I was just curious if anyone knew how I could use text, data, and voice in another country without having to pay for the extremely high charges for international roaming. Someone mentioned buying a prepaid SIM card once I get in the country from one of the local carriers and switch it out with my SIM card. I'm also curious if something like Google Voice would work, if I set it to use Google Voice for all of my voice calls and texts if I set it to use VOIP instead of the standard network. I know this will only work if I'm connected to WiFi, but I can deal with this Instead of paying so much for data & minutes if I buy a plan. Has anyone figured out the best way, or cheapest I should say, to be able to use the phone internationally without having to pay for a plan and have to pay $1 USD per minute for overage.
If anyone has suggestions, I would love to hear them.
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Thought I'd share a story to anyone else in my situation or anyone thinking about picking up an Xperia.
I bought a X1i and I use AT&T here in the USA. Since they don't have cheaper plans when you are out of contract I thought I'd go ahead and get a subsidized phone (Iphone 3G) and then sell it to make back some money to discount the service.
Turns out if you get the Iphone plan whenever you check your voicemail or get a new message your phone is spammed SMS messages from AT&T. Also they block your account from using MMS even if you paid for the messaging packages.
I was able to call and get them to lift the block after an hour or so on the line and also had them disable the visual voicemail. Also AT&T has this system to track what type of phone you are using which you can check at wireless.att.com if you sign in. When I gave AT&T the IMEI of my new number they said it belonged to a Motorola V180 (some old color flip phone from 2005). Because of this the unlimited data for that phone is only $15 a month versus $30 for a PDA, yet there is no difference I still have the full 3G data connection.
Just thought I'd share my story in case anyone is in a similar situation as you might save $180 a year based on the cheaper data plan.
tl;dr version
AT&T's system thinks the Xperia X1 is an old P.O.S. phone which lets you get their cheaper unlimited data plan for P.O.S. phones but still works like the data plan for PDA phones.
I did the same, I went with the $35 everything unlimited data plan. My phone also showed up as the V180, however, you didnt have to get the iphone to get this to work, one of the free phones would of worked just fine. All you have to do once you swapped the SIM card is change the plan online and the changes are instant.
can i get the nexus one and get the cheapest plan on tmo and use my google voice and not use minutes??
i guess i am confirming that GV using data and not plan minutes.....
Google Voice is not VoIP. It WILL use your minutes. Unless you have fav5 grandfathered in your contract or AT&T (you'll loose 3G) A-List, you are SOL.
I just moved to T-Mo on the 1st and moved in with 80/month contract free unlimited everything plan so I am ok. Before that I used HTC Magic (Rogers) with google voice and A-List on AT&T.
But to recap, you will need minutes. Google voice is more of a front number at the moment. Not a VoIP service as of right now. With purchase of Gizmo, it may turn that way later but for now, you talk, you use your minutes.
It goes through regular phone calls, so no. Unless you get the MyFaves and put the GV number on your favelist
Edit: Too slow.. d'oh
thanks guys...
yeah, i have a rogers magic on att now......i think i'm gonna make the switch to tmo now....
get unlocked phone....and get the 500 mins even more plan for 59.99/mo.............sell my magic and make up the difference in the $$$ for n1...
I just received my Focus from the Amazon $49 deal and was able to transfer my iPhone's unlimited data plan to it. This is only possible if you have a "grandfathered" device which already has unlimited data on it, as AT&T has dropped the unlimited plan.
Heres How:
Order your phone on Amazon. Choose any data plan, doesn't matter.
When your phone arrives, charge it, but, DO NOT PUT IN THE SIM CARD.
Have your SIM Card and Box out and available as you will need them.
DO NOT ACTIVATE THE PHONE AS PER AT&T'S INSTRUCTIONS on their web-site.
Call AT&T Wireless [1-800-331-0500]
DO NOT ACTIVATE YOUR PHONE USING THE AT&T MENU
Press "0" to speak to an agent.
Ask to migrate your existing plan over to your new Samsung Focus. This will move your Unlimited Data Plan to your new phone.
Provide the numbers from the phone box
Provide the SIM number from your new SIM.
Have the Agent activate the phone and call your phone to make sure it is working.
There, you should now have a fully activated phone with Unlimited Data.
This is how I was told to do it from Amazon and it works.
If you miss your Visual Voicemail from the iPhone, sign up for Google Voice (www.google.com/voice). You will never miss it!
Enjoy
should this work for any phone purchased through amazon wireless?
yes, I had activated with the $15 plan but then I called them to put back my old unlimited data plan.
my billing cycle is up today so tomorrow i have to see if its still unlimited if its not then im going to call them because on my plan now it still says unlimited.
I wonder if there is anyone out there who could shed some light on this?
