How to Use Your iPhone for Free Abroad
Today we go everywhere with our phones and traveling without them is not an option. However, data roaming fees, excessive charges for texts and calls can lead to many people turning off their phone and leaving in in the room. Luckily there are ways to use your iPhone abroad for free. This requires no jailbreaking or unlocking iPhones. The key is to be flexible and to realize you may not always have access to texting, calling, and the internet at all times when traveling but you can get them all for free.
iMessage
There are many apps out there that let you text for free but the iPhone allows you to send unlimited texts over wifi for free using iMessage. iMessage is built right in to the messages app so there is nothing you need to do to activate this feature. There are some limitations to this. These will only be free over wifi and only to other people with iMessage. This means you must be texting someone who uses an iPhone with iMessage. iMessage is part of any iPhone with iOS 5 or 6 so most people will already have it. For myself, this is easy because over half the people I text have iPhones. And free WiFi is easy to find in most cities. You may not be able to text at any given moment but at most restaurants or cafes you will be able to connect. You don’t even have to go inside and buy a drink, just stand on the sidewalk and connect. Locked WiFi? Just ask if you are a customer. I always do and the server is happy to provide it to me.
Of course WiFi can be used to make free calls over Skype and Google Voice but you should note not all types of calls are free with those apps. Still very cheap just not always free.
Back to iMessage. Be sure to always turn off your data when using your iPhone overseas to be sure you don’t get billed for any unwanted charges. Another great thing about iMessage is you can use it with the iPod touch and iPad as well.
There are many texting apps that are free alternatives to iMessage you can use as well. For example, you can text/message in facebook, google voice, skype, meebo, WhatsApp to name a few over WiFi for free.
How to Text From an iPad or iPad mini
Any apple device can such as an iPad or iPhone can be used to text using iMessage. All you need to do is login with the same Apple ID that you are currently using on your iPhone. This way all of you contacts will still receive texts from you as the sender and your devices will be synced.
You can use iMessage with any of the following:
- Phone number
- email address
- Apple ID
This is handy if you share an Apple ID on multiple devices but do not want your iMessages showing up on each device. To change these settings head to Settings/Messages/Send & Receive.
You can set up how you receive your iMessages on each device. Choosing from your Apple ID, email, or number. Choose one or as many as you would like people to be able to reach you at through iMessage.
How to Know You Are Connected to Wi-Fi
Just look at the status bar of your at the top of your iPhone. If you see WiFi bars you are connected and it is free to text away. See below as an example. You can even turn off the cellular signal of your phone and data to be sure you will not be charged.
Keys to using iMessage
- Only text others with iMessage and be sure they have iMessage on (it is on by default but can be toggled on/off in message settings)
- Note that iMessage is only for iOS 5 and 6 (the latest iPhone software)
- The texts will appear blue when texting someone with iMessage
- No need to activate iMessage as it is automatic when it recognizes two devices with iMessage (blue text bubbles)
- Only text when you have a WiFi connection to avoid charges
WhatsApp Messenger: The Best Alternative to iMessage
If you have have a smart phone and the recipient also has a smart phone there are plenty of apps out there that are just like iMessage. For example, WhatsApp Messenger is 99 cents in the app store and is a great way to text overseas. Both parties don’t need an iPhone to text for free. As long as both parties have the app and are you are using WiFi in a country other than your home country it is free. I use them both when traveling depending on who I am trying to reach.
One great perk of WhatsApp Messenger is when you do return home you can continue texting anywhere in the world for free. So if you make friends traveling way it is a free way to stay in touch. When in your home country WhatsApp will simply use your data plan so there is no need for WiFi and it is still 100% free to text abroad(from home). But note this is only at home where you can use your regular data plan. If you are out of your home country you have to have a WiFi connection to use WhatsApp for free. I hope this is clear.
Learn more about WhatsApp and how it works at WhatsApp.com
Download links:
FaceTime/Calling
Unless you have a jailbroken iPhone you have to use WiFi to use facetime anyway(or pay the additional fees). FaceTime is 100% free to call anyone on an iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or iPhone. Again, just find some free WiFi in the city you are visiting. You do not need to be constantly connected when traveling for leisure so being disconnected part of the day is nice anyway. Hopefully you can make better use of the time when you are connected.
