iPhone--Should I buy one in the US before we move?

What about the iPod Touch? It's similar to the iPhone, but without the calling features. It uses WiFi to connect, and otherwise is just like an iPod. It should work ok in the UK, right?

What about the iPod Touch? It's similar to the iPhone, but without the calling features. It uses WiFi to connect, and otherwise is just like an iPod. It should work ok in the UK, right?

my work colleague has one of those that he bought in New York on holiday, and it works fine.

In case anyone is currently following this thread and still keen on giving advice--My husband and I both have At&t Iphones, his is the 2g and mine is the 3g, his is out of contract mine is one year into a two year contract. 

AT&T only gives the $5.99 a month, .99  a minute roaming charge Iphone plan currently (May 2nd '09).

We are moving to U.K. this summer, mid-August and are trying to figure out what to do with our phones.  Cancel his and buy him a UK phone, keep mine but just don't make calls on it?

Anyone know if I keep my Iphone under its AT&T plan, if the Internet would be free while we are overseas?  I'd be fine using it for the apps and my email--if there was no further charge than my regular 45 dollar a month AT&T fee. 

It'll be roaming, almost certainly, but that is something you should clear with AT&T to make sure.

I don't know if this is relevant to this post, but if you are on a contract with O2, for £35 a month, if you sign a 2 year contract, the iphone is free. Also, if you sign up for a 2 year contract, the £35 monthly tarrif goes down to £30...that tarriff gets you something like 600 minutes and 1000 texts (not sure about the texts, but its a lot) and a bolt on (I got unlimited web browsing)

I just changed to this tarriff and debated getting the iphone, but as I take lots of pics with my mobile (as well as a ton of texting and gabbing to my girlfriends about shoes and babies and stuff) I chose a Samsung Tocco Ultra which has an 8 megapixel camera, as opposed to the iphones 2 mega pixel camera. I am digging the Samsung phone.

Again, this might not be relevant, but if you fancied an iphone, this might help you out.

If I keep my phone, with the roaming plan they offer (99 cents a minute) will that fee only apply to phone calls?  Will I be able to use the net, take photos and upload to facebook for instance, or respond to people by email?

If I keep my phone, with the roaming plan they offer (99 cents a minute) will that fee only apply to phone calls?  Will I be able to use the net, take photos and upload to facebook for instance, or respond to people by email?

That is something you should ask your current provider. Without knowing exactly what plan you have people are just guessing here. Call them and tell them that you are moving overseas and often they'll cancel your contract without making you pay the early cancellation fee.

Well, if you are referring to the ATT Iphone plan, the internet is certainly not free overseas. It will cost roaming charges. My friend used her iphone in Spain last summer and it was astronomical for a minimal amount of use!!! Be careful!

Thanks, good to know they don't treat it like an Ipod, I'll be on the phone further to figure stuff out ;-)  these forum threads are quite useful for newbies looking to move--much appreciation to the posters who've been helping out here a long time!

Well, if you are referring to the ATT Iphone plan, the internet is certainly not free overseas. It will cost roaming charges. My friend used her iphone in Spain last summer and it was astronomical for a minimal amount of use!!! Be careful!

Gottagettolondon is right -- roaming will really be expensive, especially if you have your email or other apps auto-updating.  You'll get charged for data usage even if you're not actively using it.  OUCH!

BUT if you switch the phone into airline mode, you can still use the wifi setting to connect to the internet, and now with the skype app, you can even make calls.  It's less convenient, since you need to have wifi access, but it's better than nothing.

I used my iPhone (on a UK O2 plan) back in the US this way at Christmas and wasn't charged a cent (er...pence.  old habits die hard).

Just as an FIY--I found out from AT&T that there is no fee for breaking contract with AT&T if you're moving overseas--supposedly. Your best bet might be to just jail break the Iphone, and get sim cards from a Brit mobile company. My wife and I are heading over in the fall, and we're planning to just get UK mobile phones, and than use MagicJack to call parents and friends in the states. Assuming that US and UK telephone cables are the same that is--or we might have to bring a phone from the states.

Just as an FIY--I found out from AT&T that there is no fee for breaking contract with AT&T if you're moving overseas--supposedly. Your best bet might be to just jail break the Iphone, and get sim cards from a Brit mobile company. My wife and I are heading over in the fall, and we're planning to just get UK mobile phones, and than use MagicJack to call parents and friends in the states. Assuming that US and UK telephone cables are the same that is--or we might have to bring a phone from the states.

Tell me more about this magicjack. My mother has bought me one and she is using it. What is it???

I got a magic jack for use in the US several months ago and I'm generally pleased with saving all the money by using it.
You ask what is it?
You plug it in the computer and then you plug in the phone to the magic jack. You probably already knew that?
In the US where I use mine I have to dial the local area code for local calls.
The overall quality is not as good as what you may be use to on your landline but the price is right. My son says "you get what you pay for". I can except its short comings because of what I save. My phone expense was about $50 a month for local and long distance and that didn't include caller ID. I now pay $39 per year I think with MagicJack.
Paul, our phone guru on here, has written somethings in the past about it on UKY so you can do a search about it.
I don't know very much about Skye or Vonage so I don't know how they work but I think they cost more.
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Thanks Jim. MY mother did say something about her computer, she said it plugged into her computer magic box thingy thing thing. lol

According to the CS agent I spoke to at MagicJack, as long as you buy one in the States--I'm guessing with a US billing address--when you take it to Britain, it doesn't 'know' its in the Uk. Consequently, your phone calls to relatives in the US and Canada are basically free--after signing up to the service. I still need to do some more research, but I told the CS agent exactly what I planned on doing with it, and he assured me it would not incur any international charges. The software still thinks you are in the US calling another US--or Canadian--phone number.