using an iPhone in Europe?

[Anonymous]

There's so much information out there - can anyone sum it up intelligently?
I have an AT&T iPhone 4 and I'll be in France this summer. I also have an iPad 2 that's set up for Verizon 3G but currently doesn't have a data contract (I think that it has GPS?). I don't care about voice functionality on the phone much, and I can use skype/wifi wherever I'm staying when/if I need to call someone, but I am addicted to using the phone or tablet for maps, directions (don't care about turn-by-turn nav, but like to be able to see if I'm headed the right way), looking up hours and prices, etc. The AT&T website says something like you can add 1)int'l voice and texting for about $25 and 2)you can buy int'l data roaming like this:
$24.99 50 MB Overage: $10/10 MB
$49.99 125 MB Overage: $10/10 MB
$99.99 275 MB Overage: $10/10 MB
......so..... for a two-week vacation, how much data would I use? All advice welcome - thanks!

[Anonymous]

buy a sim card when you get over there.

[jsteele]

If you have completed your two year contract, you can get the phone unlocked and use a SIM from a European provider. If you are still within the contract period, AT&T won't unlock the phone (unless you get really lucky when you ask) and you won't be able to use a local SIM.

[Anonymous]

I think the ipad is unlocked and can take a GSM SIM card (I know that's true for the current verizon ipad, but I am not positive about the verizon ipad 2). Assuming it is true, I would use the phone on wireless, and then get a sim card for the ipad.

Using maps can use a relatively large amount of data. You can call your phone company (or look online) for past data usage.

[Anonymous]

We just went to Egypt in December, and I paid the $25 extra for international data plan. I uploaded pictures and videos almost daily to e-mail back home to family, and surfed quite a bit when away from the hotel (visiting family, etc., where there was no wireless). I never went over the allowed amount, and we were there for 2 weeks.

I agree the SIM card in Europe is the best idea. If it's not possible, the $25 international data plan should be pretty good. You can cancel it immediately upon return. I only paid for one month of it.

[Anonymous]

Same as PP - I turned the plan off when I returned. I opted for the $24.99 plan but was very cautious about using it outside of wifi so didn't have any problems with overage. I know GPS is a battery hog but not sure about data.

[Anonymous]

What about those with Verizon?

[Anonymous]

With Verizon, the first question is how new your iPhone is. The Verizon iPhone 4S is what Verizon calls a "world phone" (has GSM built in as well as CDMA), but the Verizon iPhone 4 only had CDMA. Most of the world runs on GSM networks, although some countries also have CDMA.
If you do have a GSM-capable iPhone, you can sign up for an international data and calling plan for just the length of your trip. I am not sure how much that is these days. Alternatively, Verizon will usually unlock your phone on request (unlike ATT). Once unlocked, you can sign up with a local cell plan, including pay-per-use cards. You have to get it unlocked before leaving the US, though, and I think you have to have owned the phone at least 2 months, or some other weird restrictions.
There are still international plans for CDMA-only Verizon phones, it's just that there are fewer countries in which that will be useful.

[Anonymous]

Verizon user here. Thanks for the info. I have the old phone.