T-Mobile G1 Net Access Can't Be Turned Off, Results in Huge Roaming Costs

[jarubio]

Guys, if you travel internationally beware. A friend of mine just sent me this link. I travel internationally once or twice a year to visit family. I take my phone with me for emergency purposes only and only use it when I absolutely need to. This totally blows.

http://gizmodo.com/5100952/t+mobile-...-roaming-costs

[james74]

Yep, the James tipster is me. I was the one that got the bill. there is another thread floating around on this.

[kirizzle]

ummm....

setting-wireless controls-mobile networks- uncheck the data roaming box

edit: haha, i guess i should have read the article. That doesn't really make any sense. if the option is there, it should work

[rynosaur]

ummm....

setting-wireless controls-mobile networks- uncheck the data roaming box

Nope. Unless "james" we'll call him for now haha . . . was mistaken about his own G1 settings, he had data roaming off. Read the older thread on this.

[unknown.soul]

You can disable Edge/3G completely, just modify/delete all of the APN MMSCs. That's what I did when I didn't have a data plan (now I have the $25 plan and unlimited family messaging ).

[smoger]

thats strange... i have the data roaming turned off and when i was 3 hrs west of home up in the mountains a few weeks ago, it didn't so much as show a data icon.

in fact, when i moved into small pockets of tmobile coverage, and then left it again, i would receive a specific notification that the data had been disabled

[JRG1392]

Is it possible that the G1 thought that it was still connected to T-Mobile so that's why it didn't cut of the data even though it was T-Mobile UK not T-Mobile USA??

[NPS_CA]

James: Did you see a data icon in the top of the screen when on T-Mobile UK?
Don't feel bad BTW: We've had iPhone users knock up $1200 charges when roaming... so you're wasn't out of order. Did you complain enough to T-Mobile that data roaming was OFF and that it shouldn't have been connecting? If it DID connect then an OTA upgrade is in order or they will be shelling out for refunds later.

I just put a non US SIM in my T-Mobile G1 and it did NOT clamp to bind data - I even setup an APN for the roaming SIM. When I did turn on enable data while roaming then it DID enable data.

I'm wondering if you really had data roaming off (meaning on reset was it still off?)

BTW: On T-Mobile UK the GSM country id and net id in the network id number is different, so even though it shows "T-Mobile" it does have the roaming indicator active. I hope Google's APN connect method didn't do something silly like connect to the T-Mobile UK APN thinking it was a local APN and not roaming, would be a pretty bad software bug (All of T-Mobile network APN's are configured on the G1) - I have on a T-Mobile US sim been able to use the T-Mobile UK APN's before when there was a US network problem once and I was roaming in the UK on TMO.

I like the idea of AnyCut "Phone Info" , Click Menu, then select more and "Disable data on boot" to be sure. I'm in Singapore next week and I can see how well disabling Data Roaming works.

[jmejiaa]

When I went roaming last week, my phone very clearly said. YOu are now Roaming, would you like to disconnect data. I clicked yes. No roaming fees for me

[stopcrazypp]

Yep, the James tipster is me. I was the one that got the bill. there is another thread floating around on this.

If you haven't already, I also recommend disputing with the retention department. If your original claims were true I think if you explain the situation clearly you have a better chance of getting the charge written off.

At least forum members should know now and know to change the APN settings before travel to fully guarantee no data usage. T-mobile should have made this clear when opening your international calling & text plan.