DrToonz

Does anyone have any experience with using their Blackberry Storm (verizon) in Ireland or Paris or London? I'd like to have a phone or two in our group for reservation checking and general communication. Can I just buy a SIM card there in Dublin when I arrive? Thank you!

hetismij

You need to check whether your Blackberry is SIM locked or not before you leave. If it is you may be able to get it unlocked officially, or can look for the codes online, though that may cancel any guarantee on it.
If it is unlocked you can get a SIM when you arrive and use that.

DrToonz

Thanks, H. It's locked now and I'll try to get Verizon to unlock it for me and go that way. We'll see. I'll keep y'all posted. DrToonz.

DrToonz

Here's the scoop for unlocking the phone that I just found out and did today.
I had to specifically ask to talk to another, higher-up person at customer service 'cause the first one said she could not help me.
Turns out you need the "Global Service" department of VerizonWireless. Once there, the person who helped me was easy-going and walked me through one phone and let me do the second on my own (she gave me the code).
All the codes are unique identifiers for individual phones. You need to call to get yours. Here's the instruction:
1. Turn off all of the wireless connections (manage connections - turn all connections off)
2. Go to the Options icon on the device
3. Select Advanced Options
4. Select SIM Card
5. Hit the Menu key to select Show Keyboard
6. Enter mep2 (you will not be able to see the typed info)(enter just the mepd, no spaces, etc.)
7. Enter the letters: mep2
8. Now it will say "enter network mep code"
9. Enter the code given you, usually about 16 digits
10. Power down and do a battery pull.
11. Your Storm is now unlocked.
((My BB Storm 1 had a 16-digit number. My wife's Storm 2 had a 8-digit number [mep code] ))
Now I have the option to pay $1.29/minute for Verizon's use of my phone in Ireland OR i can buy a sim card there and switch it out whild I'm in Ireland. ~DrToonz.

Ackislander

A very useful post of the first do this, then do that variety.

Thank you! Though one of the reasons I travel is to avoid my cell phone.

DrToonz

There is certainly a very compelling argument to be had about avoiding your phone. Personally, I'd like to leave it home. I think, however, that for the sake of letting a B&B owner know that we're running late or for emergencies or even connecting up with the other people in our party (I'm traveling on and off with two families), it could be helpful. I definitely like the idea of NOT being connected to 'home' while I'm traveling.

I posted this more for the fact that I looked around a LOT for directions on how to do this and wasn't easily able to find the instructions.