iPhone 4 and wifi

jdathey

I live in the US and I'll be visiting Ireland in October. I just found out that my iPhone 4 (Verizon) is not a "global device" so I won't be able to make or receive calls while I'm there. What about the wifi connection? Will it connect to unsecured wireless networks in Ireland just as it does here? And how wired is Ireland? Staying in Dublin, Killarney, Westport and Shannon.

guil

There shouldn't be a problem connecting to wifi

cookie1977

You could still bring it and use it on wifi networks and use skype etc. Which is probably a cheaper way to use a device while roaming. Most hotels and many coffee shops (incl. McDonalds) have wifi (usually free for guests/customers).

seaniefr

jdathey wrote: »

I live in the US and I'll be visiting Ireland in October. I just found out that my iPhone 4 (Verizon) is not a "global device" so I won't be able to make or receive calls while I'm there. What about the wifi connection? Will it connect to unsecured wireless networks in Ireland just as it does here? And how wired is Ireland? Staying in Dublin, Killarney, Westport and Shannon.

Don't know about the 'Global Device' bit that sounds strange for a phone that is sold sim free world wide! Maybe it's your Verizon package.
As for Ireland most if not all hotels have free wifi. There is another option you can use which i do when i am travelling (Boingo mobile) it's something like 7 or 8 dollars a month & works on the Eircom (Irish telecoms provider) wifi network and partners with a few others that i can't remember.

http://mobile.boingo.com/
I have used it in Heathrow, Perth Airport, Shannon ( not sure about Dublin)

cookie1977

seaniefr wrote: »

Don't know about the 'Global Device' bit that sounds strange for a phone that is sold sim free world wide! Maybe it's your Verizon package.
As for Ireland most if not all hotels have free wifi. There is another option you can use which i do when i am travelling (Boingo mobile) it's something like 7 or 8 dollars a month & works on the Eircom (Irish telecoms provider) wifi network and partners with a few others that i can't remember.

http://mobile.boingo.com/
I have used it in Heathrow, Perth Airport, Shannon ( not sure about Dublin)

Verizon devices are cdma (non gsm) and so wont work in Europe

seaniefr

cookie1977 wrote: »

You could still bring it and use it on wifi networks and use skype etc. Which is probably a cheaper way to use a device while roaming. Most hotels and many coffee shops (incl. McDonalds) have wifi (usually free for guests/customers).

McDonalds down Limerick/Cork will give you a ticket that allows you a half hour's usage
There is also a really handy little program called Viber for free calls/texts to other Viber users.

seaniefr

cookie1977 wrote: »

Verizon devices are cdma (non gsm) and so wont work in Europe

Didn't know that are they any cheaper?

cookie1977

No cheaper. Just many networks in North America are CDMA as opposed to GSM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_division_multiple_access

jdathey

I don't understand. Why would I need something like Boingo if my device is wifi capable and I can access hot spots already?

coylemj

jdathey wrote: »

I don't understand. Why would I need something like Boingo if my device is wifi capable and I can access hot spots already?

If you're happy to rely on free Wi-Fi hotspots in Starbucks, McDonalds etc. then you don't need Boingo but you may find that free hotspots aren't as numerous in Ireland as they are in the US. They are being rolled out progressively however so more and more smaller cafes and bars now offer free connection.

Most decent hotels either have free Wi-Fi or will happily give you the password to connect. You will usually find that there is no Wi-Fi in the rooms which typically have network ports so you may have to do your e-mail from the lobby or the hotel bar. If you're booking a hotel, ask if they have Internet and establish that it is free - don't assume 'Internet' on their website implies free connection. If you can avoid hotels that use a company called Bitbuzz I would do so, the connection requires accepting Ts & Cs every 10 minutes and is a real pain to use on an iTouch which is effectively what you will be using i.e. an iPhone with no phone connection.

I've looked at the Boingo website and there is a surprising lack of information as to where their hotspots are located, can't see why anyone would pay a subscription without knowing where they can connect. In fact the Boingo 'website' appears to consist of only one page!

The only places in this part of the world where you are guaranteed not to be able to get free Wi-Fi is in airports, unless you have access to one of the executive lounges.

nava

coylemj wrote: »

I've looked at the Boingo website and there is a surprising lack of information as to where their hotspots are located, can't see why anyone would pay a subscription without knowing where they can connect. In fact the Boingo 'website' appears to consist of only one page!

The only places in this part of the world where you are guaranteed not to be able to get free Wi-Fi is in airports, unless you have access to one of the executive lounges.

If you look at the top you should see locations with a detail list of all there locations.

coylemj

nava wrote: »

If you look at the top you should see locations with a detail list of all there locations.

Thanks, didn't spot it stuck to the top of the screen in small characters.

Taking two of the places the OP is planning to visit - Westport and Killarney...

