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International Verizon
updated: Mar 07, 2013, 11:31 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

Does anyone have experience using the verizon iphone 4s internationally? Do you have to use the Verizon international roaming service? Any experience using Sim cards?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 382314	2013-03-07 11:46 AM
my verizon service has gotten very shotty around here. I cant stream music off of shoutcast anymore, it cuts out constantly. I am disapointed ! Anyone else been having these problems ?
COMMENT 382317P	2013-03-07 11:54 AM
"Shotty," unintentional malapropism/pun or not, is the word of the day, or month maybe, for sure if Edhat were ever to start such a category. I am definitely going to start using it.
COMMENT 382326	2013-03-07 12:30 PM
The map program is horrible. Use Google Maps.
COMMENT 382347	2013-03-07 01:33 PM
We're 0 for 4 on this thread.
COMMENT 382356	2013-03-07 01:45 PM
I went to England for biz - my I-Phone 4 did not work most of the time, a few times it popped up with "roaming" but every call went straight to VM. The place where I visited did not allow cell phones and had a signal blocker to enforce their point.....wish they had that here.
COMMENT 382359	2013-03-07 01:51 PM
Ask Verizon! They can tell you whether your phone is compatible with the cellular networks in the country or countries you plan to visit and what you'll need to do to make it work (add a SIM, etc.).
COMMENT 382360	2013-03-07 01:55 PM
Yes. I called Verizon to unlock the phone. They unlocked it and I had to plug it into my iTunes account to confirm unlocking (I have an iPhone 4S). When I arrived overseas all I did was to purchase a local pre-paid airtime/data SIM card, put it into my phone and presto I was connected. I had no problems the 3 weeks I was there, great call clarity and internet as I used one of the biggest cell phone providers in that country. When I returned to the USA I took out the overseas SIM card, put my Verizon SIM card back and was back on the Verizon network - no problem.
REXOFSB	2013-03-07 02:08 PM
@317P: "Shotty" is a medical term commonly used in describing the feel of lymph nodes when they are palpated through the skin. "Shotty" lymph nodes are ones that are not only hard and round but also small and usually not of consequence. Much like Verizon cellphone service.
COMMENT 382367	2013-03-07 02:11 PM
When I went to the uk, Italy, Czech Republic the phone would not work. But there were tons of places to use wifi so I could email, Facebook, or use FaceTime for free which was awesome. But be careful if roaming charges they can be thousands of dollars quickly if you are not careful!
COMMENT 382375	2013-03-07 02:27 PM
ditto 360 - simple call to Verizon to get the phone unlocked. Buy a local sim (Heathrow has vending machines in the arrival lounge carrying all of the local carriers) switch out the sim card and you are good to go with a new local number and minutes. If you're going to Canada or Mexico it's usually cheaper to upgrade your Verizon plan to include those countries and remove that feature when you return. Happy travels
COMMENT 382376	2013-03-07 02:28 PM
Wow, just wow. It's SHODDY, that's the word people are looking for to describe something that isn't working well.
COMMENT 382398	2013-03-07 03:14 PM
I used mine in Panama and received a bill for over $600. Caveat emptor
COMMENT 382411	2013-03-07 03:33 PM
It not Verizon it's your phone!
SBSRFR	2013-03-07 04:28 PM
Don't bother unlocking your phone.Buy a disposable phone with minutes and texting capabilties. Cheaper and they work fine.
COMMENT 382439	2013-03-07 04:31 PM
Does Verizon have sim cards? I thought they were CDMA phones (i.e. no SIM cards). OP: You are more likely to get some good feedback & tips on international travel if you look on message boards and just googling. Search with a few of the following: Verizon, iPhone, SIM, Roaming, Travel, & International (or where ever you're going), and go on message boards like Macrumors. This is more of a nation-wide question, rather than a local one, so you'll get lots of good advice asking this with a larger group of people.
COMMENT 382440	2013-03-07 04:37 PM
Phones that are on Verizon's 4G/LTE networks use SIM cards. Their 3G/EV-DO phones are CDMA. :)
COMMENT 382446	2013-03-07 04:53 PM
It's spotty, it means it works in some places but not others. Common of most all cell phones. Shoddy is something that is not well made or made of inferior materials. iphones seem to be a pretty decent product.
COMMENT 382474P	2013-03-07 05:53 PM
376: Uh, yes we know, but some of us have a sense of humor.
COMMENT 382516P	2013-03-07 07:56 PM
@474P: Thank you--I was starting to think that I was the only one who "got it."
COMMENT 382517	2013-03-07 07:57 PM
We took one to Japan, signed up for int'l plan and bought some int'l data (for maps) and it worked great.
COMMENT 382575	2013-03-08 07:28 AM
Older Verizon phones only worked in a few places outside the USA, because they use the weird and US-specific obsolete technology called CDMA to communicate with the base stations as opposed to the GSM used in most of the world. I am assured by people who have done it that my new Verizon iPhone 5 will work in most parts of the world because it works with both systems and is able to use most of the common frequency bands. Roaming charges can be outrageous if not contracted in advance. Now if only I could get the battery to hold a charge for more than a day . . . Don't know for sure about the iPhone 4s, but the consensus here seems to be that it works fine and is cheap too if you buy a local SIM or roaming plan. iPhones use a micro-SIM so vending machine SIM's from the aitport may not fit - best to buy from an agent who knows their iPhones.
COMMENT 382643	2013-03-08 09:36 AM
iphone 4s works fine abroad. apple included a sim slot and world compatible network radios on verizon model. Airport vending machines are very well stocked and aware of the iphones micro sim. Just because the US is woefully slow to integrate wireless technologies don't think the rest of the world is. Heathrow machine actually has micro sims for ipad and iphone your choice of 6 or 7 carriers., various price points. Not sure how SBSFR finds buying a burner phone cheaper than a sim card, sim cards are free you just pay for the airtime and data but you'd have to pay for even the most basic phone + minutes and data.

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