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-   -   GSM vs CDMA (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/946619-gsm-vs-cdma.html)

themicah Jun 30, 2009 2:45 pm


Originally Posted by pinniped (Post 11993250)
How do the Verizon world phones work? Do they have a regular CDMA device with an empty SIM slot in the back along with GSM innards to work in Europe?

I have a Palm Pre for the U.S. and a cheap unlocked oldschool Nokia that I bought on the street for something like 15 pounds in Europe. (It literally looks like a basic 1990's phone, even though it was new in its box when I bought it two years ago.) I just throw a local SIM in it wherever I go...

The AT&T GSM phones that I've seen advertised in the U.S. with worldwide capabilities have absolutely brutal per-minute rates when you leave the U.S. I wonder if T-Mobile is better since it was a European company to begin with and has its own network in multiple countries.

The Verizon world phones have both CDMA and GSM innards and I believe they have a Verizon SIM card so that your Verizon number will follow you overseas. The rates are similarly brutal to what AT&T offers in terms of global roaming. TMO may be slightly less expensive, but no US mobile company is going to offer anything remotely competitive with just popping a local SIM into your unlocked Nokia for basic calling. They're counting on people needing the convenience of taking their regular US numbers (or Blackberry/iPhone service) with them when they go overseas.


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