Hi guys. I'm going to Illinois next week and I want to use my iPhone whilst I'm there. Is there any data bundles or anything I can purchase? I've looked around and it seems to charge £8 per MB I'll end up going way over that. Will it charge me for using wifi? How can I make sure I don't get charged for text, calls (receiving) and data unknowingly? I can't afford to pay a huge bill so need to know what's going to happen. Is there any way to switch 3G etc off so I can just use wifi? I'm not so bothered about texting and calling people, I just want to use it for FB and Twitter etc

Forget using mobile data. It'll cost a fortune. Calls will too, unfortunately. It won't cost you anything to receive texts but I think it's 40p to send them.

You can disable all cellular data in the Settings > General > Network menu. That should be enough, but I usually turn off 3G, notifications and location services too. Data roaming should be off by default.

You should be able to pick up some free wireless networks, but they'll be unsecured so you'll need to decide whether they're for you. Many branches of McDonald's, Subway etc have free wi-fi. When I was in the US last year, I occasionally used a Subway car park to retrieve my emails etc, without even going in. (Rather cheeky, I know.) Orange can't and won't charge you for using wi-fi. You might find wireless networks that charge, but you won't be charged without knowing it. You'd have to do it through a credit card, hotel bill etc.

As for calls, I'm not sure. I asked Orange to disable my voicemail, and I just had the phone in flight mode most of the time, unless I specifically wanted to send texts. I was on the west coast, so the time difference made it less likely that I would receive calls anyway.

Yeah, just stick to free WiFi networks. Data roaming is indeed turned off by default but double check this to be sure.

If you really need mobile data then pick up a pre-pay SIM that gives you a decent data allowance for a $10 top up or something like that.

Thanks guys. I'll just turn everything off and steal wifi from places. I'll be in Chicago so I guess there'll be plenty of MacDs and stuff to use.

There's tons of places that offer free wi fi in America.

Or buy a cheap payg sim over there. Most of the major airports sell them. You can top up in the various sprint/Verizon/AT&T stores

Is the phone not likely to be locked to Orange though? Also, your friends and family will then be paying to text an international number.

Won't they just be normal sims though? iPhones have a microsim. And yes the phone is locked to Orange as far as I know, I bought it from the Orange shop but there's no Orange logo on the phone like there normally is?

Verizon and Sprint won't work with a UK iPhone 4 as they use CDMA.