Data Use in USA

[Gill635]

Hi All

Quick question for those with better knowledge than me, which is everyone!

I’m visiting the West Coast in a couple of months, with a mobile phone that is tied into a contract with O2.

I want / need to be able to use data on my phone - mainly for use of Maxpass in the parks but also as we are splitting for a week, and will only have 1 satnav so I would like to be able to use my phone as mine.

Obviously O2 don’t run good data packages as other providers do. Is there anything I can do to get around this?

Is there anything I can buy that would enable me to use data/WiFi without my contracted allowance or do I have to just suck it up (at around £5 per day!)

Thanks in Advance

Gill

[riversider2014]

for the sat nav. there are free apps that you can download and pre-load any maps that you need to be used offline so wont end up using your data (such as here we go).

Obviously doesn't have real time navigation to avoid any road works/congestion etc but it is a decent alternative - I suspect it will cost an arm and leg to use your data for that as it really eats into data use.

[x_Ange_x]

I downloaded florida onto google maps on my phone - you just select an area on the map you want and click download -I did Orlando all the way down to Anna Maria Island - as stated above you don't get the live travel updates but it worked fab the whole time we were out there - you can access wifi in all the parks, we used my Disney app and the universal app in the parks and had no issues

Can't help with the data issues - I went into the 02 shop and asked for advice similar to what you are asking and the guy said 'my advice is to not take your phone' ! but that was a few years ago

[wanye]

Originally Posted by x_Ange_x

Can't help with the data issues - I went into the 02 shop and asked for advice similar to what you are asking and the guy said 'my advice is to not take your phone' ! but that was a few years ago

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if someone told me that, i'd be asking for my pac code so i could move to a network that DID have reasonable roaming data tariffs!


*edit*
if its just satnav you want, grab HERE WEGO (used to be nokia maps)

play.google/store/apps/d... maps&hl=en_GB

itunes.apple/gb/app/here...955837609?mt=8

you can pre-download maps for where you are going, so that you don't use any data (whereas waze/etc use real time traffic data, which will cost you)

using the GPS on your phone costs nothing, you just need to make sure your data/roaming is turned off

hth

[itsmeGAV]

Is your phone locked to 02? If not have you looked into getting a 30 day sim from 3?

[grant_w]

Originally Posted by itsmeGAV

Is your phone locked to 02? If not have you looked into getting a 30 day sim from 3?

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Just about to type this pretty much word for word

The last trip I did I got a pay as you go sim from Three, cost me £15 and I just used this as my sim for data and calling back to home.

[Gill635]

Originally Posted by itsmeGAV

Is your phone locked to 02? If not have you looked into getting a 30 day sim from 3?

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I presume it is, but to be honest I wouldn’t know how to check?

Thanks guys, I’ll have a look at some of those apps, or failing that I’ll just have to pay the extra for a HC with satnav. If it was Orlando I’d know where I was going ha ha.

The Disneyland website advises there are WiFi hotspots in the parks, and lists them on the park maps, but it’s not free roaming like in Orlando, so the fast passes etc are going to be a total pain!

[itsmeGAV]

Originally Posted by Gill635

I presume it is, but to be honest I wouldn’t know how to check?

Thanks guys, I’ll have a look at some of those apps, or failing that I’ll just have to pay the extra for a HC with satnav. If it was Orlando I’d know where I was going ha ha.

The Disneyland website advises there are WiFi hotspots in the parks, and lists them on the park maps, but it’s not free roaming like in Orlando, so the fast passes etc are going to be a total pain!

See more...

If you got your phone directly from 02 it most likely is locked to 02, give them a call to confirm as sometimes they can unlock it for free.

[jocat]

When did you take out your contract with O2? I upgraded mine last year and my tariff includes data abroad, in certain countries outside of the usual Europe zone. I’m in the U.S. at the moment and this is the text I got when I arrived.

I also used data in Canada last summer with no additional costs.

O2 normally split their phone and tariff contract, and although your phone contract might still have time left to run, your tariff might be upgradable now. I can’t get on to My O2 at the moment to check what it’s called, but it’s something like O2 Travel Inclusive Zone bolt on. Think they brought it out in March 2018, so any contracts taken out since then should include it.

Here’s the link to the O2 page about it: o2/international/t...inclusive-zone If you haven’t already got this, it might be worth seeing if you can swap to a tariff that does include it.

[Tink Tina]

My dd is with O2 and they said she could change her tariff just before going on holiday to cover USA and then change back after... can’t remember exactly how much but I’m sure it wasn’t too much more!