Trip to China - cell phone
Apr 24, 2017, 7:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 50
Trip to China - cell phone
Can someone help an idiot?
I have a cell phone with a Verizon MVNO that does not have international roaming. In the past when I have gone to China, I picked up a local SIM card in China to cover cell coverage while I am there. How can I forward my phone to that number/receive calls on my US cell phone number while I am there?
If I decide to go with a second phone on T-Mobile, can I just forward my primary to the Tmo number?
Thanks!
I have a cell phone with a Verizon MVNO that does not have international roaming. In the past when I have gone to China, I picked up a local SIM card in China to cover cell coverage while I am there. How can I forward my phone to that number/receive calls on my US cell phone number while I am there?
If I decide to go with a second phone on T-Mobile, can I just forward my primary to the Tmo number?
Thanks!
Apr 25, 2017, 8:28 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 18
Can someone help an idiot?
I have a cell phone with a Verizon MVNO that does not have international roaming. In the past when I have gone to China, I picked up a local SIM card in China to cover cell coverage while I am there. How can I forward my phone to that number/receive calls on my US cell phone number while I am there?
If I decide to go with a second phone on T-Mobile, can I just forward my primary to the Tmo number?
Thanks!
I have a cell phone with a Verizon MVNO that does not have international roaming. In the past when I have gone to China, I picked up a local SIM card in China to cover cell coverage while I am there. How can I forward my phone to that number/receive calls on my US cell phone number while I am there?
If I decide to go with a second phone on T-Mobile, can I just forward my primary to the Tmo number?
Thanks!
Apr 25, 2017, 4:14 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
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FYI, in China T-Mo iPhones will have issues with LTE access. Due to T-Mo's roaming agreements, they roam in China on LTE bands not supported by T-Mo's iPhones. You will be better off buying an unlocked (sim Free) iPhone Model from the Apple Store, or their Verizon version. THEN pop in the T-Mo sim.
Apr 25, 2017, 5:37 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Posts: 976
FYI, in China T-Mo iPhones will have issues with LTE access. Due to T-Mo's roaming agreements, they roam in China on LTE bands not supported by T-Mo's iPhones. You will be better off buying an unlocked (sim Free) iPhone Model from the Apple Store, or their Verizon version. THEN pop in the T-Mo sim.
On iPhone 7, the set of supported LTE bands is identical between the two USA models.
On iPhone 6s, the set of supported LTE bands is also identical among the models, EXCEPT that the AT&T model supports one extra band that's seemingly not relevant in China (band 30, 2300MHz).
iPhone SE, iPhone 6, and earlier might have some relevant differences though.
https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
Apr 26, 2017, 8:00 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 50
Or simply use this option: get a Piranha Mobile sim card. They provide a US and a UK number on the same sim (plus, with your request, they can set a different clid - caller id - for outgoing calls). You forward your calls to this US number and can roam worldwide with better costs.
Apr 26, 2017, 4:09 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 18
Basically you forward all your incoming calls to the Piranha Us number, then switch off the phone, take the sim and swap it with the Piranha and travel with this setup. By the way maximum flexibility would be obtained using a dual sim phone. And don't forget that whenever you go, you always need an international backup sim. The Piranha can be your primary, another for backup can be an Estonian one like the excellent Airbalticcard.
Apr 26, 2017, 6:23 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Seems to depend on which iPhone you have?
On iPhone 7, the set of supported LTE bands is identical between the two USA models.
On iPhone 6s, the set of supported LTE bands is also identical among the models, EXCEPT that the AT&T model supports one extra band that's seemingly not relevant in China (band 30, 2300MHz).
iPhone SE, iPhone 6, and earlier might have some relevant differences though.
https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
On iPhone 7, the set of supported LTE bands is identical between the two USA models.
