Questions about using Verizon's Global Phone rental + having access to iPhone 4 wifi

**SC54HI** · 05-01-2012, 01:14 PM

Searched the forums but didn't see anything similar to my questions.

We have iPhone 4s w/Verizon and will be in Germany & Italy for 18 days from late May through mid-June. I know we can't use the voice/text/network data functions on these CDMA phones but my understanding is that the wifi should work just fine, where wifi is available.

I need to have emergency voice/text access available for US callers & am willing to get a global phone for that purpose so that my forwarded US number can be used by anyone to reach me in Europe. If I do this, will I still be able to use the wifi function on my iPhone 4 or will I have to avoid using that phone as long as the temporary Global loaner phone is in use?

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide!

**t6821hn** · 05-01-2012, 02:01 PM

Actually you can use the 4s in Germany & Italy on the GSM side as you have a global phone. The roaming rates will be expensive. Or you can ask Verizon to unlock it so you can use a local sim. You can turn off Cellular Data and leave WiFi on for your trip.

**HF305** · 05-01-2012, 03:10 PM

The 4s is a global phone and should be set up with a Verizon SIM card already. The previous plain model 4 is not. You will need to call Verizon and enable Global Roaming on your line before you leave. Or like the other guy said, get the phone unlocked and put in the SIM of your choice.

Wifi is the same everywhere. No special setup is needed.

**veriztd** · 05-01-2012, 03:12 PM

OP, don't forget that the use of Wifi internationally has no affect on your Verizon service or billing in any way and there is no additional account feature changes/additions required for that. Any wifi fees would be paid at the location you are at. When I was in Italy a few years ago, I paid an hourly rate to use wifi at restaurants and hotels where I went to and when I wanted to connect to the internet. Have a good trip.

**SC54HI** · 05-01-2012, 03:25 PM

Thanks for the advice & quick response, everyone. Very helpful!

Actually, our phones are the iPhone 4, not 4s (sorry for the misleading punctuation). So, I know they're CDMA phones & that none of the functions (phone, message, data) will work in Europe except wifi (I hope). I will need to "borrow" a global phone therefore in order to have emergency voice/message capabilities through forwarding my cell number to it. I'd still like to use my iPhone's wifi capabilities but wondered if I can while using a loaner phone at the same time.

Thanks again!

I will certainly talk to Global Services but was hoping

**HF305** · 05-01-2012, 03:34 PM

Of course you can. Wifi will still work even if your iphone is not activated on Verizon. The operation of the iPhone on wifi is independent of any other phone that you may be carrying.

**SC54HI** · 05-01-2012, 05:32 PM

Thanks to all - you're very helpful. Will talk to VZ's Global Services & see what's available.

**GSMinCT** · 05-01-2012, 06:09 PM

You're going to want data. Verizon has $25/100MB, or you could get a local SIM for each country. As for the phones, you could pick up a used D2G on Ebay and flip it when you're done with it if you want to go through Verizon. They're not that much. If not, anything you can unlock for local SIMs would do the trick, including older unlocked iPhones or Android phones you can get unlocked. The D2Gs could also be unlocked for local SIM use, so you could switch back and forth between the Verizon/Vodafone SIM, and local SIMs. Data is ridiculously cheap in Italy with a local SIM.

Once you have data, GrooveIP and Google Voice give you free texting, and really cheaps calls (approx $.02/min).

**C DM** · 05-01-2012, 07:42 PM

If you have/use Google Voice (or would be willing to get it) you can use Talkatone iOS app to basically have phone capabilities--calling, messaging, etc.--through Wi-Fi. There are various other similar apps as well that will provide messaging and even calling (essentially VoIP) capabilities through data.

**GSMinCT** · 05-01-2012, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by C DM

If you have/use Google Voice (or would be willing to get it) you can use Talkatone iOS app to basically have phone capabilities--calling, messaging, etc.--through Wi-Fi. There are various other similar apps as well that will provide messaging and even calling (essentially VoIP) capabilities through data.

Yeah, that too. I'm thinking Android, since the OP's iPhone will not work on GSM networks. Yes, it would work on wifi, but that wouldn't cover mobile data needs.

**SC54HI** · 05-07-2012, 12:34 AM

Thanks again for all the advice. Another possibility for an intra-Europe phone may exist and I wanted to ask those who may know if my ideas have any merit.

Before getting my iPhone 4 I had a Blackberry Bold 9650. I switched to an iPhone 4 in 7/2011 when the spouse decided to upgrade from a dumb phone to a smart phone & picked the iPhone. We wanted to lock in the unlimited data plans & are happy we did so.

So, I still have my deactivated BB & wondered if it could be unlocked, and then have a sim card put in for Germany or Italy (or wherever). Since it's no longer my VZ phone, VZ shouldn't care, right, what I do with it? Or, is it still tied to VZ, to be locked forever & a day or until VZ allows it to be unlocked?

Thanks again, in advance, for any suggestions.

**GSMinCT** · 05-07-2012, 08:50 AM

VZW allows their global phones to be unlocked. You could also switch to the BB, and use Verizon's $25/100MB plan if your data needs span quickly across countries.

**CharlesH** · 05-07-2012, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by SC54HI

Before getting my iPhone 4 I had a Blackberry Bold 9650. I switched to an iPhone 4 in 7/2011 when the spouse decided to upgrade from a dumb phone to a smart phone & picked the iPhone. We wanted to lock in the unlimited data plans & are happy we did so.

So, I still have my deactivated BB & wondered if it could be unlocked, and then have a sim card put in for Germany or Italy (or wherever). Since it's no longer my VZ phone, VZ shouldn't care, right, what I do with it? Or, is it still tied to VZ, to be locked forever & a day or until VZ allows it to be unlocked?

VZW will unlock the BB for free if it is currently on your account or was on your VZW account at some point in the past. I did that for a Storm 9530 that had been replaced by a Droid, and popped in an Italian SIM that worked just fine, including 3G data. They walk you through the keystrokes for your particular phone model. The number is VZW Global Support, 908-559-4899.

**SC54HI** · 05-08-2012, 02:04 AM

Spoke to VZW's global services & will temporarily reactivate the BB Bold 9650 as my "global phone" while we're gone. This will allow me to forward my regular cell number to be used as an emergency contact but also have phone & text capability via VZW's global plan.

With some reluctance, I'll also try out the new 25$/100 mb global data plan. I intend to leave data roaming shut off as much as possible in hopes that wifi access will be regular & good enough in both Germany & Italy to use email, online info & BBM.

Thanks again to all who've made suggestions!

**GSMinCT** · 05-27-2012, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by SC54HI

Spoke to VZW's global services & will temporarily reactivate the BB Bold 9650 as my "global phone" while we're gone. This will allow me to forward my regular cell number to be used as an emergency contact but also have phone & text capability via VZW's global plan.

With some reluctance, I'll also try out the new 25$/100 mb global data plan. I intend to leave data roaming shut off as much as possible in hopes that wifi access will be regular & good enough in both Germany & Italy to use email, online info & BBM.

Thanks again to all who've made suggestions!

Having just traveled for three weeks (in the US) I can tell you that having cell data while traveling is indispensible. When I travel internationally, I will be getting some sort of data access, whether it be through a local SIM, XCOM, or a roaming plan with AT&T or Verizon (AT&T iPhone, will be getting VeriPad).