Best alternative to FaceTime
Skype might be what you are used to using and they have made a great iPhone app. It allows for calling for free or very cheap depending on the type of call. FaceTime’s purpose is video calling but Skype will allow you to make regular calls back home when needed. Be sure to add some money to your account before you leave to make things easier.
Google Voice
One last alternative is Google Voice. It allows you to text and call right from the app. You can even create your own custom phone number for it for traveling. Again everything can be done for free over WiFi.
Browsing the Web and Email
I think it is pretty clear here how to browse the web over WiFi. The only thing I cannot stress enough is do not use any international data plan. Usually as soon as your plane touches down or you enter a new country you get a text about some $20/MB data plan which is horrible. If your phone is automatically downloading emails you can expect an enormous cell phone bill. Turn off your data roaming, and change your mail settings. See below for more information on this.
iPhone Quick Guides
- Tap Settings on the iPhone’s Home screen.
- Select Fetch New Data.
- Pick the desired mail checking interval for POP and IMAP accounts under Fetch.
- Choose Manual to disable automatic checking.
Turn off Data Roaming
- Tap the Settings app on your homescreen
- Tap General
- Tap Network
- Slide the Data Roaming slider to Off.
Turn off All Cellular Data and Only Use Wi-Fi
- Tap the Settings apps
- Tap General
- Tap Network
- Slide Cellular Data to “Off”.
Alternative Paid Backup Plan
There may be times when you have to make a call or text in another country. Most likely (depending on your plan) you will pick up on the local cellular network. This is great for emergencies but it will be pretty pricey to connect.
The best option is to temporarily add features to your existing plan. You can do this online or by calling in. For example, Mexico has a calling plan for $4.99/month from AT&T. You can add it for just one month if you would like and remove it the next.
If offers these discounted rates:
• $0.59/min. roaming in Mexico
• $0.09/min. calling from the U.S. to a Mexico wireless device
• $0.25/min. calling from the U.S. to a Mexico wireless device
And for $10 you can buy 100 texts. These are better rates than making calls and texts without them. I would recommend them for when you absolutely need them but try to stick to WiFi. The best part is they are one time fees and you can remove them from your plan when you get home.
If you happen to use a lot of voice or data abroad with no plan that is ok. When you get back home call your carrier and you can retro-activate a plan that can save you money on minutes and data you have already used.
Still there is no need to purchase any texting or calling packages if you have enough patience while traveling. Just use WiFi and text and call for free no matter where you are in the world.
Comments
My iphone 4 and Ipad 2 are both jailbroken. How can I call the USA from Mexico, via wifi, either cheaply or free???
Even without a jailbroken phone you should be able to call the USA using Skype or Google Voice over wifi. You could also use facetime over wifi if the person you are calling has access to an apple device. When using Skype it may cost a few cents a minute if you are calling a mobile number. Hope that helps. I used those methods when I was in Mexico just last month!
I just moved to China and I have been texting friends using imessages. I took my sim card out and I have been texting through WIFI, my cellular data wasn’t off, but my roaming data was. I’m not going to get charged for this, right? I was thinking as long as there wasn’t a sim in it and I was using wifi, it would be ok. I have an iphone 4s.
Hi, sorry for the delayed response but if you are texting via iMessage you will not be charged even with your data on. This is the same abroad as it is at home. A good way to be sure you are using WiFi and the iMessage is free is that the conversation bubbles are blue and not green. Green indicates a traditional SMS and those cost money or are part of your texting plan. Blue text bubbles are free iMessage conversations. They do not use data and you will NOT be charged. Hope that helps.
What if I have data roaming off and cellular data off and I receive a text. Will I be charged?
If you have data roaming and cellular data off you will not be charged for a text you receive over wifi. You are only charges for texts you receive over the cellular network. The key is to be connected to WiFi when texting with iMessage.
What about ios5 allows you to use iMessage abroad? iMessage is available for previous versions of the ios firmware.
