AT&T iPhone: traveling out of the country

[incognitotoday]

I'm going to Cancun for a week. When I was in Jamaica last year, I turned off my cellular data (no access to email, FB, etc.) and only used my phone to call the states to "check in" and see how my dogs were doing. I spoke to my parents once a day for no more than 5 mins around dinner time and we had a text here/there throughout the week. Once that was done, I simply used my iPhone for photos and that's it.

I called AT&T yesterday and I was told it's $1.00/min per call and $.50/text (when I text; as my states' plan is unlimited). I was also told if my phone is on and someone calls me, I'll be charged for that call (not worried about that). The minimum package is $30.00 for 80 talk mins and $10.00 for 50 texts. I don't need ALL of that. So to me, $40 is a waste. I'm on vacation and don't need anymore than the minimal check in with my parents as mentioned above. The data package was based on kilobytes or something like that. And being on vacation, honestly, I'd like to step away from Facebook, Instagram, and blogs I'm constantly glued too. It'll be a nice welcome.

I'm now hearing of this app called Viber (for free text/calls).

Anyone hear of it? If my cellular data is on the off position will this app even work?

Side note: I don't have Skype and anyone I'd need to contact isn't on Skype.

We are traveling with 24 of SO's cousins and they're telling us to DL the Viber app (as they are) so we can coordinate where to meet up, etc.

I'm really looking for suggestions on how to not have my cell phone bill jump more than $20. I like to stick to my budget with that. Any suggestions would be great.

[alleinesein]

Add on the text and data option for international travel. You can still use the Skype app to call someone in the US; they do not need to have a skype account if you call their phone number. You will have to pay for this but a $5 credit on Skype for calls to the US should last you forever.

Apps will only work if you have a wifi or a data connection. If your resort has wifi (and they dont charge for it) you can just keep your phone in airplane mode and use the wifi connection to access your apps and the internet.

[incognitotoday]

I guess I never understood airplane mode.

I thought if you didn't turn you phone off when on a plane you could turn it to airplane mode and that was it. Didn't realize it actually serves more of a function.

[Deleted]

My H uses viber and I use whatsapp (another texting app). It works just fine, but you'll only be able to use it on wifi.

As long as the other person has an iphone/ipod/ipad/etc you can facetime and imessage on wifi too. 

[sparty04]

When we went to Jamaica in sept, our resort had wifi. I messaged back and forth with my mom via Facebook messenger

[Deleted]

I just wanted to comment that we used Skype (with Wifi connection) while in Italy to call a person in the US without Skype. I also have used it in the US to call Italian hotels, etc.

Note: I mention Italy since that's where I was going, sure that it works other countries.

[emilyinchile]

Viber and WhatsApp will both work on wifi which, as mentioned, you can use while on airplane mode. You can only contact other people who have the app though, you can't call just anyone. If your group mainly uses Viber, you should download it as I'm sure you'll have wifi at the resort, and then you can use that to check in with your parents as well if they have smartphones and will download it (not sure how tech savvy they are). And as mentioned, you can call anyone using Skype, so if your parents aren't going to download an app then you can still call their home phones and just pay something like $0.02/minute. That's way better than what your phone company wants to charge you.

Airplane mode basically just turns off all of your phone company's connections. No data and no phone signal, but you can connect to wifi. I have to manually turn wifi back on after I am in airplane mode, so you might want to familiarize yourself with how to do it before you leave.

[boiler717]

When we travel internationally we do airplane mode and connect to free wifi. I use FaceTime to call my parents and check on the dog.