Using phones in America

[VickyKibble]

Hello, I will be visiting America and wondered what the process was for enabling calls etc whilst there. Also, is it still possible to gift data to other family members who will also be with us? Thanks in advance. 

[bristolian]

Your ability to get coverage abroad (which calls, texts & mobile data rely on) is dependent on roaming being activated - which allows your phone to connect to foreign networks.

On PAYG, this is auto-enabled once your phone is used in the UK first.
On pay-monthly, this needs to be enabled manually - usually by texting ROAMING to 150 before leaving the UK.

[XRaySpeX]

Outside the EU, if you are on contract, you may use your usual UK allowances there with up to 50 GB data per billing month if you have more, when you buy for £25 / billing month or have already as a Smart Benefit the Roam Abroad Pass or you have an EE Max Plan. Otherwise you will need to pay the charges or buy roaming add-ons as set out in https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/roaming-costs/countries/usa.

With the Roam Abroad Pass data may be gifted to others who are also in countries where they may also use their UK allowances.