Traveling on Verizon iPhone

[gtgrad95]

If you do a lot of international traveling, will it be difficult to get service outside of North America with the CDMA based iPhone? I know most of Europe uses GSM and CDMA might be available in some cities, but is it available everywhere?

What about Australia where another thread claims that it's all GSM now?

Does owning a Verizon iPhone handicap the international travelers?

 

[dukebound85]

Yes, it will make is next to impossible

 

[NKT]

Depends on where you travel.

 

[kdarling]

Depends on the country. About 40 do use CDMA, mostly in the western hemisphere and parts of eastern europe and asia... but not western Europe.

Ironically, many ATT iPhone owners turn off their radios when traveling to prevent huge fees, since the stock phone is locked and can't use local SIMs.

Therefore many Americans buy a cheap throwaway GSM phone for use when traveling.

 

[gtgrad95]

Depends on the country. About 40 do use CDMA, mostly in the western hemisphere and parts of eastern europe and asia... but not western Europe.

Ironically, many ATT iPhone owners turn off their radios when traveling to prevent huge fees, since the stock phone is locked and can't use local SIMs.

Therefore many Americans buy a cheap throwaway GSM phone for use when traveling.

Good info, although many people have jailbreaked/unlocked their AT&T phone to be able to use local SIMs. Even if they don't, they know that they will still at least get cell service anywhere they go.

However, with the Verizon phone you are bound to the technology offered locally and if there is no CDMA available, there isn't much you can do. I think that is a huge drawback.

 

[NKT]

Good info, although many people have jailbreaked/unlocked their AT&T phone to be able to use local SIMs. Even if they don't, they know that they will still at least get cell service anywhere they go.

However, with the Verizon phone you are bound to the technology offered locally and if there is no CDMA available, there isn't much you can do. I think that is a huge drawback.

Then the Verizon iPhone isn't for you. If you have Verizon and travel they have world phones.

Otherwise, as kdarling said, it's often times cheaper and easier to get a device locally.

 

[kdarling]

I've owned several Verizon world phones; it's too bad the iPhone isn't one.

A lot depends on your priorities. Is it more important to have reliable service at home in the USA, or to be able use the same phone overseas?

It's like a Hummer makes sense in many parts of the USA, but a terrible choice for many European city streets. You use what works best, unless you can only afford one type.