Who actually uses Global Roaming Data

[chrisb]

I noticed Stephen Fry tweeting away while diverted today and I assume he's using roaming data. It got me thinking, how rich do you have to be to justify using data roaming?

Mine is permanently off. I'm willing to pay a reasonable cost but the lack of timely, accurate reporting and stupidly high costs mean I don't bother at all.

 

[drewbles]

For obvious reasons, I do. I actually thought the same as you though. I guess when you have cash, it's not so bad!

 

[Austman]

I noticed Stephen Fry tweeting away while diverted today and I assume he's using roaming data. It got me thinking, how rich do you have to be to justify using data roaming?

Mine is permanently off. I'm willing to pay a reasonable cost but the lack of timely, accurate reporting and stupidly high costs mean I don't bother at all.

Would seem he does: A fair response from Siri I suppose ? « The New Adventures of Stephen Fry

My mobile data stays permanently OFF when abroad. Wifi is usually enough. Even call roaming costs far too much!

 

[TonyHancock]

I use it on my business Blackberry. It is very expensive though. A trip to the UK usually results in a $800 bill. :shock:

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I use it (sparingly), but I add a roaming data pack to my Vodafone plan before leaving Oz. I'm yet to travel to a country that isn't covered by the data pack, and it's not toooooooooooo bad price-wise if your destination has no or limited wi-fi, and you only use it for simple things like emails and Facebook.

I usually go for the $49 for 50MB per month option - it is generally cheaper than hotel Internet, and much cheaper than using the data with no plan. Also, if you go over the allowance, they give you a reasonable discount on any excess data.

The only catch is that you have to use a specific network in each country for the data use to be deducted from the allowance - use another network and it charges at full price (not from the data allowance)... So I always double-check which network I'm using before I enable data on the phone (an always switch data off when I'm done browsing/sending)


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Fantic125]

What is this Global Data Roaming thingy you speak of? :shock:

The blackberry is only used for emails when I don't have company or vpn connection for the laptop,tablet or ipod touch, free hotel wi-fi or other hotspots used, and skype for international and/or conference calls.

 

[Greggsy]

After a recent trip to NZ for the rugby, my mate received a bill for over $900 for the three days we were there. This was for some limited data use checking Facebook and the weather.

Thankfully, Telstra agreed to waive all of the costs as even they agreed it was ridiculous.

 

[richie9x]

Dubai airport does have free wifi so it is possible he used that. Also it is possible to tweet via SMS, so it is possible to tweet without using data connection.

But that aside I will generally try to avoid data roaming, unless someone else is paying for it or in an emergency. Generally I will either by a local SIM card or try to get by with wifi access. Although in south east asia the data roaming costs weren't so high if you were using a SIM card from another SEA country. I think it is similar in EU countries, if you have a SIM card from an EU country some of the data roaming rates are acceptable to other EU countries.

 

[simongr]

I used it to check maps in SIN one time - $400 later my phone service was suspended...

What I am trying to do now is buy a local SIM when I get there - worked very well in NZ and UK - not so much in India and Saudi...

 

[Austman]

Dubai airport does have free wifi so it is possible he used that. Also it is possible to tweet via SMS, so it is possible to tweet without using data connection.

Take a peek at the link: A fair response from Siri I suppose ? « The New Adventures of Stephen Fry

No wifi being used. Etisalat 3G enabled, 3:14pm local time, and it's a Siri conversation.

Edit to add: Apparently (well in a google search ) Stephen uses Maxroam http://www.maxroam.com

 

[Mal]

Use it at times - but extremely rarely. Normally to do a quick google search or see a map of the environment. Have never been stung by big bills - it's all about what you do and how you use it.


(BTW, when I ask my Android equivalent of SIRI (Speaktoit) "Do you love me?" - it responds : "You're a great boss. Of course I like you." . "Do you like me?" is responded with "Of course I like you. You're my favourite boss") Hahahaahaha.

