MD11Drvr]

Remember when AT&T offered unlimited international data for $60/month? It was a hidden option, but they discontinued it after too many people found out.

I still have and was grandfathered in. What a beautiful deal it was. Now skype will work over 3G/4G without wifi and that is very handy. Wished it was still available....ATT wacked it when the Ipad hit the market too free up bandwidth..

 

[jercdevil]

iMessage