MX727

To turn off Data Roaming: Settings|General|Network and turn Data Roaming off.

MD11Fr8Dog

AT&T and starbucks and iPhones...

AT&T Wi-Fi | Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

Not a purple but a brown guy so I hope you don't mind - I believe our discounts are about the same.

I was a Sprint customer for some 12 years until a little more than a year & a half ago when I switched to Verizon (Treo 700P). Then about 2 months ago I switched to AT&T for the iPhone.

I was happy with Verizon's coverage and customer service (even though in outskirts of ONT, CA where I am based I had spotty coverage). I am happy with AT&T's coverage and customer service too.

I hated Treo because it kept freezing up on me after 4-6 months of usage, in fact had the phone replaced 3 times in the 18 months I was with Verizon. I am happy with the iPhone so far except the text messaging which I think is very basic. So if you text message a lot I think the IPhone is OK at best.

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

Make sure you have the latest update - just flew with a captain who had exactly the same problem as you do and he thought he had the latest update as he'd only had the phone for a month or so. I hooked up his iPhone to my laptop, created an iTunes account for him (that was my clue ) and sure enough he did not have the latest update which coincidentally was dealing primarily with 'dropped calls - the phone chip struggled when switching form one cell tower to another while driving in and out of 3G network.) Flew with him for week and a half and his phone worked as a champ. Not sure if that's your problem but worth double checking...

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

Question - how much extra are you having to pay a month for any data plan for the iphone? Is it the $30/mo. domestic data plan?

- Yes, that's a domestic plan only however if you use Wi-Fi overseas you can use Skype Chat (in effect instant text messaging) for sure, if good Wi-Fi coverage possibly voice too but no guarantees.

On your iPhone go to the Safari browser and type www.s4iphone.com and you can purchase a hybrid program that connects you to your Skype account and uses SkypeOut minutes to talk/text from overseas while using Wi-Fi. You can subscribe monthly or purchase lifetime usage (~$35 I think?). In a nutshell you'll be giving the program your phone number and the phone number will connect you via a 'local' phone number if using the dataplan (use that feature in the US) or via Wi-Fi (use that feature overseas) back to your phone. Weird at first because your phone will 'ring' when you're calling someone else and basically both of you will 'answer' the phone.

The $25 data access is probably just for browsing the internet using dataplan but if you want to use Skype you'll need Wi-Fi anyways since Wi-Fi is faster than 3G. So I suggest you don't buy the international data plan and in fact that you turn off your data plan altogether when overseas. Several ways to do it - simply turn it off as someone instructed earlier or switch to airplane mode. If you switch to airplane mode and want to connect to Skype you'll be asked to take it out of Airplane mode or to turn Wi-Fi on - select Wi-Fi option.

Again, I've used to voice mode a few times only and have been texting instead, so my voice experience is limited with the iPhone while overseas. The few times I called the sound quality was surprisingly good but after 10 minutes or so I'd lose the connection but I think the hotspot had a pretty weak connection.

Text messaging works very well and all your Skype contacts show up once you log in.


Also, you may want to check out truphone application which basically offers the same type cheap international calls. A friend has had problems calling Europe with that application but that was several months ago and maybe the app has been improved since then? Worth checking out... (www.truphone.com)

By the way, the biggest drawback for the iPhone (at least domestically) is that it cannot be used as a modem for my laptop like the Treo could...

USNFDX

Try FRING from the apps store. Uses your skype.

Works good...Last long time!


iphone installation process

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

Until 6 months ago or so Fring only worked on jailbroken phones - this is really good news as I've heard great reviews of Fring.

MD11Fr8Dog

Ha! You beat me to it! I believe its been available for iPhone2 for about a month or so!

Oh yea, you can download from the App Store too, just search for Fring then install directly to your iPhone!

mrvmo

Can you receive texts also via Skype while using IPhone 3G? When I use Skype on my computer I can only send texts. Was wondering if it was the same with the IPhone app. Also, is web browsing as easy and quick as it is with a normal laptop?

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

Yes and no. If you use IM+ for Skype and don't turn off your network you will be recieve your text messages via 3G (or Edge when no 3G coverage) however you will also receive international roaming fees. Instead, turn off your network and make sure your WiFi is on and use Fring (or IM+ for Skype) to send and receive text messages via Skype. Check my replies to your questions on the other iphone thread...
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ca...tml#post498063