Helen_Campanha

Hi,
I have a Verizon android smart phone. I am going to Portugal and need to have internet access and be able to dial other numbers in Portugal and call the US. How does the SIM card work? I don't believe Verizon allows for the card to be replaced. They have security. Can someone advise me on what to do?
Question 2- What about Ipad or computer internet connection?

thursdaysd

1. You need to get Verizon to unlock your phone in order to use a different SIM.

2. Wifi will work fine in Portugal.

Robert2533

You can get your Verizon Android phone unlocked and use it in Portugal as long as it is a quad-band world phone. If you have the right phone, then you can purchase a local sim card once you arrive in Portugal.

The only ones that fit the bill are:
HTC Rezound
DROID RAZR by Motorola
DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola
DROID 4 by Motorola

AT&T has a far better program for roaming.

iPads and iPhones work well with WiFi.

thursdaysd

Are you sure about that list, Robert? I would have thought the Samsung Galaxy and LG phones would also work.

Helen_Campanha

I have a Droid Bionic 4 G. Don't know if I have a quad band. Does this qualify? If not, what are my options. Purchase a phone in Portugal. What about getting internet for an iPad?
Also, in order for me to connect to Wifi (as well as the Droid)I need to be in an area with Wifi. I want to purchase internet connection. Is there a plan I can dial into to get internet service

Nutella

Not sure about the rest of Portugal, but here in Lisbon when I turn on my wifi on my laptop or iphone, a service called FON_ZON_FREE_INTERNET is an option. I think it's only free under certain circumstances, like if you subscribe to their service in your home. But otherwise you can sign up and pay by the hour or day. I personally haven't used it, but I've purchased a USB dongle and prepaid sim card from Vodafone for when I need laptop internet when I'm away from home. You can just walk into a Vodafone store and purchase it.

hkto

Last month I paid 10€ for 1GB service in Vodafone shop in the shopping center & got free SIM + 15€ credit (5 was a bonus). SIM worked great in both phone & tablet. I think LIS airport Vodafone shop charges for SIM.

PhxRemind

You can rent wifi devices from XCom Global and then makes calls to others through the Internet. Just turn the device on and off when you need it and your phone can connect to the internet. Battery life lasts almost all day on a full charge and you can get a second one too.

nicksav

Could I get people update answers to this question? This question was asked in 2012? I am traveling to Portugal/ Spain later in the year. I am purchasing a new smart phone.
Can anyone advise on Android or iPhone and benefits/issues with each?

Thanks

mlgb

You can browse on sites such as frequencycheck.com for device compatibility. Look especially for phones that will work with Vodafone LTE network.

I used a relatively old unlocked Android phone it worked fine with a European SIM, as well as using the hotel's WiFi. I don't recall trying to connect via public Hotspots since I had the SIM and tons of data.

You might want to browse Vodafone Portugal's website

https://www.vodafone.pt/en/products-...-portugal.html

Seamus

@ nicksav -
who is your service provider at home? Is home in the US? For what will you be sing your phone - local call, calls back home, texting, internet/digital? Depending on that going with a local SIM may not be worth it.

nicksav

Yes my home is the US. I currently have Sentrum for my home service. I will be purchasing a new phone prior to this trip. I figure on a smart phone to use public wi fi.I am also interested in what we in the US call 4g . Or LTE . I personally want to have maps or internet reception away from public wifi. hotspots.

I really need it for maps as we are going to be renting a car and prefer not to get lost any more than usual.

1:00 am more than a little tipsy after all the locals bought me beer in a sports bar in Brussels. They had beat the US in the world cup. I had changed hotels that day and was walking in the wrong direction by myself in the dark. You can't read the signs and the map in the dark and figure out where you are. I shouldn't have drank all the Belgian beer they bought me. But they kept buying more beer!!!

Thank god for the cab that came over the hill and the hotel card in my wallet.
I figured out the next day the cab driver charged me twice the going rate. But that's ok I was back at my hotel.

I had a small tablet but no 4g access so I was pretty much SOL in that circumstance. This time the wife will be along and I have to have all my ducks in a row.

mlgb

Here's an example of an inexpensive Android Phone that is compatible with all of vodafone's bands in Portugal

ASUS - ZenFone Live with 16GB Memory Cell Phone (Unlocked) - Midnight Black
Model:ZA550KL-LIVE-L1

$99 on Best Buy

Myer

I was in Portugal summer 2017. I don't have an Android. I have an iPhone. But service is with Verizon as well.

I believe they have since doubled the price and increased the amount of data.

We paid $40 for 100 texts, 100 minutes phone and I don't remember the amount of data. I believe they now charge $80 for a month (even if you need less). It's not a calendar month but a month from start date.

They give you instructions for your phone as to which settings to change.
We had no issues or hassles other than we live in south Florida and were away exactly the time Hurricane Irma decided to pay us a visit.

Our son closed our shutters and cleaned of our back deck.

My wife spend a lot of time on the phone with son and daughter.

Verizon made large allowances for people in Florida. I called and told them our situation and even though we were away they didn't charge us for going well over the allowed amount.

mlgb

If OP is mainly using the phone to have access to data, or make the occasional call for a taxi or hotel, rather than to spend a lot of time with overseas phone calls, most likely a country-specific SIM will be cheaper.

Eg vodafone website says 20 Euro for 30 days, including 30 overseas minutes, 500 Euro minutes, and 5 GB data. You will get a new phone number, so be sure to pass that along to anyone who may need to call you.

https://www.vodafone.pt/en/products-...phone-sim-card

Of course you can also use your data to Skype, Facebook Messenger or other ap using hotel wifi rather than incurring roaming or data overages.

Unlike some other providers, you have to be careful with Verizon's roaming charges so if planning to use their phone service, have a conversation with them first.

In fact a few people I know who have always used their iPhones and paid for it (or rationalized that it was part of their company allowance) have decided to try out the cheap phone/SIM Card route after seeing how well (and inexpensively) it works for things like Google Maps. For work phone calls they often Skype or Facetime over wifi anyways.

John_R

I'd suggest checking out the Here Wego app from Nokia (https://wego.here.com). My wife and I have used it in Spain, Italy, Austria and Croatia and it is wonderful but the best part is that you download the maps ahead of time and then use them offline... no data connection required. We've used it for both driving and walking and it has typically done an excellent job.