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How to set up a Samsung S3 mobile phone so it works on holiday


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Old 07-06-2014, 13:23
A.Penrose
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I am going to Europe in a few weeks time. I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 mobile phone. It will be the first time I've been out of the country with it. The last time I got a new phone the first time I went on holiday to Europe it didn't work. I could take photo's etc but the internet didn't work. What settings do I need to set up before I go so it will work. I would rather do this myself than have to phone T Mobile witch I don't want to do. Thanks.
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Old 07-06-2014, 13:33
de525ma
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You need to call T-Mobile to ensure that roaming is activated on your account before you go. It sounds like it wasn't set up last time, which is why you had no network access.

You shouldn't need to change any settings, other than ensuring that data roaming is enabled if you wish to use it. Your phone should prompt you if you need to do this.
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Old 07-06-2014, 13:38
BKM
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I am going to Europe in a few weeks time. I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 mobile phone. It will be the first time I've been out of the country with it. The last time I got a new phone the first time I went on holiday to Europe it didn't work. I could take photo's etc but the internet didn't work. What settings do I need to set up before I go so it will work. I would rather do this myself than have to phone T Mobile witch I don't want to do. Thanks.
If the mobile account is setup for roaming (and most are these days) the phone itself will "just work " abroad - that is it will find an appropriate signal and use it!

As you are on T-mobile the first time you use the Internet you will receive a text message giving various prices for Internet access - and you have to text back a choice before it will activate!

The options are £1 for 20Mb data lasting 24 hours or £3 for 100Mb data/24 hours
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Old 07-06-2014, 13:40
BKM
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You need to call T-Mobile to ensure that roaming is activated on your account before you go. It sounds like it wasn't set up last time, which is why you had no network access.

You shouldn't need to change any settings, other than ensuring that data roaming is enabled if you wish to use it. Your phone should prompt you if you need to do this.
As I have just replied on T-mobile trying to use roaming data will cause them to send a automatic text message requiring the purchase of a data bundle!
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Old 07-06-2014, 14:00
A.Penrose
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Thanks all. Would clicking the international option that I can add to my account help? It says it's a recurring cost of £2.13. So is that £2.13 every time I use the internet on my phone?
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Old 07-06-2014, 14:16
de525ma
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Thanks all. Would clicking the international option that I can add to my account help? It says it's a recurring cost of £2.13. So is that £2.13 every time I use the internet on my phone?
Last time you went abroad - could you call and text?
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Old 07-06-2014, 14:45
A.Penrose
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Yes but it was a different phone. I've just found the number to call to see if my phone will work abroad. Will use that then think about an add on to my account to get access while away.
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Old 07-06-2014, 17:11
blueacid
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Yes but it was a different phone. I've just found the number to call to see if my phone will work abroad. Will use that then think about an add on to my account to get access while away.
Be careful with some of the international add-ons: they might have one which is suitable for being in the UK and making cheap calls to international destinations - clearly not what you want right at the moment!


You would be best to telephone T-Mobile and ask them whether your account is set up for international roaming and get it enabled if not. Calls and texts are quite simply billed; you pay per minute for answering and making calls. Texts are free to receive and cost to send. Typically calls you make and texts you send won't use up any free inclusive ones, but will be charged extra.

Data's the fun one: you've typically a couple of choices. One is to just pay per megabyte transferred to/from your phone (circa 30-40 pence per meg), or you pay upfront for (as quoted above) 20MB which will expire if not used within 24 hours for £1.
If you have a smartphone then you may wish to tell applications not to auto-update their data, or perhaps even disable sync automatically. For instance the Dropbox app allows you to upload photos you've just taken: at 3MB per photo that's not such a big ask here in the UK but when abroad that could really cost a fortune (or destroy your 20MB for £1!). So things like email, weather screens, photo backup etc, consider setting them to not auto update.


Hope that helps a bit - oh, and enjoy your holiday!
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Old 07-06-2014, 17:35
BKM
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Data's the fun one: you've typically a couple of choices. One is to just pay per megabyte transferred to/from your phone (circa 30-40 pence per meg), or you pay upfront for (as quoted above) 20MB which will expire if not used within 24 hours for £1.
You CANNOT pay per-megabyte when roaming on T-Mobile!!!!!!!

I thought I had made it clear that is something they just do not permit! It is "buy a bundle " or nothing.
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Old 07-06-2014, 17:37
blueacid
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You CANNOT pay per-megabyte when roaming on T-Mobile!!!!!!!

I thought I had made it clear that is something they just do not permit! It is "buy a bundle " or nothing.
Whoops! Apologies, yeah you were quite clear and I stoically ignored what you'd written

Daft me, sorry.
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Old 07-06-2014, 17:54
Geowitch
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I never use data on holiday as I find there are plenty of cafes etc offering free wifi which is sufficient for me. I keep in touch by email and whatsapp.
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Old 07-06-2014, 18:11
BKM
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I never use data on holiday as I find there are plenty of cafes etc offering free wifi which is sufficient for me. I keep in touch by email and whatsapp.
While I found the T-mobile £1 for 20Mb VERY useful to keep data going when out of range of WiFi hotspots in France!

But this was skiing where the WiFi hotspots on the slopes were not there!
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Old 07-06-2014, 20:38
jarryhack
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My phone wouldn't work when I when I went on holiday last year, I found out when I came back I had to call my provider to activate the roaming. I just presumed it would work as when I have been on payg they always worked, but I'm on contract now. I'm glad it never worked to be honest. I kept in touch by using the free wifi in bars and restaurants. I won't be activating it this year either.
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Old 08-06-2014, 14:19
de525ma
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My phone wouldn't work when I when I went on holiday last year, I found out when I came back I had to call my provider to activate the roaming. I just presumed it would work as when I have been on payg they always worked, but I'm on contract now. I'm glad it never worked to be honest. I kept in touch by using the free wifi in bars and restaurants. I won't be activating it this year either.
It did not used to be active by default on contracts (don't know if it is even now, it was for me on T-Mo). This is because roaming leads to unexpected high bills, and they like to see that you are paying your contract on time for a few months.

When I was on Voda and first activated it, they ran an additional credit check before doing so.
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Old 09-06-2014, 10:34
BKM
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When I was on Voda and first activated it, they ran an additional credit check before doing so.
Without a large (up to £100) refundable deposit to the account - or possibly another credit check as you say - Vodafone normally will not enable roaming until two months into a new contract
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