On iPhone 6s, the set of supported LTE bands is also identical among the models, EXCEPT that the AT&T model supports one extra band that's seemingly not relevant in China (band 30, 2300MHz).
iPhone SE, iPhone 6, and earlier might have some relevant differences though.
https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
The A1784 isn't as good as the A1661 Model it seems
https://www.frequencycheck.com/carri...&commit=Search
https://www.techwalls.com/iphone-7-p...l-differences/
Apr 27, 2017, 1:51 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
Apr 27, 2017, 7:33 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Posts: 976
Unfortunately not quite:
The A1784 isn't as good as the A1661 Model it seems
https://www.frequencycheck.com/carri...&commit=Search
https://www.techwalls.com/iphone-7-p...l-differences/
The A1784 isn't as good as the A1661 Model it seems
https://www.frequencycheck.com/carri...&commit=Search
https://www.techwalls.com/iphone-7-p...l-differences/
The OP was talking about LTE bands. Those are identical between the 2 iPhone 7 Plus models you cited. The difference between them is that one of the models supports CDMA and TD-SCDMA. I agree that this could impact roaming experience in China, and Apple's own web site says as much.
OP, what kind of phone are you using?
May 10, 2017, 6:02 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 50
The info on the frequencycheck site contradicts the info on both Apple's site and the techwalls article. I trust Apple and techwall.
The OP was talking about LTE bands. Those are identical between the 2 iPhone 7 Plus models you cited. The difference between them is that one of the models supports CDMA and TD-SCDMA. I agree that this could impact roaming experience in China, and Apple's own web site says as much.
OP, what kind of phone are you using?
The OP was talking about LTE bands. Those are identical between the 2 iPhone 7 Plus models you cited. The difference between them is that one of the models supports CDMA and TD-SCDMA. I agree that this could impact roaming experience in China, and Apple's own web site says as much.
OP, what kind of phone are you using?
May 16, 2017, 5:20 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2007
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The Verizon IPhone 7plus model supports all the 3 Chinese networks with 4G. The issue with a T-Mobile card in China is that the speeds are throttled; Google Fi is better as the speed restriction is not as great. Most phones support China Unicom networks so if you can buy a China Unicom card that is the best option. China Mobile Hong Kong cards are also good if you need Google, etc. and do not have a working proxy or VPN on your phone
May 20, 2017, 5:56 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
Hit an interesting problem with my phone in China:
China Unicom SIM in a Moto G4+. Incoming calls are fine. Incoming texts are fine. Data is fine. Outgoing calls are failing because every number I have wished to call started with either a 0 or a 1 and my phone is confused. I have had no occasion to try an outgoing text but I suspect the problem also applies.
Any ideas?
China Unicom SIM in a Moto G4+. Incoming calls are fine. Incoming texts are fine. Data is fine. Outgoing calls are failing because every number I have wished to call started with either a 0 or a 1 and my phone is confused. I have had no occasion to try an outgoing text but I suspect the problem also applies.
Any ideas?
May 22, 2017, 10:04 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
The phone app's "assisted dialing" feature is disabled, it's set up wrong, or it's confused by the way phone numbers are entered in the phone. To see whether assisted dialing is enabled:
Phone/Menu (the three horizontal dots at the top right)/Settings/Calls/Assisted dialing.
If the feature is already enabled, you may need to select "China" as the Reference country. Remember to reset is to your home country when you get home!
Phone/Menu (the three horizontal dots at the top right)/Settings/Calls/Assisted dialing.
If the feature is already enabled, you may need to select "China" as the Reference country. Remember to reset is to your home country when you get home!
May 23, 2017, 6:06 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
The phone app's "assisted dialing" feature is disabled, it's set up wrong, or it's confused by the way phone numbers are entered in the phone. To see whether assisted dialing is enabled:
Phone/Menu (the three horizontal dots at the top right)/Settings/Calls/Assisted dialing.
If the feature is already enabled, you may need to select "China" as the Reference country. Remember to reset is to your home country when you get home!
Phone/Menu (the three horizontal dots at the top right)/Settings/Calls/Assisted dialing.
If the feature is already enabled, you may need to select "China" as the Reference country. Remember to reset is to your home country when you get home!
And I can rule out how numbers are entered in the phone--these were new numbers, keypad dialing, not from the contacts.