It isn’t so much the iOS version but simply the iMessage that allows for use abroad. It can be used freely with a WiFi connection without using your texting plan. This is similar to WhatsApp Messenger and many other apps that work over wifi in the app store. iMessage was new and integrated with iOS 5. It is possible to use it on older firmwares but it was not built in. Hope that helps.
I have a 4 phone family plan with iPhone in florida and I am in thailand for several months, is there a plan I can use to keep from paying the hundred bucks a month back home. It is AT&T
Thanks, ron
Hey Ron, first of all I love Thailand its one of my favorite countries. If you are under contract with ATT I would call and ask them to suspend your account. Last time I did that I was able to suspend the contract for up to 6 months and reinstate it when I returned. I would recommend unlocking your iPhone and getting a local SIM in Thailand if you haven’t yet. If you are out of contract ATT might help you with this, they have for me in the past. If you are under contract I would jailbreak you iPhone 4 and unlock it that way to use a local SIM. The important thing is to stop paying for service you don’t need back home. I don’t know all the details of your account so I can’t be too specific. If you family plan is still in use back home suspending the account my not be an option but they may be able to offer some reduced plans until you return. Hope that helps and I would give ATT a call.
Clint,
Thanks so much for the quick response. I jail broke my phone before I left states , so I am good there. My family has 3 phones in use there, so I guess I will call and try for a short suspension.
Yes Thai people are great and I can live pretty well on my social security.
Thanks again .regards ron
No problem, Ron and good luck. I actually find ATT to be pretty accommodating over the phone. What they lack in US coverage they make up for in customer service in my experience with them. Let me know if you have any more questions and hopefully I can help. One of these days I may have to relocate there for good
Hi!
My boyfriend visits his family in China a lot. He has an ipad that he takes with him and I have the iphone 4s. I was wondering if we text and facetime over wifi and the messages come up under blue does that mean it is free? Also I will be going over to China as well. When I was in South Africa, I never thought I could text over wifi. Does this mean I can with other iphone users now?
Thanks!
Brianna
Hey Brianna, great question. You are correct, all texts that appear blue are free iMessage texts. I was in Mexico just last week and used both my iPad and iPhone to text back to the US for free over WiFi. However, you will only be able to text iMessage users (apple device users). You will need to login on your iPad with the same apple ID that you use on your iPhone so that you still show up as the sender. Even at home I use my WiFi-only iPad to respond to texts from iMessage users the same way I do abroad. Hope that helps and feel free to ask for more clarification.
How do you turn off just your cellular data and keep wifi on?
Hey Josh, To turn off all data simply go to Settings->General->Celluar->Cellular Data(toggle off). This is how it is done with AT&T and the path in settings can vary with the carrier. But turning off cellular data will will restrict all data to Wi-Fi, including email, browsing the web, and push notifications. With this toggled off you can be positive you are not using your data plan abroad and only using Wi-Fi.
i have a blackberry and my GF has an iphone 4s. if she is on wifi, has her cellular data turned off, and sends me a text msg from another country to me at home, will she be charged for those texts?
Hey Rob, I would recommend you both use a third party app such as WhatsApp. This is what I use to text over wifi to non-iPhone users abroad and you will not be charged for the texts.
Hey Clint, if my iphone 4s has been jailbreak then I use iMessage without any data or wifi, can i still send messages?
Hey Gen, you will need to have one or the other turned on to send an iMessage. There may be charges associated with using your data plan but if you turn off cellular data than you can send iMessages freely over wifi. So you will need a wifi connection to send messages. If you are abroad another option is to pickup a prepaid SIM card for your phone and use the local network at a much cheaper rate than your data plan at home. Hope that helps but let me know if you have more questions.
Hey Clint, Thanks for the response.
Hi,
I travelled over seas and I’m texting on my iPod with imessage and it shows in my imessage I can send ad receive at 2 addresses my phone number and email, I clicked my email for starting new convos from it and unclicked my phone number, and then in addresses I can be reached at it has both email and phone checked. If I have my phone checked will it charge me if I’m just texting from my iPod with wifi?
