virginia4

I am posting a brief report to save others from wasting money as I did. I just recently traveled to Belgium, Netherlands & France for 3 weeks with my family. I wanted to be sure that we could reach one another and decided to spend the money on Verizon international calling plans to use with our iPhones. All were iPhone 6 and so unlocked. There were 4 of us & we used a combination of packages, depending on individual travel plans. Two were $40/month and purportedly provided 100 free texts and 100 free minutes. One was $85 and supposedly provided 250 free texts and 250 free minutes. One was the "Travel Pass" which was $10/day but only on the days used. Note also that the $10/day travel pass means that if you initiate use on any given day, it costs $10, even if you only make one call.
I researched this both online & in person and was reassured that we would be able to text one another. Bottom line: no matter what settings we used (and even though we completely followed instructions), texting only worked when on wifi. We tried many times, using different phones, different locations, different countries, different settings. No matter. Texts would show up hours later (if at all) only once we were back on wifi. I called Verizon while I was overseas and they were unable to help.
Buyer beware.

HappyTrvlr

I just signed up today for the $40 per. Onth plan. We have used this every year.
I will call them to see what is foing on. Thanks for the head's up.

janisj

I used the $10 per day version in August (in the UK) and didn't have that problem

Andrew

Verizon phones, unlike T-Mobile and AT&T (but like Sprint) use CDMA technology in the US to communicate with cell towers. Europe uses GSM, which T-Mobile and AT&T use in the US, too.

So a Verizon or Sprint phone in Europe must first know it needs to roam on GSM to pick up anything. I have never used an iPhone overseas. My Android phone (a Verizon CDMA phone) will work on GSM but requires some crazy settings to make it work. If you want to use your Verizon phone in Europe, you first need to figure out how to set it to roam on GSM. This varies by the exact model of your phone.

Looks like for an iPhone 6, you need to turn data and voice roaming on:

https://www.verizonwireless.com/supp...international/
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201643

Once roaming is on, you should be able to see if you are registered on the local roaming network. When I was in Amsterdam for example, my phone would connect to one of the Dutch mobile networks it was allowed to roam on. If it is not registered on a local mobile network in Europe, you won't be able to text or make voice calls. If you are registered, then it's a Verizon issue.

FYI, your phone does not need to be unlocked to use it in Europe if you are using your carrier's international roaming plan. You need your phone to be unlocked only if you plan to buy another SIM and replace your original SIM with the new SIM.

janisj

>>Looks like for an iPhone 6, you need to turn data and voice roaming on:<<

Yep -- that is what I had to do. Turned it on the days I needed it, and turned off on days I only needed wifi.

xyz123

There are all sorts of reasons problems like the op's might occur and it is very hard to diagnose from a distance. I will say this however. The days of gsm vs. cdma are long past. Almost all modern smart phones use 3rd and 4th generation technologies as well as the old 2g (which is where the difference between gsm and cdma started and one of the reasons for a while verizon and sprint phones )incompatible with European networks. Many today have provisins to insert Europpean sim cards in addition to the naitive technology used in the USA for these phones. Several have pointed out the settings issue. Maybe or maybe not. Another possibility, I am just suggesting not saying this is what happened, is many do not understand how to make calls and send texts when roaming on European networks. Did yur phones register on French networks? If so you would have seen the name of the roaming partner (SFR or Orange F or Bouygss) displayed. Then to actually send a text or make a call to the United States while roaming, you dial 00 (the international code) 1 (the country code fot both the USA and Canada and some Caribean countries) area code number. Or instead of 00, you insert the + sign so + 1 212 555 1212 say for NYC information.

One of the reasons I like T Mobile US for European/minute worldwide calling. But admitedly T Mobile is not for everybody.

Andrew

When I use my US Android phone with T-Mobile in Europe, it acts like I'm still in the US. So I don't have to dial the US country code to call or text anyone in the US - only to call phones in different countries, even countries I happen to be in while using the phone.

So, no, I don't think you have to dial the US country code on a Verizon phone in Europe to text or call someone else on a US phone. That would make no sense - then none of my saved numbers in my contacts would work, either, without adding the country code.

xyz123

Andrew...I just checked the T Mobile web site and you are right if you are making the call to the USA over wifi; at least according to what I read Just ares code and number.
and such calls are free.

But if you are not on wifi, according to the article or calling outside the USA, then you need either the 00 or + key then country code area code and number and it costs 20¢/minute. Text messages are free either way.

That's what the thing said.

WoinParis

For those interested I have had the same problem with my IPhone and had to configure it so that my correspondants would get my texts.
And I'm European, so not using Verizon. IPhone config...

Cali

We just returned from Europe and used the Verizon $40 plan for each of our phones (Samsung Android) and they worked well everywhere and we did text and call throughout the trip. We were in all three of the countries you mentioned as well as several other countries.

Sarastro

xyz123 is correct in stating that when using a GSM network, any call to North America or any other country, will require one´s first dialing ¨00¨ or ¨+¨ before the country code. However, T-Mobile could easily set up their VoIP networks to include the ¨+¨ function precluding the need for the user to dial it himself. The result would be that the user would feel as though he were <i>still in the US</i> when making calls.

