Cell Phones in Europe-Ideas from chaperones iPhone/ATT

iPhone

I’m going to be gone all next week, so wanted to get this out to you all.

Here’s what I’m going to do for my cell phone in Europe.  I’m on Verizon, and have a iPhone 4S.

1. Sign up for 100 MB Global Data & Standard Voice Rate plan with Verizon.  If you go over 100MB  they just charge another $25 for another 100MB.  I’m sure the other carriers have a similar plan.

Text messaging (using SMS, the texting standard built into all phones) is a rip-off (see attached price list), but for texting other iPhone users using iMessage it will use the data plan or WiFi which will be available in the hotels and nearly everywhere in the cities.  100 MB will more than cover heavy duty texting using iMessage or a messaging app like WhatsApp.

2.  I recommend all the chaparones purchase the WhatsApp messaging app for a one-time cost of $0.99, as it allows us all to text each other using the data plan, even cross-platform (iPhone to Android or other flip phone) without incurring text messaging SMS charges.  I’m going to recommend this to the boys in my group as well, but if they don’t want to use it that will be fine.  I’ve used WhatsApp and it works just like any built-in text messaging app on your phone.

3. I’m not going to mess around with unlocking my phone and purchasing a sim card in Europe unless it’s really non-distracting once we get there.  I especially don’t want the boys in my group trying to do this and having tech support problems.  Too much distraction.  I think the availability of WiFi and a cheap data plan will be more than sufficient, and I can text or call using voice or SMS a few time a day in a pinch for a couple dollars.

Thanks,

Todd

From Mark Hansen for AT&T Customers    http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/affordable-world-packages.jsp#voice:

AT&T Europe Travel Minutes*,**	For making and receiving calls in the "Europe Region".
Monthly Charge	Included Minutes	Per-Minute Overage
$30	30 ($1.00/min.)	$1.00
$60	80 ($.75/min.)	$1.00
$120	200 ($.60/min.)	$1.00
*One-month minimum required. If you remove the package before your monthly bill cycle ends, the included monthly minute allotment will be reduced proportionately. Package and overage rates apply to calls made and received within applicable region only. Usage outside of the region will be charged at applicable pay-per-use rate. Pay-Per-Use Calling Rate in Europe Region**: $1.50/min.

Package/Pay-Per-Use Rates	Details
Global Messaging Packages	Send text, picture or video messages while traveling in over 150 countries*
Packages:	Monthly	Message Allowance (Messages Sent)	Per-Message Overage
Global Messaging 50	$10	50 ($.20/msg.)	$0.40
Global Messaging 200	$30	200 ($.15/msg.)	$0.35
Global Messaging 600	$60	600 ($.10/msg.)	$0.25
*One-month minimum required. For a list of countries included in Global Messaging Packages, visit att.com/globalcountries. Outside of these countries, international pay-per-use rates - $0.50 for text and $1.30 for picture/video - apply to messages sent. Text, picture or video messages received while roaming are charged at pay-per-use rates or deducted from your domestic messaging package. See Rate Plan Brochure for details.

Package/Pay-Per-Use Rates	Details
Data Global Add-On Packages	A monthly cellular data allotment for smartphones, laptops and tablets available when traveling in over 150 countries.* Check email, download maps, make reservations and more.
Monthly	Included Cellular Data in Over 150 Countries	Included Wi-Fi for for iOS/Android Devices in Select Countries**
$30	120MB Overage: $30/120MB Other Countries: $0.0195KB	N/A
$60	300MB Overage: $30/120MB Other Countries: $0.0195KB	1GB
$120	800MB Overage: $30/120MB Other Countries: $0.0195KB	1GB
One-month minimum required. Discounted countries/carriers subject to change. Must be added to existing domestic data plan. *For a list of countries and carriers included in Data Global Add-On Packages visit att.com/globalcountries. **Requires a download and activation of AT&T Wi-Fi International App. Available for iPhone and Android devices at participating international hotspots within select countries. See att.com/intlwifi for a list of countries and more information.