xyz123

LOL--I highly doubt I'm going to run up a $600 bill because a friend wants to call me. I sure will be notifying anyone who regularly calls me that HE/SHE will be paying my bill if they call me for anything other than a notice of HIS/HER impending death. And I will certainly let them know I'm willing to tax their eventual estate!!!!

I could care less about keeping my own number--anyone who needs to reach me should have at least a grounding in making international calls. I have no interest in enabling a child to play games at my expense on my cell.

However, I do have AMAZING capabilities on my phone, my daughter has far MORE amazing capabilities on her phone, and I think I would be stupid not to consider how I could continue using all those capabilities at a cost or effort that might be no more and may be far less than buying a country SIM.

While I say this, XYZ, I am also very grateful to you for all the information that you have and continue to provide to this board. You have always been my "go-to" guy. I'm a fan.

As to "Nobody doubts verizon can work in Europe however...", though, I must certainly disagree. Just tally the number of posts saying otherwise above. And that's just this post! And that's where I can find agreement with Summero, who questioned to as to why they can possibly opinion as fact.

My Verizon Motorola Droid will not work in Europe. not global

I'll be in Portugal June 8th and I will keep everybody posted on how my phone works.

I have a Blackberry Storm and you have to change the settings before leaving USA so you don't forget, you can also do it manually, I've done it before in Chile when it gets disconnected for y,a,z reason.

I don't care too much if I can make calls, there is always a pay phone around, but I can also receive calls a must for me.

I don't use it as a phone, I use it more as an internet device. My husband, children all have Instant Messenger, so I can get immediately connected with any of them in any given moment when they have their phone on hand.

In Chile I bought myself a Sim card phone that I use to make phone calls while there. Unfortunately I left it with my Dad as if it's not used at least once a month I lose the phone number, so I get it whenever I go home and my Dad use it in the meantime.

You can see what capabilities "GSM" your phone has if you go to connections, I change mine depending where I am. Blackberry Storm phone is not a phone is an Smart phone that works as a computer where I get all my emails and can search the internet, etc.
I can't speak for people who have regular phones, that it seems to be the issue of the skeptical here.

The Motorola Droid is CDMA.

Okay found it... Go to..
Options
Advance Options
Sim Card
ID number

Verizon asks for the SIM Card number to set me up to work overseas. Then I call a certain number and set the Global System to start working, usually the day I travel.

Let us explain again--

In general, many T-Mobile and AT&T phones can work in Europe depending on arrangements with provider because they are GSM phones. The actual bands they send/receive may or may not be compatible, etc. No matter what, there are usually some sort of reasonable international plans available that can be pro-rated for the time of the European stay, and there are various data plans offered depending on phone capability.

In general, MOST Verizon phones will not work because until recently, they were all CDMA. However, in recent years, Verizon has offered "world phones" that have GSM capabilities. Some Blackberries, the HTC Touch Pro 2 and others are such phones. And Verizon also has a package for those with CDMA phones to take a loaner GSM AND keep their same phone number while there. No matter what, there are usually some sort of reasonable international plans available that can be pro-rated for the time of the European stay, and there are various data plans depending on phone capability.

There are several on this board who are considering using our GSM-capable Verizon phones in Europe for any of several reasons. And I think this was the original topic.

So:
CDMA phone--will not work in Europe
GSM phone--MAY work in Europe depending on bands
ergo
Verizon GSM-capable "world" phone can work in Europe

This does not mean that one is advocating OR dissing using Verizon GSM phone in Europe.