Hi Sloan,
If you are doing all your messaging over Wi-Fi on your iPod it will be free and you will not be charged so don’t worry. I am in Uruguay right now doing the same thing with my iPad mini and iPhone. As long as you are messaging with a Wi-Fi connection you will not be charged for sending or receiving. Adding multiple addresses and your phone number is simply a means for people to message you across multiple devices. Enjoy your trip!
Great article!!! This has been incredibly helpful!
I will be visiting my husband in Japan in the next few days. I have read that turning on airplane mode will also restrict the cellular data. Is that true? What is the difference between being in airplane mode and turning off all cellular data? Thanks in advance!
Hi Jillian, glad you found the post helpful. Turning on airplane mode will block all data and you can stick to using wifi when available. However, you can also just turn off cellular data as you suggested which is what I do most of the time. This way you can still make phone calls and receive them (depending on your plan) and won’t be restricted to airplane mode. Also, you won’t be able to send traditional SMS texts in airplane mode since you need a cellular signal. You should be able send iMessage texts with wifi only. Basically, turning off cellular data will give you more freedom and still prevent data roaming charges. I hope that is clear and let me know if you have follow up questions. Thanks and have a great trip!
Hi, I’m leaving in two days to study abroad in Spain for 5 months with an iPhone 4 under a Verizon plan. Is it necessary for me to jailbreak my iphone for me to ensure I won’t be charged for any data? Also, Verizon told me to notify them and suspend my plan. Will that affect the data I can receive over wifi? Thanks! Best article I’ve seen on this topic yet.
Thanks for the questions, Alison. I am going to assume you simply want to use the phone for WiFi access while abroad? Once you suspend your account with Verizon you will not be able to use it for texts, calls, or data so you can’t be charged for those things. If you do not suspend it you will need to be sure to turn off cellular data in the settings or at least data roaming to prevent being charged. Jailbreaking is not necessary to avoid being charged in this case. Basically if you suspend your account your phone will not have access to cellular data and will not be charged but you will be able to continue using WiFi for free which is handy while traveling. Let me know if you have any more questions and have a time studying abroad!
Hi Clint! Your information has been extremely helpful. I just have one question that I didn’t see previously asked. My boyfriend is in the Airforce and was recently sent to Australia. We have been mostly texting thru iMessage but sometimes wifi isnt available were he is. He has a international plan with his plan, but mine does not. Will I get charged any additional fees for texting his local number while he is in Australia and I am still state side?
Hey Amanda, great question. It is likely you will be charged for every regular(non iMessage) text you send to your boyfriend abroad. It is probably less than what is cost him to send one to you but it isn’t free I am assuming. When I am stateside and texting without iMessage to friends abroad I simply use WhatsApp. If you both download it you will not be charged to text him abroad. When he has WiFi use iMessage and when he doesn’t just use that app. I use it all the time and hopefully it will work for you too.
Hi Clint!
Thanks so much for all the advice. I just have one question, I live in Canada, and am taking a group trip to Mexico. I want to be able to text my friends (who all have i phones) while in Mexico. But I will also need to text my kids back home. So I am just wondering if there are any apps or anything else we can use to reduce costs when wifi isn’t available?
Thanks
Jolene
Well when you have access to WiFi texting home and within Mexico will be free iphone to iphone using iMessage. However, when you do not have WiFi there will be additional costs. I have AT&T and traveled to Mexico 3 times last year. I always purchase a small texting plan that starts around $10 for 50 texts to use while in Mexico. I add this feature to my plan for one month and remove it when I get home. Another solution would be to purchase a data package from your carrier. For example, if you bought 300 MB for international data usage that is more than enough to text with apps that use data. Texting within an app that uses data will not effect your current texting plan at home and you will not be charged for texts sent though the app. If you are going to be texting home a lot and within the country this might be useful. I use the third party app called WhatsApp to text. It uses your data plan to send texts but it is also free when connected to WiFi. When you do not have WiFi you would have two good options: purchase a texting package or purchase a data package. With the data package you will need to send all texts through WhatsApp and all recipients must have it too. You shouldn’t send traditional texts unless you purchase a texting plan because you will be charged for each text. Data is more useful if you need ever need to browse the web or check email but it will be more expensive to add to your plan. Let me know if you have follow up questions and feel email me.
