Phone 3 months old, after 9/1, not able to roam in Canada

[biggdogg29]

I got my Samsung Galaxy prime in the middle of May. I was just informed by letter recently that I will not be to use my phone for roaming in Canada. I have the Canadian roaming plan. I am pretty upset. I am being forced to get a world device now. Are you going to give me a new phone at a discount? I refuse to full price because this is not my choice. Please explain. Thanks.

[mama23dogs · Accepted solution]

Check with Verizon .   I think this phone has GSM bands for Canada.

BElow is info on the change.  Doesn't seem Verizon had much choice....

Although CDMA coverage is available in many areas in Canada and Mexico, Verizon's partner carriers in those countries are turning down their networks as early as this year. For best performance and coverage, we recommend a 4G World device.

• 4G World devices will automatically select GSM while in Canada and Mexico.
• For 3G World devices, you may need to manually select GSM through the settings on your device.
• Non World (CDMA only) devices may have more limited coverage and slower data speeds.

[Ayti]

Why is the selection of dumb phones so poor for World Devices? There are 5 but really 2, an LG and 4 versions of the Kyocera VX. I don't want a phone with a data plan that I take outside the US.

[mama23dogs]

You are not limited to shopping Verizon's website. 

But, yes the selection is limited because the rest of the world uses GSM technology, but Verizon is a CDMA network.  Since the majority of customers are choosing smartphones, that is what is being manufactured and available for sale.

IF it matters, you can turn mobile data off on your line while traveling out of the US.  (with a phone call or online)

[Ayti]

Verizon sells sim cards?

[mama23dogs]

Verizon sells prepaid SIM cards, or provides free SIM cards with smartphone service.  I don't understand why you ask?

[Snn5]

Yes, if a person buys a SIM activation kit for a Prepaid plan ($49.99), $45 goes to the plan, $4.99 for the card.

[Ayti]

Reread your last post. Yes you can buy a phone from someone else then get a plan (sim card) from Verizon. But

you have to have the phone ID before you can check with Verizon if it is compatible. That's backwards! What if

you buy the phone then Verizon says not compatible? You're out of luck. They really don't want to support this

practice, do they?

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/nso/enterDeviceId.do?&zipRdr=y

[Ayti]

I have a plan for US and Canada. I don't want a prepaid plan. See the problem?

[Snn5]

Well, if you have a plan, you get get a card.  If you get a Verizon-branded phone, (pretty much the only way to get a phone that will work on Verizon) then the phone will work.