GPS & Data Roaming Charges
Jan 26, 2017 | 12:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SF
Programs: United-GOLD, AA
Posts: 174
GPS & Data Roaming Charges
Hi Everyone,
Need an alternative to Google Maps b/c it is so expensive out of US. ViaMichelin has a cellphone app: you can store the directions & only use the GPS when you get to the foreign country/region you are going to.
I am assuming that I will incur the same AT&T roaming charges on my iPhone with ViaMichelin GPS as I would with Google Maps: correct?
Is there any other system that is more cost efficient than these two? I bought a Garmin but it was quite time consuming to program. And I know I can print out the ViaMichelin directions: but that is so 80s.
Suggestions?
Need an alternative to Google Maps b/c it is so expensive out of US. ViaMichelin has a cellphone app: you can store the directions & only use the GPS when you get to the foreign country/region you are going to.
I am assuming that I will incur the same AT&T roaming charges on my iPhone with ViaMichelin GPS as I would with Google Maps: correct?
Is there any other system that is more cost efficient than these two? I bought a Garmin but it was quite time consuming to program. And I know I can print out the ViaMichelin directions: but that is so 80s.
Suggestions?
Jan 26, 2017 | 12:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
Hi Everyone,
Need an alternative to Google Maps b/c it is so expensive out of US. ViaMichelin has a cellphone app: you can store the directions & only use the GPS when you get to the foreign country/region you are going to.
I am assuming that I will incur the same AT&T roaming charges on my iPhone with ViaMichelin GPS as I would with Google Maps: correct?
Is there any other system that is more cost efficient than these two? I bought a Garmin but it was quite time consuming to program. And I know I can print out the ViaMichelin directions: but that is so 80s.
Suggestions?
Need an alternative to Google Maps b/c it is so expensive out of US. ViaMichelin has a cellphone app: you can store the directions & only use the GPS when you get to the foreign country/region you are going to.
I am assuming that I will incur the same AT&T roaming charges on my iPhone with ViaMichelin GPS as I would with Google Maps: correct?
Is there any other system that is more cost efficient than these two? I bought a Garmin but it was quite time consuming to program. And I know I can print out the ViaMichelin directions: but that is so 80s.
Suggestions?
Jan 26, 2017 | 12:58 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,893
Hi Everyone,
Need an alternative to Google Maps b/c it is so expensive out of US. ViaMichelin has a cellphone app: you can store the directions & only use the GPS when you get to the foreign country/region you are going to.
I am assuming that I will incur the same AT&T roaming charges on my iPhone with ViaMichelin GPS as I would with Google Maps: correct?
Is there any other system that is more cost efficient than these two? I bought a Garmin but it was quite time consuming to program. And I know I can print out the ViaMichelin directions: but that is so 80s.
Suggestions?
Need an alternative to Google Maps b/c it is so expensive out of US. ViaMichelin has a cellphone app: you can store the directions & only use the GPS when you get to the foreign country/region you are going to.
I am assuming that I will incur the same AT&T roaming charges on my iPhone with ViaMichelin GPS as I would with Google Maps: correct?
Is there any other system that is more cost efficient than these two? I bought a Garmin but it was quite time consuming to program. And I know I can print out the ViaMichelin directions: but that is so 80s.
Suggestions?
Jan 26, 2017 | 1:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Everywhere, mostly AMS
Posts: 4,579
But you can't plan a route offline, so unless you can plan your route where you have wifi you will still have some data charges, I find it cumbersome to have to plan the route only where there is wifi, but then I don't mind paying roaming fees or buying a local SIM as needed to be able to use google maps.
Jan 26, 2017 | 2:37 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SF
Programs: United-GOLD, AA
Posts: 174
Regarding SIM cards (sorry should this be in another thread?)
Anyway, can one change SIM cards in an iPhone? My understanding is gums up their works and they void their warranty.
Have any of you tried this?
And, regarding offline maps: HereGo worked great offline. Even saved the map. I just can't find a voice function (I think that's an add-on to the free app). But the map is great. If you want to learn more go to the HereGo site, and they explain how it works online.
Anyway, can one change SIM cards in an iPhone? My understanding is gums up their works and they void their warranty.
Have any of you tried this?
And, regarding offline maps: HereGo worked great offline. Even saved the map. I just can't find a voice function (I think that's an add-on to the free app). But the map is great. If you want to learn more go to the HereGo site, and they explain how it works online.
Jan 26, 2017 | 3:03 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,893
Regarding SIM cards (sorry should this be in another thread?)
Anyway, can one change SIM cards in an iPhone? My understanding is gums up their works and they void their warranty.
Have any of you tried this?
And, regarding offline maps: HereGo worked great offline. Even saved the map. I just can't find a voice function (I think that's an add-on to the free app). But the map is great. If you want to learn more go to the HereGo site, and they explain how it works online.
Anyway, can one change SIM cards in an iPhone? My understanding is gums up their works and they void their warranty.
Have any of you tried this?
And, regarding offline maps: HereGo worked great offline. Even saved the map. I just can't find a voice function (I think that's an add-on to the free app). But the map is great. If you want to learn more go to the HereGo site, and they explain how it works online.
Once you own the iPhone, you could go here to request an unlock:
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/?#/
Once your phone is unlocked, you could put in other carriers' sims. If you see the other thread, AT&T is also coming out tomorrow with the $10 per day international roaming. So if your trip is short like 5 to 7 days, it maybe easier just to pay the $50 to $70 to use your domestic data allowance on international travel and available for others to reach you by phone or txt.
Jan 26, 2017 | 3:16 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,893
That would help a lot. I did try to use it a few years ago and I found it hard to use unless you really plan everything ahead at the hotel and go off route. Also I remember the size of the download region was quite small. I actually had data on my phone at the time but if was 3G .. very very slow 3G...
Jan 26, 2017 | 6:56 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: BWI
Programs: UA 1MM & 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 256
If you're using an Android phone, you can also try an app that uses OpenStreetMap data, the one I use is OsmAnd+. They're all a bit different but this one lets you download very detailed world map data directly from their servers. You can also download topo maps which is nice if you're going to be doing stuff outdoors and want to know what the terrain is like (not super accurate but gives you a pretty good overview). It does have navigation as well but I've never tried that feature so no idea how good it is. And it has point of interest search, and it all works offline.
