How "Global" Is The iPhone 4s?
 

I have an unlocked iPhone 4s usable on both Verizon and GSM networks (purchased from and unlocked by Verizon).

I have a micro-SIM from Orange France which I need to activate when I next go there.

Besides Europe and other GSM countries, where else can I get this phone to make and receive calls? How about Japan?

From a technical standpoint, the iPhone will work in Japan on NTT docomo and SoftBank, however I don't really think it's possible to get a prepaid SIM there. Roaming should work as long as Verizon has agreements there (which I'm sure they do).

The iPhone, will technically work on at least 1 network in pretty much every country you would be likely to travel to.

You can rent a Japanese SIM when you land in both Narita and Osaka. Some of the deals include unlimited data.

Taiwan, HK, Thailand, Singapore, KL, jakarta,china, n Vietnam

Help just been stung by orange, I have a new job that means i have to travel overseas on a fairly regular basis so bought a new smart phone from apple so that I can keep in touch with home. Not being a tecki did not realise about things like turning data off and have just had a bill that nearly floored me. So my question is after googleing all over the place is what sim you would recommend for travelling. It is a mine field off cards out there and I am just not sure and totally confused. Any advice welcome.

Here's a pretty comprehensive list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._UMTS_networks

The spectra around 2100MHz is extremely common (pretty much every carrier on that list sans AT&T, T-Mobile, and a handful of others. ). The iPhone 4S supports 2100MHz, as well as 850, 900, and 1900 (AT&T).

The only band that doesn't work is 1700MHz AWS for T-Mobile, so until they're finished with their 1900MHz deployment, all you can use is EDGE.

Like D582 said, the real issue is whether or not you can obtain a prepaid microSIM. You can always cut down a SIM (assuming you don't have to return it), in case you only get the normal-sized one.

Tell us a little about your travels. What countries do you travel to? Which is more important data or voice?

International mobile calling
 

The main areas of travel will be to Canada, Australia and South Africa also some in the USA. I have now found out that my iPhone is locked to orange to make things worse. It appears that to use a roaming card it needs to be unlocked reading through some sim card sites.

Sorry you got stung. However, there have been lots of stories in the news about people being "surprised" by these large bills. If one has had their ear to the ground for any amount of time it should come as no surprise and one should act accordingly.

When I went to get the phone i explained my requirements and was told i just had to let orange know i wanted to use my phone abroad, no one from orange mentioned or advised me about usage. Really poor service from orange, but if you are not into this technology it is a bit of a learning curve. So this is why i have joined this forumas it seems most of you are far more informed than others. I have been most of the day trawling through international sim card sites and looking at rates.

Take a look at Truphone's business plan:

http://www.truphone.com/en-US/Business/Price-plans/

It covers everything but South Africa reasonably ok. The problem right now is that the best roaming SIMs for data aren't the best ones for voice.

There are a number of roaming SIMs with IOM or Jersey numbers with free incoming in a number of countries. If your spouse or others includes these holdings in their definition of mobile to mobile, you could get free incoming in all these countries, but data is a different story.

I have the iphone 4 and took it to South Africa. Bought a sim card over there. My only problem was that I thought the phone was unlocked but it was only unlocked in the UK. Make sure you are unlocked worldwide.

Ok what a marathon of an exercise, but think I have narrowed it down to two possibilities, either way I have to buy a new cheap phone that is unlocked to use when away. I looked at tru as suggested amongst many others providers but think I will use either one of these, just thought I would get some feedback first. I like the look of www.piranha-mobile.com that seems to be really cheap on calls and data, also has a person at the end of a chat line who was very helpful and in the UK. Also www.gosim.com but have read on other places to stay away from Isle of man numbers due to high termination whatever that is.

I am a T Mobile user waiting patiently for a T Mobile Iphone. As I am looking to upgrade soon, I will hold off if I know a Iphone is coming over the horizon.

As a diehard user for 14 yrs , I stopped holding my breath last year and switched to Verizon. My family is also making the move next month to Vz.

Good luck ^