Verizon in Germany

[pstylesss]

My brother is going to be stationed in Germany once basic is done and we are currently on a family plan, and I would like to keep us all on the family plan (3 of us) because it's cheaper. I get a government discount on the plan and so would he, whichever is cheaper. Anyway, does anyone know if Verizon works in Germany and if so how well? I know the Blackberry 8800 is a world phone that's a CDMA/GSM hybrid (right?).

Well, you get the idea. Can anyone offer any advice?

 

[aesthetics]

Tell him I'm proud of him.

 

[pstylesss]

Originally posted by: aesthetics

Quit quoting peoples name. Fuck.

 

[miri]

Verizon phones wont work in Europe

 

[pstylesss]

Originally posted by: miri
Verizon phones wont work in Europe

A quick Google search says you're misinformed.

BUT I'm expanding my question to ANY good carrier in Germany. We'd like him to keep his US number... I don't know how that would work though with calling EU numbers, if he could have 2 numbers on his phone, etc.

Any help at all is appreciated.

 

[Ballatician]

Maybe the Gadgets Gear and Phones forum will yield more responses.

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ

Originally posted by: miri
Verizon phones wont work in Europe

A quick Google search says you're misinformed.

BUT I'm expanding my question to ANY good carrier in Germany. We'd like him to keep his US number... I don't know how that would work though with calling EU numbers, if he could have 2 numbers on his phone, etc.

Any help at all is appreciated.

Well you would suffer a few problems (how people don't get this I'll never understand)

1. Roaming
2. Everything calling anywhere (including home within his own area code) will be long distance.
3. If Verizon is GSM or he has a worldphone, his phone won't work.

I doubt it will be cheaper, and to be perfectly honest, anyone he meets over there will not want to call him on his mobile if they have to call long distance to do it.

 

[akshatp]

Tell him to get a local pay as you go SIM card and a cheap GSM phone. Using his US phone there will be very very expensive. (whether it works or not is a different issue)

 

[Colt45]

CDMA doesn't exist
Verizon doesn't exist.

So, if for some reason, you wanted to use the verizon phone, and it magically was able to roam on GSM, you'd still be paying $4/min for local calls.

Cheap GSM phone, german sim card, done. Leave the other phone stateside.
Plus incoming calls are free when not roaming, on every european carrier I've ever used. kinda nice.

 

[QueBert]

Verizon does have 2 phones that support both CDMA & GSM, but the cost to use it in Germany would probably be horrible lol.

 

[pstylesss]

Thanks guys that's what I'm finding in general - that the "world phones" work but cost an arm and a leg. What options will he have there for carriers? Also, can he keep his US phone # and his EU phone number on the same phone? And I'll want him setup with a blackberry.

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
Thanks guys that's what I'm finding in general - that the "world phones" work but cost an arm and a leg. What options will he have there for carriers? Also, can he keep his US phone # and his EU phone number on the same phone? And I'll want him setup with a blackberry.

Buy the Moto v195 here and have it unlocked.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Nah. Just about everything is GSM over there. Besides, the roaming charges would be insane.

He's best getting a pay-as-you-go phone/SIM card with T-Mobile or O2 Loop. He can buy a long-distance calling card. A few Euro buys a few hundred minutes of talk time.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Half of the people replying are completely ignoring the specifics of your question; I'll try and help.

I'm not familiar with VZW's BB 8800, but let's assume it's a CDMA/GSM hybrid like you say (with only foreign GSM frequencies, 900/1800). He'll be paying upwards of $1 a minute to use the phone in Germany, and will simply be roaming on some local GSM network Verizon has an agreement with. He won't be able to use two numbers in the phone at the same time, since IIRC Verizon gives you a SIM card to use abroad in their "hybrid" phones; the CDMA ESN (what identifies the phone on VZW's network) does nothing when overseas. The best option is to take a cheap as shit unlocked GSM phone over there and buy a prepaid German T-Mobile SIM when you get there; watch out for the Motorola V195 deal, T-Mobile USA only unlocks your phone for you if you've been a customer for 90 days. If you have any T-Mobile friends, have them call it in as if it is their phone.

Cliffs:
If he wants to use the VZW phone, it will ONLY function with the US number, and will be expensive as balls
Carry a cheap GSM phone with a "Deutsch Telekom" SIM card or both phones, avoid using the VZW phone as much as possible

 

[preslove]

1. Verizon does not exist in Germany. I have no idea where you're getting your info, but really, if somehow a verizon phone works over there it will be hideously expensive.
2. While traveling in Germany I wanted to get a cheap sim card to use on my unlocked gsm phone to call the US. It turns out that the international cell phone rates over there are just about the worst in western Europe. I think it was around a Euro a minute, or something pathetic like that.
3. The only cheap ways (for a civilian) to call the US in Germany are to either get an international phone card, or to go to an internet/phone cafe where you pay by the minute to call the US. I think it's around 10 (euro) cents a minute, if I remember correctly.
4. There may be (or, I would assume so) a cheaper alternative open to military personnel. Have your brother investigate this.

But really, using verizon would just be plain stupid.