[Scott8586]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I don't have much experience with GSM systems/phones. If I were to get a Verizon 8830 *without* an international plan, and take it to GSM land (let's say London), what would I see? No Signal, No Network, Emergency calling only, A signal against Vodafone, but $$$/min, for a call?

Thanks... - Scott

[gibber9583]

I'd imagine no network. I think in order to even see a signal you would need a sim card in which VZW provides for abroad use. I think they charge $40 if you want one. Its free if u sign up for the international plan.

[dc/dc]

You'd see "No Network" or "SOS".

Please get the international service.

[baltimorepablo]

I need to go to Europe (London and Germany) next month and have a 8830 for Verizon as well. The phone says "World Edition" on it and the people at Verizon said I would just be roaming for $1.49/minute; there are no sim cards with Verizon so what do you mean, dc/dc?

Everyone at Verizon contradicts themselves so I'm nervous about the compatibility in Europe.. are there any BB users w/ an 8830 that knows this first hand? When you take the phone to Europe and it's "Roaming" how does that affect email? Internet? Is email considered part of the internet? What I'm scared of is everytime I get an email it will charge me $1.49 for a minute used of data. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by baltimorepablo

I need to go to Europe (London and Germany) next month and have a 8830 for Verizon as well. The phone says "World Edition" on it and the people at Verizon said I would just be roaming for $1.49/minute; there are no sim cards with Verizon so what do you mean, dc/dc?

Everyone at Verizon contradicts themselves so I'm nervous about the compatibility in Europe.. are there any BB users w/ an 8830 that knows this first hand? When you take the phone to Europe and it's "Roaming" how does that affect email? Internet? Is email considered part of the internet? What I'm scared of is everytime I get an email it will charge me $1.49 for a minute used of data. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

The 8830 requires a SIM card for GSM operation overseas.
There's a slot for the sim card in the battery compartment, to the left of the microSD card slot.

You should sign up with a Global plan from Verizon if you want to use your BlackBerry for voice and data overseas.

Without a SIM card from Verizon, your 8830 won't even function overseas for voice or data.

[docew]

Originally Posted by baltimorepablo

I need to go to Europe (London and Germany) next month and have a 8830 for Verizon as well. The phone says "World Edition" on it and the people at Verizon said I would just be roaming for $1.49/minute; there are no sim cards with Verizon so what do you mean, dc/dc?

Everyone at Verizon contradicts themselves so I'm nervous about the compatibility in Europe.. are there any BB users w/ an 8830 that knows this first hand? When you take the phone to Europe and it's "Roaming" how does that affect email? Internet? Is email considered part of the internet? What I'm scared of is everytime I get an email it will charge me $1.49 for a minute used of data. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Pablo - I just bought my 8830 World Edition from Verizon a few weeks back. At the time I bought it, I signed up for the global plan and they give you the SIM card free (a $29.99 value!). Without it, you won't even be able to roam.

[Bigmark173]

According to RIM, the 8830 WILL function over seas, without a SIM. It will always search for CDMA carriers. It will be an issue of VZN & Alltel ALLOWING it do connect...and at what price. If you pop in the SIM card, THEN it will only connect to GSM networks.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by Bigmark173

It will always search for CDMA carriers.

It may search, but it won't find anything.
There are basically no compatible CDMA carriers outisde of North America.
Over 80% of the planet uses GSM. I sincerely doubt anyone is going to be using their 8830 as a CDMA device outside of the united states.

[maxima]

I was in Europe earlier this summer with my VZW 8830, and I do have the global sim and global (unlimited) data plan. It worked perfectly. (We were on a cruise ship and I frequently had a good signal even a mile off the coast.) We had good Vodafone coverage in Italy, Turkey and Greece. I did find that occasionally when crossing from country to country I needed to reboot but otherwise fine.

Surfed the net and no additional charges for data or email. Phone calls were charged at $1.29/minute, so you need to be careful with that. An earlier post did say that tethering would not work in Europe, but I did not have the opportunity to test that out.

