The global data plan is a scam.
Luisito___
Enthusiast - Level 1

Bottom line of the story: Your Verizon phone will not work at all either in Europe or in South America.

I called three months ago to ask Verizon if I was going to be able to make phone calls in China. Without asking me, I was added against my consent to the global data plan. When I found out about it reading my next bill, I thought it might be a good thing. After all, I was about to go to Germany and Argentina and it would be nice to have data there. So, I thought of keeping it. However, the plan doesn't work. In fact, the phone doesn't even make regular phone calls in any country except USA, Canada, Mexico, China, India, Israel and a few more. It won't work anywhere in Europe or in South America. The problem is that Verizon phones are CDMA, which is a technology which was fully replaced by GSM in most countries. So, your regular Verizon phone will not work almost anywhere. You could get a special GSM phone for your trips. But besides being a nuisance, it was something I wasn't aware since I didn't even request the service.

How did my story finish? I asked for a refund for the $100 I payed for the three months I was in the plan (somehow I was charged double the first month). I was given $25 back only. I payed $75 and I didn't get a single byte of downloaded data in exchange. I'm switching to either AT&T or T-Mobile next month.

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Re: The global data plan is a scam.
BLeeVZDub
Enthusiast - Level 2

My friend that travels to Europe usually just gets a prepaid GSM phone for the short time they are there. But Verizon now has 4g lte so all new phones coming out have 4g (gsm technology) and are also 3g (cdma) compatible. These phones  with iDial and/or global packages will allow you to use them with pretty much any countries wireless services. Of course, cover all your bases and check the compatibility before you get the plan or travel. Not cool that they added it without your consent, I know that was frustrating.

Re: The global data plan is a scam.
Luisito___
Enthusiast - Level 1

It's interesting that 4G phones will be more global.

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Re: The global data plan is a scam.
BLeeVZDub
Enthusiast - Level 2

IT's because they will used/combine both of the most popular types of wireless technology (CDMA and GSM) Verizon and T-Mobile were the CDMA servers and ATT (and maybe sprint) use TDMA which is in the GSM family. Verizon is now implementing 4g lte which is GSM. ATT has 4g (not lte) which is a turbocharge of TDMA but not true 4g. They are now also implementing 4g LTE as well. So all the major carriers will be using technology in the same family with Verizon also having CDMA capabilities so their consumers can still use the current nationwide 3g technology as well as 4g lte.

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Re: The global data plan is a scam.
commonsense101
Specialist - Level 2

Best advice I can give any traveler is buy a cheap prepaid phone when you get to your destination

It will save you so much money and so many headaches 

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Re: The global data plan is a scam.
silver6056
Specialist - Level 1

commonsense101 wrote:

Best advice I can give any traveler is buy a cheap prepaid phone when you get to your destination

It will save you so much money and so many headaches 

That's not bad advice, but if you travel a lot, it makes sense to get a global-capable phone and use local SIMs.  That way you get cheap rates but can still use all your nice data features, such as Google Navigation.  Until the latest crop of ICS LTE phones, you would need to ask Verizon for an unlock code to use a local SIM.  Currently, at least, these phones work without an unlock.

You do have to be careful though, prevent your phone connecting until you replace the SIM with a local one, to avoid data charges simply caused by the phone syncing with email, Play store/Apple Store etc.

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Re: The global data plan is a scam.
Luisito___
Enthusiast - Level 1

Buying a prepaid phone when you get to your destination may be the cheapest, but it is also a hassle. Especially when you don't speak the language. I also think that the moment you need the phone the most is in the first few hours after landing.

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Re: The global data plan is a scam.
silver6056
Specialist - Level 1

Luisito... wrote:

Buying a prepaid phone when you get to your destination may be the cheapest, but it is also a hassle. Especially when you don't speak the language. I also think that the moment you need the phone the most is in the first few hours after landing.

Yes.  So if you have a global phone you can also buy local/regional SIMs on the web before you go.  These generally are more expensive than buying them locally once you are there but saves hassle (especially if you don't speak the language) and you can also give your new phone number out before you go.

BUT..., some of these aren't much cheaper than Verizon's plan, so shop around.

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