Hi Clint, I’m in Mexico on vacation. There is wifi where I am staying. I have turned off cellular data ,3G and roaming. But I still can sent and receive text msgs even when there is no wifi. Will I be charged for these msgs? I’m using iPhone 4. Thanks
Hey Gavin, If you have data off and you are connected to WiFi any text sent over iMessage will be free. Keep in mind the recipient must be able to receive iMessages too. This means all the text bubbles will appear blue. Traditional SMS texts will cost you money (they appear as green texts). If you want to text over WiFi to friends who don’t have iMessage you will need to download a third party app that can text over WiFi such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
Bobsled is the best way I’ve found for free calling over wifi in other countries. And it’s free plus the app is free.
Thanks for the tip about Bobsled I’ll have to take a look at it.
Hi Clint, we are the cruise lovers. In every port we try to catch WiFi to stay connected. But on the ship Internet is very expensive and deadly slow, it cost you a fortune to open one email. Can we text from a ship, using any apps without Internet? Do you have any suggestions?
Also you recommend to use WhatsApp. As I understand, everybody in my list have to have it too in order to stay in touch. What about Textfree, Forfone, Textme apps. Are they the same way?
To use WhatsApp all parties need to have it on their phones. For these types of texting apps that avoid your texting plan all parties will need the app to send/receive. The only way to use these apps is to have a WiFi or data connection. Do you have any cell service on cruises at all? I have never been on a cruise so I do not know but I would expect not. It would be possible to purchase an international data plan to send/receive texts using one of the apps you mentioned or whats app. They aren’t cheap but they might be cheaper than buying WiFi on the ship everyday. Check with your carrier if that is an option. On ATT it would run my around $60 for 300MB which is plenty to texts over data and send some basic emails with no photos.
Hello I have a friend I am trying to contact from Korea and I have the iPhone4s. I what ways can I call or FaceTime or Skype for free to him?
Hi Ruth, you have a few options to contacts friends at home. My friend taught English in Korea for 3 years and had no issues calling me for free. To use Skype and FaceTime for free you simply need a WiFi connection when you use the app. You will not be charged for FaceTime when you are connected to WiFi. Skype is the same way if you are calling another mobile with Skype or computer. Since both apps can be used over a data network you need to be sure you are on Wifi to connect for free. Feel free to send me follow up questions.
Hi your site is very helpful- but if you are in Mexico using only wifi- aren’t all text messages free (unlimited text with AT&T) and not just iMessage?
If you have the unlimited texting plan with AT&T (I have the same plan) then you have unlimited texts (SMS) where your nationwide plan is covered at home and this is not the same as iMessage. It does not send and receive messages over WiFi like iMessage does. iMessage is free and unlimited but iMessage is only free for texting others over Wi-Fi using an iOS device or Mac with iMessage anywhere in the world and at home. So all iMessage texts are free over WiFi but regular (green) texts are not free with WiFi.
Thanks for that answer – is the same for email? Meaning after you change your settings to manually check for new mail- you still shouldn’t use email on your phone even in Wifi and just use web mail if need be- is that correct?
Email is free to use over WiFi and you will not be charged. Just to be safe you can even put it in airplane mode and then turn WiFi on to be sure no data is being transferred over the network. Basically, anything you do with a WiFi connection (iMessage, browse the web, email) is free. But if any of those are done without WiFi you will get charged international dating roaming fees. Just make sure you are connected to Wifi and you will be fine.
What if I begin a conversation with someone via iMessage, and I leave and disconnect from wifi. If I receive a SMS, will I be charged? I don’t have unlimited text or not even data.
You will likely be charged for sending SMS depending on your plan. If you receive an SMS it should be billed at the rate of your home plan. There shouldn’t be additional costs for simply receiving the texts. If you reply with SMS there will be international texting rates. I would check with your carrier but this is how many are handled and my own.
