Travel Technology - iphone or android for overseas travel?

I have an Att iphone 4 and have recently resumed heavy international travel. With ATT's ridiculous data roaming charges, i've been forced to curtail use of the phone to wifi for email. I managed to jailbreak the phone and believe I can unlock it, but then I had the thought that perhaps it would be better simply to buy an android phone for exclusive use overseas, getting sim cards which are relatively cheap in places like China and Brazil. Anyone have any advice on this? I'm in China at the moment and see the iphone's micro Sim is much harder to find than standard sim. Can you get an android phone cheaply in Hong Kong that would get internet and email? Any recommended models?

My vote is for an Android phone and yes, you should be able to pick up a smartphone inexpensively.

If you can unlock your iPhone and use local sims then don't waste your money on an android. The micro-Sim is available around the world, and if you can't find one you can cut the regular sim to size with a pair of scissors. Look on YouTube for instructions.

i vote for the android, android phones can be purchased and unlocked very easily and they are cost effective

The cheap no-name Chinese Androids are rarely 3G (but are often dual SIM). Give the screens a workout as to readability, touch sensitivity, and to the extent possible durability

While I prefer iOS to Android, one feature I really like on Android is the way that VOIP integrates into the dialer. If you are going VOIP over 3G, it is six times easier to answer an inbound call and a little easier to place one.

I also have a module called Skyroam which turns a jailbroken iPhone or an Android phone into a dual SIM phone, but the data module is slow. It is, howver, nice for getting inbound text messages on your phone.

The Microsim issue is a nonstarter, you can buy a Microsim cutter off Amazon for $5 that works perfectly.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Android). You can now buy one direct from Google for $400. http://www.google.com/nexus/#/index

Android 4.0. Unlocked, un-branded and no carrier crap-ware. Did not even come with a forced Facebook and Twitter install. It is also pentaband, so it will work with both T-Mobile and AT&T in the US.

If you're in China, any shop can cut the sim card down to micro size :D

I have Sprint in the US, so my high end phone can not be used overseas.

I bought an AT&T LG Thrive GoPhone from Amazon about 9 months ago before a trip, for about $135. I then went online and bought an unlock code for about $5, and had a quad band unlocked 3G Android phone.

The Galaxy nexus for $399 mentioned by another poster is an excellent deal - well worth the $399 if you want to spend that. You can even use it on AT&T back in the states. However, while the $135 phone does not compare to a high-end phone in quality of display and capacity, it works just fine. I have used it with local SIMS in a number of countries, and even used the free built-in GPS for driving in the UK.

If you decide to go a similar route of buying a prepaid Android and unlocking, you should either be sure that you can unlock the phone before you buy it, or buy from Target or some other place with a liberal return policy so you can return the phone if you cannot unlock it.



I have an Att iphone 4 and have recently resumed heavy international travel. With ATT's ridiculous data roaming charges, i've been forced to curtail use of the phone to wifi for email. I managed to jailbreak the phone and believe I can unlock it, but then I had the thought that perhaps it would be better simply to buy an android phone for exclusive use overseas, getting sim cards which are relatively cheap in places like China and Brazil. Anyone have any advice on this? I'm in China at the moment and see the iphone's micro Sim is much harder to find than standard sim. Can you get an android phone cheaply in Hong Kong that would get internet and email? Any recommended models?

Android because there are some features with iPhone that do not work in different locations.

- www.TheSmartBusinessTraveler.com (http://thesmartbusinesstraveler.com/)

Which ones? Your link does not go to a specific article. My unlocked iPhone works all over the world, and I have never run into any feature that does not work.

Which ones? Your link does not go to a specific article. My unlocked iPhone works all over the world, and I have never run into any feature that does not work.

It appears to be a spammer.

OP - if it were me, I'd prefer to stick with one phone. But getting a cheaper unlocked Android phone (or an even cheaper locked Android phone, and unlocking it) is a good plan too.

If you don't care about money and want an iPhone, you can always get an unlocked iPhone from Apple.

I have an Att iphone 4 and have recently resumed heavy international travel. With ATT's ridiculous data roaming charges, i've been forced to curtail use of the phone to wifi for email. I managed to jailbreak the phone and believe I can unlock it, but then I had the thought that perhaps it would be better simply to buy an android phone for exclusive use overseas, getting sim cards which are relatively cheap in places like China and Brazil. Anyone have any advice on this? I'm in China at the moment and see the iphone's micro Sim is much harder to find than standard sim. Can you get an android phone cheaply in Hong Kong that would get internet and email? Any recommended models?

