Mobile data

[Ange90210]

My son has gone to Thailand and has bought a local Thai Sim with data. 

If I'm not connected to WiFi here in the UK and am using my mobile data (I have unlimited data in my pay monthly plan), am I charged to send WhatsApp messages to my son in Thailand on his Thai phone number? 

[AnnS]

WhatsApp uses data for voice and texts messaging @Ange90210 , a lot will depend on your monthly data allowance but providing you keep within the monthly allowance you will be fine and won't be charged anything extra.

If you are on a pay monthly plan, your data will be automatically capped and it will be impossible to go over the allowance without purchasing extra data, but you will receive a text notification before the limit is reached.  You can keep track of the allowance and any extra charges from your online account and Application, but there certainly won't be any extra out of bundle charges for sending an international text using WhatsApp.  For your information Vodafone do offer an international text message extra here: Vodafone Extras 

[Ange90210]

Thank you for your reply. I'm surprised that I won't be hit with additional charges to use my unlimited mobile data to WhatsApp a Thai phone number if I'm out and about in the UK rather than plumbed into my home WiFi. 

Are you sure, sure??

If you are, then obviously I'm delighted!!

I'm assuming though that using a standard text message to a Thai mobile phone number I am hit with charges, hence getting the international add on packages I can get? 

[AnnS]

Absolutely sure @Ange90210 , WhatsApp works internationally when you use the application you will be using your data allowance each and every time you send a message.

For you confirmation, try Google, there are also plenty of answers on the internet.

[Ange90210]

Thank you so much!

Curiously though, had my son stuck with his Vodafone UK sim which he has pay monthly unlimited data on, and whatsapped me from Thailand, he would be charged to use his data abroad. Is that right? 

[AnnS]

He would definitely be charged @Ange90210 , Vodafone would have made a daily charge of £6.00.  See here: Roaming Charge Checker , but if he used a WiFi connection providing he had turned off data roaming and mobile data and hadn't used his phone for anything else, he shouldn't pay the charge.

The advantage for you would be the phone can be anywhere in the World and you would still be calling and texting a UK mobile number and the use would come out of your allowance.

He has definitely made a good decision getting a local number.

[Ange90210]

Thank you again for the reply.

As long as me using my unlimited monthly mobile UK data in the UK, or use my home WiFi to WhatsApp him on his Thai number doesn't cause me charges, then that's good. 

So for a final reassurance, am I correct with what I've said above?

[AnnS]

Definitely @Ange90210 

[Ange90210]

Thank you!