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Taking iPad mini abroad
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facethemusic
20-06-2013
Hi all,
Sorry if there's already a thread on this, had a quick look but couldn't see one.

I'm going on a cruise in August that goes to Majorca, Menorca, Italy, Corsica & Sardinia. I have an iPad Mini on o2 in the UK, that I pay £10 a month for, for my Internet use. I was wondering am I able to use it abroad? If not what are my options? I've heard about getting a local sim but with me being in each location for no longer than a day this wouldn't be practical. I'm after a cheap solution & would be grateful for any replies
!!11oneone
20-06-2013
You need to talk to O2 about roaming packages, which you'll need to buy before you go. Of course, with only a day or two in each place you'll probably not miss mobile internet and can rely on free or hotel wifi.
LostFool
20-06-2013
I never bother with international data roaming as it is so expensive. You can get local prepaid SIMs but there will be free WiFi in many hotels, bars and restaurants.

Besides, sometimes it's good to go on holiday and get away from constantly being online. Just like the old days.
facethemusic
20-06-2013
Thanks for your replies. I have no plans to be constantly online, with it being a cruise we have limited time in each place so I would be using the Internet to find travel information/use maps etc, not mindless browsing.
grumpyoldbat
20-06-2013
Originally Posted by facethemusic:
“Thanks for your replies. I have no plans to be constantly online, with it being a cruise we have limited time in each place so I would be using the Internet to find travel information/use maps etc, not mindless browsing.”

I have an iPad Mini and got a Truphone SIM for it. That said, it's still 60p per MB in Europe, and my understanding is that for roaming in the EU, providers aren't supposed to charge you more than that anyway, so you might check with O2. If they'll let you use your iPad for a bit of browsing here and there, you could just use it when you need it, and then switch off the roaming when you're not.

Check with O2 what they allow or provide for international data in Europe.
facethemusic
20-06-2013
Originally Posted by grumpyoldbat:
“I have an iPad Mini and got a Truphone SIM for it. That said, it's still 60p per MB in Europe, and my understanding is that for roaming in the EU, providers aren't supposed to charge you more than that anyway, so you might check with O2. If they'll let you use your iPad for a bit of browsing here and there, you could just use it when you need it, and then switch off the roaming when you're not.

Check with O2 what they allow or provide for international data in Europe.”

Thank you. I will do that. Don't plan on using it all day long so I'll see what they say
!!11oneone
21-06-2013
Careful, though. If you decide NOT to buy a roaming package with O2 then you need to make sure data roaming is off in your settings or it'll cost you a fortune!
paulj48
21-06-2013
Does the cruise ship not have wifi available? I'd be supprised if it didnt.
Stig
21-06-2013
Originally Posted by facethemusic:
“Hi all,
Sorry if there's already a thread on this, had a quick look but couldn't see one.

I'm going on a cruise in August that goes to Majorca, Menorca, Italy, Corsica & Sardinia. I have an iPad Mini on o2 in the UK, that I pay £10 a month for, for my Internet use. I was wondering am I able to use it abroad? If not what are my options? I've heard about getting a local sim but with me being in each location for no longer than a day this wouldn't be practical. I'm after a cheap solution & would be grateful for any replies ”

The O2 website clearly says:
"You'll only be charged £1.99 for the days that you use data in Europe"
tellytart1
21-06-2013
Originally Posted by Stig:
“The O2 website clearly says:
"You'll only be charged £1.99 for the days that you use data in Europe"”

That's for mobile phone packages and data - as far as I've researched, no UK operator will provide a similar data roaming package for iPad/Mobile Broadband
grumpyoldbat
21-06-2013
Originally Posted by tellytart1:
“That's for mobile phone packages and data - as far as I've researched, no UK operator will provide a similar data roaming package for iPad/Mobile Broadband”

I guess that's where the Truphone SIM scores well then. The data cost is better in the US, where it's only 20p per MB.

I can't wait til this new EU thing comes in where providers have to charge you the same as your home package across Europe!
facethemusic
22-06-2013
Originally Posted by Stig:
“The O2 website clearly says:
"You'll only be charged £1.99 for the days that you use data in Europe"”

For mobiles yes
tdenson
22-06-2013
Originally Posted by paulj48:
“Does the cruise ship not have wifi available? I'd be supprised if it didnt.”

