Wi-Fi Mobiles

[PapaBear]

I don't know if anyone can help on this one but I can not seem to get a straight answer from the mobile networks so here goes.

If I have a mobile with a wi-fi chip in it to connect to wireless networks do I get billed for using them. For instance if I am in my own home on the wireless network that I pay the bill for that is totally unrelated to my phone operator. Can I connect to that network as if my phone was a computer and use the internet without being charged for it?
Is not so much a concern for in the UK as I will just use 3g and the like but going to the states in a few months and would like to be able to put my phone on my friends home network to use the internet without being charged for it at stupid abroad rates!
Does that make sense?

[neilh]

Originally Posted by PapaBear

Can I connect to that network as if my phone was a computer and use the internet without being charged for it?

You should be able to, yes - providing it stays connected to the wi-fi network and doesn't drop back to a mobile data connection.

[MonkeyPony]

Short answer -Connecting to WIFI doesn't cost you a penny.

[finbar.taylor]

I've got the HTC Tytn 2 and I don't get billed when using the wifi connection. when abroad I was using the phone on wifi and using skype to make calls as it was cheeper.

Fin

ps the above phone is not waterproof though as I fond out!

[PapaBear]

Thanks guys. I couldnt see how they could bill me for using something that isn't the operators anyway. Just that every one of the network people I asked insisted that yes they could and it was better to buy the "im going to use my phone abroad so pay double to get half the useage" bolt on to cover myself.

Tools

[Arthur Gerla]

Originally Posted by neilh

You should be able to, yes - providing it stays connected to the wi-fi network and doesn't drop back to a mobile data connection.

Ditto. My phone generated several MB's of GPRS data traffic in Sharm the other week, despite being connected to a (apparently unreliable) wifi hotspot. If you can disable your gprs dialup, do so before connecting to the internet abroad.