I was not able to apply my $15 unlimited data plan that I was on before upgrading to the new Focus because my old device was not a smart phone? I upgraded from the Pantec Matrix.
Thanks,
konkie said:
I wonder if there is anyone out there who could shed some light on this?
I was not able to apply my $15 unlimited data plan that I was on before upgrading to the new Focus because my old device was not a smart phone? I upgraded from the Pantec Matrix.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Smartphone and Non Smartphones are 2 different data plans. Since the Focus is a smartphone the only way for you to get unlimited data for a smartphone, you have to have had a smartphone and that data plan.
ShadowLegion said:
Smartphone and Non Smartphones are 2 different data plans. Since the Focus is a smartphone the only way for you to get unlimited data for a smartphone, you have to have had a smartphone and that data plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, I've have a HTC Hermes since '07 with a UL Data plan. Ordered 2 Focus's today through ATT Premier (buy one get one free) and was able to apply the UL plan to it, 2GB plan to my Wife's.
psills said:
I just received my Focus from the Amazon $49 deal and was able to transfer my iPhone's unlimited data plan to it. This is only possible if you have a "grandfathered" device which already has unlimited data on it, as AT&T has dropped the unlimited plan.
Heres How:
Order your phone on Amazon. Choose any data plan, doesn't matter.
When your phone arrives, charge it, but, DO NOT PUT IN THE SIM CARD.
Have your SIM Card and Box out and available as you will need them.
DO NOT ACTIVATE THE PHONE AS PER AT&T'S INSTRUCTIONS on their web-site.
Call AT&T Wireless [1-800-331-0500]
DO NOT ACTIVATE YOUR PHONE USING THE AT&T MENU
Press "0" to speak to an agent.
Ask to migrate your existing plan over to your new Samsung Focus. This will move your Unlimited Data Plan to your new phone.
Provide the numbers from the phone box
Provide the SIM number from your new SIM.
Have the Agent activate the phone and call your phone to make sure it is working.
There, you should now have a fully activated phone with Unlimited Data.
This is how I was told to do it from Amazon and it works.
If you miss your Visual Voicemail from the iPhone, sign up for Google Voice (www.google.com/voice). You will never miss it!
Enjoy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
forgot to mention this only works for people already using the unlimited data plan!
Thanks everyone. Now I feel sad for not taking any upgrade offers to smartphones in the past
I did exactly what is said in the first post. Ordered from Amazon with 2gb and 1500 message plan. I called att to transfer my plan but the rep said I could not. The rep said that I could Not transfer my existing plan (media net 200 bundle with unlimited data) because my previous phone was not a smart phone. I told her I had htc fuze and she was puzzled. She talked to supervisor and still said I could not keep my old plan.
So, I just purchased a Nexus 4 and I'm very happy with my purchase.
There is a carrier here in Mexico that was offering last month a HSPA+ 21 plan for just $12 per month, 3GB (unlimited... after the 3Gb they reduce the speed). But the plan was for data only. They provided one of those MiFi devices.
What I did was just remove the SIM card from the MiFi device and cut it to micro-Sim size (they provided a regular size SIM) and then I put it on the Nexus 4 and used the correct APN settings. The Internet is working perfectly.
But... they provided a phone number with the plan. I think all plans needs to have a phone number associated with it, right?
Anyway... the plan only includes data, and I can't make calls (well, I have a Skype Unlimited plan, so I can make VOIP calls) but surprisingly, I can receive calls.
But, here is the but... I only can receive calls from cell phones from the same carrier! I called my carrier and they told me that the associated phone number was not meant to receive calls, that it was a virtual number (to be honest, they were completely clueless).
So, is there something I could make with this virtual number to be able to receive phone calls from landlines?
Thanks.
FernandoRocker said:
So, I just purchased a Nexus 4 and I'm very happy with my purchase.
There is a carrier here in Mexico that was offering last month a HSPA+ 21 plan for just $12 per month, 3GB (unlimited... after the 3Gb they reduce the speed). But the plan was for data only. They provided one of those MiFi devices.
What I did was just remove the SIM card from the MiFi device and cut it to micro-Sim size (they provided a regular size SIM) and then I put it on the Nexus 4 and used the correct APN settings. The Internet is working perfectly.
But... they provided a phone number with the plan. I think all plans needs to have a phone number associated with it, right?
Anyway... the plan only includes data, and I can't make calls (well, I have a Skype Unlimited plan, so I can make VOIP calls) but surprisingly, I can receive calls.
But, here is the but... I only can receive calls from cell phones from the same carrier! I called my carrier and they told me that the associated phone number was not meant to receive calls, that it was a virtual number (to be honest, they were completely clueless).