Hello,
I have the IPhone4S and used it in Europe but I put it in airplane mode and when I had free wi-fi, I could send and receive e-mails with no charge. My question is: how can I send text messages with no fees? Do I need IMessage app? And the recipient needs that app as well?
Your Jan. 30 e-mail seems to suggest that when you have free wi-fi, you can do anything free? Is that truewith Verizon ? Thank you.
iMessage is not an app you need to download. It is built into your iPhone as long as you are running anything over iOS 5. It will automatically detect another user with an iPhone and send an iMessage to them. This is free when sent over WiFi. There are other texting apps that also do this when your recipient doesn’t have an iPhone. For example, WhatsApp is one of my favorites for this. When you are connected to Wifi no data is being sent over the networks. You can use your phone as if it was your laptop and do things for free such as browse the web, make skype calls, facetime, send iMessages, etc. If you are in airplane mode with WiFi on you should be free of additional charges. This is the same for Verizon or any other carrier. Your phone basically becomes a mini-laptop and does not use any cellular data, only WiFi. Hope that is clear and feel free to email me with questions.
Hi Clint,
Your site is very informative; thank you for putting all this together! I have a question – my sister is going to Ireland and has an iPhone, but I don’t have a smart phone. As I understand it, with apps like WhatsApp requires both parties to have it, and I can’t download it. Is there any way we could text without incurring international charges? Thanks!
Hey Jamie, you are correct that both parties need to have the app. Any chance you have another iDevice such as an iPad or iPod Touch? You can use those apps with any of those devices over WiFi. If not, I will look into some other solutions for you.
I don’t; I’m afraid I haven’t jumped on the apple bandwagon yet. Do let me know if you find some other alternative and thank you for all your help!
Thank you.
I used google voice app while in in Nassau on my iphone with wifi. I was still charged on my ATT bill for international calling. I thought I should have only been charged for standard minutes since I was calling a domestic number via internet. AT&T was very understanding and credited me the $200.00. Every call showed up in both google voice and AT&T.
hey, i would like to know if i wish to suspend my phone line in my home country and my whatsapp account is linked to that particular phone line/number, would i still be able to use whatsapp now that the line is in essence “unavailable”? does whatsapp need the line to be active in order for me to receive whatsapp messages?
cheers
WhatsApp doesn’t support iPods or iPads yet so that would lead me to believe it is tied to your phone number. Other apps, like iMessage or TigerText (never tried this one) can use email addresses to link your phone. My guess is that number will no longer be linked once you suspend the account. However, it is possible that your SIM will tie your number to the app even while suspended at home. This is not something I have tried.
If you really want to keep using WhatsApp over other messaging apps you may consider picking up a local SIM card. This way you will have a new number tied to your phone to use WhatsApp. Of course, you will have to give your new number to all of your contacts but it is an option.
Hi. Thanks for the great info. I wish I had seen it sooner. One thing that applies to my situation is not clear, though. My son just left for Australia and he will have limited texts he can send each month. He has an iPhone, but I do not. But I do have a WiFi-only new generation iPad. I am wondering if there is an app that will allow me to communicate with his iPhone via messages over WiFi using my iPad so his responses won’t subtract from his limited texts. I’m not real tech savvy but I’m learning and trying to figure out how to keep costs down….
Hi Candy, as long as you are using iMessage over WiFi it will be free on both ends. I don’t know his current plan but his texts limit should not be effected unless he is sending those texts to you over using his plan in Australia. iMessage texts are free and unlimited with WiFi and do not effect into texting plans. I use my iPad like this often and have never had any issues. When in doubt, stick to Wifi and use iMessage and you will not be charged.
Hi
My son lives in Ca. And his girlfriend lives in Canada. They use texting as their main communication however his international plan does not even begin to cover the hundreds of texts he sends monthly. He has unlimited data plan but no wifi where he lives. Will his phone be charged if they text with Facebook messenger?