Have you had your iPhone 4 long enough that you've fulfilled your commitment i.e. is your contract still in effect? If you've fulfilled your obligation you can ask AT&T to get an iTunes authorization to unlock. As for micro-SIMs get a microSIM cutter.

I've thought about this several times. But the good Android phones have been mostly at least $450. The Galaxy Nexus is a good deal.

However, one alternative is to get a 7-inch tablet with GPS and a unlocked Mifi. Samsung just came out with Galaxy Tab 2 for $250 and Asus is suppose to be putting out a $250 model of its own soon, with a Tegra 3. Then there are rumors of a Nexus tablet from Google and a 8-inch iPad from Apple later this year.

Lot of stuff to carry but the gain in screen real estate may be a good complement to a phone.

You can leave the tablet at the hotel and use the Mifi with the iPhone when you're out and about.

I picked up the Huawei E585 for about $110 from eBay (from a Chinese seller) last year and used it with unlocked SIMs in Italy, Hong Kong and Spain so far.

I may yet get an iPad, though it's not really something I'd carry around. A smaller tablet with GPS though might be something else.

when i went to europe in february i purchased a samsung vibrant for 100 bucks unlocked it for free used a prepaid sim for 3g and called back home and received calls on my google voice number via 3g/wifi and the grooveip app also got free texting via google voice also for what i need it for the iphone just doesnt cut it

when i went to europe in february i purchased a samsung vibrant for 100 bucks unlocked it for free used a prepaid sim for 3g and called back home and received calls on my google voice number via 3g/wifi and the grooveip app also got free texting via google voice also for what i need it for the iphone just doesnt cut it

I have no problem with GrooveIP. It is a great program, but I think you can do the same thing with Talk-a-Tone for iPhone. GrooveIP integrates directly into the dialer. Otherwise I think the two are very comparable.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Android). You can now buy one direct from Google for $400. http://www.google.com/nexus/#/index


I am in Hong Kong at the moment and thought I would inquire to see if the Nexus is available unlocked here. I was told the Nexus is an "out of date phone" no longer sold in Hong Kong!

I bought a much cheaper samsung. Just plan to use it for the odd phone call and getting my email. I was astounded how expensive prepaid data cards are: about .40 per MB.

I was astounded how expensive prepaid data cards are: about .40 per MB.

Try this: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17805270-post62.html

I have no problem with GrooveIP. It is a great program, but I think you can do the same thing with Talk-a-Tone for iPhone. GrooveIP integrates directly into the dialer. Otherwise I think the two are very comparable.

yes thats true but iphone still doesnt have full gv integration and i use my gv number for everything since i tend to change my phone number alot

I am in Hong Kong at the moment and thought I would inquire to see if the Nexus is available unlocked here. I was told the Nexus is an "out of date phone" no longer sold in Hong Kong!

I bought a much cheaper samsung. Just plan to use it for the odd phone call and getting my email. I was astounded how expensive prepaid data cards are: about .40 per MB.

Don't go by the meg. Look at the prepaid bucket deals. I bought a couple of gig fromPeople's for US$4.

Cool deal.... VoX Mobile VoIP gives you 60 minutes of international calling to 60 countries for FREE!

Promo Code: TW60FREE

Download to Android Smartphones and Tablets*

Plus you get unlimited SIP/VoIP calling and instant messaging to other VoX Mobile customers from anywhere in the world over 3G/4G and Wi-Fi networks.

Depends on whether you really need a 24/7 phone connection or otherwise require a SIM for realtime local calls.

I forward iphone calls to my google voice # which sends an email transcript to email (and also the GVoice app). I can then decide if the call is sufficiently important to warrant a call back (most aren't). I find it easy to update my email and other content at free wifi locations as well as my hotel's wifi connection. You can also return calls very cheaply through facetime or skype using the wifi connection. There are also programs that show your map location using GPS but without data charges.

Of course, none of this will be sufficient if you need to be able to receive and make calls on a realtime basis (assuming your remote office does not have wifi and you don't spend all of your time at the hotel).