Suggestions for Setting Up Droid 2 Global for a Trip to Britain/UK

[Smokeyham]

I will be going to Britain, and am wondering if anyone can offer suggestions for using the Droid 2 Global over there?

I would like to have the ability to:

· Make phone calls
· Send and receive text messages

I would like to do the above, without incurring huge charges. Is this realistic?


I spoke with the sales person when I bought the phone, and she recommended that I call Verizon prior to my trip to (1) have Global Access activated, and (2) to have my local service suspended so I am not billed for two services.

Can confirm that this is what you do when you travel abroad?

Also, I currently have my phone set so that data updates are not done when I am roaming. I understand that this will help to avoid unanticipated charges for automatic updates to Apps, etc.

Settings/Data Manager/Data Delivery/Data Roaming = Off

Is this what you do when you are abroad?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Xplorer4x4]

As far as I know you just need the unlock code which you need to be with VZW for 6 months, have no past dues and paid your bill on time for those past 6 months. I am sure some one else can give more information.

 

[Smokeyham]

Unlock Code for Trip to Britain/UK

As far as I know you just need the unlock code which you need to be with VZW for 6 months, have no past dues and paid your bill on time for those past 6 months. I am sure some one else can give more information.

Thanks.... My understanding is that the unlock code is only used if you want to use the SIM card from another carrier (such as Orange). Is that correct, or do you need to have the unlock code to use the Verizon phone at all when abroad?

 

[silver6054]

As far as I know you just need the unlock code which you need to be with VZW for 6 months, have no past dues and paid your bill on time for those past 6 months. I am sure some one else can give more information.

Thanks.... My understanding is that the unlock code is only used if you want to use the SIM card from another carrier (such as Orange). Is that correct, or do you need to have the unlock code to use the Verizon phone at all when abroad?

Your understanding is correct, you only need the unlock code if you wish to use another SIM. To use the Verizon (Vodafone) SIM, you need to call Global Services to activate it, but you don't need an unlock.

As mentioned in your other thread, it is worth doing both, having the Verizon solution in case your local SIM doesn't work. (Since you already have another SIM, you can verify the unlock code with that while still in the US). Note that many local SIMs will expire, in that any balance on them will go away after a period of time, and some SIMs will then become unusable after another period of time.

In the UK it is very easy to use local SIMs, so unless the cost if covered by others, using local SIMs is the way to go! You will probably need to get the APN settings from the SIM carrier's website for data to work.

 

[Smokeyham]

Your understanding is correct, you only need the unlock code if you wish to use another SIM. To use the Verizon (Vodafone) SIM, you need to call Global Services to activate it, but you don't need an unlock.

As mentioned in your other thread, it is worth doing both, having the Verizon solution in case your local SIM doesn't work. (Since you already have another SIM, you can verify the unlock code with that while still in the US). Note that many local SIMs will expire, in that any balance on them will go away after a period of time, and some SIMs will then become unusable after another period of time.

In the UK it is very easy to use local SIMs, so unless the cost if covered by others, using local SIMs is the way to go! You will probably need to get the APN settings from the SIM carrier's website for data to work.

Thanks.... All very helpful information. I will go with both the Verizon solution, and also get the unlock code for a local SIM card. This is trip at my own cost, so reducing expenses is definitely a factor!

Thanks also for the suggestion to get the APN settings from my carrier (Orange) in Britain.