Sherri, Facebook messenger, like many similar apps, uses data to send messages. This means you can send messages to anyone, anywhere, with the app on your current data plan. For example, I use WhatApp (a similar data app for sending messages) to text friends abroad from the US but I am not charged for this. As long as you have a standard data plan on your iPhone it should be fine. You do not need WiFi unless you are abroad and away from your home data plan because then you are roaming. At home in the US he should be fine texting to Canada for free. WiFi is not needed when you are on your home cell phone plan.
What is the difference between Viber and WhatsApp?
I’ve never used Viber but from what I have read they achieve similar things. They both allow you to message people around the world for free. Viber also offers free calling but I haven’t tried it. If you do I would be interested to see which you like better. WhatsApp has been more convenient for me simply because so many people I message already have the app installed but there are many free messaging apps out there.
I recieved my IPhone 4 from AT&T 2 days ago. I’ve turned off my cellular and the data. I use IMessage to talk to people. Yet, I keep getting texts from AT&T saying I’ve exceeded $100 in messaging charges? Yes, I have unlimited text. I use the wifi I have here at home, because I don’t really leave very often. Point is, any clue why I’m being charged? Thanks.
Hi Traci, that sounds odd to me and shouldn’t be happening. Have you given AT&T a call to ask their opinion? If you are using iMessage to text/message other people with iMessage it is free. Are you outside of your home country right now? If you are traveling be sure to only message over WiFi and only to people who also have iMessage with an iPhone. Otherwise you will be charged for sending regular text. iMessage texts appear green and regular texts appear blue. Let me know where you are, if you are always on WiFi, if you recipients have iMessage and we can try to solve this for you.
Hi Clint! You’re helping a huge number of people with your website – myself included – thank you! My question is… my daughter is studying in Italy, and we’ve suspended her service on her iPhone 4S with Verizon for the five months that she’ll be there. Since the time when we suspended her service, we think she hasn’t been able to send/receive iMessages (to my iPhone 5, etc.) – even when she has access to wifi. Is this due to the suspension, or do we need to figure out which of her settings she may have changed on her phone that now doesn’t allow iMessaging? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give us!
Thanks Lynne! When you suspend your iPhone the phone will still be able to operate as a mini-computer and messenger. This means she should be able to send/receive iMessages over WiFi with no problems. Suspending the phone simply cuts off her cell service so you won’t receive any international roaming charges. The phone will still fully operate over WiFi. Perhaps she needs to check the settings or add additional information to her iMessage settings.
First check her settings: General->Messages->iMessage (ON).
Now check her Send & Receive settings below that. You can send iMessages tied to your phone number or email accounts. Try “Add An Email…” in the iMessage settings. See if either of those work, be sure she is connected to WiFi and give it another shot. If that doesn’t work try downloading a third party app to communicate over WiFi such as WhatsApp. Let me know how that goes and we can try to fix this for you.
I really love this site.Thanks for all your tips and information.
Hi thanks for your help. I’m going to Mexico tomorrow and I’m trying to figure out how to use resort wifi without being charged. I have an iPhone 4S, and most of my friends have iPhones. If I have data and everything off, will I still receive texts? I just don’t want to be charged all this extra money. I only want to receive iMessages when connected to wifi. Any ideas?
Hey Jessie, It sounds like you are on the right track. If you are connected to WiFi you can send iMessages freely as you know. When you say “everything off” do you mean airplane mode with WiFi enabled? If that is the case you will be fine sending/receiving texts and won’t have any additional costs when disconnected from WiFi because your cellular data is off. If you leave WiFi enabled you will receive iMessages when on WiFi but not regular texts. Sounds like that is not an issue for you with most friends using iPhones.
However, I always leave my roaming turned off but still allow for incoming texts and do not put my phone in airplane mode. This still allows people to contact me for any reason by calling/texting. You won’t be charged to receive texts you may receive from back home unless you are replying to them. You should double check with your carrier but typically (as with ATT), incoming texts are free.
Either way you should be fine as long as you do not reply to texts when you are not connected to WiFi. Have a great trip! Let me know if you have follow up questions.
How do I put it on airplane mode but still have my wifi work?! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
All you need to do is turn on airplane mode, then manually go to your WiFi settings and turn it back on. From there connect to an available network. Now you have disabled all cellular data but still have WiFi.
