Lesson learned Verizon requires WiFi calling enabled in the U.S. prior to departing the U.S to use WiFi calling outside the US.

[GON]

Have a new smartphone with Verizon service. I am paying a supplement monthly fee to Verizon for international service. I am working oconus.

Went to call my Wife earlier and phone won’t connect. Internet works, texts works, but phone won’t call. Discovered WiFi calling was not enabled on the new phone.

Went to enable WiFi calling and was routed to Verizon website.

This is what Verizon website displayed:

International users​

HD Voice and Wi-Fi calling must be activated on the Verizon wireless network before you leave the country. The Federal E911 system does not register outside the US. You won't be able to turn on HD Voice or Wi-Fi calling outside the Verizon calling network (international).

Add this to lessons learned.

 

[Rand]

install app .... whatsapp or signal and use that? (install on both phones)

 

[Kira]

Thanks for the details.
For $10 ($10 / week), we got international service with Verizon.
That was 5.5 years ago.

What's it cost now with AI in the mix?
What does AI do for either the caller or recipient of the call?

 

[cptbarkey]

VPN

 

[Rand]

Thanks for the details.
For $10 ($10 / week), we got international service with Verizon.
That was 5.5 years ago.

What's it cost now with AI in the mix?
What does AI do for either the caller or recipient of the call?

Pretty sure he meant supplementAl --->supplemental

VPN

wont help. you have to be on verizon's network to activate.

 

[Rand]

... dbl post

 

[GON]

Thanks for the details.
For $10 ($10 / week), we got international service with Verizon.
That was 5.5 years ago.

What's it cost now with AI in the mix?
What does AI do for either the caller or recipient of the call?

I think I am $35 per month supplemental for international service. Unlimited calls and text. First 10gb of high speed data free, then data at 2GB. No idea what that means.

 

[Kira]

I'd guess "...data at 2GB", means you buy additional bytes 2GB at a time. If you use 15GB you get the first 10 "free" then pay for three 2GB measures of service.
Did they mention what each "2GB" costs?

 

[GON]

I'd guess "...data at 2GB", means you buy additional bytes 2GB at a time. If you use 15GB you get the first 10 "free" pay for three 2GB measures of service.
Did they mention what each "2GB" costs?

No mention of costs.

My youngest Son in the U.S. Army currently serving in Korea received quite a cell phone bill for data use in Korea. He paid a wheel barrel full of money for two months. He caught the billing situation after the first month, but was using his phone into the second month when his first bill arrived.

I will be shutting down data roming feature.

 

[mk378]

I think that means they limit you to "2G" speed which is about 100kbps.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I've never had any luck with verizon wifi calling ...

 

[CKN]

I just spent 52 days traveling. Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Greek Islands, Crete, etc. Every time I arrive in a Country-I get a message from T Mobile-"You have unlimited text messages, and 5GB of data at no charge, calls at .25 cents a minute." I used WhatsApp for calls.
The service was seamless.

I would recommend T-Mobile for anyone that travels. I am on their 55plus plan.

 

[alarmguy]

Nomad is a great data service installed on my iPhone as a second eSIM
I forgot what I paid maybe $30 for 50 gigs of service and for the two weeks I was in the Philippines I only will have used about eight gigs. Our daughter bought 10 gigs of service for about seven dollars with the discount and that would’ve been plenty.
We do have Wi-Fi in our hotel but many times I just use the Nomad eSIM last speed test. I did was about 50 mbps which is terrific and surprising as I am in the Philippines and the server was in Hong Kong
I also tethered to my laptop when needed as well.

For phone calls And texting we use Viber But you also have the others as well
Also using the default Apple iMessage I routinely text message family in the states on their iPhones and it’s instantaneous however, you cannot use iMessage with android devices And possibly iMessage in the same country, but it was working from the Philippines to the US on iPhones

You would have to use Viber what’s app, FB messenger etc
It’s very common here people just use Viber and a data service. They do not get telecom voice text.

@GON I did some edits to the post as I noticed some errors that I made, sometimes I’m doing these things on the fly.

 

[mk378]

Yeah don't count on Verizon wifi calling to work, even at home. There's basically no cell signal inside my house so I (try to) use wifi calling every day. When it works it is fine except that MMS attachments can't be received.

Often though I will have to take the phone outside so it registers on the network before it will switch to wifi. In that state it shows "Emergency calls only" on the top bar.

 

[dishdude]

If you travel internationally, it's tough to beat Google Fi - especially if you're an Android fan. They really give great discounts on phones too.

 

[GON]

If you travel internationally, it's tough to beat Google Fi - especially if you're an Android fan. They really give great discounts on phones too.

Thanks for the recommendation. I have an ATT prepaid phone, which I was slowly wanting to dispose of.

Earlier this morning (its Saturday now for me) I switched the ATT prepaid to GoogleFi. Was nearly mission impossible, as I didn't have my ATT prepaid account information, and GoogleFi won't let someone activate a phone outside of the U.S. unless a very specific criteria was met.

GoogleFi up and running using the esim. I tried to transfer over my Verizon cell number also to GoogleFi, but the response is GoogleFi won't service the U.S. area code of my Verizon number. None of this is ever easy.... and they make it that way....

No longer have ATT prepaid, but I need to make sure they won't continue to autobill me. I suspect just because I no longer have a phone with ATT, they will still bill me unless I cancel something.

 

[Wireman1987]

Have a new smartphone with Verizon service. I am paying a supplement monthly fee to Verizon for international service. I am working oconus.

Went to call my Wife earlier and phone won’t connect. Internet works, texts works, but phone won’t call. Discovered WiFi calling was not enabled on the new phone.

Went to enable WiFi calling and was routed to Verizon website.

This is what Verizon website displayed:

International users​

HD Voice and Wi-Fi calling must be activated on the Verizon wireless network before you leave the country. The Federal E911 system does not register outside the US. You won't be able to turn on HD Voice or Wi-Fi calling outside the Verizon calling network (international).

Add this to lessons learned.

How about FaceTime, google voice, Skype, Facebook messenger just a few

 

[GON]

How about FaceTime, google voice, Skype, Facebook messenger just a few

Yes, there are alternates.

My Wife, and professionals I deal with want to keep the same method of communications with me they have used for years. They want to dial my phone number. That is what I am paying Verizon a supplemental monthly fee to use.

 

[Pew]

If you travel internationally, it's tough to beat Google Fi - especially if you're an Android fan. They really give great discounts on phones too.

How do you like Fi so far? I'm on TMO but been having issues with them lately. Plus I pay extra for YT Premium and the extra cloud space, so all that rolled into $65/month is very enticing.

 

[Nukeman7]

How do you like Fi so far? I'm on TMO but been having issues with them lately. Plus I pay extra for YT Premium and the extra cloud space, so all that rolled into $65/month is very enticing.

Google Fi runs on the T-Mobile network in the U.S. Therefore, if your issues are with signal/bandwidth performance, I don't think you will see any significant difference. However, if the issues are administrative in nature (e.g., customer service, billing, etc.), Google Fi may/may not be better.