Verizon uses CDMA technology, not GSM, and European mobile phones almost all use GSM. Here's a wikipedia link if you want to compare-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_network_operators.


You could still bring it and use it on wifi networks, which is the most sensible way to use a US iphone in Europe anyway.

I have Verizon and I looked into this. The answer is no, but there is more to it.

The Verizon iPhone 4 uses Qualcomm MDM6600 chip capable of doing CDMA and GSM; however, Apple failed to provide a SIM card slot, so from the hardware point of view alone it is useless for GSM.

The Verizon rep was correct. Verizon phones do not work in Europe. Even if they did, the fees (especially for data) would probably keep you from using it.

This is the main reason I chose not to change from AT&T to Verizon. I wanted to be able to make and receive emergency calls etc on my phone.

Maybe silly, but true. There are rumors that Apple will be putting out an iPhone that's both GSM and CDMA-capable sometime in the next year, which would thrill Verizon customers (including me). But right now those are just rumors.

Your iPhone WILL work as an iPod Touch would, if you have wifi where you'll be staying. So you can at least use it for email and that sort of thing at the hotel. You may want to call Verizon again, though, and make sure you don't need to turn off any data roaming features or anything, just in case.

If you really need a phone, there are lots of threads here about buying unlocked basic phones and SIM cards. Or Verizon will rent you a world phone (I think a Blackberry).

I have my old blackberry storm and that is what I used during my last trip to Europe. Wonder if Verizon will activate that for me?

Thanks so much!

I bought a Verizon Droid 2 Global phone this year to use in Europe. Please don't tell me ALL Verizon phones don't work in Europe -- I'll be really upset!

The Droid 2 Global will work in Europe - hence the "global" in the title. It is a dual band phone (GSM & CDMA). My husband has one specifically for traveling overseas (has used in Australia, Asia, Europe, South Africa) so not to worry.

theflock, I actually just looked at the Verizon site to check out the Blackberry rental option (by the way, cblair, I *think* it has to be a specific Blackberry, but I'm no expert). It looks like the Droid Incredible 2 does have GSM and CDMA capabilities - that's the first non-rental GSM option that I've heard of from Verizon. I'd love to hear how you like it, both in general and for international use.

Oops, Hez, I was posting at the same time you were. That's good to know! Does your husband like it? I'm due for an upgrade in the fall and am leaning toward the iPhone, but haven't committed.

He likes it ok, but actually uses his Droid X while in the states which he likes more. My sister also has the Droid 2 Global and loves it, but for her the keyboard was more important than the screen size. I'm hoping the Droid X is released in a global version but for then I'm sticking with my Droid 1.0

Thanks again everyone! I guess I'll be taking both iphone (wifi) and blackberry (phone calls)

If you want a phone just for calls you might consider buying a cheap GSM phone and then picking up a SIM card in Europe. Depending on how much calling you will do it may well be cheaper than roaming on VZ.

It is not true that no Verizon phones will work in Europe. My husband has a Blackberry GSM. He did have to call Verizon and get it unlocked (rather than pay Verizon's outrageous rates)so he could use a local SIM.

I finally bought a GSM version of the phone I had with Verizon (on EBay) and switched to T-Mobile pay as you go SIM. At home, I make/receive very few calls and don't need web access on a cell phone. When going to Europe, I get a local SIM.

Verizon does have a fairly economical loan option for a GSM phone.

jent103, I've enjoyed the Droid 2 Global (my first smart phone). The only complaints I have are that if you're playing games or using apps, it discharges the battery very quickly; and the phone is very heavy because of the slide-out keyboard (which I never use).

Hez and theflock, thanks so much for the phone reviews! I have an iPod Touch, so I'm familiar with iOS already, and have some friends who have issues with the Droid OS's stability. So I'm leaning a bit toward an iPhone. But I'd love to be able to use my phone overseas (not that I go very often). I really just need to go to a Verizon store and check them out!

Just a few words on the AT&T iPhone, which I used on my last 2 trips to Europe (England and France). The AT&T iPhone is compatible with GSM networks in Europe, but the AT&T International calling plans are $$$ (between 99 cents to $1.29 per minute). We didn't have any network connection problems, but just didn't use the phone to make calls very often due to cost. WiFi worked very well when available, so connecting to e-mail and other Internet apps was a breeze. AT&T does warn you to disable 3G roaming when overseas, as these charges can add up to several thousand $$$ if you're unaware.

hope this helps:
you can call Verizon and RENT a phone from them which works in Italy very inexpensively. they mail it to you before your trip and then you just mail back. this worked great for us a few years ago and we are going to do again. Be sure you get inexpensive Plan for Data or your roaming charges will be insane

If what the above posts say is true and about only being able to use the wireless service, then a good solution would be to use Google Talk to make calls. The calls are rather inexpensive and you can do this over a wireless network.

With Verizon, if you have one of the GSM global type phones, after being a customer for 60 days, they will send you the unlock code for the phone, so you can use any network.

dave

Dave, Now that the iPhone 4s is out and it is GSM capable is unlocking the phone necessary only to avoid roaming charges? In other words, it would already work OK but you would be roaming and it would be really expensive? ow

Unlocking is necessary to use another service provider's SIM card.
If you got your phone through company XYZ it is most likely locked and will only function with their SIM thereby costing you a fortune in roaming.

