Matthew
Touchdown! Greaser!
Verizon iPhone 4S = what are the options for texting/calling back and forth to the US? (At something other than $2/minute?)
N/A - Verizon iPhone in Korea (the southern one)
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Switch to T-Mobile, 'free international data' (2G speed, can't hotspot with it, but it works on the phone, you can pay to upgrade data speed) and free texting. Calls are typically 20¢ a minute, but T-Mo supports Wifi Calling so I get that free/unlimited hooked up to broadband Wifi.
Skype is an option, FB Messenger is an option, Yahoo Messenger...
Matthew
Touchdown! Greaser!
Will most likely have email access. This is just for a little over a week. Unfortunately, it comes at a time where phone contact might be needed for some unique circumstances. Would rather have phone contact available - I guess I can check with Verizon and see what they charge to connect, and if that charge only applies if it's used or if they assess a service charge even if you don't use it.
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You'll likely have access, it's just what Data Roaming costs.
I have been with T-Mo for over a decade, they are the best carrier out there for a person who travels.
Why not just buy a cheap burner in Korea, and toss it when you're done?
Rich
Rich
Matthew
Touchdown! Greaser!
Maybe. Is their international plan back and forth to the US cheaper than adding a weeks' worth of "Global Access" (or whatever) to a US based phone?
I dunno. But if it's anything like it here, then most likely. I know you can get unlimited international calling (from the U.S.) on Straight Talk for $60.00 / month. I imagine someone offers similar deals in South Korea.
If you have a compatible GSM phone laying around, maybe something like this would work for you.
Rich
No, when you make international calls, the only way to do it on the cheap is through a Wifi/VoIP link. Skype is popular. That's one of the things that keeps me with T-Mo, as long as I have a broadband wifi link, I have 'plan' rate phone calls, ie 'unlimited'. When I'm on a boat in the middle of the ocean with a Vsat link, my phone rings, and since we have unlimited data typically, those calls cost nothing that isn't already being spent.
If it's just a week, bite the bullet and do the Global Access pass thing, it's the easiest way to go.
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My wife and I just traveled to Sweden and used Verizon/iPhone combo. We already have Verizon with 2Gb data, 1400 minutes and unlimited texting. Adding international was $29.99 per month for 100Mb of data, $25/100Mb each additional. It reduced the calling rates from $1.20/min to $.90/min, texting was $.05 to receive, $.50 to send instead of $1.00 each (IIRC).
The kicker was it also cost a line change fee and they made us pay for a month plus a month in advance. Total bill for 1 line was nearly $100. I called and had the international stuff removed yesterday (web site wouldn't allow it because it's not a "standard" plan) and they assured me the extra month changes will be refunded in next month's bill. We'll see.
I didn't look at the rates/coverage for Korea (it's a long way from Sweden
), but in Sweden and Denmark it worked just fine.
John
The kicker was it also cost a line change fee and they made us pay for a month plus a month in advance. Total bill for 1 line was nearly $100. I called and had the international stuff removed yesterday (web site wouldn't allow it because it's not a "standard" plan) and they assured me the extra month changes will be refunded in next month's bill. We'll see.
I didn't look at the rates/coverage for Korea (it's a long way from Sweden
), but in Sweden and Denmark it worked just fine.John
BG305
Pre-takeoff checklist
Down load the app called Whatsapp and text/voice msgs are free while on wifi. I also carry a magic jack with me and have the app on my iPad.
Matthew
Touchdown! Greaser!
That's an interesting app.
With our particular situation - we might need phone access, hopefully not. Under the circumstances, if we needed voice it would probably be considered an emergency, so biting down on that pillow real hard and taking a hit on a phone charge might be the least of our worries. As long as a Verizon iPhone CAN make and get a call, that's step 1.
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Everyone in Korea uses the KakaoTalk app. Awesome for texting. VOIP and video is OK, and all free.
Sac Arrow
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I use Viber and Skype. Southeast Asia but same deal. Everyplace I need to make a call or text I normally have wifi
I have to try a dual sim phone sometime.
TheTraveler
Line Up and Wait
They can be neat, but it's not my preference. I'd rather have them separate. I had a Nokia and a Motorola that were dual sim and they worked alright. But I like having my dedicated US phone with the US number, and the "travel" phone that I change the sim in when I land.
That's the way I've been doing it.