Traveling to the Bahamas and Hot Spots for my iPhone

[shellshell211]

Can I use my phone in Nassau, Bahamas?  And what charges/plans are there or will there possibly be?

Also, can someone explain a hot spot for me and is it free?  I notice that I have to contact Verizon to get it set up, which makes me think it isn't free. I do have internet at my home.

Thanks!

[gina7239]

It's $20 for 2gigs and you can use the hotspot to give wifi access to a computer or anything.

[JoeL_VZW]

Hello shellshell211

Yes your device will work in the Bahamas! Have a great trip! Here's a link that will explain the charges when you use your device in the Bahamas: http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/tripplanner/tripplannercontroller

The hotspot application allows you to use your iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices. It's great feature that uses your iPhone as an internet source for other devices. Here's a great link with the mobile hot spot application pricing: http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/plans/?page=mobileBroadband

Please let me know if you need any further assistance

Thank you

JoeL_VZW

Please follow us on twitter @vzwsupport

[gina7239]

Is it cheaper to have a 4s and use a local sim? Is this right it would be $1.99 a min. $0.50 a text. Seems costly.

[#5]

Dear gina7239,

I appreciate you wanting to keep your costs as low as possible on your trip. The voice and text rates are correct. The rates would be the same if you had an iPhone 4s even with a different SIM. There are global data plans available however for the 4s for use of data.

http://bit.ly/yycdl5

I hope this information was helpful.

Sincerely,

JonathanK_VZW

VZW Support

Follow Us on Twitter@VZWSupport

[jessm]

If I keep my phone turned off, but my friends send text messages to me (while the phone is off) will I still be charged for incoming text messages?

[vzw_customer_support]

Hi jessm,

If you keep your phone turned off the entire time you are in the Bahamas, you will not be charged for any text messages. If you do power the phone on and they come through, then yes you will be charged for each message.
If you utilize www.verizonwireless.com/tripplanner it is a great reference to use prior to your trip.

Tamara H.
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[gaylev]

I was just in the Bahamas two weeks ago.  I currently have an Iphone 4 and was told by my Verizon store that I would definitely have service, with phone calls costing $1.99 per minute; text received .05 cents; and text sent .50 cents each.  Data much more expensive.  However, my phone did not work from the time that we landed--NO SERVICE!!  So, please be aware that unless you have a global phone, you will not have service on your iphone4.  My Verizon dealer is now telling me that I would need to up-grade to the Iphone 4S or iphone5 or the most recent Droid.  I was not happy that I was given inaccurate information prior to leaving!!  I would advise checking with more than one Verizon source. . . .It's difficult to know who to believe!!  Good luck!

[Ann154]

Did you add the global feature to your line before you left and updated your roaming list (PRL) as well before the trip?

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello gaylev,

Please accept my sincerest apology for the lck of service while in the Bahamas. This was clearly a miscommunication issue and I hope it didn't have a negative affect on your trip. The iPhone 4 is not a global device, unlike the iPhone 4S & 5 which is. While the iPhone 4 can be used overseas while on wifi, i can't make standalone calls because it doesn't have a GSM microchip in it. May I ask did you subscribed to any global services on your account before you left? If so then I want to ensure that any charges for unusable services gets reversed. If you would like for me to look into this for you then please send me a private message with your full name, mobile number, and a summary of the global service that you subscribed to.

Thank you...

ArnettH_VZW
VZWSupport
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport