Explain international cell phone use to me please

[dullard]

Ok, I have a Samsung Renown phone (quad-band, supposedly works in about 200 countries) on Verizon (supposedly has coverage in the countries that I usually visit). What exactly do I need to use it internationally? Are these the three steps?
1) Enable international roaming with Verizon.
2) Enable international calling with Verizon.
3) Buy a SIM card in every country.

Or is there something else that needs to be done?


Moved from OT

ATOT Moderator ElFenix

 

[HAL9000]

Ok, I have a Samsung Renown phone (quad-band, supposedly works in about 200 countries) on Verizon (supposedly has coverage in the countries that I usually visit). What exactly do I need to use it internationally? Are these the three steps?
1) Enable international roaming with Verizon.
2) Enable international calling with Verizon.
3) Buy a SIM card in every country.

Or is there something else that needs to be done?


Moved from OT

ATOT Moderator ElFenix

Firstly I heard that Verizon Doesn't use SIM cards, secondly, if you are using a different SIM card why would you need to enable anything with verizon???

 

[ElFenix]

iirc, if you buy a SIM card in each country you will be using the minutes built into that SIM. if you keep your verizon SIM you'll be roaming with verizon's $$$ international roaming rates.

 

[zokudu]

If I understand correctly Verzion has CDMA coverage in these countries at these prices.

To use that you just have to contact Verizon and enable international roaming. Because your phone is quad-band and can be used on a GSM network you could choose to purchase a prepaid SIM from a local cellular provider to utilize their network and you would not need anything from Verizon themselves.

Its an either or kind of thing.

 

[trmiv]

The phone will need to be unlocked to be able to use it with a SIM other than the Verizon one. You should be able to call Verizon Global Services and have them unlock it for you.

 

[pm]

So, what everyone else said - especially Zokuku.

First you need to decide if where you are going has a CDMA network. If it does, then you need to choose whether you want to make calls on Verizon's network partner at Verizon's international rates, or whether you want to use a local prepaid SIM.

The advantage of making a call on Verizon's international roaming system is that your number will work overseas - so if someone in the US wants to call you, it will ring through. The disadvantage is that it will cost a lot of money. Where "a lot" is normally $0.50 - $2 per minute. And data is usually completely outrageous - and by "outrageous" I mean like $0.05/kB, which means that loading Engadget.com's webpage would cost about $25.

The alternative is to buy a prepaid SIM in which case you will get a local number and it will be a lot cheaper - particularly data. This is your only option if the country doesn't have a CDMA network that Verizon supports.

So if you go the Verizon international roaming route, you need to call Verizon and enable international roaming, and while you are there ask about their international calling plans. Usually for something like $5/month you can save a lot of money, and then call them afterwards and disable it when you get back.

If you want to go the prepaid SIM route, you need to call Verizon and make sure that your phone is unlocked for GSM networks.

I really like accessing data while I'm travelling because internationally, free WiFi access seems much harder to find than in the US, and I don't like doing things like checking my bank balance in an internet cafe. So because I use a lot of data, I always go with the prepaid SIM if I can.

 

[ew915]

The best thing if you travel is that you buy a nice unlocked phone or phones and purchase prepaid service at the country you visit because roaming charges are just plain highway robbery.

 

[dullard]

Thanks everyone. After talking to Verizon and failing miserably trying to call in a country that Verizon said would work, I turned to you for better explainations.

Firstly I heard that Verizon Doesn't use SIM cards, secondly, if you are using a different SIM card why would you need to enable anything with verizon???

Some Verizon phones have SIM cards. Here's a Verizon link to mine with SIM card directions: http://support.vzw.com/clc/devices/knowledge_base.html?id=21385