Hi Clint, thank you very much for helping everyone for such a long time, I have a question, I am in Mexico and I have a Verizon plan, I have wi-fi but my i-phone still say roaming and then the wi-fi signal, my wife in US has an android devised and I notice the bubbles while texting are green and some other friends are white, both my daughters have i-phones and their bubbles are blue, will I be charged still, while it still said roaming even though I´m connecting to wi-fi? and for sure blue bubbles mean free text?
Hi Juan, first of all as long as you see WiFi bars and have a WiFi connection you are connected to WiFi. They don’t show up on the status bar when you are not connected. It would show the carrier name there and signal bars instead. Just be sure you connect to WiFi before messaging.
iMessage will only work when texting other people who have iPhones and the messages will show up blue. You will not be able to use iMessage to text your wife if she has an android so you would be charged for the green texts that show up. Your daughters are free to text with their iPhones. iMessage is an iDevice to iDevice only service that is free over wifi. Blue bubbles are free, green are not.
You can still text your wife for free using WiFi and a third party app. Download WhatsApp. You will be able to text her through the app over wifi with no costs. She needs to download the app as well. It is well worth the 99 cents to have free messaging.
Hope that helps, Juan. Feel free to ask me any other questions. Thanks
Thank you Clint, you just made my day and my wife´s, I am gonna have to be in Mexico for about two years and this will help us save and stay in touch, one more question, while in wifi, can I still surf the web and open emails without being charge? once again thanks in advance for ALL the help we are receiving, thank you so much…
No problem, Juan. Happy to help. iPhones make it easy to stay in touch these days. When you are in WiFi you can do pretty much everything for free. Browse the web, email, iMessage, send texts through apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, and even make calls using Skype. You won’t be charged for any of those things when you are connected to WiFi. Just think of your iPhone as a little laptop. If you were on a laptop connected to WiFi all of the same features would be free without cellular service. You will be able to stay connected whenever you have WiFi at no cost. Enjoy your time in Mexico. It is one of my favorite countries.
Hey Clint; here bothering you again, question; I download some games to my iphone and notice that even connected to wi-fi, my screen says Extended instead to say Roaming like in the past, this happen just overnight, that this means I already used all my data in my plan even though I was connected to wi-fi? and second question; Does a modum have to do with strenght signal? because last night I tryed to face timed with my wife I we kept getting disconnected, once again, thank you for all your help.
Hey Juan, no problem. Extended network basically means your carrier does not have a cell tower nearby but a carrier they have a partnership does. This means your phone will extend its network and connect to a partnered carrier at the same cost as your carrier. Roaming means there are no partnered cell towers in reach so your carrier is connecting to the nearest tower and paying extra for it. They will then most likely pass that cost on to you.
No matter what if your games use data you will want to be in connected to WiFi and not roaming and getting those charges.
Your modem can affect signal strength. You should have no trouble using FaceTime over Wifi but perhaps your signal is weak for other reasons. Try resetting it or moving closer to the router for a stronger signal. It can lose strength as you move away from it. Hope that helps.
Hello! I’m geo & my boyfriend recently left on a 7 day cruise to Puerto Rico? the Bahamas & idk where else, it’s crusial that we speak, I’m sick & he’s considered for my well being, he wants to know if I’m ok every now & then, but the price to use his iPhone on the boat Is quite pricy, how can we communicate with out having to deal with a higher bill rate, the wifi isn’t even free you pay for so much MG’s & also texts & pay so much for minutes. It’s ridiculous, but it was a family vacation he was forced to attended, seems like you know alot about this topic, any advice/help? He has Verizon, the old unlimited plan! Thanks!
Well this is a tough situation. WiFi is always the best option but it’s not free in this case so it’s not going to be cheap. One option would be to purchase an international data plan from VZW and add a few hundred MB. For example, I am in the Philippines right now and added 300MB for the 2 weeks I am here for when I don’t have wifi. It’s not free much much cheaper than international roaming. You can add it to your plan and cancel when returning. With AT&T you can even backdate the plan if you forgot to add it before you left. That may be the best option in this situation.