What is the absolute best US cell carrier for international travelers?
May 27, 2016, 7:15 am
#2
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I'm getting excellent upload speed via T Mobile's partner Vodaphone here in Surfer's Paradise - actually faster than what the Hilton provides. Just last month I was using it in Seoul, and back in January Sweden and Denmark. Perfect plan for me and I upload a lot of photos and need serious amounts of data.
May 27, 2016, 7:35 am
#3
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I'm planning to go to Vietnam later this year, and it sounds like no US cell carriers work there. But a local SIM is super-cheap.
I hate going the local SIM route because it messes with my ability to get phone calls and text messages. So I might bring my Mifi, but that's also annoying.
Anyone know if this Vietnam situation is likely to change by Fall? Sounds like it's only been this way for a few years.
I hate going the local SIM route because it messes with my ability to get phone calls and text messages. So I might bring my Mifi, but that's also annoying.
Anyone know if this Vietnam situation is likely to change by Fall? Sounds like it's only been this way for a few years.
May 27, 2016, 7:43 am
#4
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Also - NYTimes just posted an article about this issue:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/te...ne-abroad.html
Frankly, not really informative, and they, like many here, give T-Mo the brush-off. Seems pretty clear that the author never even tried it.
Also, don't forget that if you're looking to pay for high-speed international roaming, T-Mobile is cheaper than AT&T ($60/300MB) and Verizon (complicated, but expensive). It's $50/500MB. Only Google Fi is cheaper ($10/1GB).
I haven't tried Sprint's free roaming, but T-Mobile has been fine for me.
Has anyone tried Sprint?
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/te...ne-abroad.html
Frankly, not really informative, and they, like many here, give T-Mo the brush-off. Seems pretty clear that the author never even tried it.
Also, don't forget that if you're looking to pay for high-speed international roaming, T-Mobile is cheaper than AT&T ($60/300MB) and Verizon (complicated, but expensive). It's $50/500MB. Only Google Fi is cheaper ($10/1GB).
I haven't tried Sprint's free roaming, but T-Mobile has been fine for me.
Has anyone tried Sprint?
May 27, 2016, 7:51 am
#5
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I'm planning to go to Vietnam later this year, and it sounds like no US cell carriers work there. But a local SIM is super-cheap.
I hate going the local SIM route because it messes with my ability to get phone calls and text messages. So I might bring my Mifi, but that's also annoying.
Anyone know if this Vietnam situation is likely to change by Fall? Sounds like it's only been this way for a few years.
I hate going the local SIM route because it messes with my ability to get phone calls and text messages. So I might bring my Mifi, but that's also annoying.
Anyone know if this Vietnam situation is likely to change by Fall? Sounds like it's only been this way for a few years.
Important information regarding Vietnam
As of January 13, 2015, data roaming access in Vietnam is blocked. At this time, access to voice calls and text messages (SMS/MMS) are allowed at standard international roaming rates. This was due to an independent move by the Vietnamese government that increased carriers' rates; T-Mobile is working on trying to get the rates back down.
As of January 13, 2015, data roaming access in Vietnam is blocked. At this time, access to voice calls and text messages (SMS/MMS) are allowed at standard international roaming rates. This was due to an independent move by the Vietnamese government that increased carriers' rates; T-Mobile is working on trying to get the rates back down.
don't think T-mobile can negotiate the rates that easily.. plan for getting a prepaid sim
May 27, 2016, 7:57 am
#6
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I'm planning to go to Vietnam later this year, and it sounds like no US cell carriers work there. But a local SIM is super-cheap.
I hate going the local SIM route because it messes with my ability to get phone calls and text messages. So I might bring my Mifi, but that's also annoying.
I hate going the local SIM route because it messes with my ability to get phone calls and text messages. So I might bring my Mifi, but that's also annoying.
May 27, 2016, 8:06 am
#7
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I'm planning to go to Vietnam later this year, and it sounds like no US cell carriers work there. But a local SIM is super-cheap.
I hate going the local SIM route because it messes with my ability to get phone calls and text messages. So I might bring my Mifi, but that's also annoying.
Anyone know if this Vietnam situation is likely to change by Fall? Sounds like it's only been this way for a few years.
I hate going the local SIM route because it messes with my ability to get phone calls and text messages. So I might bring my Mifi, but that's also annoying.
Anyone know if this Vietnam situation is likely to change by Fall? Sounds like it's only been this way for a few years.
May 27, 2016, 8:11 am
#8
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I'm planning to go to Vietnam later this year, and it sounds like no US cell carriers work there. But a local SIM is super-cheap.
I hate going the local SIM route because it messes with my ability to get phone calls and text messages. So I might bring my Mifi, but that's also annoying.
Anyone know if this Vietnam situation is likely to change by Fall? Sounds like it's only been this way for a few years.
I hate going the local SIM route because it messes with my ability to get phone calls and text messages. So I might bring my Mifi, but that's also annoying.
Anyone know if this Vietnam situation is likely to change by Fall? Sounds like it's only been this way for a few years.
When I am in Vietnam, I just use a local SIM and tell people in the US to call or text me on my Google Voice number if needed. Now the Google Voice won't redirect to the Vietnamese number, but people can leave voice mail and I can check it through the Google Voice app or by logging into Google Voice online. I usually also have VPN configured on my phone as well so I can make phone calls to the US through Google Voice since it thinks I'm in the US. Of course all of this is dependent on a good internet connection.
May 27, 2016, 9:35 am
#9
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what about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...work_operators
tmobile doesnt offer it prepaid, right ?
tmobile doesnt offer it prepaid, right ?
May 27, 2016, 10:04 am
#11
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May 27, 2016, 10:49 am
#12
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I don't get rid of my old iPhones just for this reason, for "developed" and "developing" countries.
May 27, 2016, 4:25 pm
#13
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Yeah - extra phone is a little simpler than a Mifi, but I'll be with my wife, and if we just get one SIM for the Mifi, then we can be on Wifi, and still get our calls and texts over the Wifi since T-Mobile + iPhone makes all of that easy.
Our Mifi is only 3G, but it'll be fine.
Our Mifi is only 3G, but it'll be fine.
May 28, 2016, 8:18 am
#14
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Not sure what criteria you have or how you came to that conclusion, but I personally prefer AT&T. Same GSM (TDMA) /LTE tech as TM, but a much better U.S. network (both data and phone). Since I'm in the US more than I'm not, that's more important to me. In theory, ATT phones would work on any of the Int'l networks that TM works on. At least in the 35 or so countries I've been to, I've had no issues with ATT and typically I have had 3-4 networks to choose from.
May 28, 2016, 9:53 am
#15
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Not sure what criteria you have or how you came to that conclusion, but I personally prefer AT&T. Same GSM (TDMA) /LTE tech as TM, but a much better U.S. network (both data and phone). Since I'm in the US more than I'm not, that's more important to me. In theory, ATT phones would work on any of the Int'l networks that TM works on. At least in the 35 or so countries I've been to, I've had no issues with ATT and typically I have had 3-4 networks to choose from.
But given the thousands of dollars (well, under 2, but more than 1) that I save every year with T-Mo, it's the winner.
Comparing apples to apples, you give up a bit (less and less) good US coverage for a price reduction of about 50% going AT&T to T-Mo.
Then, add the free international roaming, and for travelers who would otherwise pay for AT&T's (faster) roaming, you save another bundle.