 

[notzac]

I always get a local SIM; being able to load Google Maps to check something or look something up online is invaluable. The work Blackberry roams while overseas .. I shudder to think what my bills have looked like in the past 6 months (I don't get the bills .. yet)

 

[ASG]

I keep Data Roaming permanently off and rely on WiFi and Company network. My boss spent a week in Germany and had a bill over $2000. Yes the company paid for it.

 

[futaris]

https://www.bridgealliance.com/datasim.aspx is a good option for most users.

Singapore has free wifi...

 

[coolumbla]

c's boss C your phone bill is the biggest in the organsiation
C Is it? i guess its from when im overseas checking my emails on my phone
Cs boss Why dont you use the internet
C Is that the same hotel internet bills you refused to pay when i submitted them 3 trips ago ?

Now i just book premium rooms with free internet included so i dont have to argue


C

 

[tuapekastar]

It stays switched off. Always.*

*There was one exception when in a moment of desperation, I tried to use it last year in Tokyo, and it wouldn't work for me anyway.

Local and/or multi-country SIMS seem to be the go, though never used one (tried to buy one at Easter in NZ, but my iphone, which I thought was unlocked, was not).

 

[NM]

I have my Blackberry set for Data Service = "Off While Roaming" and I use my little Sapido Wifi device to share the hotel wired internet to my Laptop, iPod, Blackberry and (as of today) iPad.

So I can keep my BB synchronised for email, calander, contacts etc every time I walk into my hotel room. I can also use WiFi public hotspots to synchronise my BB at the hotel, restaurants, shops, airport etc.

So my roaming data costs are $0 and I can still synch by BB email and calander multiple times a day. So best compromise for me.

 

[Inver]

Pre paid sims are dirt cheap in most of south east asia. Combine that with a portable 3G/wifi router (5 to 10 hours battery life) works well.

I go 1 step further since I take extended holidays for 6 weeks to 3 months at a time. I use a local overseas sim for my phone and let all my clients know the new number. Check my aussie sim once a day for any sms's. Most communication is carried out by email/VOIP.


Suits me and my clients well, money saved goes towards upgrading future flights

 

[ajca]

Pre paid sims are dirt cheap in most of south east asia. Combine that with a portable 3G/wifi router (5 to 10 hours battery life) works well.

I go 1 step further since I take extended holidays for 6 weeks to 3 months at a time. I use a local overseas sim for my phone and let all my clients know the new number. Check my aussie sim once a day for any sms's. Most communication is carried out by email/VOIP.

Suits me and my clients well, money saved goes towards upgrading future flights

Earlier this year I wasted many frustrating hours in the south of France trying to get an Orange sim-card. It was like dealing with a Soviet version of Citibank. I am not sure what the French have against people being able to use mobile phones in their country, but they're certainly succeeding in making it impossible.

Now I have given up on such folly endeavours and I just buy a Telstra global roaming data pack when I'm going overseas. I believe it is $160 / month for 60 MB. I am not sure but I think you can buy more than one of these data packs.

This is still highway robbery but nonetheless seems to be the best option.

(much better than the option that some of my colleagues took on the trip to France, which ended in a $7,000 bill, an $18,000 bill, a $500/day iPad auto-recharge that went undetected for weeks, and several billing disputes with Telstra that are still being fought to this day)

 

[Inver]

.....

(much better than the option that some of my colleagues took on the trip to France, which ended in a $7,000 bill, an $18,000 bill, a $500/day iPad auto-recharge that went undetected for weeks, and several billing disputes with Telstra that are still being fought to this day)

Interesting my client went on a cruise for a month last year didn't have global roaming/data services switched off and came back to a Telstra bill of around $6000. The employees at the Telstra store had made no mention of switching off data services/roaming when they visited the store just before their trip.

It took 3 weeks but they received a full refund so strange that the France trip is still in dispute for your friends. Just shows YMMV!