Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

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@Gatorjimbo wrote:

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@sandblaster wrote:
Yes there are messaging apps that work on wifi but no, you can not send SMS or MMS messages over wifi. Those can only be sent over the cellular system. Most people have message apps that only support SMS/MMS and those messaging apps that work over wifi usually also require the recipients to have the same app.

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Not sure why you're arguing with me when I just went through this experience for 3 weeks in Ireland. You can download an app, send text messages and the recepient doesn't have to have the same app. As a matter of fact, if you have wifi and you're using iMessages, you can go that route. Either way, I'm glad, as an employee, that you ignored the points I made in regards to the wifi hotspots being a selling feature or the fact that unlocking the phone and using a sim card is a cheaper and much better alternative. No need to reply unless you really just want to have the last word. I just spent 3 weeks dealing with it, so unless you've been to Ireland and dealt with their "network," please keep it to yourself.

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I'm not arguing with you, I simply posted what I believe to be true. I've never heard of an app that allows you to send SMS/MMS messges over wifi. Please enlighten me and share the name of this app you use.

You mention iMessage, yes you can use iMessage on wifi but you can only send to other iMessage users. If you want to send to anyone who does not have iMessage, the message app will send as normal SMS over the cellular network.

As for unlocking your phone and using a local sim card being cheaper, that has not been my experience. When I travelled in Great Britain and France several years ago and in northern Europe last year, I researched getting local service versus getting an international data package (passport did not exist then) and local service would have cost me much more than the international data package. Now for the same price I paid for international data only, a passport package provides more data than what I got then plus texting. It all depends on what you plan or expect you use your phone for. It may be cheaper getting local service or it may be cheaper getting a passport plan. You also have the issue of getting a totally different number if you get local service. 

My point here is every travel situation is different. You can't say your way is the best way to go for every situation. By the way, I happen to agree with you reference wifi hotspots as a selling feature of passport. The real value of any passport plan is reduced cost on international roaming, not access to wifi since ATT has a limited number of international wifi hotspots.

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@sandblaster wrote:

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@Gatorjimbo wrote:

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@sandblaster wrote:
Yes there are messaging apps that work on wifi but no, you can not send SMS or MMS messages over wifi. Those can only be sent over the cellular system. Most people have message apps that only support SMS/MMS and those messaging apps that work over wifi usually also require the recipients to have the same app.

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Not sure why you're arguing with me when I just went through this experience for 3 weeks in Ireland. You can download an app, send text messages and the recepient doesn't have to have the same app. As a matter of fact, if you have wifi and you're using iMessages, you can go that route. Either way, I'm glad, as an employee, that you ignored the points I made in regards to the wifi hotspots being a selling feature or the fact that unlocking the phone and using a sim card is a cheaper and much better alternative. No need to reply unless you really just want to have the last word. I just spent 3 weeks dealing with it, so unless you've been to Ireland and dealt with their "network," please keep it to yourself.

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I'm not arguing with you, I simply posted what I believe to be true. I've never heard of an app that allows you to send SMS/MMS messges over wifi. Please enlighten me and share the name of this app you use.

 

You mention iMessage, yes you can use iMessage on wifi but you can only send to other iMessage users. If you want to send to anyone who does not have iMessage, the message app will send as normal SMS over the cellular network.

 

As for unlocking your phone and using a local sim card being cheaper, that has not been my experience. When I travelled in Great Britain and France several years ago and in northern Europe last year, I researched getting local service versus getting an international data package (passport did not exist then) and local service would have cost me much more than the international data package. Now for the same price I paid for international data only, a passport package provides more data than what I got then plus texting. It all depends on what you plan or expect you use your phone for. It may be cheaper getting local service or it may be cheaper getting a passport plan. You also have the issue of getting a totally different number if you get local service. 

 

My point here is every travel situation is different. You can't say your way is the best way to go for every situation. By the way, I happen to agree with you reference wifi hotspots as a selling feature of passport. The real value of any passport plan is reduced cost on international roaming, not access to wifi since ATT has a limited number of international wifi hotspots.