In my experience it's usually a satellite based setup costing an arm and a leg and running like a dog.
tdenson
22-06-2013
Originally Posted by !!11oneone:
“Careful, though. If you decide NOT to buy a roaming package with O2 then you need to make sure data roaming is off in your settings or it'll cost you a fortune!”

Actually, the problem can be the reverse. If you enable data roaming and don't buy a roaming package the network is duty bound to cap your expenditure to 50 Euros (I believe). However, once you buy a roaming package you waive all rights to this cap and as soon as you exceed it you start getting charged (often without warning) at the full rate of several pounds per MB.
LostFool
23-06-2013
Originally Posted by tdenson:
“In my experience it's usually a satellite based setup costing an arm and a leg and running like a dog.”

Well yes, a cruise ship isn't likely to have a landline is it?
jsmith99
23-06-2013
If you're staying somewhere with wifi, there's a comprehensive article in the current 'Computer Active' (issue 400) on watching TV abroad.
TheBigM
23-06-2013
I think Three has a £5 per day unlimited data package that applies in some European countries.

I would do two things:
a) do your research in advance in the UK, you can use things onenote and pocket to store info on your iPad.

b) there will be plenty of information available on your cruise ship as to what to do in each place.
!!11oneone
23-06-2013
Originally Posted by tdenson:
“Actually, the problem can be the reverse. If you enable data roaming and don't buy a roaming package the network is duty bound to cap your expenditure to 50 Euros (I believe). However, once you buy a roaming package you waive all rights to this cap and as soon as you exceed it you start getting charged (often without warning) at the full rate of several pounds per MB.”

Certainly T-Mobile will only let you spend the bundle you've bought and prompt you to buy a new one when it runs out.

But yes, your point is very valid - if you buy a bolt-on, watch your data. But certainly if you haven't, turn it off!
RegTheHedge
24-06-2013
Originally Posted by facethemusic:
“ so I would be using the Internet to find travel information/use maps etc, not mindless browsing.”


Well ~ you can download a lot of that kind of stuff here before leaving .


For any remaining info needed , i'm sure you find plenty of wi-fi hot spots .
tdenson
24-06-2013
Originally Posted by LostFool:
“Well yes, a cruise ship isn't likely to have a landline is it?”

I appreciate that However, I was responding to the post above "Does the cruise ship not have wifi available? I'd be supprised if it didn't". Given that the OP specifically said he wanted a low cost solution I was simply stating the obvious.
I am often almost the last back on board as I sit on the quayside in range of a local wifi hotspot rather than resort to the onboard wifi.
tdenson
24-06-2013
Originally Posted by tdenson:
“Actually, the problem can be the reverse. If you enable data roaming and don't buy a roaming package the network is duty bound to cap your expenditure to 50 Euros (I believe). However, once you buy a roaming package you waive all rights to this cap and as soon as you exceed it you start getting charged (often without warning) at the full rate of several pounds per MB.”

Just going back to my earlier post, I know this from bitter experience. I had a row with Orange last year when I had a bill for £100 because an app accidentally ran away with my data but I didn't get the text I was promised by Orange when I reached my allowance.
tdenson
24-06-2013
Originally Posted by RegTheHedge:
“For any remaining info needed , i'm sure you find plenty of wi-fi hot spots .”

It's improving, but I tend to drive my wife a bit potty by refusing to go into a coffee shop abroad until I have checked out their wifi. We have a conflict of interests here - she hates the big chains (Starbucks etc.) but it's often the nice little coffee shops with character that don't have wifi
!!11oneone
24-06-2013
Of course, text warnings are NOT going to get through on a tablet!
grumpyoldbat
24-06-2013
Originally Posted by TheBigM:
“I think Three has a £5 per day unlimited data package that applies in some European countries.

I would do two things:
a) do your research in advance in the UK, you can use things onenote and pocket to store info on your iPad.

b) there will be plenty of information available on your cruise ship as to what to do in each place.”

I checked this. The Three Euro Internet Pass is only available on phones.
LostFool
24-06-2013
Originally Posted by !!11oneone:
“Of course, text warnings are NOT going to get through on a tablet!”

I don't know about the iPad but you can receive text message on a 3G Nexus 7 if you install an SMS app such as Go SMS Pro.
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