If you’re from the USA (as about half of our readers are), but you would love a working cell phone on your next international trip, and you’re not rich, and you use Verizon, you just might be in luck. Check out this feature, available to all Verizon users (the rascals):
http://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/travelpass-countries/
I (Doug) have been a Sprint user since 1997 — so nearly 20 years — but they can’t compare to this plan. Basically, on any international trip (to any covered country), pay $10 if you need to use voice, send texts, or use data — and get all you can eat. (Note that the data limit on your normal plan will be your free data limit on this international plan.) We confirmed with Verizon — there are absolutely no charges levied by the overseas grid. This is amazing. Many carriers would charge 20 cents per minute … and up to $2 (Two DOLLARS!) per minute for the same voice plan, let alone getting free text-sending and web-browsing. And the coverage is broad too. Amazing. I’m now convinced: Verizon users are all rascals. : ) (But I still love my unlimited data plan on Sprint and I hate to switch. Rats.)
Readers in the UK might be interested in the offer from Three and ID Mobile networks. Both offer customers free access in a number of different countries as if they are at home. Three offers different countries to ID Mobile.
Sprint recently added Global Roaming (available on LTE/GSM capable devices) which offers 20 cents per minute phone calls and free unlimited data (up to 2G) and free text in 129 countries. I think Sprint is still a contender in convenience and affordability.
http://www.sprint.com/landings/international-value-roaming/
Just checked Verizon’s website and it’s $10/day and works in 65 countries. No Central Asia countries are included.
That’s still more expensive than ATT which is $30/mo.
Tmobile is unlimited data and text and $.20/minute for calls in 140 countries with Simple Choice plan ($50/mo). Including countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
$10/day is NOT cheap if one is gone for several weeks. It is much more economical to purchase a SIM card and let people back in USA know the new number than to pay $10/day to Verizon. Verizon is not giving us any bargin!!
1) The selection is very limited.
2) Where’s Africa?
3) Not cheap if you visit multiple countries on a trip.
Still good to know. thanks.
Too Expensive. In Thailand New low-end Smart phones are $3. Sim $ 1.5 Load $3.
In USA use Ultra network on unlocked phone unlimited calls, text 6 1 Mb data $20/mo. Good plans if you need for data