Unlock your phone

In the USA... It has been federal law for some time now that once a phone's carrier subsidy, if there is one, and all contractural obligations the phone was purchased under have been fulfilled the carrier is obligated to remove any lock on the SIM preventing a device from being used on other networks.

Once unlocked, you should be able to use the phone on Straight Talk on the AT&T network. Walmart can set you up.

dobs108

Yes, unlocking is cool but I tried to do that and was denied within the hour because my contract is not yet up EVEN THOUGH I am not cancelling my plan and will be getting a new phone. Furthermore, AT&T wants to charge me a $99 unlock fee if I don't wait two more week. Crazy!

With T-Mobile, all you have to do is call T-Mobile or its toll-free number and the customer service will just ask you a few questions like your email address, your last 4-digit social security number, why you want it unlocked (going overseas is one), just for formality. Once confirmed you've met all the requirements, they'll send you an unlock code by email or phone call/sms (you get to choose) right away. The only hassle is you have to use or borrow someone else's sim card from a non-T-Mobile or another carrier, after inserting the sim with the phone off, turn the phone back on, key in the code and voila, it would say unlocked!

I purchase my devices direct from the manufacturer if possible as these devices are almost always unlocked for use with any carrier. This avoids the issue of having excessive bloatware on the device as well as a locked bootloader. It also avoids the issue of the carrier charging the device subsidy even after completing the contract.

This time around I bought a Nexus 6. Unlocked, it works on every carrier in the US. In 2 to 3 years, I'll go back to Google and buy another Nexus/Pixel device.

I want to use a local sims card next time we are in Europe.

Do what Strephon says. Like him I bought the Google Nexus 5X which comes unlocked and the SIM card can be switched. This is what I did on a recent trip to Canada. Got the SIM card from mrsimcard.com

The AT&T phone, even if it is really unlocked, may not be able to connect to the European phone networks since it likely will not operate on their frequencies which are different from the US. The Google phones are "world" phones which operate on all frequencies.

dobs108

The LTE bands on an AT&T phone won't work in Europe, but 3G and HSPA will as those bands are worldwide. Case in point, my backup device, an unlocked Galaxy S4 (rooted and with custom ROM, natch), happens to be a European model, GT-I9505. I used it for a year until I got my Nexus 6, despite the LTE not working here in the US.

If the phone is a Verizon or Sprint model, forget using it in Europe, Both carriers use CDMA, which is not used in Europe.

I don't want to change SIM cards on the plane or in the airport. Nano SIM cards are very small today and can be dropped and lost, as well as the holder that goes into the phone. I would do this at a table with good lighting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5G-3TUBbUw

With some phones the back is taken off and the battery is removed to see the SIM.

We left my wife's phone set up for use in the US so we would be ready to make a call about transportation, etc. My phone was set up in advance for use in the country we were visiting.

Only unlocked phones that were bought from the manufacturer, or AT&T or T-Mobile phones that were unlocked by those carriers, can be used in other countries. I prefer the "world" phones that operate on 4G everywhere. When in Canada on the Rogers network, the 4G speed was shockingly fast compared to AT&T in the US. This is only in populated areas.

dobs108

While it is correct that Europe isn't CDMA country, some, perhaps many, of the more recent Verizon phones do have GSM bands in them. I really think that the bottom line of this is to check your phone to see what capabilities it has AND check your country to see what it requires.

I do think that the concept of getting phones that have never been locked is a good one. I still have my Nexus 4, which was never locked to either AT&T or T-Mobile. Motorola has had some great phones recently which work with multiple carriers. https://www.motorola.com/us/no-contract-unlocked

Now even though I am not currently an Apple iPhone guy, my understanding is that the Verizon iPhones, particularly the most recent ones, will work out of the box with AT&T and T-Mobile.

Apple iPhones, to their credit, often have had the greatest number of bands in them that would be compatible with various carriers around the world.

Sprint often was the odd man out if the past with regards to compatibility with other carriers. I have no idea where they are at currently with that issue.

https://www.frequencycheck.com/models/AQM6A/motorola-droid-t...

I do know that Verizon does use a SIM card, but I believe it is only for their LTE service. Their non-LTE services are still CDMA, which would render the phone useless in Europe. Sprint doesn't use a SIM at all, as their LTE is Sprint Spark, a CDMA service. Sprint definitely would not work in Europe.

In the case of the iPhone, you're probably correct about its world phone capability. Assuming a Verizon iPhone is SIM unlocked it should work on AT&T without hassle. But I don't have an iPhone and don't want one.

This is correct.

Huh? Many phones, including iPhone and even many Blackberries work on both Verizon and European networks because many modern phones can use multiple waveforms and bands.

It's really hard to find an AT&T phone made in the last 12+ years that doesn't work on European phone networks (at least through 3G).

I am reading all the above post and having to take notes

You apparently didn't read the post I made after the one you quoted, where I mentioned that the iPhones are world phones. However, that's not relevant. The quoted post was a backwards way of clarifying that Mary's phone would work in Europe, since she has an AT&T device. However, the iPhone is only one phone. Samsung's Verizon phones cannot be used in Europe since they don't have the band support. If they did, there would be no reason for Samsung to offer multiple different versions of the Galaxy S7 in North America, while offering one S7 for the rest of the world.

