International Cell Phone Data
 

Hey guys,

I'm going to be traveling to Portugal and Spain in the next couple of weeks and I'm trying to see if there's a good way to bring my phone with me. I don't really care about making calls/texts, but I'd like have a reasonable data package if possible so I can use google maps/navigation/etc.

I've got a Verizon Droid Incredible 2, which is a world phone. However, the Verizon international data rates are ridiculous, $0.02 per KB! From what I understand, I can ask Verizon to unlock my phone and then I can just get a prepaid SIM card when I get overseas. However, I've really only seen that proposed in the context of making calls -- can I get a prepaid data SIM card or something?

Thanks!

The NY Times has a big article in their Travel section today on this very subject. It might be of some use to you. There are all kinds of options listed. But the long and short of it is that data roaming and international data use is really expensive. It would probably be cheaper to buy a cheap GPS with Europe mapping capability.

IPads IPhones and driods have VERY high roaming charges

My wife and I use them a fair amount when we travel.

AT&T has the best deals for us on international roaming

Keep all our electronics in "airplane mode" use data roaming

very sparingly.

The good news is free wifi for these at no charge in any

decent hotel we get usually on betterbidding.com from $80/nt

SIM cards are expensive and charges are still too high

and usually you cannot unlock your phone by contract anyway.

Andriod does work better everywhere in europe do

insuremytrip.com they are theft magnets...

So if it were me would cut the best deal I could

with my current carrier use it free including GPS

in free wifi zone/rooms of your hotel insure it

or leave it at home.

Hotels and Hostels all have wifi usually cheap free

for EM GPS etc... Skype usually works best for me for phone.

I read about this site on another forum, and am going to check into it for an upcoming trip to Europe. You can rent SIM cards, iPhones, iPads, etc at rates that are supposed to be a lot cheaper than your carrier charges. The reviews I've read are good, but I haven't personally used this yet.

http://www.iphonetrip.com/products.html