You can use iPhone to make calls in many countries around the world.
Contact your carrier for information about availability and fees.
In Settings, tap Phone, then turn International Assist on. This lets you make calls to your home country using the numbers in your contacts and favorites, without having to add a prefix or your country code. International Assist works for U.S. telephone numbers only.
When you make a call using International Assist, “International Assist” appears on the iPhone screen, alternating with the “calling ...” message, until your call is connected.
NOTE: International Assist is not available in all areas.
In Settings, tap Carrier, then select the carrier you prefer. This option is available only when you’re traveling outside your carrier’s network. You can make calls only on carriers that have roaming agreements with your iPhone service provider. For more information, see Carrier.
IMPORTANT: Voice and data roaming charges may apply. To avoid data roaming charges, turn Data Roaming off.
In Settings, choose General > Network and turn Data Roaming on or off. Data Roaming is turned off by default.
Turning Data Roaming off helps to avoid data roaming charges when traveling outside your carrier’s network by disabling data transmission over the cellular network. You can still access the Internet if you have a Wi-Fi connection. If Wi-Fi network access isn’t available, however, you cannot:
Send or receive email
Browse the Internet
Sync your contacts, calendars, or bookmarks with MobileMe or Exchange
Stream YouTube videos
Get stock quotes
Get map locations
Get weather reports
Purchase music or applications
Other third-party applications that use data roaming may also be disabled.
If Data Roaming is turned off, you can still make and receive phone calls, and send and receive text messages. Voice roaming charges may apply. Visual voicemail is delivered if there’s no charge; if your carrier charges for delivery of visual voicemail when roaming, turning Data Roaming off prevents the delivery of visual voicemail.
To enable email, web browsing, and other data services, turn Data Roaming on.
IMPORTANT: If Data Roaming is turned on, you may incur charges when roaming outside your carrier’s network for the use of any of the features listed above, as well as for delivery of visual voicemail. Check with your carrier for information about roaming charges.
Dial your own number, or touch and hold “1” on the keypad.
You can use Airplane Mode to turn off cellular services and then turn Wi-Fi on to get access to the Internet, while preventing voice roaming charges.
In Settings, tap Airplane Mode to turn it on, then tap Wi-Fi and turn Wi-Fi on. See Airplane Mode.
Incoming phone calls are sent to voicemail. To make and receive calls again and get your voicemail messages, turn Airplane Mode off.