Look on craigslist or Kijiji.com... there are people who'll unlock your phone for 20 or 25 dollars. You then pick up a local SIM wherever you happen to be going and enjoy lower rates.

Verizon will unlock your phone at no charge for customers that have been with them for at least 60 days. I know this for a fact, since my daughter has an Incredible 2, we shifted her from our plan to her own plan right after she graduated from Army basic training in June and in September she got the unlock code. You do NOT want to use the Verizon/Vodaphone roaming charges, as they are crazy high. So (if the phone is quad-band and can accept a SIM) get the phone unlocked and you are good to go with any other network.

Unless you are going to Korea that is, which is CDMA. But the present "whitelist" restrictions that exist there have been ordered to be gone by next year. Actually, they were supposed to be gone this year, but the 3 Korean telecoms had all kinds of excuses on why they couldn't change this year.

dave

Thanks Dave

Apologize for the interruption. I think that for me, the best idea is to buy a simple unlocked phone capable of use in Europe. (I live in US and travel 2-3l times a year to Europe (mostly Spain and Italy). I want the simplest phone possible.

What exactly should I look for when buying this phone? (There are several models offered at electronics stores in NYC; buying used electronics on Ebay makes me nervous that they will not work or that I cannot get help when needed; I've seen global phones for under $150 at these shops)

And more important, what is the exact procedure for buying the SIM card? Do I buy this at the arriving airport, for example, Rome? Do they install for me? What happens when I've used up the minutes on the first card?

What happens when I leave Italy and travel, let's say, 6 months later, to Spain? Same procedure?

In case this is pertinent: I need the phone mainly to call hotels and to make restaurant reservations, so do not need many minutes...not planning on doing much, if any, calls back to the US while traveling.

Sorry to be so dense on this topic! Thank you in advance for any help.

I only wanted a cell phone for emergency use in the car so bought an LG Tracfone at Target in U.S.. I buy minute cards for it and it is NOT associated with any phone company.

Supposedly, one can make calls overseas calls with it but I don't know if that's the same as using it overseas. If anyone knows about this, perhaps this is a reasonable alternative.

Eks, for Italy, recommend buying a phone in Italy.

If you buy one in the U.S., you must buy a 900/1800mhz capable GSM phone. This is usually a quad-band model. A quad-band + cheap and simple + unlocked is getting harder to satisfy. The Motorola 190/191 used to be this type of phone, but they are only available in used market. For new phones, the quad-band are mostly on higher-end smartphones.

If you buy a phone at any phone shop in Italy, for example a TIM store at FCO, you get a phone plus a SIM card. In Italy you get to keep the Italian number of 13months. You can keep the number for 13 more months every time you add prepaid minutes. I add €5 every year and still have the same number I bought 3 yrs ago. The only hassle is that you have to do this in Italy at a TIM store. In order add money online, they ask you for a fixed landline phone number. I presume they do this to discourage foreigners without sufficient local connections from holding onto numbers without visiting Italy.

Once you have an Italian SIM, the roaming in other countries in Europe is not that expensive. Far less than using an U.S. SIM in roaming mode.

If you buy only a SIM, they can install it in your phone. If you run out of money, you cannot make calls anymore. You simply visit an ubiquitous phone stores for that SIM brand and give a sales person your phone number and money. It takes less than a minute. Someone else can also do it for you. One time, I just gave a friend going to Italy my Italian phone number, the brand of SIM, and a €5 bill so he could add minutes to my SIM card.

I am a Verizon iPhone addict and was facing withdrawal on trip to Italy. I solved the problem with TEP pocket wifi. This is a small cellular wifi hotspot that you can carry anywhere, and allows all your iPhone apps (map, safari, email, skype, etc) to work wherever you are. Data service provided by Tre. Supported skype video in most places. We used it in Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Rome, and roads in between. Only place that lacked coverage was Cinque Terre. Folks at home were able to reach me via email and skype anytime. Highly recommended!

I have a Verizon (Samsung) phone which I have successfully used in Europe for three or four years (Italy, Croatia, France, Switzerland, Portugal).

I far as I know it isn't a "smart phone," and before we leave on a trip we re-subscribe to Verizon's Glopbal plan, which is $5 or $6 a nmonth. You can unsubscribe when you return home.

I'm sorry I odn't know the technicalities for this, but it is very easy to call home to the US, as well as within the European country.

Byrd

The Verizon iPhone is an iPhone 4, available in the same capacities as the AT&T version of the iPhone. However, there are some hardware differences beyond support for CDMA instead of GSM. http://www.techiecop.com/cellphones/apple-iphone

If I keep my Verizon iphone in Airplane mode while traveling and only take it out of Airplane mode when I'm in a wifi area will I be able to avoid extra charges? I understand Verizon isn't GSM but will all, or most, of the smart phone features work in wifi?
Thanks

Yes, you can use WIFI for most functions aside from actual phone calls (not counting Skype)... but you may want to contact Verizon... since this thread started over a year ago much has changed and many Verizon iPhones are now GSM and WILL work in Europe. They have plans for travel so check with them first.