[Maniac8888]

Originally Posted by penguin3107

It may search, but it won't find anything.
There are basically no compatible CDMA carriers outisde of North America.
Over 80% of the planet uses GSM. I sincerely doubt anyone is going to be using their 8830 as a CDMA device outside of the united states.

Not true. There are multiple Verizon/BB compatible CDMA carriers outside. I am in China right now and am using a CDMA carrier as by BB transport.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by maxima

I was in Europe earlier this summer with my VZW 8830, and I do have the global sim and global (unlimited) data plan. It worked perfectly. (We were on a cruise ship and I frequently had a good signal even a mile off the coast.) We had good Vodafone coverage in Italy, Turkey and Greece. I did find that occasionally when crossing from country to country I needed to reboot but otherwise fine.

Surfed the net and no additional charges for data or email. Phone calls were charged at $1.29/minute, so you need to be careful with that. An earlier post did say that tethering would not work in Europe, but I did not have the opportunity to test that out.

This is impossible.
The 8830 will NOT function in Europe withiout a SIM card.
Your 8830 either had a SIM card in it, and you don't know about it... or you're not being truthful.
It's simple not possible to use the CDMA side of the 8830 in Europe, where there is no CDMA network. Italy, Turkey and Greece do not have CDMA networks.

[Blackberry Guru]

Originally Posted by penguin3107

This is impossible.
The 8830 will NOT function in Europe withiout a SIM card.
Your 8830 either had a SIM card in it, and you don't know about it... or you're not being truthful.
It's simple not possible to use the CDMA side of the 8830 in Europe, where there is no CDMA network. Italy, Turkey and Greece do not have CDMA networks.

I'm not sure why this is impossible, please explain they said they have a global sim?

[penguin3107]

Ah.. sorrry... misread that.
Thought it said they did NOT have a SIM.

[kidhertz]

you could just buy a card there, thats what I did 10£ O2 network
The 8830 from Bell comes unlocked

[sbcrair]

Originally Posted by kidhertz

you could just buy a card there, thats what I did 10£ O2 network
The 8830 from Bell comes unlocked

But if you buy a SIM card from O2 in UK (or anyone else for that matter), the email/BB service won't work, correct? Only the phone part (and you won't have your home phone number, either). Or am I missing something?

[AndrewAZ]

Originally Posted by sbcrair

But if you buy a SIM card from O2 in UK (or anyone else for that matter), the email/BB service won't work, correct? Only the phone part (and you won't have your home phone number, either). Or am I missing something?

Your correct but its cheaper to buy a sim card overseas or online than to use sprint or verizon for voice. A lot of folks seem to sign up for the international data plan then buy a sim card when they land or online and use the international data part via sprint or verizon then use the 3rd party sim card to make cheaper calls.

[kidhertz]

correct

[sbcrair]

Originally Posted by AndrewAZ

Your correct but its cheaper to buy a sim card overseas or online than to use sprint or verizon for voice. A lot of folks seem to sign up for the international data plan then buy a sim card when they land or online and use the international data part via sprint or verizon then use the 3rd party sim card to make cheaper calls.

So let me get this straight...I arrive in Europe, use the Sprint-provided SIM card to get email, etc., then pull that SIM card out and put in a 3rd party sim card to make calls? Seems like quite a bit of hassle to me. And, when the Sprint SIM card is in the phone, calls can come into my phone at the Sprint int'l. roaming rates. The only way to avoid the charges is to not answer the calls.

Am I missing something?

[maxima]

In London, I picked up very simple unlocked GSM phone (from CarPhone Warehouse) for $30 or so, and a pay-as-you-go Virgin SIM card. (You can do the same in other countries). I use it for cheap local calls (in Europe, incoming calls are always free to receive).

If you receive a call on your BBerry, you can see the number on call display and then call them back from your local phone. Not optimal, of course, but certainly cheaper and less stressful than swapping the SIM card in/out all the time!

Has anyone tried tethering (on Verizon) in Europe?

[baltimorepablo]

That's great, so I will just get the SIM card to go with my 8830. So the costs will be lets say $1.49/minute in Germany but all email and internet access is FREE? You only get charged for voice?