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JKT · Dec 9, 2008, 12:43 PM

I'm about to goon holiday abroad and wondered if there was any way to use the iPhone as a WiFi only device? Owing to the excessive cost of doing so, I don't want to make any calls or receive texts etc. but would like to get online using WiFi when I can. O2's (the service provider for the iPhone here in the UK) FAQs on this are terrible so I can't work out what I am supposed to do to avoid being charge for data...

TIA.

Simon · Dec 9, 2008, 12:45 PM

Step 1) turn on airplane mode
Step 2) turn on wifi
Step 3) enjoy

JKT · Dec 9, 2008, 12:53 PM

Simple as that, huh? WTF couldn't O2 just tell me that

P.S. I had assumed that WiFi was also turned off for airplane mode.

ballison · Dec 9, 2008, 01:59 PM

wifi is turned off for airplane mode

Atheist · Dec 9, 2008, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by ballison

wifi is turned off for airplane mode

Yes it is... but then you just go into the wifi settings and turn it back on. (The phone part of the iPhone stays disabled).

JKT · Dec 9, 2008, 02:19 PM

Sorry, I should have been clearer... I meant that I had assumed WiFi was turned off permanently in Airplane mode and that you couldn't turn it back on again.

Simon · Dec 9, 2008, 03:03 PM

It can be turned back on for exactly this kind of situation.

Phileas · Dec 9, 2008, 08:40 PM

Simon, no need for setting it to airplane mode - just disable data roaming in the settings. That's what the switch is there for.

64stang06 · Dec 9, 2008, 11:49 PM

I believe that with iPhone OS 2.0, the ability to use just Wifi only was introduced. I remember that with previous versions, it annoyed me that I couldn't just use Wifi.

Simon · Dec 10, 2008, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by Phileas

Simon, no need for setting it to airplane mode - just disable data roaming in the settings. That's what the switch is there for.

No. No offense, but this is really bad advice.

Disabling data roaming does not turn off cellular traffic. The OP stated he didn't want to receive SMS or calls. Data roaming does not pertain to calls or messages. Only to data.

If you're abroad you can be charged extra for receiving calls or SMS. If you want to make sure that does not happen, it is insufficient to turn off data roaming. You need to turn off all cellular traffic. That's what the airplane mode switch is there for. And it's also the reason why you can still turn on wifi once you have switched to airplane mode.

JKT · Dec 10, 2008, 05:13 AM

Bingo. I don't want to be charged for any calls or SMSs received while I am abroad (I know I won't be making or sending any so I wouldn't incur costs from that, but I can't prevent others from trying to contact me). The airplane mode and Wi-Fi trick is just what I need.

Phileas · Dec 10, 2008, 12:14 PM

Oh, damn. Sorry, I misread the OP.

Apologies.

CorpITGuy · Dec 10, 2008, 02:57 PM

You can be charged for the phone call even if you don't answer it???

I get the SMS part, but not the phone call.

JKT · Dec 10, 2008, 03:02 PM

Lol... only if I was stupid enough to do so (e.g. if drunk... I'm away over New Year

)

tooki · Dec 10, 2008, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by CorpITGuy

You can be charged for the phone call even if you don't answer it???

If you have the phone on and let a call go to voicemail while roaming, you pay for it twice!!!! (That can easily be $5/min or more.) Once for the call to reach your phone, and once more for it to be forwarded to your voicemail box. The only way to absolutely, positively, 10000% be sure is to just remove the SIM card or have the phone off. That essentially leaves you with an iPod touch. When your phone is off/no-SIM, then calls are forwarded to voicemail within your home country, for free.