Going to UK for six months, iPhone 5 help

Dylatron2000 · Nov 17, 2012

After reading this thread : https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1491664/ it got me thinking about my situation coming up...

I live in NC currently and am studying abroad in London from January to June and I have an iPhone 5 on Verizon, and do not know what to do for a phone while I'm in the UK......

I know that just using my phone normally will be RIDICULOUSLY expensive so I am gonna try to stick to using it in airplane mode and only use wifi for stuff like imessage and apps and what not.

But I am asking if I can put in an international sim card (which one would be best?) and use it for local texting and calls where imessage wouldn't be usable.

Otherwise I could just use my iP5 as a glorified iPod touch and get a pay as you go phone (which has been recommended to me by a few people)

thanks in advance and sorry in advance if this has been asked a bunch before.

PharmDoc · Nov 17, 2012

I like Three's All-In-one plan which costs £15 and gives you 300 min, 3000 texts and unlimited data when I visit the UK. It's a PAYG plan so no contracts to sign.

darster · Nov 17, 2012

The verizon iphone is unlocked. As long as you can find a nanosim over there, you will be good to go.

Dylatron2000 · Nov 17, 2012

PharmDoc said:
I like Three's All-In-one plan which costs £15 and gives you 300 min, 3000 texts and unlimited data when I visit the UK. It's a PAYG plan so no contracts to sign.

that sounds like an awesome plan! Is this a whole phone device or a sim to put in my current phone?

iphonehype · Nov 17, 2012

Dylatron2000 said:
that sounds like an awesome plan! Is this a whole phone device or a sim to put in my current phone?

Its a SIM card you simply insert into the iPhone 5. As soon as you land, pop into your local Carphone Warehouse, and explain the situation to them they will sort you out!

Vundu · Nov 18, 2012

Order a GiffGaff sim before you go.

bandofbrothers · Nov 18, 2012

Each Network provides pay as you go nano sims in the Uk which are normally free if you order one online or call in to a network shop.

A network like 02 will ask you to put £10 onto the card before you leave the shop. This is then used as credit on the sim.

Ask whoever you know where your going to be in the Uk which network provides the strongest signal , as a really good bundle is useless without good signal !

Obviously ensure your iphone 5 will accept another networks sim too.

Lastly enjoy your stay here.

stridemat · Nov 18, 2012

OP have you thought about ringing up your current provider to see if you can 'freeze' your current contract?

LoloBond · Nov 18, 2012

stridemat said:
OP have you thought about ringing up your current provider to see if you can 'freeze' your current contract?

I was about to say that... OP you can put your line on hold for free online that way you don't get charge. If you dont know how to do it, call and have the rep guide you... other wise Verizon charge $15 to do it over the phone.

hvfsl · Nov 18, 2012

Can you actually use that phone in the UK? It was my understanding that it is a CDMA model, so it won't work on UK 3G GSM networks.

tomjleeds · Nov 18, 2012

hvfsl said:
Can you actually use that phone in the UK? It was my understanding that it is a CDMA model, so it won't work on UK 3G GSM networks.

From Apple site:

GSM model A1428*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 4 and 17)

CDMA model A1429*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)

GSM model A1429*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5)

Looks like it's only LTE which won't be available, and let's face it, that's not much of a loss at this point!

Dylatron2000 · Nov 29, 2012

Vundu said:
Order a GiffGaff sim before you go.

I know this thread is kinda dead but I just now looked into GiffGaff, how is the service on them? The £12 a month unlimited web, texts and 250 talk minutes sounds like my kind of plan exactly, but if service is ****** then I wont even bother....

Jtludwig · Nov 29, 2012

hvfsl said:
Can you actually use that phone in the UK? It was my understanding that it is a CDMA model, so it won't work on UK 3G GSM networks.

Your "understanding" shows a complete lack of "understanding".

Ever since the 4S, the Verizon and Sprint versions have had GSM capability as well.

bandofbrothers · Nov 29, 2012

Dylatron2000 said:
I know this thread is kinda dead but I just now looked into GiffGaff, how is the service on them? The £12 a month unlimited web, texts and 250 talk minutes sounds like my kind of plan exactly, but if service is ****** then I wont even bother....

Why not order a free giff gaff SIM card from their home page.

Put a £10 on not to activate it and give it a go for a period of say a week where you reside and work.

Then if alls ok commit.

If you have friends or family on that network and then ask them and also take an look at the forums giff gaff users are talking in.

stridemat · Nov 29, 2012

Dylatron2000 said:
I know this thread is kinda dead but I just now looked into GiffGaff, how is the service on them? The £12 a month unlimited web, texts and 250 talk minutes sounds like my kind of plan exactly, but if service is ****** then I wont even bother....

It's on the O2 network, so one of the larger mobile networks.

greenyoga · Nov 29, 2012

darster said:
The verizon iphone is unlocked. As long as you can find a nanosim over there, you will be good to go.

Agree...

JaySoul · Nov 29, 2012

Dylatron2000 said:
I know this thread is kinda dead but I just now looked into GiffGaff, how is the service on them? The £12 a month unlimited web, texts and 250 talk minutes sounds like my kind of plan exactly, but if service is ****** then I wont even bother....

Hey mate.

I've been on O2 for 4 years, the network service is fine, but got messed around by their customer services badly, so recently decided to leave.

I've just moved to GiffGaff, and have the £12 a month deal. Really impressed, much cheaper than O2 and it uses their network anyway. The Unlimited Data is a killer feature.

Got sent a free nanosim for my iPhone 5. Can fully recommend.

Dylatron2000 · Nov 30, 2012

JaySoul said:
Hey mate.

I've been on O2 for 4 years, the network service is fine, but got messed around by their customer services badly, so recently decided to leave.

I've just moved to GiffGaff, and have the £12 a month deal. Really impressed, much cheaper than O2 and it uses their network anyway. The Unlimited Data is a killer feature.

Got sent a free nanosim for my iPhone 5. Can fully recommend.

Sweet! Yeah I think I'm gonna do that, I move in around january 15ish so as soon as I get my apartment I will order it, I really didn't want to get another phone so this is awesome.

JaySoul · Dec 1, 2012

Dylatron2000 said:
Sweet! Yeah I think I'm gonna do that, I move in around january 15ish so as soon as I get my apartment I will order it, I really didn't want to get another phone so this is awesome.

No problem! Good luck with the move man!

nickchallis92 · Dec 1, 2012

you must use the Three £15 plan! easily the best and the internet speeds are outrageous!

alphaod · Dec 1, 2012

tomjleeds said:
From Apple site:

Looks like it's only LTE which won't be available, and let's face it, that's not much of a loss at this point!

The Verizon iPhone 5 is the same as the UK iPhone 5 (just the UK version has CDMA disabled).

Going to UK for six months, iPhone 5 help

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