"Dumb" question about iPhone "Airplane Mode"
 

Please forgive my dumb question, but I am not terribly technology savvy. :)

If I put my phone on Airplane Mode while on the ship, will this prevent charges related to roaming, texts/calls coming through, etc? I want to be able to use the apps I have on my phone (specifically my white noise/digital clock app) but don't want the charges for being out of my area! I normally text a lot, and while most of my friends/family know about the trip, I'm sure a few will still text me while I'm gone. I don't want those coming through and causing charges!

Thanks!

Yes, putting it in airplane mode will allow you to use it as a clock and even to use it in port to check email if you can get free wifi, but it is basically turned off as a phone and you can't get or receive calls, texts, or use data.

Keep in mind your phone wont automatically adjust to time zone changes so be careful using it as an alarm clock if you happen to pass through one.

If you prefer, you can just turn off cellular usage. Then if there is wifi, you can still access the Internet without incurring fees.

When I was in Honduras back in October I turned it onto to airplane mode and then went in and turned my wifi back on. I was scared to death that I would still get roaming charges, but I didn't.

Not a dumb question at all!! I was wondering the same thing. I sail in 6 days and am so glad you asked this question...:)

Correct. Put it in airplane mode. DON'T move that toggle until you are home :). But while its still in airplane mode you have an option to enable wifi. Then if you find wifi in port you will have use of iMessages, Internet, can check email, etc. But no calls or such come thru. But you can text via iMessage with others on Apple products while in the wifi area.

COOOOOOL I didn't know I could turn the wi-fi part pack on after airplane mode was turned on, it took a few toggles but it just worked at home here.
Thanks

You don't need to put it in airplane mode. Just turn off your data roaming. You won't be charged for incoming texts and calls as long as you don't answer them.

when we come to the US even though I turn off data rioaming I still get texts and am charged $1.60 each for them unless I put a 30 day US data plan on for $40

Really? I find that interesting. I'm in the US weekly, and have never had a problem. I would be calling your company. If you are not reading your texts, opening your message folder, then you shouldn't be charged.

I have never had a charge while in the US. When away for an extensive time, I buy a package. But the rest of the year, I have no problems. I even work very close to the border and my phone often picks up the At&T tower. And I still have no problems. Didn't know what 'airplane' mode meant until someone explained it to me recently.

My DS is on a training cruise for his maritime college. So he is currently in the Caribbean for 6 weeks. (I know, poor baby.) He got the iPhone5 for Christmas. We were really worried about roaming charges since we heard horror stories from other parents about their kids making one call to home but not turning off the roaming feature and the parents getting $2500 phone bills.:scared1: To prevent this from happening to us, we were told to physically turn off the data roaming feature, turn off "Fetch", and use the airplane mode. In port, I think he has to turn off the airplane mode and will have to find free wifi in those ports to communicate with us via email or skype. We know he would be responsible about sending text messages, but he can't control his friends back home from sending texts which we would have to pay for. He is a teenage guy with a girlfriend. His monthly text messages is in the 5000 range. If you would convert that into individual charges we could get a not so nice bill.

There is an app called WhatsApp that works with Smartphones. I'm sure someone here can give you more details if you would like. You can text message under your regular data package to other Smartphones for free. I know some of the parents had positive things to say about this app.

Good luck.

Good luck.

On the Iphone...

Once you turn on Airplane mode you can still turn wi-fi back on, you do not need to ever turn it off. It just keeps cellular data off, so you wont get those kinds of charges. If you connect to wi-fi you can still use iMessage with other people that have Iphones and use iMessage because that works through the internet not text messages. It only uses cellular texts if it can't connect to the internet, but it wont try to do that if you are in airplane mode.

So just keep your phone in airplane mode and rest easy.

My mother and I both have an iPhone4. Are you saying that I can text her using wi-fi only and no charges will accrue? That would be great. Just don't know if I wanna take the risk.

Well, you pretty much answered that for me. I just tested that theory. I turned on Airplane mode and turned Cellular Data off and turned wi-fi back on and texting still worked. Interesting. Thanks, folks!