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Heading to Spain and Germany in a few weeks, I know I will need a sim card for my phone, current phone is CDMA, do I need to bring an old unlocked GSM phone?
Any sim cards anyone would recommend?

I have other travel questions for this trip as it's more destinations in less time than I normally do, however sorting out the phone would help me solve some other issues.

Thanks in advance for any help, and if I am super wrong about how mobile phones work feel free to set me straight.

Update: went with just grabbing Wi-fi and downloading maps, working OK so far but for next trip I am bringing an extra phone and sim

I don't know the answer (I know my UK friend has problems when he comes here and just buys a burner)...

But, I took an old iPhone with Ooma on it (or Vonage would work) and it let us call home and stuff pretty easily with wifi. Worked out well. I'll ask my friend what he uses in Europe (goes all the dang time).

Edit: he said they just use wifi and the GPS worked no matter what on their pixel2 and LG V10 (maps worked, no reviews or business hours though...but I guess just check at the hotel?). He spent the last month in Eastern Europe and didn't feel the need to have actual cellular coverage...but was glad maps worked. Pretty much the same thing we did in UK...just didn't feel a need for the swap.

Maybe get a Lycamobile chip for the time being?
Don't know if that will help but you can have an upgradable sim card with them so you can buy credit as you go, not to spend too much.

Tristan wrote:Maybe get a Lycamobile chip for the time being?
Don't know if that will help but you can have an upgradable sim card with them so you can buy credit as you go, not to spend too much.

cool I will look into that, I have a china mobile for HK and China trips but last time I went to spain I just used wifi and whatsapp and QQ but I am going a few unfamiliar places so I am not sure I can always snag wifi

hbombgraphics wrote:

Tristan wrote:Maybe get a Lycamobile chip for the time being?
Don't know if that will help but you can have an upgradable sim card with them so you can buy credit as you go, not to spend too much.

cool I will look into that, I have a china mobile for HK and China trips but last time I went to spain I just used wifi and whatsapp and QQ but I am going a few unfamiliar places so I am not sure I can always snag wifi

what kind of phone do you have? most Verizon phones should be GSM and CDMA. Sprint phones may be more hit or miss, I suppose. Age is obviously going to have some impact but if your phone supports LTE...

I'm on verizon and took my iphone this summer when I went to sweden. Pretty sure verizon is only cdma.
I set up the international plan (10 bucks a day) so I had full text / calls / internet without the huge overcharges. No problems making calls--had to turn roaming on though when I landed in order to get internet.

aedes wrote:I'm on verizon and took my iphone this summer when I went to sweden. Pretty sure verizon is only cdma.
I set up the international plan (10 bucks a day) so I had full text / calls / internet without the huge overcharges. No problems making calls--had to turn roaming on though when I landed in order to get internet.

Yeah depending on your provider this may be the easier option. Mine was pretty reasonable when I went to the US so I didn't bother with a separate sim.

aedes wrote:I'm on verizon and took my iphone this summer when I went to sweden. Pretty sure verizon is only cdma.
I set up the international plan (10 bucks a day) so I had full text / calls / internet without the huge overcharges. No problems making calls--had to turn roaming on though when I landed in order to get internet.

Once Verizon began supporting LTE they had the ability to do GSM, so that started with iPhone 5. As long as your device wasn’t carrier locked you could pop in a gsm sim so long as your phone had the correct bands for the country.

confirmed with my carrier it is a locked phone with no international coverage so the best option is my old china phone and a new sim (huawei ascend), someone recommend a sim?

Whatever the best price you can find for PAYG. There's no roaming charges within the EU so look at one of the big EU carriers like Mobal or Orange?

What he said!

ok, thanks for the Advice, doing some PAYG googling now

Just gonna drop this here because reasons. odds are high that your old phone you used in china is fine and probably gsm compatible. but if anybody else stumbles upon this here's some great info.

Some carriers in the US use a different wireless technology than what is used throughout all of Europe — which means that some US phones simply won’t work in Europe.
Europe uses a system called GSM (Global System for Mobiles) but two American carriers (Verizon and Sprint) use CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). All the other major US carriers use GSM, so no worries there.

Luckily, most new phones offered via Verizon and Sprint can now connect to both GSM and CDMA networks. For example, anything newer than an iPhone 4S will work perfectly fine in Europe. If you have an Android or Windows phone through Verizon and Sprint, be sure to check if it’s a “world phone” (i.e., it’s GSM compatible) — most modern phones should be fine.
If your phone isn’t compatible, check with your service provider as some will rent you a phone for a few weeks/months.

That's good stuff!! Yeah I checked with my carrier and I am not covered, debating just looking for wi-fi when needed and not worrying much about it, my only concern is driving. But I guess I can snag a GPS from a rental counter.

Most cars I rent these days come with GPS integrated. I'm sure you'll be able to request it and get either that or a separate unit for a few euros.

That said, having a working phone on you is good for emergencies.