New Incredible Droid has no International Calling??

[sueglo]

The other Droids have skype - how can I use this in Europe, just wifi??

[fezzik]

If you have a SKYPE account (It will have SKYPE as well) you can use Fring to use it on a wifi. 

[Roch]

Correct, but I have found the Fring UI pretty much useless or at the very least barely usable.

I have an HTC Droid and if by the end of my contract, Verizon does not offer Skype on Wi-Fi, I'll switch to a carrier that does.  It is a very puzzling decision, especially when you are a CDMA carrier whose technology choice is making your phones useless in 3/4 of the world. I guess Verizon is targeting a mostly sedentary, US-based customer base.  I can only hope they realize their mistake quickly, as otherwise I'll vote with my wallet and will go somewhere else as soon as I am able to.

[MrHost]

I doubt 3/4 of their customers travel that often to care about the other 3/4 of the world. Many of those countries you can rent a phone and forward your call from here. I would talk to your carrier before forwarding though. I am not sure how charges would be on that, but it gives family a local number to call.

[fezzik]

There are plenty of phones on the Verizon network that allow for international roaming.  None of the Android phones are.  I think an Android phone with international roaming was either released or announced recently but I think it was for another network.  I am not sure.  That is a manufacturer issue not a carrier issue. 

[Dexxter]

Here's the response I got from an HTC Rep. when I asked why they would build a smartphone to compete against the I-Phone, that can't be used outside the USA....

"I understand your feelings about the HTC Incredible. However, the Incredible was built specifically for Verizon, tailored to what they wanted made in a phone. The device was not at all made with the intent to "compete" with the iPhone. As the device was made for Verizon, it is a CDMA phone, which is of course why it could not be used overseas. I do understand that it may not be what you are looking for in a device, and I apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us again. You can find additional support at support forums at community.htc.com. There is also a customer satisfaction survey for you to take if you are interested.

HTC Technical Support

So, it seems the manufacturer, HTC, is blaming Verizon for the why the HTC Droid Incredible won't work outside the USA market.

{edited unverifiable content for privacy}

[MrHost]

Yes it is Verizon's fault you can't use the phone out side the US. Technically it is because the version of Wireless(CDMA) isn't widespread outside of the states. GSM is king outside of our little western civilization. GSM is used throughout many markets in europe, china and such. They aren't interchangeable. You can goto at&t to get GSM(Iphone). Each technology has it's PROs and CONs, but the biggest is the adoption of GSM is MUCH larger than CDMA. Traveling abroad, you may want to rent a GSM phone where you are going, assuming the place you are going is not in the Verizon network. Alaska and Hawaii do have Verizon coverage(Parents going to Hawaii this week), but they are part of the US after all. I don't think HTC is thowing the blame to verizon, they are saying with the Verizon phone you are asking about it isn't possible to take it over seas. You can however call internationally from the states, which is what I thought the topic had meant originally. LOL

[mikepascucci]

This may be a **bleep** question, but what if I have Google voice hooked up on my Droid? Can I use that to call out or it does not matter?

[global]

In this world it is truly INCREDIBLE when any large company fails to consider their global customers. Verizon's narrow-mindedness is INCREDIBLE.

Our small company only has a few numbers, but we are now strongly considering moving to AT&T for international use using iPhones ..... Apple here we come. Thanks for the memories Verizon!

[cstrait001]

While I too would like to see global GSM roaming on the Droid Incredible, Verizon has offered several global Blackberry models for the global traveler. Droid Incredible and any other CDMA phone can still be used in something like 41 countries and most of North America, the Caribbean and Central America and parts of Asia.

[popcycle4]

why not just use Google Voice for Int'l calling?  its usually about 2Cents/minute?