International Phone service - short time need

beertestr

beertestr

Club Member
I'll be in Europe later this summer for about 2 weeks, and am looking at options for having my smartphone usable over there. My Droid Turbo2 is compatible over there, and Verizon has a few international options but I wonder about just changing SIM cards while over there.
Verizon has a $40/month service, but it's 100 minute, 100 outgoing texts (unlimited incoming), and 100MB. 100 MB seems light, as I am not sure how available free WIFI is, heck, you have to pay to use a toilet over there (perhaps a bad correlation)..
They also have a pretty open plan, at $10/day for the countries I'll visit in Europe.

Anybody with experience doing this? Is getting a SIM card over there a better option?
 
Best bet get a sim card in the country you are visiting. You'll have a different phone number.
 
beertestr said:
I'll be in Europe later this summer for about 2 weeks, and am looking at options for having my smartphone usable over there. My Droid Turbo2 is compatible over there, and Verizon has a few international options but I wonder about just changing SIM cards while over there.
Verizon has a $40/month service, but it's 100 minute, 100 outgoing texts (unlimited incoming), and 100MB. 100 MB seems light, as I am not sure how available free WIFI is, heck, you have to pay to use a toilet over there (perhaps a bad correlation)..
They also have a pretty open plan, at $10/day for the countries I'll visit in Europe.

Anybody with experience doing this? Is getting a SIM card over there a better option?
Click to expand...

Tmobile offers free international roaming data and cheap calls on their postpaid plans. I have used the crap out of mine and never had an extra charge. It might be worth looking into a tmobile line for 1 month.

http://www.t-mobile.com/optional-services/roaming.html
 
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I've done quite a bit of personal travel (read: not using the company cell) throughout all but Eastern Europe. What countries are you going to be in? This topic can be complicated & painful.

Generally speaking, free wifi opportunities are about the same as here -- Mcdonalds, Starbucks, some restaurants, hotels, etc. Your cheapest option, if it's good enough, is to take your current Droid over there, keep it on airplane mode the entire time, and only use free wifi when available. Load the Skype app w/ ~$10 credit, and call whomever (US, Europe, etc.) as needed. The downside is that you will only have coverage when there's free wifi, and no dedicated phone # for people to call you. It's pretty much outbound calls only.

If you're only visiting 1 country, and you really want normal cell service, then I would take an UNLOCKED GSM phone over there with you. After you land, hit the local cell phone or tobacco store and buy a prepaid SIM card. You can likely get a 1 month, couple hundred minute, 1-2 GB PP SIM for ~$50 depending on the country. Shop online before you go and have a plan (where to get it, which carrier has best deal you want, etc...

If you're visiting multiple countries for short stays in each, you're generally screwed. The EU is not like the US where there's EU-wide coverage w/o roaming. Carriers are typically unique per country, and even the bigger ones like Vodafone, often treat each country separately. If you search online, there are some "companies" that offer multiple-country SIMs for premium cost, but I'm honestly not sure how well they work. Personally, I suspect they are more scam than value.

T-Mobile's Simple Choice plan does offer free roaming, but you have to sign up for monthly service, although it can be cancelled after you get back (double check). I did this once for my iPad in the UK, and while better than nothing, 8 times out of 10 I had no signal, and when I did the data service was very very slow. As in OK for email, but good luck browsing web sites.

The easiest solution is to just add an international plan to your US phone and use it... but as has already been mentioned, don't be surprised to come home to a $1-2k bill.
 
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NBFRC said:
Tmobile offers free international roaming data and cheap calls on their postpaid plans. I have used the crap out of mine and never had an extra charge. It might be worth looking into a tmobile line for 1 month.

http://www.t-mobile.com/optional-services/roaming.html
Click to expand...

This!
I used this in Japan for a few months, $30 a month...
You are right, you do also have to pay for wifi there everywhere in Europe, at least that is how it was a few years ago when I was there also.

Also, if you have a friend with Tmobile, see if you can get on their account with a SIM for your trip. I think it goes to $20.
 
France, GB, Netherlands, Italy. If I need to get a different card for each country, the $40 Verizon plan works better I guess.

Good point on Skype, that will add usage if needed.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
Groove ip combined with a Google voice number. Turn on airplane mode and wifi and call away for free. U can even text with it now. Anything important i tell people to Facebook/email me and i can pick it up anywhere and reply.
 
As stated, Call your provider, tell them to unlock your phone. Once in the country your visiting, purchase a Sim card and insert. Enjoy.

The unlock they are providing is a provider unlock, which they can do. Not a boot loader unlock.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk 2
 
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