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3 Messages
Foreign Esim Provider While Traveling / Wi-Fi Calling & Texting
Hi there!
I'm planning on traveling to Australia/Oceania soon, and intending on getting an e-sim from a local cell provider. I'm new to this e-sims and Wi-fi calling, so have a few questions
- Would I need to remove my physical sim card from my phone while using the local e-sim? If not, what settings should I be changing on my phone or account?
- How do I ensure that I don't get charged for international roaming?
- Does Wi-Fi Calling still work when I'm on a Wi-Fi network, and will I be able to receive or send ATT USA text messages?
Thanks for the help!
Accepted Solution
Official Solution
formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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113.5K Messages
1 year ago
No.
Each Sim is listed in the settings on your phone. You can actually see the e-sim now even though it's not in use... Look in settings under mobile network
Turn off data roaming on the AT&T number. Don't answer calls or send text.
You can turn off the AT&T number when you switch Sims.
FYI, there is no charge for incoming text over cellular
Yes, if you switch to the AT&T sim
Yes. If you switch over to your AT&T sim
International day pass does not charge you unless you use the service. Your intention is to use a foreign SIM card and not use your AT&T phone except over Wi-Fi calling. The plan is solid.
However, I encourage people to add international day pass as a safety net. It limits your charges to $10 per day on any day you use your AT&T phone number rather than high roaming charges. There is also a cap of $100 per bill cycle.
If you follow your plan you will not incur any charges from AT&T for using roaming on your phone. But if something goes wrong and you are stuck without Wi-Fi calling and must call the USA, it's there.
Someone I know was in an accident overseas, they did not have access to Wi-Fi at the hospital or at the police station to make wifi calls home.
(edited)
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Fl_retire
ACE - Professor
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2.8K Messages
1 year ago
Reminder that to use a non AT&T eSIM/SIM your phone has to be unlocked.
Just got back from Italy and uses Wi-Fi calling to call/text back to the US. I turned off the AT&T SIM and used the Italian eSIM when not using Wi-Fi calling. Tuned off Italian SIM and turned on the AT&T SIM to use Wi-Fi calling. Any text messages or voice mail to my AT&T number that were queued up came in when connected to Wi-Fi.
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mapmanx
New Member
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3 Messages
1 year ago
Thanks for the help formerlyknownas and Fl_retire! I appreciate you sharing your knowledge on this.
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Fl_retire
ACE - Professor
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2.8K Messages
1 year ago
Forgot to mention that I received alerts from my apps (bank, credit cards, etc) when using the Italian SIM.
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SuperTuscan
New Member
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6 Messages
1 year ago
@Fl_retire , questions on your comments above about eSIMs (Airelo) and ATT.
1. Doesn't one have to turn off ATT when using the eSIM?
2. And then, for example, when back at the hotel, to use your ATT account, turn off eSIM, turn on ATT, and then send/receive iMessages, FaceTime, phones all over WiFi?
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Fl_retire
ACE - Professor
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2.8K Messages
1 year ago
@SuperTuscan
1. You do not have to turn off the AT&T SIM you just have to insure that you have the appropriate settings for each SIM. I turned it off just to be sure I did not incur any accidental charges.
2. You do not need to turn off your eSIM. I turned off my Italian SIM and turned on my AT&T eSIM to make Wi-Fi calls.
I turned on and off the appropriate SIM/eSIM as needed. This way I knew which SIM was active.
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SuperTuscan
New Member
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6 Messages
1 year ago
Thanks @Fl_retire, Im getting confused. You have an ATT eSIM for Italy? I did not think they made one. Do you mean you turned on/activated your italian eSIM and turned off your ATT SIM (assuming your a US citizen with an ATT account - ATT is not available in Italy; TIM, Vodafone, Wind Tre is). Please clarify.
Thanks
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.7K Messages
1 year ago
@SuperTuscan You do not need your ATT sim active or any sim active to do iMessage or FaceTime over WiFi. You only need your ATT sim active to do WiFi calling via AT&T wifi.
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SuperTuscan
New Member
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6 Messages
1 year ago
@sandblaster , that's correct and maybe I stated it incorrectly. This stuff can get confusing. :). To call from the hotel's wifi ATT needs to be activated. What if you have an eSIM and you're at the hotel and want to use the hotels Wifi? What steps need to be taken? I want to send pics via iMessage, use internet.
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.7K Messages
1 year ago
You don’t need the esim to use the hotel WiFi. Connect to the hotel WiFi as you would any WiFi. Your choice as to whether you leave the esim active or not. If you want to avoid using cellular via the esim, you can either deactivate the esim or put the phone in airplane mode and turn WiFi back on.
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