International Pilots and smartphones

[WOWIdidntKnow]

How do you International pilots use your phones international and not get raped by roaming charges?

 

[SplitBar]

How do you International pilots use your phones international and not get raped by roaming charges?

I keep it in airplane mode and only connect when there is wi fi which isn't hard to find.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

I keep it in airplane mode and only connect when there is wi fi which isn't hard to find.

One thing is roaming and another totally different is your phone's ability to get on the Internet.....! You have to go to settings and disable roaming..!

 

[SplitBar]

I have an iphone 5 and I keep keep it in airplane mode and still get on wifi. In airplane mode it doesn't search for and lock onto a cellular signal. WiFi only.

 

[Green]

I have an iphone 5 and I keep keep it in airplane mode and still get on wifi. In airplane mode it doesn't search for and lock onto a cellular signal. WiFi only.

I don't think you need to do that. It doesn't cost you money to receive text messages. Only to send them. Keep "Celular Data" turned off (this prevents roaming charges) and don't send texts or phone calls. If you let the phone log onto the local provider you can still receive messages and not be totally out of touch.

Anyone flying overseas should download whatsapp. Have your family and friends do it too. It allows you to communicate for free using wifi.

 

[redflyer65]

Where in the hell is the General? He's the f*cking smartphone master!

He must have left in the basement on his latest 6 day European tour.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Where in the hell is the General? He's the f*cking smartphone master!

He must have left in the basement on his latest 6 day European tour.

The Genny took too much of the ADD meds, the last round of posts drained him of his vim and vigor. He is currently "resting" quietly with one of those long sleeved sweatshirts, with the fashion belts and buckles.

 

[Varmint]

What's App for text messaging

Viber for VOIP and text messaging

As stated before....ensure your mobile data is switched off and only wifi is enabled when out of your plan coverage area.

 

[dalad]

Airplane mode and call home using Facetime on hotel wifi. You have to habve an all Iphone family though.

 

[Carl S.]

WiCall is better than Tango for Voip calling and they give you a free teaser to try it out. If you are a true cheapo, you could just delete and reinstall after each call. $5 two years ago and 100 calls and I still have $2 left, but no caller id inbound to your loved ones...

 

[Dornier 335]

Where in the hell is the General? He's the f*cking smartphone master!

He must have left in the basement on his latest 6 day European tour.

What? Peace & Harmony on FI??? Can't be true ...

 

[Dornier 335]

What's App for text messaging

Viber for VOIP and text messaging

As stated before....ensure your mobile data is switched off and only wifi is enabled when out of your plan coverage area.

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.

 

[redflyer65]

What? Peace & Harmony on FI??? Can't be true ...

Very refreshing I must agree.

 

[flyboyike]

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

 

[Dan Roman]

Viber...both parties have to be on the internet on their respective devices

 

[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]

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