quote:

Originally posted by Dog Man:
Bill,
I added a $60 international data plan for Johannesberg, as AT@T did not offer anything in Zimbabwe. It came with free texting and a per minute charge for calls. I was able to send receive text when away from Pedza but had no signal at all in camp.It also had good signal in Harare.
I used my Iridium for calls.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill C:
Ok thank you gentlemen. Armed with this knowledge, as first plan of attack I will visit my local Verizon store and see if I can get a temporary international plan.

Larry, the roaming charges are what concern me, noting that while my phone is not loaded w/apps I do have some such as an app for our VoIP phone system and others that phone-home. I'll pay close attention to this.

I'll download WHATSAPP for when around WiFi...hoping that perhaps the Charlton Estate offers this to squatters.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have international service on my plan with Verizon. I have been able to use my phone in many places in Zim.

I cannot stress enough the need to turn off data roaming. I turned mine on for about 30 seconds. I got a $1,700 bill.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I bought the AT&T international plan and my phone worked fine in RSA and Zim anywhere any signal could be had. I have an I Phone 5 I think.

I used WhatsApp any where possible for messages.

quote:

Originally posted by TexKD:
Further to my post ^^^^^

My wife is spooked by the $2000 bill possibility. And of course none of us want that either.

She says the she was talking with ATT and they said they don't have service or a plan there in SA, Zim and Namibia. But I know guys here have used it and posted to that effect.

But I thought we would just turn on the International plan and pay for whatever minutes they offer.

Then just activate the roaming when she wants to make a call. Then roaming back off afterward.

Is that possible or am I off the field here?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by TexKD:
Further to my post ^^^^^

My wife is spooked by the $2000 bill possibility. And of course none of us want that either.

She says the she was talking with ATT and they said they don't have service or a plan there in SA, Zim and Namibia. But I know guys here have used it and posted to that effect.

But I thought we would just turn on the International plan and pay for whatever minutes they offer.

Then just activate the roaming when she wants to make a call. Then roaming back off afterward.

Is that possible or am I off the field here?

Thanks.

Take my advice with a grain of salt. I have an iPhone 5. I converted to an international plan with AT&T before leaving and suspended Joyce's service. I was told by the AT&T phone guy that if I turned "cellular data" off that I could text for free and calls would be something like $1.00 a minute.

I texted a lot. I called about 6 minutes from Harare. The phone worked great in Harare and Vic Falls, not in Dande Safari Area.

When I got home 7 1/2 weeks later I had an $80 extra charge for texts. I called them and told them what I was told about texts being free. They a reed and credited my account.

No $2,000 surprise.

Cheers
Jim


BTW, I also texted a ton in Dubai.