Boingo list three locations in Westport, two hotels and a coffee shop. Both of the hotels (Hotel Westport and Westport Inn) list free Wi-Fi on their websites among their facilities. The coffee shop makes no mention of Wi-Fi but nor do they mention anything else, coffee or otherwise.

In Killarney all of the (3) hotels I checked already have free Wi-Fi, at least in the public ground floor areas.

OP take note: if you're staying in the Malton (formerly the Great Southern) Hotel in Killarney, don't forget to bring your 14.4 modem because they boast 'Dial-up Internet can be accessed from all rooms'! http://www.themalton.com/rooms-and-suites/

However they do say that there is complimentary internet access in the library, they don't say if that's desktop PCs available for guest use or free Wi-Fi. If you're going to Killarney it's worth considering by the way, it's a very elegant top notch hotel as you'll see from the photos.

jdathey

"OP take note: if you're staying in the Malton (formerly the Great Southern) Hotel in Killarney, don't forget to bring your 14.4 modem because they boast 'Dial-up Internet can be accessed from all rooms"

That is too funny!

The hotels we are staying in are already booked. I checked their web sites.

Grafton Capital (Dublin) - "Broadband wifi available in public areas"
International (Killarney) - "Wireless internet access is

available to guests in public areas, and in most guest

rooms."
Hotel Wesport (Westport) - According to the brochure, all rooms have complimentary wi-fi access.
Old Ground (Ennis) - Couldn't find any info. Only staying one night before flight home out of Shannon.

Thanks to all. I've got some thinking to do. :cool:

coylemj

The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis claims under 'Guest Services' to have 'Wireless Internet Access', they don't say if it's free or not but see note below re Tripadvisor.

http://www.flynnhotels.com/Old_Ground_Hotel_Ennis/Hotel_Accommodation/Guest_Services

Edit: The 'Hotel Amenities' list (supplied by the hotel) on Tripadvisor includes 'Free High Speed Internet'.

Click on 'Hotel Amenities' immediately below the name of the hotel.....

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186597-d212824-Reviews-The_Old_Ground-Ennis_County_Clare.html

Shannon Airport website says they have free Wi-Fi...

http://www.shannonairport.com/gns/at-the-airport/facilities-services/internet-access.aspx

seaniefr

coylemj wrote: »

If you're happy to rely on free Wi-Fi hotspots in Starbucks, McDonalds etc. then you don't need Boingo but you may find that free hotspots aren't as numerous in Ireland as they are in the US. They are being rolled out progressively however so more and more smaller cafes and bars now offer free connection.

Most decent hotels either have free Wi-Fi or will happily give you the password to connect. You will usually find that there is no Wi-Fi in the rooms which typically have network ports so you may have to do your e-mail from the lobby or the hotel bar. If you're booking a hotel, ask if they have Internet and establish that it is free - don't assume 'Internet' on their website implies free connection. If you can avoid hotels that use a company called Bitbuzz I would do so, the connection requires accepting Ts & Cs every 10 minutes and is a real pain to use on an iTouch which is effectively what you will be using i.e. an iPhone with no phone connection.

I've looked at the Boingo website and there is a surprising lack of information as to where their hotspots are located, can't see why anyone would pay a subscription without knowing where they can connect. In fact the Boingo 'website' appears to consist of only one page!

The only places in this part of the world where you are guaranteed not to be able to get free Wi-Fi is in airports, unless you have access to one of the executive lounges.

I have used Boingo on the Bitbuzz network, Eircom network, Stansted airport, Shannon airport & Heathrow & whatever network is in Arrecife Airport in Lanzarote( T-mobile i think) ((think i mentioned some of these already)) you do get free wifi in some areas of airports but to be honest i think it was absolute cr*p which is why i signed up for Boingo while travelling and havent bothered to drop it as i fly quite a bit and was not going to be paying for one login what i pay Boingo every month for a sub!

seaniefr

seaniefr wrote: »

I have used Boingo on the Bitbuzz network, Eircom network, Stansted airport, Shannon airport & Heathrow & whatever network is in Arrecife Airport in Lanzarote( T-mobile i think) ((think i mentioned some of these already)) you do get free wifi in some areas of airports but to be honest i think it was absolute cr*p which is why i signed up for Boingo while travelling and havent bothered to drop it as i fly quite a bit and was not going to be paying for one login what i pay Boingo every month for a sub!

I see what one of the previous posters means by the Boingo mobile website its rubbish.
However, all the locations that i listed i have used in the last 6 months and there doesnt seem to be any limit as we have the same app settings on my wife's iphone also and the bill is always the same ($7.95 USD)

jdathey

I think I may sign up for Boingo in October and cancel it at the end of the month if they allow me to. I don't travel that much so I woouldn't really need it for more than that.