Sorry for the long title!

I've got a Samsung Galaxy S on a Tesco contract, and will be going abroad (France and Spain) for the first time since having it. In the past, I've used a pay as you go phone which did not use the internet.

I'm aware of how to make calls and texts and so on, and the prices, and that's fine. What I'm concerned about is that I want to be able to use my Kindle app, but I know that it tries to contact the internet when I use it, which obviously will incur massive costs. Also I know that there are other programmes that want to contact the internet regularly, like the daily weather update and so on. What I am trying to find out, is how do I disable this feature while still being able to use the Kindle, and have the phone turned on? Will it be enough to have Roaming switched off as an option?

I did ask the phone shop in Tesco today, but they weren't entirely sure and wouldn't guarantee anything. I'm wondering whether having flight mode switched on would be better - I won't be making any calls or anything - but then of course I won't be able to receive texts I assume? I am not expecting to receive many texts, but I would like to know that I can be reached in an emergency (if my house burns down or my cat dies or something).

stop looking on the bright side of life .

Just make sure data roaming is set to off, and you will be fine.

My phone was on for 7 days in turkey, andnthe only extra charges I had was for making phone calls.

That's great, thank you! My data roaming appears to be off all the time anyway, but things can still get online - I'm assuming that access stops once I get out of the UK, and I'd only be able to connect via data roaming?

First I would install 3G Watchdog from the market as then you can see how much data your phone is using easily.

Then Menu>Settings>Wireless and networks>Mobile networks and ensure that you uncheck Data enabled and Data roaming and I would check Use only 2G networks as well.

Also Menu>Settings>Accounts & sync and uncheck Auto-sync first then Background data.

This should prevent all data to and from your phone but allow you to make calls and text. Try it for a few hours and check your data usage with 3G watchdog - it should not increase.
Last edited by finbaar : 12-05-2011 at 21:34

OP get some data in the UK for your poor SGS - you will love it!

Thank you. I already have the auto-sync and background data unchecked anyway. I can't find that there is an option anywhere to use only 2G, maybe I don't have that.

I'm looking for 3G watchdog now.

Um... maybe I'm being old, but I don't actually understand what 'get some data' means. Am I being thick?

I've got the 3G watchdog, and disabled all the settings as above, and the usage is going up all the time, every time I send a text and so on. It doesn't seem to distinguish between the data used with texts and calls, and the data from the internet. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, or whether I'll just have to cross my fingers that it'll be ok once I'm abroad and can't access the 'normal' internet. I'm assuming that's what happens if you have roaming off? That it won't be able to get on the net?

I can only guess because it's because you are still using a 3G connection on your phone. I have just had a check and for the Galaxy S you need to do the following:

2G/3G selection screen is now in [Settings] > [Wireless and network] > [Mobile networks] > [Network Mode].
Select "GSM only".

Now I am unsure if using a 3G network abroad to make calls/send texts counts as using data (maybe someone can let us know) but it is the safest option to switch to 2G(GSM) only.

Sorry about the data comment. I was just saying you might like to try having a mobile internet connection. From your earlier posts it seemed that you did not. Mrs finbaar has just discovered the joy of being able to check the prices of things whilst out shopping.

GSM only is irrelevent'.It just means data is slower.

Turning off data roaming should do it though the main switch I use on mine is Setting, Wireless and Networks, Mobile Networks and DATA CONNECTION.
Obviously unticking this turns off all mobile data
If Wifi is turned on then the internet can still work.


So DATA CONNECTION off and DATA ROAMING off doubly does the trick.

Thanks! I think that all makes sense. I wasn't offended or anything by your other comment, I just genuinely didn't understand it I'm afraid. I use the internet on my phone all the time now, but on previous phones I never did. I can manage not to deliberately connect for a couple of weeks while I'm away, what I'm anxious about is other applications connecting when I don't know about it.



When I go into Settings, Wireless & Networks, Mobile Networks, there is no option for data connection, only Data Roaming, Access point names, Network Mode and Network Operators.