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:sigh:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/textie-messaging-beautiful/id353912946?mt=8

I didn't say mine was the best way, I said it was best for IRELAND. Hard to argue that a sim card purchased for $45 that offers 15gb of Data, cheap international calling and free texting is less valued over the less than gig of data and expensive international calling offered by the passport plan.

A totally different number makes no difference. You still have your contacts in your phone, so just text whoever you need and they have your new number.

Sorry to jump in on your conversation, but my questions are also about iphone international travel. My husband and I each have an iphone.  Do we each have to sign up for the $30 package to get unlimited texting and reduced charges for calls?  Will we be able to make local calls or would it be best to buy a throw away phone for local calling?  How soon before we leave should we sign up for the service?  We're leaving a week from Tuesday to Jamaica.

Thanks.

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@LompicoToni wrote:

Sorry to jump in on your conversation, but my questions are also about iphone international travel. My husband and I each have an iphone.  Do we each have to sign up for the $30 package to get unlimited texting and reduced charges for calls?  Will we be able to make local calls or would it be best to buy a throw away phone for local calling?  How soon before we leave should we sign up for the service?  We're leaving a week from Tuesday to Jamaica.

 

Thanks.

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You each have to sign up. Personally, I would get a throw away phone. I would just sign up the week before you leave if you decide to do it. Good luck if you use the Passport plan.

There is something everyone should understand about the "ree unlimited texting" with the AT&T International passport plans.  Although sending picturess and videos are "included" in the "free texting", be aware that pictures and videos use data.  The message itself will be "free", but any picture or video included in the free text will use data which will count towards your plan limit.

@klgmd7 That is not true. Yes, MMS messages require a data connection to work, but they do not bill as data or use any of your passport data allocation. Do you per chance have an iPhone? If you sent pictures with data roaming turned on, you probably sent as an iMessage which does use data. 

From my experience last year in France and Italy ... the wifi feature of a passport, and the passport app are absolutely useless garbage. Just go to the app store and check the reviews. The app just doesn't work, drains the battery and also uses some of your cell data. And don't say it doesn't, because it shows up in the data usage list.

I use the over-priced, under performing Passport International plans for one reason ... to keep my usual phone number for emergency calls. Forget the wifi ... it's a ripoff, and ANY decent hotel in France or Italy has free wifi that comes with the room. In fact I've never stayed in a hotel that didn't have free wifi.  Load your maps ahead of time and you probably won't need much cell data at all while away from the hotel.

Once again this year I am using the ATT Passport plan (Pro) for one phone and the 300 meg plan for the other .... but, I hate it.

The other option I have used it the T-Mobile simple choice plan ... $50 .. unlimited data in Europe (but quite slow), reduced prices on calls, free texting etc. But of course you have to get a different phone number ( unless you are switching permanently), and you have to deal with the typical nightmare of trying to get a T-Mobile account actually shut off ..... last time I had to pay two months of extra bills because the support person just didn't seem able to understand I wanted to cancel my account. Not even worth it trying to get your money back for that.

So ... choice boils down to ATT which is over-priced and has useless wifi app, and outrageous over usage charges. Or ..

T-Mobile which is slow as Christmas and support that is a nightmare, and you have to change your number.

Or, use an unlocked phone and a foreign SIM. However you may notice ... those great deals on foreign SIMs, where they used to mail them to you and activate them? With like super cheap calls, free texting and 10gigs of data for $50?  Laws have changed in Europe ...these days you almost always have to have a local address (in the country where the SIM is sold). Most of the great deals formally seen on Amazon have disappeared and been replaced with SIMs considerably more expensive and with less data. You still have the option of waiting till you get there, buying a SIM in the country, and then use your Hotel Room as your address .... then you can get the sweet deals.

Do you need to do anything to get started once you've paid for the Passport Plan? Or do you just start using your phone once you get to your foreign destination?