Verizon Wireless reminds us it supports international roaming

By on Apr 11, 2011 at 4:58 PM
Services April 11, 2011

Verizon Wireless has taken a beating over the years because its CDMA network is very prohibitive for international travelers. As such, the carrier has released some new resources in an effort to remind subscribers that they’re free to roam the world with their Verizon phones in hand — it might cost an arm, a leg and a few vital organs in some regions, but it can be done. According to the carrier’s new release, there are about 35 countries that use CDMA and have roaming agreements with Verizon. While that figure pales in comparison to the number of countries that support GSM phones, travelers will find that roaming charges for voice calling and even data usage in those countries can be surprisingly reasonable. Then, if you happen to have one of Verizon’s dual-mode world phones that support GSM, you can use the device while roaming in more than 200 countries around the world. You should probably make sure you take your entire Accounts Payable department out to lunch before submitting those expenses, though. Hit the break for Verizon Wireless’ full release and a quick video about international roaming.

PACK THE WIRELESS PHONE – VERIZON WIRELESS KEEPS TRAVELERS CONNECTED AND INFORMED AROUND THE GLOBE

New Verizon Wireless Video Shows How to Take the Guesswork Out Of Overseas Travel

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – With travelers planning overseas getaways, Verizon Wireless advises customers that now is a good time to begin thinking about the wireless phone they will bring with them.  Want to make calls back home?  Want to stay connected via text messaging, email and get information daily on the web with a smartphone?  Track data usage? Verizon Wireless can help travelers do all that and more.

Verizon Wireless today posted “Tips for Traveling Overseas,” the second in a series of videos advising customers on how to manage their wireless lives. In the video, Verizon Wireless representatives describe how customers can prepare their wireless phones for international travel and how to manage their data usage outside of the U.S.

The video is available on the Verizon WirelessTV YouTube channel and in the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library.

Go Global With Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless offers a number of ways for customers to take their phones and their accounts overseas:

  • Customers can make calls from any Verizon Wireless phone while visiting more than 40 countries worldwide, including popular travel destinations such as Mexico, Canada, China and India that use the same CDMA network technology as Verizon Wireless.
  • Jetsetters with Verizon Wireless global phones or smartphones with a pre-installed and active global-capable SIM card can make calls, text and use data services in more than 205 countries. More than 125 countries offer 3G speeds.
  • Customers arriving at most overseas destinations receive a free welcome text message from Verizon Wireless with helpful information for the country they are visiting, including dialing instructions (exit codes) from that country, and the toll free number to reach Verizon Wireless Global Technical Support.
  • International travelers can manage roaming costs by being alerted via text message or e-mail when their Global Data Roaming charges exceed thresholds of $50, $200 and additional thresholds. Verizon Wireless Global Data Roaming Usage Alerts are automatically sent free of charge and do not count against customers’ messaging or data allowances.
  • Travelers can call Verizon Wireless for assistance quickly and easily 24 hours a day by dialing + 1-908-559-4899 on GSM/UMTS networks. All calls are answered by Verizon Wireless representatives.

Verizon Wireless customers traveling outside of the U.S. should contact Verizon Wireless’ global customer support team at 1-800-922-0204 before embarking on their trip to ensure their phones have the right features for global usage.

Travelers who do not own a global-capable device can use the Global Travel Program, which allows customers temporary use of global-capable devices for the duration of their travels. Customers can keep their U.S. phone number and all global charges will be applied directly to their Verizon Wireless bills, without any daily rental fees.  For more information about Verizon Wireless global phone and customer service, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/global.

More Information Available

Verizon Wireless offers a variety of ways for customers to manage their wireless lives. Additional video guides highlighting tools customers can use are available:

  • “It’s Easy To Track Your Wireless Usage,” which highlights easy ways to check and monitor usage, can be viewed on YouTube or in the Multimedia Library.
  • Customers can also visit Verizon Wireless Support to view “How To” videos with step-by-step directions on different aspects of account management.

For more information about Verizon Wireless, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com.

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23 Comments

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  • Anonymous

    I got a tip for traveling overseas while saving money, don’t use your CDMA phone at all.

  • Blah

    Here’s a tip… go buy an unlocked phone, with a prepaid sim in the country you visit. Data usage shouldn’t be necessary for most anyway.

    • Anonymous

      Thanks for the tip. Where’s a good place to pick up those sims?

      • Anonymous

        You can pick up prepaid SIMs in whatever country you happen to be visiting. In many 3rd-world countries, they sell them in every corner store. Be wary about data though–3G may be hard to come by and in some countries usage is restricted.

        Verizon Wireless allows you to unlock your SIM slot if you so choose–as long as your phone is activated and/or your account is in good payment standing for 6 months or more. My wife ditched her BlackBerry Tour for a Fascinate last year–she called Global Services and they unlocked the SIM on her old Tour even though it wasn’t active. She now uses it as her travel phone.

      • http://twitter.com/_elemenopee_ Kavin Nguyen

        You can buy prepaid sims at almost anywhere in just about every country. Gas stations, gift stores, convenient stores, ect.

