Droid 2 Global — Using in Europe
 

I'll be in Germany and France next month. If I have access to wifi, will I be able to go online using my D2G for free?

If you can do Wifi in the USA, you can do it in Europe.

(Is this a trick question?)

Sorry, not a trick question. I just wanted to know. :)

Be sure to get that SIM card unlocked from Verizon. It won't matter in terms of using your wifi, but you can slap in a pre-paid SIM card from a Euro-carrier for cheap phone service.

WifI calling
 

Of course, if you hada T-Mobile Andriod phone, you could use the WiFi to make calls back home for free...no roaming charges.

With vzw u can make Skype to Skype calls for free over wifi or pay for others

I have VZW. So if I download the Skype app, I can make calls for free if there's wifi?

I'll go to a Verizon Wireless store. I've had the phone for more than 60 days which I believe was the wait time.

Do post your experience if you try to use an unlocked Droid 2 Global in Europe. I picked one up a couple a couple months ago for a trip to Europe in September, and while I've used unlocked US carrier GSM phones in Europe before, I've never used a dual/mode GSM/CDMA phone like the Droid 2 Global. Would love to hear an FTers trip report.

It works fine.

In the settings menu there is a option for auto (Auto detect CDMA, if no, try GSM), CDMA only or GSM only.

It will work fine since there is NO CDMA is Europe except for a little bits in Ukraine where VZW does have roaming. They also have CDMA roaming in Asia.

If you are purely using a unlocked Droid 2 Global with 3rd party SIM, in the settings menu set it to "GSM/WCDMA/UMTS/HSPA+ ONLY" which will COMPLETELY ignore the CDMA mode of the device and use whatever SIM card is in the device.

Even if you don't it will work in GSM mode since there is NO CDMA1X/EVDO rA in Europe with VZW roaming unless you are in the capital cities of Ukraine (rare, there is GSM there too).

My D2G has an extended battery and as I'm thinking about this now, I think I'll leave it as is and use the D2G just for going online in wifi areas. I can't remove the battery cover unless I go to a Verizon store; it's that tight so I don't want to tinker with it.

I actually have an old global AT&T phone (2 years) that already is unlocked so I will use that to make calls. This trip is only for a long weekend.

Is it cheaper to buy the SIM card for Germany here before I go versus doing so when I arrive there? Is there a website any of you like for inexpensive SIM card rates?

Probably cheaper to buy in Germany. I havent tried with that phone but can make free Skype calls over Wifi with my iPhone. I use it a lot actually when out of the US. I assume it would be the same with Skype on any device. And yes, it would save battery life to go to airplane mode or the equivalent and just turn on the WiFi when you need it. That would also tend to eliminate any unwanted international data roaming. I have no experience with that phone so I cant tell you how to do it, but you definitely want to make sure international data roaming is shut down to avoid and nasty surprises at billing time.

I've never used Skype before but that's a great point. So if I call my husband using Skype, will his Droid ring as if I were to call regularly?

I know I have airplane mode but I have never used it. So when I want to use wifi overseas, by putting it in airplane mode, I won't get charged for international data roaming? It is then I can use Skype? I'm sorry if these are stupid questions but I honestly don't know. Thanks.

I'll ask at the Verizon store. Thanks.

I have a VZW Droid Pro with Skype Mobile preloaded. It does not work on WiFi, only on the cellular network. (When I start the app with 3G off and Wifi on, i get a Verizon error message.). Is there another version that will work with WiFi?

Mine works over wifi only in Europe. Tried it a few weeks ago in the UK. I think it was allowed with a recent update. Now...my phone is rooted as well...so maybe that is allowing it, but I dont think so.