So, is there something I could make with this virtual number to be able to receive phone calls from landlines?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Discuss this matter with your carrier and add calling to your contract, posts like these bypassing contracts are not allowed here on XDA. You get what you pay for.
gee2012 said:
Discuss this matter with your carrier, posts like these bypassing contracts are not allowed here on XDA. Did you get the N4 with the data plan or is it sim only?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only the SIM.
But I don't think I'm bypassing the contract, because on the website it says that I can receive calls if I have a compatible device.
FernandoRocker said:
Only the SIM.
But I don't think I'm bypassing the contract, because on the website it says that I can receive calls if I have a compatible device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look in the fine print of your contract or call your provider again and/or change the contract to a regular phone number .
I use my pure with t-mobile and will travel to Japan next month for 1 week. I read that wifi calling is not available on this phone at all. I plan to rent a portable hotspot anyhow, so does the sms or mms still work?
I was also checking out how to turn off data roaming on my phone and noticed it was already off but hasn't affected anything so far. Is that normal? I was hoping to at least have text working or would have to revert to email to keep in contact with my family if we separate.
I'm not entirely sure what you are asking here... SMS and MMS will need a connection to T-Mobile, the later will require data connection.
WiFi isn't really "international" or US or Japan, it is just WiFi... although there are some regulatory aspects to it (and channel restrictions in the US), your WiFi should work just fine in Japan. Before getting or renting a hotspot, check out where you are going and look into Softbank's Free WiFi Passport and Travel Japan WiFi, they require registration but can get you free WiFi at almost 500,000 locations in Japan for 2 weeks, there are also paid WiFi networks you can subscribe to. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2279.html
You might want to look into a Google Voice account, set it up before you go, or get a local SIM.
You could also change your T-Mobile plan to T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice North America for the term you are there, it would likely cost more but offers free data, text and 20 cent/min voice calls.
chitin said:
I use my pure with t-mobile and will travel to Japan next month for 1 week. I read that wifi calling is not available on this phone at all. I plan to rent a portable hotspot anyhow, so does the sms or mms still work?
I was also checking out how to turn off data roaming on my phone and noticed it was already off but hasn't affected anything so far. Is that normal? I was hoping to at least have text working or would have to revert to email to keep in contact with my family if we separate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By chance did you end up testing your data speeds in Japan? I am going there in a month and am trying to avoid a pocket wifi unless absolutely needed.
jjchdc said:
By chance did you end up testing your data speeds in Japan? I am going there in a month and am trying to avoid a pocket wifi unless absolutely needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I leave on Friday and may end up getting a pocket wifi for 1 week @ $50. T-mobile said my data and all text is still unlimited over there but it caps at 3G speed and I prefer to to have something with us instead of looking for wifi hotspots. Voice calls are $.20/minute, so wifi will have to be enough.
acejavelin said:
I'm not entirely sure what you are asking here... SMS and MMS will need a connection to T-Mobile, the later will require data connection.
WiFi isn't really "international" or US or Japan, it is just WiFi... although there are some regulatory aspects to it (and channel restrictions in the US), your WiFi should work just fine in Japan. Before getting or renting a hotspot, check out where you are going and look into Softbank's Free WiFi Passport and Travel Japan WiFi, they require registration but can get you free WiFi at almost 500,000 locations in Japan for 2 weeks, there are also paid WiFi networks you can subscribe to. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2279.html
You might want to look into a Google Voice account, set it up before you go, or get a local SIM.
You could also change your T-Mobile plan to T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice North America for the term you are there, it would likely cost more but offers free data, text and 20 cent/min voice calls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does google voice use data only? I have a Voice acct and if I rent a personal hotspot, that would work out nicely. I'm a little worried about not being able to make any voice calls in Japan since there's a T-mobile charge. But if our hotspot covers text and google voice, I think we're all set.
chitin said:
I leave on Friday and may end up getting a pocket wifi for 1 week @ $50. T-mobile said my data and all text is still unlimited over there but it caps at 3G speed and I prefer to to have something with us instead of looking for wifi hotspots. Voice calls are $.20/minute, so wifi will have to be enough.
Does google voice use data only? I have a Voice acct and if I rent a personal hotspot, that would work out nicely. I'm a little worried about not being able to make any voice calls in Japan since there's a T-mobile charge. But if our hotspot covers text and google voice, I think we're all set.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can... Install the Google Voice app or use the Hangouts Dialer plugin.and it can run completely on data.
thats what i am planning to do when i go to the carribean for a few months. i dont have tmobile but when i get there im going to do google voice on one of my phones and a simcard from there for another. check your prices though because what i found is amazing over there. so which ever works cheapest i may go with, but i have been integrated with google voice for years with sprint
30 Day 10 GB $30.00 a month/US