  • Korverrl

    Let me be the first to personally tell you, verizon should be charged for the highway robbery they impose upon consumers for their exorbitant data rates. it is something like 20.00/MB and there is no data plans anymore for most countries. They need to disclose this more publicly.

  • http://rmbo47.myopenid.com/ rmbo47

    Sprint completely dropped their international roaming data plans. And with the prices Verizon charges, unless your company is picking up the bill it’s financial suicide to roam with your CDMA phone overseas.

  • http://rmbo47.myopenid.com/ rmbo47

    The girl in the video forgot the final tip for roaming: bend over and lube up when the bill arrives.

  • Douche

    CDMA sucks

    • Anonymous

      Not if you live in NY

  • Anonymous

    Odd, they should have mentioned their SIM unlock policy and procedures, which allows you to use any SIM outside the US. It’s actually pretty easy and the CSRs are happy to assist (unlike a few years ago.)

  • Eric

    You will pardon me if I use TruPhone on my VZW iPhone instead, right?

  • mariongiant

    I traveled to Europe three times under Verizon’s old plan, which offered unlimited data for about $70/month pro-rated. It was excellent coverage. The new plan is essentially useless: in Europe 70 mb for for $100/month, then $5/mb for overage. It’s more expensive everywhere else. I use 70 mb turning on my phone. It’s nice that they have world phones now, but the only realistic way to use them is unlocked with a local sim.

  • greg216

    Currently, I am in New Zealand and Verizon International has been an absolute joke. Even with the Droid 2 global GSM/CDMA phone.

    VZW is always passing the buck, or should I say chasing the buck.

    $1.99 USD per minute for voice, seriously!

    No data plan for NZ. $20.00 USD per MB.

    I landed and simply turned on my Droid 2. With in 30 minute, I received a test from VZW that I had spent $50.00 on data alone.

    Rape and pillage from VZW. I like the bend over and lube comment as well!!!

    Yes, it is very easy to get a pre paid SIM and an ulocked phone.

    And Skype for mobile is a godsend!!

  • http://twitter.com/ChrisMather20 Chris Mather

    You would think that considering Vodafone own about 45% in Verizon that they would come to some sort of agreement/arrangement for Americans travelling to countries were Vodafone in present so that Verizon customers using dual band phones don’t pay excessive amounts of money in roaming charges.

    It’ll never happen but that would be an ideal solution.

  • Trophynuts

    i frequently use my VZW Bold 9650 in South Korea and Germany. I use it for DATA ONLY. Even when considering a local prepaid sim it is still cheaper for me to do voice comms over Skype or by buying a local calling card and using land lines with it. In South Korea i can get a calling card out of a vending machine for 20$ that has a little over 400 minutes.

    My only complaint with VZW’s global service is.

    1. They no longer offer unlimited data plans for international use. …aka ..not a good idea to upload photos to facebook anymore. This is something that they just started recently.

    2. The very verrrrry small selection of true Global phones they offer. ….i’m keeping an eye on the Inc2

  • Shanghai Dan

    It’s why I still use my HTC Touch Pro 2. I can add the SIM card of whatever country I’m in, and have a local number. And all my contacts, e-mails, texts, and everything else is in the same phone.

  • Anonymous

    Verizon is worthless overseas. Just came back from India (one of the very few countries CDMA works in) and could not even turn on the phone for data. At .02 a kb its thievery. $500 a week for iPhone data. I used wifi for free. Last year VZW had an unlimited data plan with most countries. Now they have virtually no agreements with any country. You are totally ripped off. Even taking a blackberry you would be in for $100+ a week in data v. what used to cost $69 a month unlimited. That is false advertising to the max! Verizon is worthless anywhere outside the USA.

  • Guest

    I used the unlimited international data whenever I travelled aborad and worked great.It’s a shame that vzw decided to bring back rates from 2003. $20/MB is beyond highway robbery. You should look at their website for some countries outside Europe/Canada/Mexico they have a plan for $30 and $100 and both include 0MB on both. What a joke. I think it’s time to switch carriers where I can get more for my money.

  • drew dogg

    So is ATT roaming cheaper then VZW? That’s what BGR is implying right? Way I see is they are exactly the same? “Well u can unlock an ATT phone to use it off another carrier’s sim card” duh u can do it to VZW global phone too! Hell I can unlock a storm2 and use it with ATT if I wanted. Typical BGR bashing Big Red… again. They need to get off that hateraide already.

  • Joey

    Verizon’s roaming rates are generally a complete ripoff. Same thing goes for AT&T.

    The best thing I’ve found is using UMA on a T-Mobile device to call back to the states for free. Too bad this feature will be destroyed most likely when AT&T takes the helm.

  • http://twitter.com/snidely1459 Snidely

    In the interest of fairness, you should mention that AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint’s rates are all exactly the same.

    • Anonymous

      no they’re not. do your research. last i checked it was $20/20/15 per MB in Europe (vrz/att/tmo). we more(!) than halved our bill at our company when we switched to tmo from verizon (majority of our calls go abroad and we travel often).

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