International Travel w/Verizon 4S?

[CosmoPilot]

Wirelessly posted

I have AT&T mainly because I'm constantly traveling overseas where GSM is prevalent. Works great!

The family is putting pressure on me to switch to Verizon (coverage is better where I live). However, I'm concerned about how the 4S works overseas. Do you have to do anything special to get a GSM connection overseas? I understand the 4S has a universal antenna (GSM / CDMA). My question is when departing the US (Verizon-CDMA) and arriving overseas (GSM), does the phone automatically pick up available networks or do you have to change settings, SIM card, etc?

Thanks in advance.

 

[eastercat]

After about two months as a verizon customer, you can request an international unlock. Until then, you have to roam with Verizon's gsm partners. After the unlock, you can insert any non-US sim card. Depending on the provider, you might have to change apn settings.

 

[CosmoPilot]

After about three months as a verizon customer, you can request an international unlock. Until then, you have to roam with Verizon's gsm partners. After the unlock, you can insert any non-US sim card. Depending on the provider, you might have to change apn settings.

Thanks, but in terms of special settings on the phone, everything I transparent in terms of the phone finding available carriers?

 

[reclusive46]

Thanks, but in terms of special settings on the phone, everything I transparent in terms of the phone finding available carriers?

Verizon gives you a GSM sim card when you get your phone. You just leave it in your phone. It'll roam on any GSM international network just like it does with you on AT&T.

 

[eastercat]

I don't understand what you're asking.
Are you asking about apn settings?

Thanks, but in terms of special settings on the phone, everything I transparent in terms of the phone finding available carriers?

 

[gngan]

Wirelessly posted
My question is when departing the US (Verizon-CDMA) and arriving overseas (GSM), does the phone automatically pick up available networks or do you have to change settings, SIM card, etc?

Thanks in advance.

It should automatically pick up available networks WITHOUT you doing any settings. Note that it will cost more if you are using Verizon's GSM partners overseas. So if you can unlock it for international use then it's better to get a prepaid card overseas.

 

[b24pgg]

After about three months as a verizon customer, you can request an international unlock.

Just nitpicking here but technically you only have to wait 60 days.

in terms of special settings on the phone, everything I transparent in terms of the phone finding available carriers?

Yes. Once you insert a GSM micro SIM, a "Network Selection" menu appears in Settings that allows you to choose a GSM carrier. This menu is hidden when you are on Verizon and there is no GSM SIM installed.

The phone will not activate on Verizon while a GSM SIM is installed; for some reason GSM "overrides" CDMA so you can't just switch back and forth between Verizon and a GSM network unless you take out the SIM.

(This is assuming your device is unlocked and you're not using Verizon's SIM that is obscenely overpriced)

 

[kdarling]

Read this Apple forum thread to its end.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3438489?start=0&tstart=0

 

[CosmoPilot]

Yes. Once you insert a GSM micro SIM, a "Network Selection" menu appears in Settings that allows you to choose a GSM carrier. This menu is hidden when you are on Verizon and there is no GSM SIM installed.

The phone will not activate on Verizon while a GSM SIM is installed; for some reason GSM "overrides" CDMA so you can't just switch back and forth between Verizon and a GSM network unless you take out the SIM.

(This is assuming your device is unlocked and you're not using Verizon's SIM that is obscenely overpriced)

This is the info I was looking for. Kinda sucks not being able to leave the SIM card in while in the US.

 

[mlmwalt]

My 4s worked fine in Montpellier, France when I was there. After seeing my bill, I should've gotten a local GSM sim card. :'(

 

[eastercat]

Thanks for the correction. I also fixed it in my post. I couldn't remember the exact amount of time and for some reason 90 days got stuck in my head.

Just nitpicking here but technically you only have to wait 60 days.

 

[Daveoc64]

This is the info I was looking for. Kinda sucks not being able to leave the SIM card in while in the US.

Potentially, the phone could then try and use the international SIM to roam on a GSM/UMTS network in the US.

Such a situation would obviously be confusing and costly.

 

[dontwalkhand]

The only difference here is you're really going to hate how Verizon handles call waiting. Other than that, your international roaming should be exactly the same as AT&T.