For those who are not aware, when traveling overseas, AT&T will charge additional cost for data abroad.  As soon as I touched down in Nassau this past weekend, I received a free text message from AT&T, notifying me that an international data rate of $0.195/KB applies and that international data rates do not apply when outside the USA.

For example, opening an email with a 5 megapixel picture in it, or downloading a 3 minute video on YouTube, each takes about 2MB of data. The cost would be almost $40, based on pay-per-use international data rates of $.0195/KB.

The below is taken from the AT&T website and gives you some helpful tips.

• Turn Data Roaming “OFF”: Be sure to download and install the latest version of iPhone software from iTunes. By default, this setting for international data roaming will be in the “OFF” position.
  To turn data roaming “ON/OFF” tap on Settings>General>Network>Data Roaming
• Utilize Wi-Fi instead of 3G/GPRS/EDGE: Wi-Fi is available in many international airports, hotels and restaurants to browse the web or check email. 
• Turn Fetch New Data “OFF”: Check email and sync contacts and calendars manually instead of having the data pushed to your iPhone automatically. This way you can control the flow of data coming to your iPhone.
  To turn off the Auto-Check functionality tap on Settings>Fetch New Data, change Push to “OFF” and Select to Fetch Manually
• Consider Purchasing an International Data Package: Purchasing an international data package can significantly reduce the cost of using data abroad. AT&T now offers four discount international data packages.
  • $24.99 per month – 20 MB Data Global Plan (20 MB of usage in over 65 countries*. Overage is $.005/KB)
  • $59.99 per month – 50 MB Data Global Plan (50 MB of usage in over 65 countries*. Overage is $.005/KB)
  • $119.99 per month – 100 MB Data Global Plan¹ (100 MB of usage in over 65 countries*. Overage is $.005/KB)
  • $199.99 per month – 200 MB Data Global Plan¹ (200 MB of usage in over 65 countries*. Overage is $.005/KB)

¹ Available on the iPhone only. *for a list of countries visit att.com/dataconnectglobal for current information.

20MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $.005/KB within the over 65 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $.0195/KB.
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.
Call 1-800-331-0500 to sign up now.

50MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $.005/KB within the over 65 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $.010/KB.²
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.
Call 1-800-331-0500 to sign up now.

100MB Data Global Add-On¹
Overage rate is $.005/KB within the over 65 discounted countries.
Rates outside these discounted countries is $.010/KB.²
Does not include data usage with the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.
Call 1-800-331-0500 to sign up now.

200MB Data Global Add-On¹
Overage rate is  $.005/KB within the over 65 discounted countries.
Rates outside these discounted countries is $.010/KB.²
Does not include data usage with the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.
Call 1-800-331-0500 to sign up now.

¹ Available on the iPhone only.

² Rate outside the over 65 discounted countries is $.010/KB except in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Brunei, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Macau, Macedonia (former Yugoslavia), Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Venezuela where the rate is $.0195/KB.

I hope this helps anyone traveling abroad.