Mobile phone usage in Ireland
Jun 2nd, 2016, 04:04 AM
#1
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Mobile phone usage in Ireland
Hi,
I'm traveling from the U.S. to Ireland and use Verizon for all wireless devices. I'm pretty sure Verizon will not work there and I would appreciate any advice regarding purchasing a mobile while I'm there. Should I wait to purchase a phone upon arrival or pick one up here in the states. Any and all suggestions are much appreciated.
I'm traveling from the U.S. to Ireland and use Verizon for all wireless devices. I'm pretty sure Verizon will not work there and I would appreciate any advice regarding purchasing a mobile while I'm there. Should I wait to purchase a phone upon arrival or pick one up here in the states. Any and all suggestions are much appreciated.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 04:10 AM
#2
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Option A: Is your phone dual band? If it will take a SIM card then ask Verizon to unlock it if it's not already unlocked and get a SIM when you arrive.
Option B: If your phone is CDMA only, go on eBay or Amazon and get a cheap GSM flip phone if you don't want to use data or a cheap smartphone if you want data. Get a SIM on arrival.
Option C: Wait until you arrive and go to a non-brand affiliated cell phone shop and get a used phone and a SIM there.
Option D: Rent a phone. This is the least desirable option and I do not recommend it at all but it is included for completeness.
No matter what you decide to do, when you get the SIM, do not leave the shop until you can ensure the phone is behaving appropriately.
Option B: If your phone is CDMA only, go on eBay or Amazon and get a cheap GSM flip phone if you don't want to use data or a cheap smartphone if you want data. Get a SIM on arrival.
Option C: Wait until you arrive and go to a non-brand affiliated cell phone shop and get a used phone and a SIM there.
Option D: Rent a phone. This is the least desirable option and I do not recommend it at all but it is included for completeness.
No matter what you decide to do, when you get the SIM, do not leave the shop until you can ensure the phone is behaving appropriately.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 04:45 AM
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Why do you think Verizon will not work in Ireland? According to their service map, they offer 4G in about 60% of country and 3G in the rest.
They have the new TravelPass plan that costs $10/24 hours and it uses your current plan back home, so unlimited calls/texts and however much data you have. It is a lot better than their old plans which were $40 for only 250mb of data or something. But if you'll be there for many days and expect to need to call/text or access data off wifi, it would probably be cheaper to buy a sim card there.
They have the new TravelPass plan that costs $10/24 hours and it uses your current plan back home, so unlimited calls/texts and however much data you have. It is a lot better than their old plans which were $40 for only 250mb of data or something. But if you'll be there for many days and expect to need to call/text or access data off wifi, it would probably be cheaper to buy a sim card there.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 04:52 AM
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<i>Why do you think Verizon will not work in Ireland? </i>
Because Verizon is primarily a CDMA network. Ireland does not use CDMA. Verizon's map you mentioned is only accurate if you have a Verizon dual band phone.
Because Verizon is primarily a CDMA network. Ireland does not use CDMA. Verizon's map you mentioned is only accurate if you have a Verizon dual band phone.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 05:58 AM
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FYI "dual band" doesn't mean what you seem to think it means. A "band" is a frequency. Most modern phones can connect to more far more than just two frequencies. My Verizon Moto E supports at least six different frequencies. The more expensive phones support more than a dozen bands.
But no matter how many bands or frequencies your phone can support, what's more important is that it supports the right ones. In Europe, you want a phone that can do UMTS 900MHZ to be able to connect to 3G networks (or even better, to the 4G bands). Many cheaper US phones may not support UMTS 900MHZ. My Verizon Moto E does not have it, so it can only connect to very slow GSM "Edge" (2G) data networks in Europe. That's why bought the international version of the Moto E for my current trip; it has UMTS 900MHZ and also some 4G bands.
I think you mean "GSM-compatible" or "ability to roam on GSM" not "dual band."
Clearly, when Verizon shows a coverage map for Ireland, they are talking about their GSM roaming partners there and assume your Verizon phone can roam on GSM, even though their primary technology is CDMA in the United States.
But no matter how many bands or frequencies your phone can support, what's more important is that it supports the right ones. In Europe, you want a phone that can do UMTS 900MHZ to be able to connect to 3G networks (or even better, to the 4G bands). Many cheaper US phones may not support UMTS 900MHZ. My Verizon Moto E does not have it, so it can only connect to very slow GSM "Edge" (2G) data networks in Europe. That's why bought the international version of the Moto E for my current trip; it has UMTS 900MHZ and also some 4G bands.
I think you mean "GSM-compatible" or "ability to roam on GSM" not "dual band."
Clearly, when Verizon shows a coverage map for Ireland, they are talking about their GSM roaming partners there and assume your Verizon phone can roam on GSM, even though their primary technology is CDMA in the United States.
Jun 15th, 2016, 11:51 PM
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My friend came over from the USA a few weeks ago. She was in contract with Verizon so she couldn't get her phone unlocked before leaving the states.
Her rate for calling USA numbers while here was ok but she would get killed if she called local Irish numbers while here.
So what she did was she purchased this phone from Tesco: http://www.tescomobile.ie/order-sele...-Y625?prepay=1
She used it for local calls and she used here Verizon phone for USA calls.
your circumstances might be different, but that might be an option.
Her rate for calling USA numbers while here was ok but she would get killed if she called local Irish numbers while here.
So what she did was she purchased this phone from Tesco: http://www.tescomobile.ie/order-sele...-Y625?prepay=1
She used it for local calls and she used here Verizon phone for USA calls.
your circumstances might be different, but that might be an option.
Jun 15th, 2016, 11:56 PM
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<i>She was in contract with Verizon so she couldn't get her phone unlocked before leaving the states.</i>
That's BS: http://www.verizon.com/about/respons...locking-policy
That's BS: http://www.verizon.com/about/respons...locking-policy
