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Originally Posted by Explore
(Post 30307642)
Can you avoid VZW charges simply by keeping cellular data off, without activating airplane mode? I’d want GPS for offline Google maps etc. |
There are apps for devices other than phones that do SMS over Wi-fi.
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Originally Posted by yyznomad
(Post 30333814)
There are apps for devices other than phones that do SMS over Wi-fi.
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Success!
A week in Europe using data, text and voice over Wi-fi with no Verizon charges! On my I-Phone, cell data and roaming off, wi-fi calling and "prefer wi-fi while roaming" on.
I did get texts from Verizon when I arrived in a new country, referring to the Travelpass, but no Travelpass days were activated. Question: does wi-fi texting and calling work from most countries? Any major exceptions? Can you call in-country and to a third country for free - if so do you start with 011 and then the country code as if calling from the U.S.? |
Originally Posted by Explore
(Post 30346029)
Question: does wi-fi texting and calling work from most countries? Any major exceptions? Can you call in-country and to a third country for free - if so do you start with 011 and then the country code as if calling from the U.S.?
Wi-Fi Calling FAQs As far as dialing, I programmed my phone to dial the + symbol and country code for all calls, cellular and WiFi calling, regardless of whether I am in the US or abroad (i.e., +1-212-555-1212). I seldom have a problem with the calls connecting (except in Mexico, where I have to dial Mexican numbers without a country code while roaming on my TravelPass plan).How much does Wi-Fi Calling cost? The Wi-Fi Calling feature is available at no additional charge, and is included in your existing monthly voice plan. Your Wi-Fi calls to US numbers, regardless of where you are located, are also free of charge (except for 411 and other premium calls). Wi-Fi calls to international numbers are billed as "International Calling While in the US" (also known as International Long Distance). If an international rate plan exists on your account, international calls are billed at those rates. A Wi-Fi Calling icon will appear on your screen during the call to confirm that it is using Wi-Fi to connect it. If the call is using the Verizon or a roaming network, standard voice charges apply. Any Wi-Fi call made to a U.S. number will be treated as a domestic call, no matter where the call originates. Any Wi-Fi call made to a non-U.S. number will be treated as an international call. |
Originally Posted by Explore
(Post 30346029)
Question: does wi-fi texting and calling work from most countries? Any major exceptions? Can you call in-country and to a third country for free - if so do you start with 011 and then the country code as if calling from the U.S.?
Calling I believe is charged as if you were calling the country you're calling from the US. Use the + instead of 011. 011 is a peculiarity of the North American phone system. Most other countries use 00. + is the GSM worldwide standard for the international access code wherever you are. On the iPhone, you can also instead turn on Dial Assist, which will determine the correct prefix wherever you are. Settings - Phone - Dial Assist. Or, in the phone app, hold down 0 to get the + sign. |
Works on Verizon. I was shocked when we were in Oban, Scotland and I got a text from my mom. I thought she had turned off airplane mode and was roaming. Turns out the texts came through our wifi!
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Slightly off topic: If you travel alot, I’d STRONGLY encourage you to use an iP based messaging app. In order of my preference 1. Signal (Cross Platform) 2. iMessage (for iphones) 3. WhatApp (Cross platform) Get your most frequently texted contacts to download and use the tool whist you are traveling... even if they don’t want to adopt it for day-to-day. Most of these also enable options like voice and video calling over wifi You’ll thank me later. |
Originally Posted by LordHamster
(Post 30432848)
Slightly off topic: If you travel alot, I’d STRONGLY encourage you to use an iP based messaging app. In order of my preference
1. Signal (Cross Platform) 2. iMessage (for iphones) 3. WhatApp (Cross platform) Get your most frequently texted contacts to download and use the tool whist you are traveling... even if they don’t want to adopt it for day-to-day. Most of these also enable options like voice and video calling over wifi You’ll thank me later. |
I would add if you are traveling to China, install WeChat and have your loved ones and important contacts do the same. iMessage works and I've had some success with Verizon Wifi calling and text in China but everything else (e.g. WhatsApp) is now blocked. You can circumvent the block with a good VPN, so have a strategy before traveling to China.
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Originally Posted by synthkeys
(Post 30434781)
I would add if you are traveling to China, install WeChat and have your loved ones and important contacts do the same. iMessage works and I've had some success with Verizon Wifi calling and text in China but everything else (e.g. WhatsApp) is now blocked. You can circumvent the block with a good VPN, so have a strategy before traveling to China.
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I would add that If you are using an international roaming plan that works in China then you should bypass the Great Firewall. WhatApp and other blocked communication services should work in that case.
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Originally Posted by gfunkdave
(Post 30307335)
Yes, if you turn on wifi calling then you can stay in airplane mode, turn wifi back on, and Verizon (well, all carriers) will treat it as if you were in the US. Just make sure your phone says VZW Wifi.
It's actually creating an IPSec VPN connection back to Verizon and tunneling cell data over that connection. So voice and SMS work normally. To be doubly sure of not being charged, turn off voice and data roaming in settings. You might need to turn on wifi calling before you leave, when you're still connected to Verizon's network. |
Wow, this thread has been quite a find. Thanks for all the good info. Got my phone set up for my next trip with wifi calling turned on and an offline Google map downloaded. Looking forward to testing this out.
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Originally Posted by GUWonder
(Post 30435423)
Works much the same way with T-mobile US when using it overseas. And it’s working as designed when the network connection shows as “T-mobile WI-Fi”. I am told this is also an option for T-mobile’s prepaid//pay-as-you-go customers. and does your Tmobile PrePaid need to have Data ? thanks |
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