Not a World Phone?! WTF?

[jeremz]

I found out today my Droid will not be able to make calls, send sms, or use GPS in Europe. I am stunned, honestly. I didn't know they still made phones that are not world phones. This is especially disturbing because I spent 10 or 15 minutes looking up prices of sending texts, downloading stuff, and making calls in Switzerland with the salesmen who sold me the phone and said, "it's a world phone, it will work anywhere". Frankly, this sucks ass and I don't see how this is going to attract international travely business like folks to this phone. (not that I am one, but I go to Switzerland a lot) I'm considering a return, which KILLS me, because I love this thing so much. Does anyone else care about this?

 

[Jeremy556]

The whole CDMA / GSM thing is not exactly news.

Buy a prepaid GSM phone for when you are in Europe, and you can still use your droid on WiFi.

Even if you have a GSM phone (ATT and TMobile), you are better off getting a prepaid SIM card for when you are outside the US.

 

[cereal killer]

I'd rather not have to re-activate my Tour when I'm in Costa Rica next year..

That will be a drag.

The trade off is worth it to me though. I could not give up this device. Not now : )

 

[thelion]

How did you not know this before you bought the phone? One of my FIRST questions was "will this work outside the US?"

If you travel that should always be a first question. There is a global Droid, I thought...

 

[jeremz]

You guys are right. I think I'm just pissed that the sales guy lied to me for fifteen minutes. I'm sure he believed what he was saying, but he was totally wrong.

 

[jeremz]

How did I not know this Lion? Read my post.

 

[thelion]

Word of advice: on such an important decision, try doing your own research. It is the salesman job to sell the phone. Probably got a commission, too. They lie. Deal with it and do your own research.

 

[Backnblack]

You can always get a Milestone from the UK....

£423.19 in the UK...Makes it $700.25 :icon_eek:

Rumor has it that it wouldn't work here in the US...Not sure if it's true or not...

 

[darreno1]

The whole CDMA / GSM thing is not exactly news.

Buy a prepaid GSM phone for when you are in Europe, and you can still use your droid on WiFi.

Even if you have a GSM phone (ATT and TMobile), you are better off getting a prepaid SIM card for when you are outside the US.

Totally agree. The ridiculous amount they charge for roaming on another network is an eye opener. Prepaid is the way to go.

 

[CKyle22]

You can always get a Milestone from the UK....

£423.19 in the UK...Makes it $700.25 :icon_eek:

Rumor has it that it wouldn't work here in the US...Not sure if it's true or not...

Why wouldn't it? It's got a CDMA compatible radio too, if I remember correctly.

 

[Backnblack]

You can always get a Milestone from the UK....

£423.19 in the UK...Makes it $700.25 :icon_eek:

Rumor has it that it wouldn't work here in the US...Not sure if it's true or not...

Why wouldn't it? It's got a CDMA compatible radio too, if I remember correctly.

Not sure....Just read it on another forum somewhere..... I almost had a buddy buy one for me to sell it here...Till I did the UK to US conversion....

 

[TomN]

Yes it is a bummer, but one that I knew about way before I bought the phone. I don't travel outside of the country anyway so really it doesn't effect me at all. If I, by some act of God, have to travel outside the US, I'll just get a prepaid GSM phone.

 

[Backnblack]

Yes it is a bummer, but one that I knew about way before I bought the phone. I don't travel outside of the country anyway so really it doesn't effect me at all. If I, by some act of God, have to travel outside the US, I'll just get a prepaid GSM phone.

Only times I travel outside the US is for work....and then a satellite phone would be required....

 

[jeremz]

I'm curious to know how you guys all knew "way before" you bought it that this phone wouldn't work outside the US, or where you did your "research". Did you look on the internet? I mean, a month ago, some people still thought that the arrow keys on the keyboard were a finger print reader. I figured that the folks at the Verizon store who insisted that it works over seas would be a better source of info. Is there some definitive source of "correct" information that trumps the Verizon sales people? Anyway, here's another question for you: Can google voice and wifi solve this problem for me? I have wifi available most of the time over there, and I have a google voice number. I also have a few of these crappy prepaid phones that I normally use, but I really feel lame having to use them with a Droid in my pocket.

 

[Backnblack]

I'm curious to know how you guys all knew "way before" you bought it that this phone wouldn't work outside the US....

Not hard to figure that out....The Droid is a CDMA phone....