Using a Verizon phone outside of the USA simply means that the phone has the GSM functions or circuitry as well as CDMA. I am not familiar with Verizon phones specifically but those usable on a GSM network with need not only the circuitry, but a GSM SIM as well either built in or changeable. When Andrew states that his Verizon phone <i>will work on GSM but requires some crazy settings to make it work</i>, he is most likely referring to the requirement to configure his phones APNs, needed for GSM network access.

This could be one possible explanation for virginia4´s texting problem; that it was caused by an improperly configured APN; particularly if the texts were never received.

If however, an occasional text was received on the GSM network but only hours after it was sent, I would confirm that all of the Verizon GSM phones used were capable of connecting to both European GSM frequency bands: 900MHz and 1800MHz. If the phones were only capable of using one of these two frequency bands, coverage could be limited and texts would only be sent or received when the user entered into a zone of coverage which would delay the text.

xyz123 is also correct in stating the problems of this type are almost impossible to diagnose or correct on a forum. Perhaps a better solution would be to avoid Verizon completely and purchase a 10€ SIM to insert into an old GSM phone. It would cost less that the Verizon solution, any more importantly, it would work.

hetismij2

I am confused as to why texting, presumably you mean short message service, would only work on WiFi. It has nothing to do with an internet connection.

If however you were textig using an app, then if you didn't buy data with your olan then it wouldn't work unless you had WiFi.

My Dutch provider sends me a SMS text when I cross a border, telling me how much calls/text/data will cost unless I buy a package from them. It does that even if I am in the US. I have never had to go into settings to get it to connect to a US provider - it just connects automatically. I can see in the settings to which local provider I am connected, and I also see if I have a 3g or 4g connection for data, if I have data roaming turned on (which I don't normally).

hetismij2

Oh, and I also always store my contacts with +country code number, even for local contacts I am unlikely to need to call when travelling. It is just good practice if you are planning to travel, and quickly becomes second nature.

Sarastro

<i>I have never had to go into settings to get it to connect to a US provider</i>

That´s because you are using a GSM protocol phone. APN settings are SIM specific and once it is setup, it does not generally need to be changed.

virginia4 is using a CDMA phone with GSM capability. If the GSM protocol (specifically the APNs) was never correctly set up, she would not know it until she moved off the CDMA network and relied solely upon a GSM connection.

marvelousmouse

Sarastro. Forgive a possibly stupid question, but phones confuse me. How do I properly set up the protocol? I have a Verizon iPhone 6. I don't want to buy a GSM phone even if it's cheaper, too much hassle. And I have know idea how to install a new SIM card (or even what SIM card I should buy).



Mostly want to use my phone for keeping in touch with family and maps.

ekscrunchy

Related question:

Does one sign up in advance for the $40 a month plan? By calling Verizon?

What about the $10 a day plan? (I used this in Mexico and there was no need to sign up in advance; with the first call, you were charged $5 per day, only on the days you used the phone for calls) Same with European daily plans?

Sarastro

I am not a Verizon customer, primarily because of their reluctance to switch to GSM, the world standard, which T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T all have done. I can only guess at your phone´s capability but I assume your Verizon phone has a SIM installed already.

One of the easiest approaches would be to take out the Verizon SIM and purchase a new one in France. They cost as little as 10€ including talk and data time. You would then configure the APNs for the new phone. Use google to find step by step instructions on how to do this. It´s actually very easy to do, it just consists of a few entries in your phone´s settings configuration. You could also go to an Orange outlet in Paris and let them do it for you but you will pay slightly more for their connections and service but probably overall a lot less than what Verizon is charging you.

If you want to stay with Verizon, contact them, explain the problem, and ask them to help you confirm your phone´s APN settings. (APN is the abbreviation for Access Point Names or the GSM protocol settings for the specific SIM you are using. The APNs identify your phone on the GSM grid.) Most connection problems on GSM networks are caused by improperly configured APNs.

The problems you are having should be easily fixed by someone who knows what to look for. Considering the amount of money you are paying Verizon for international service, they should sent someone to your house to fix it for you.

marvelousmouse

Oh, I'm not the OP. Haven't had any problems so far. I use my phone in Canada so wasn't really worried about using it overseas until this post. (Except, yes, for the shocking amount of money Verizon charges for the privilege). I could try to use wifi but i know from experience that will just lead to frustration- I mostly use data for maps. Offline and paper maps just result in me getting hopelessly lost!

(Will be in Munich and Venice, not Paris. Paris is still just a dream!)

HappyTrvlr

Ekscrunchy, Sign into your Verizon account and choose
International plan. It will lead you through the steps. There is one for calling from US and the calling within or from another country. Texting is very cheap.
Yes, you need to turn voice and data roaming on. And put phone in
Airplane mode when not using or costs can really rise. Use hotel wifi for internet rather than roaming. Forgot to do that on China trip lady spring. Lesson learned.

Tabernash2

We were in Austria and Greece recently, both of us using iPhones 6s.

Mine is AT&. I bought a one-month $35 international plan, and I was fine.

DH's phone is Verizon, through his business. He had been assured his phone would work fine overseas.

Nope. It was awful. He could not text to me, within a mile or so. Sometimes Roaming would work, but his bill was taking a big hit. It was annoying.