HELP !! Samsung s4 Galaxy 32gb - For overseas use only

[faust02]

Hi there

I live in New Zealand, I wish to purchase a 32gb Samsung s4 galaxy from Verizon but I need to be sure it will work overseas on any sim card, without any issues.

As I live overseas I will not be using the phone in the USA at all (unless I need to activate it, in which case I will ask my friend in the USA to do)

Over here we have CDMA, GSM, 3g, 4g network coverage - Vodaphone / Telecom are our main providers.

I have a friend living in the USA who can purchase the phone for me, but he is not very tech savy and I have read a few issues with purchasing a phone from Verizon for overseas use

can someone please tell me the steps I need to take to ensure the phone will work over here/ around the world when I travel

All of the smartphones for sale in New Zealand come factory unlocked so I am not familiar with the USA phone setup.

So far I am aware I need to purchase a full price one, Not on a plan.

What does "Activating" the phone do

any help would be greatly apreciated

[bearone21]

i'm not sure why you want a verizon phone, they have no service overseas.

activation is putting the phone in service with a specific area code/phone number in a verizon service area..

[faust02]

like I said they sell 32gb samsungs and no where else in the world has 32gb s4's

Yes I want to put a 64gb card in it as well and yea I will use it all.

Phones work globally if they are unlocked which is why I'm asking

[faust02]

I've asked the live chat help team and they have told me the full price samsungs On the pre paid non monthly plans are unlocked for overseas use..

I've just seen heaps of posts on here saying people have troubles getting them to start working and also wondering if I need to get it activated in the us first

[bearone21]

who sells 32g s4's in us?

if you get it activated you get to pay for the privilege for 2 years.

activation isn't a freebie, no matter what you've been told.

[faust02]

Read the above posts.

Any who knows what they are talking about able to shed some light please?

[vzw_customer_support]

faust02, I am sorry for the mix-up regarding unlocking devices. At this time, we do not offer to unlock prepaid devices. Our 4G devices that are active on postpay accounts do come unlocked. Any 3G device on postpay, has to be on an active account for 6 months before it qualifies to be unlocked. Please feel free to look at our global support page for additional assistance. http://vz.to/17KseUf

-PeterV_VZW
Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

[faust02]

Thanks for the reply.

Im just a little confused which you are reffering to as post and prepaid.

Are the postpaid phones sold at full price?

[vzw_customer_support]

Sorry for the mix-up Faust02. Regarding postpaid devices, we have 2 year contracts prices that are at discounted rates, not at full retail. We also have a new program called the EDGE program that allows you to upgrade more often http://vz.to/1kHbC2v Prepaid phones vary in price http://vz.to/JnmFCS Whether you pay for a device at full retail or not, if it is a 4G device, they are all unlocked.  What are you needing so we can make sure we are on the same page? Thanks for your patience.


-PeterV_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[faust02]

Thanks for your reply Peter.

I want to purchase a samsung galaxy s4 32gb.

Please note that I live overseas so the phone will NEVER be used in the USA and NEVER USED ON VERIZON NETWORK(I have a mate in the USA who will purchase it for me and post it to me)

What I want to know is will the phone be 100% functional in my country as soon as I remove it from the box (New Zealand)? Or will I need Verizon to adjust settings, remove it from their network etc for it to work.

Our networks in new zealand are majorily 3g, 4g is slowly being rolled out.

I spent 15minutea on live chat to a verizon help desk rep (melodee) last night.

She advised me to purchase the phone $549 on the month to month option as this won't need activating and will be unlocked to work on other countries sim cards

[faust02]

Just to clarify..

A samsung galaxy s4 works on both 4g and 3G networks.

You say 4g phones are unlocked, does that mean the 4G fuxntion on te samsung galaxy is unlocked but thr 3G function on the samsung galaxy is locked,

Or is the entire device 100% unlocked (4g, 3g, gsm, CDMA)

Cheers

[gurase]

I am not sure if Verizon will sell even a full price off-contract phone without activating it on a Verizon plan. I could be wrong, but your best option might be buying one on ebay. Whether the phone was originally purchased on or off contract, it will be unlocked.

Here are the phone's network specs:

Network: LTE, CDMA/1xEVDO Rev. A (800/1900 MHz)

LTE B13/4 700/1700

Global Network: EDGE/GSM (850/900/1800/1900), HSPA/UMTS(850/900/1900/2100)

It will most likely not work on LTE overseas as it does not have the correct LTE bands. 3G should work fine. I would compare those specs with the global version of the S4 and your carrier's network frequencies to make sure it will work for you. While the phone is unlocked, it might not have all the right antennas.

[faust02]

Thanks man

this is from my providers website (this is all I could really find)

"Our 3G network, use the 850mhz and 2100mhz frequencies"

[faust02]

Or does that mean the phones customers purchase outright for full price, not on a plan, are actually not unlocked?

[faust02]

Even more confused now as the Samsung S4 is identified on your global pages as being an unlocked phone...