How can I avoid being made bankrupt

[WaveyDavey001]

I'm going overseas in a couple of weeks and obviously I want to make use of my super computer (it's what computers have become you know).

As I use the N95 for other things than phone calls and texts I picked the t-mob web and walk package and its ace, but now a kind poster on another 3g forum thread has pointed me in the direction of overseas rates I see that using a MB of data costs £7.50 a pop.

I have lots of apps that just access the internet automatically. Looking at my log (which is set to store data for 30 days) I see that I use about 600 MB across a month on data. Thats 20 MB a day or roughly £150 per day costs.

The main reason I bought my phone therefore becomes obsolete. No Shozu for blogging, flickr etc. No eMails, push or otherwise. No surfing and no using the maps application (even if I've downloaded stuff before I go because it still asks for access to Web and Walk).

So bye bye most of the fun, but hello free internet access in the hotel (I hope). But what do I need to do phone settings wise, to avoid accidentally using 3g etc, and can I use GPS to lock on to Geotag my photos, or will that cost.

T-Mobile say they cannot accelerate the phone unlocking process

[Spud_work]

There are loads of free wireless hotspots all over the world. I recently toured canada for a month and went online every day via my phone using free wireless in coffee shops, libraries, hotels etc without spending a penny

[WaveyDavey001]

Thanks.

I will begin the hunt, but my main issue is to avoid accidentally logging on or incurring charges from the myriad applications installed. And geotag my photos at no/low cost

[munkimatt]

well Nokia Maps is OK because you can just refuse it access so no worries there. Knock off AGPS too.

I'm not 100% on the ins and outs of apps like Shozu but unless there is an option to disable it, I would personally uninstall it. I've noticed it periodically logs in so I'd just get rid. Same goes with other apps. Unless there is something there to stop it totally from accessing data, I would just get rid till you get back.

[Homer J]

You can set each application to "ask every time" in the application manager.

You can also set it as a phone wide setting to ask which AP to use every time.

The other thing to check before you go is the minimum data charge per connection. Maps doesn't actually use much data but if there is a £1 minimum charge per connection (as with vodafone) it can soon mount up.

[WaveyDavey001]

Cheers everyone. I haven't updated to V12 of the phone software yet so I don't have AGPS but does that mean a network connection? I was thinking of updating to the new firmware before going so that I have a clean install and avoid all these data hogging apps. Its kind of sad though not to have Jaiku or be able to take and post pictures immediatley. I'm getting withdrawal symptons already!

Its a problem being an early adopter. Give it a year or so and I'm sure data connections will be a lot cheaper for roaming. But with no 3G and being tied to a single network, it isn't gonna be the iPhone that changes this landscape is it? :D

[jeezusisamobile]

There are loads of free wireless hotspots all over the world. I recently toured canada for a month and went online every day via my phone using free wireless in coffee shops, libraries, hotels etc without spending a penny
I was in San Francisco and found there was no such thing as a free hotspot, apart from your hotel.

Free wireless is almost non-existent

[sandozer]

Hang in with the unlock you will get there just check my post relating to T mobile. I am in the Usa right now and the phone is superb. I paid £11 for an american sim card on ebay. It has $30 credit on it and could use it to phone when i arrived yesterday. Free wi-fi is everywhere i am in Chicago area and its freely available. This phone really rocks!!

[timbo_baggins]

Thanks.

I will begin the hunt, but my main issue is to avoid accidentally logging on or incurring charges from the myriad applications installed. And geotag my photos at no/low cost

You could switch the phone from Dual-Mode to GSM only, that way any apps configured for a 3G connection are unlikely to work and you'll gain valuable battery life into the bargain.

Tim

[WaveyDavey001]

Thanks everyone. Always patient helpful people and no flaming here.

I will get the phone unlocked, but it will be too late for this trip. As I posted elsewhere, I think it will take the 3g iPhone (grrr) to mean that all networks will have cheaper data calls (particularly on PAYG tariffs).

I think I'll also change the settings to GSM only (seems sensible).

Still one question remaining (sorry if I'm stupid). Do I have to switch back to 3G to get a GPS lock (Tools > GPS Data) as opposed to (Applications > Maps) or does this rely on 3G connectivity, and therefore is chargeable? I really would want to geo-tag my photos still if I could.

[krisl]

You can get a GPS lock without enabling 3G, GPS data itself is free (the only cost is for downloading the maps themselves with 3G)

Also, Shozu has an option to warn when roaming. When i went to Germany it stopped automatically sending all my images to flickr until i returned to the UK, and then sent them all through in one go.

Also, check what version of shozu you have. the main site only talks about main versions without refering to the build number. i've just moved from 3.2 build 46 to build 69 which offers significant reliability benefits for the N95.

[WaveyDavey001]

You can get a GPS lock without enabling 3G, GPS data itself is free (the only cost is for downloading the maps themselves with 3G)

Also, Shozu has an option to warn when roaming. When i went to Germany it stopped automatically sending all my images to flickr until i returned to the UK, and then sent them all through in one go.

Also, check what version of shozu you have. the main site only talks about main versions without refering to the build number. i've just moved from 3.2 build 46 to build 69 which offers significant reliability benefits for the N95.

Thanks for the info. I'm happy again.

And thanks for the tip on Shozu, one of my favourite applications. Rep added