Data settings for iPhone in UAE

[gerald]

Originally Posted by marwan

hi guys, i have a 3G 16 GB iPhone, unlocked and it's working fine on EDGE, im using a 3G SIM card, and 3G is enabled, yet i only get a EDGE connection...am i doing anything wrong?

thanks!

Hi marwan -

It might just be down to reception. I've got a 3G iPhone as well, and have connected to 3G without problem in some areas of Dubai, but I cannot get a signal at home (Arabian Ranches).

Do double check though that you have 3G data enabled!

(Settings>General>Network>Enable 3G)

Regards,


Gerald.

[solerfuture]

Originally Posted by chris773

Great question kynddaze...

It seems that Data packages outside of BB are just ludicrously expensive.
I heard a podcast recently (prior to 3G launch), and the consensus on data usage was that "normal"/active users never went over 60MB per month, and heavy users rarely over 100MB per month in the US. Remember, this, in a market where the nearest Starbucks can be called up from Maps and linked to mail, safari or your phone to call ahead and order that Frappucino!

So, for us users here that are mostly only likely to use the mail app extensively (or You Tube during lunch!) the 50MB package seems ok. Not cheap, but OK.
We do need a "Roaming Data" plan though.

Peace.

Hi
This is my first So Lards, be nice! And I am a girl. lol.

This thread covers most of my questions about having an iphone in Dubai. I have been a BB user for a few years now and I am quite satisfied. But now with the creation of mobileme services + poor back up app mac/blackberry, I am ready to get the iphone.
My main worries are the phone bills. All the data from a BB are compressed and the package is illimited for 180 dhs with Etisalat. Some says that as an active user, the 50 MB package is perfect. Some say 100 MB. I have 4 email accounts and i am sometimes checking attachement jpg files for my work. I barely browse the web because the BB browser is aweful. I have a feeling that on Iphone I will be doing this more. I also have IM+ (msn messenger and skype) to speak to my team when u of the office.

Honestly, how much are you paying guys every month? Nobody seems to talk about it.
Right now my bills are around 600 dhs (180dhs + 400 dhs phone calls)/month.

What are your bills?

Thanks

[larsd]

For the data I used to pay only 95 AED which is for the 50MB package. And I used it frequently. How would Etisalat offer an overpriced unlimited package for 180 for the BB if users would use much more than 50MB.

[bence8810]

I use the 120MB Plan for 200Dirhams or so, and I consume about 100MB per months currently. This is with absolute no browsing, just emailing. I have my client set to auto retreival every 30 seconds, and I am getting about 50 mails per day max, or 10 at minimum.

Cheers,

Ben

[solerfuture]

All right. So let' say 100 MB. AED 200 for 120MB package. It is basically same as BB. And who really browse on BB? So basically their point about compressed data and unlimited is irrelevant? I still end up paying the same price with iphone.
i receive around 50 emails by day too. a bit of browsing. So basically i am like Ben. Some attachment might be file of 450 kb. Does the iphone automatically download them too or can I download the ones i want? Would my bill mention the number of MB so I can adjust?

Thanks

[Magnus]

Originally Posted by solerfuture

And who really browse on BB?

I do, quite a bit, sure mostly RSS feeds with Google Reader, but still... I also check EmiratesMac.com and Shufflegazine - Apple Lifestyle Magazine quite a bit on the Berry.

[bence8810]

Originally Posted by solerfuture

So basically i am like Ben. Some attachment might be file of 450 kb. Does the iphone automatically download them too or can I download the ones i want? Would my bill mention the number of MB so I can adjust?

Thanks

No, the iPhone does not download the attachment by default. It will display an icon at the end of the email, which if clicked will trigger the download.

Cheers

Ben

[kynddaze]

I use my iPhone for email (work and personal) as well as some browsing (minimal) and rss through netnewswire. I'm at about 10mb/day according to the usage stats. I could probably get it down to 200mb/month to fit into the pricing plans etisalat offers.

Having wifi at work would probably help a lot, though it would also eat up battery life. I keep my phone on edge unless I'm actively browsing. Battery life on the iPhone in general could be better, but that's a different story.

[solerfuture]

10MB/day? so it is 300MB/month. Yes it is exceeding 295 AED Etisalat plan.
Best is to keep it on Edge? Instead of what?

I am going to Mumbai this week. You think it is worth it to buy an sim unlocked iphone there?


Thanks

[chefmerrick]

in mumbai its 34,000Rupees