The majority of phones Verizon sells are not world phones, and both the iPhone and Google's Nexus phones are the exception rather than the rule here. I won't even talk about Blackberry, as they are essentially dead due to not realizing that consumers were going to drive the market rather than businesses.

Definitely, you can unlock any phone through their respective carriers if it meets their conditions. If not, there are paid unlock services out there that could unlock the device depending on the condition on the respective network for a price.

Not all iPhone models are universal world phones since only specific iPhone models have GSM, or GSM and CDMA radios. It is best to check the specification on what network each device can support and research what radio frequency their network supports. AT&T and T-Mobile iPhone support GSM network while Sprint and Verizon models support GSM and CDMA network. Verizon and Sprint models are universal model with both radios. AT&T and T-mobile iPhone esp the newer ones can still work with Verizon or other carriers that use SIM card for GSM LTE.

I also noticed android devices have better reception on T-Mobile than iPhones...

Going to Spain soon and will be unlocking an old AT&T 4s, any personal recommendations of sim cards for Spain?

Do you think it is all Android phones or just certain Android phones? The reason I ask this is because my wife and I were on a road trip a year ago traveling from North Carolina to Minnesota. During the trip, I noticed that my Kyocera Brigadier that gone to 3G. My wife's Samsung Galaxy was on 4G. I tried re-booting, but it remained on 3G for many miles during that trip.

That experience prompted me to start reading reviews in search of a new Android phone. The Samsungs generally received quite favorable reviews in terms of holding a 4G signal the longest. Motorola received even better reviews. I started looking at which Motorola might be suitable for me and tried the Moto Droid Turbo. I tried one and I liked it a lot. Then, they announced the Moto Droid Turbo 2. That is the one that I am currently using and it has been a great phone for me.

Not going to Spain so have not researched what carriers they use.
I have found that research international is a lot of work. There are different carriers and different prices. I am not ready to do my research but have looked at options to add a travel package and have looked at a few sms cards for international.
The thing I see with sms cards is most have free incoming calls and text but still charge a per minute for outgoing calls.

The last time I went to Europe I only bought data on my tablet from AT&T for international use. This worked in some places but not all places. The area you are in has different carriers, not like ours where you can find all carriers most of the time. The AT&T did have roaming for free with theirs so that helped at some places.

I am not looking forward to the research. Not sure just where we are going yet as all the places we want to go are questionable (Cairo, Turkey, Greece) so I have not spent much time on research as it is a lot of work and only want to research where we are going and you can see by the places I want to go I do need a phone for security reasons.

Be sure and check what the old phone supports.

You might be better off just buying prepay sim cards when you get to Europe. They are a lot cheaper.

For three weeks in Europe a year ago and found no need to use my iPhone. Just now back from three weeks in China and no need either.

WiFi when available did me just fine. Using WiFi I can use my MagicJack and call or be called anywhere in this world.

Once a day email contact is good enough for me.

Will look into Magicjack. I know nothing about it.

Are you referring to the device or the app?

The above post said they use MagicJack so I am going to check on it. Don't know what they are talking about.

Edit:
Just looked at the apps and this is what they say
"Unlimited calling to other magicJack customer worldwide"

So for security it would not be good to take to Europe.

that's why walmart rocks

I have dropped my "Landline" years ago and MagicJack is my landline. It does require a HIGH speed cable or DSL Internet line. Dial up does not work !!!!!

Once you are a subscriber the app on an iPhone or Android lets you use MJ just like any other phone anywhere in the world on WiFi. The APP is FREE to subscribers.

Buy at Walmart
https://www.walmart.com/ip/magicJack-GO/37146769

Costs me about $ 120.00 for 5 years of service for a landline that way. Plus the one time cost of the MJ adapter.

So, do you pay for calls also?
If in Europe will you be able to call back home and in Europe?

Same in Canada. They can charge a fee. Bell Canada charges $50.

However, it was funny. Bell wouldn't even admit that they had a customer retention department, but as soon as I paid my $50, they suddenly transferred me to their Loyalty group. Suddenly they had offers they apparently didn't have before I told them I unlocked to go to another carrier.

Amazing!!

Thanks good info

You do NOT pay for any calls from your MagicJack to a landline or cellphone in Canada and the USA.

If you're in Europe and on WiFi you can be called as if you are at home as well you can call a number in the USA or Canada without any charges! You cannot call European numbers unless you sign up on a plan for that as far as I know.

Let's assume your MJ phone number is 123-456-7890. You can call anywhere in North America but Mexico and can be called at that number wherever you are. If you are anywhere other than in North America you need to be on WiFi.

Using MagicJack as a landline my YEARLY cost is under $ 50.00 !

But this is for a MajicJack subscriber, the free version is different.

I've got the code from them. It is quite inconvenient as I won't have access to a non-T-Mobile SIM until I arrive at destination which means I'll have to fiddle with this at the airport. Anyway, I hope it will work.

Ask around to your family, friends, and co-workers, someone you know is bound to have one. I really that that it will be better to do this prior to arrival at your destination.

If you have to, stop in an AT&T store and ask to use one of their demo phone SIM cards to unlock. Because you really want to get the phone unlocked before you go.

This helps explain it. Don't know why the web sites say you can only talk to other MJ for free???
Thanks again for the help and explanation. Mary

I'm not sure about all android device though. My observation was based from my iPhone 6S compared to S6 which I noticed the difference between signal bars. I have 3 bars while my friend had full bars that puzzled me... hardware? software? No idea.