Verizon Blackberry use

samuelcooper

I have a Blackberry World Edition and Verizon is my carrier. I'm trying to decide whether to take the blackberry (and risk losing it or having it stolen and used) or just buy a pre-paid phone in Tamil Nadu. Though Verizon uses cdma technology, the World Edition has a SIM card. I think that is why it is called "World Edition" but I'm not sure. I'm not certain what all of this means except that the SIM card will enable me to use that technology.
The Verizon guy told me that for $64/mo, I could have the blackberry activated to have web connection (and thus email). Calls back to US, though, would be @ $5.00 minute. So, I was thinking the better choice would be to leave the blackberry at home and buy a prepaid phone in India.
So, will I have coverage to operate the Blackberry as both phone and email/web tool? Would there be additional fees?
Or would it be better to just buy a prepaid phone?
I want to be able to communicate back home and to make local calls in India. I can do without calling back home so long as I can email.

thejag

Check who is the roaming partner in india on the cdma netowrk and if it is reliance check if you will receive access to their ev-do service or the standard cdma 1X network for the web connection. if you do not have access to the ev-do speeds there is really no point in paying so much for internet access in india. your 64 dollars will get you a lot more in india to verizon. If verizon will unlock the phone for the gsm netowrk in india then you can just pick up a prepaid sim here and use gprs via the GSM sim and not need to use another phone. Blackberry service costs about 20 USD or so the last time i checked but you will only get GPRS speeds. calls to the Us are Rs 6 a minute.

you should find more info about prepaid cards and GPRS coverage in the sticky threads in the electronics forum.

samuelcooper

Though I have a BB and use it a lot here, I don't know very much at all about the technology. I just want to know what it all boils down to (hate it when people want me to boil stuff down for them! ). And I don't trust my local Verizon guys to know that much. Pretty sure none of them have ever been to India. Right now it seems that the BB would be more of a liability. Besides, I'd probably just fiddle with it all the time. I can do that here!

Ignite

I would highly recommend you leave your BB at home, and get a pre-paid sim card in India. But, getting a sim card in India is no easy matter.

You may also want to check out this thread.

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malayalee

I asked essentially the same question on another thread - Verizon - BB coverage in India.

Since then I travelled to Kerala, Mumbai, Delhi and Agra. I got continuous coverage during my entire three week tours to these locations - on land, on trains, on boats, everywhere. In fact, as I turned the phone upon my arrival in Mumbai, I got a welcome message from the local carrier -which I thought was cool. The coverage was provided by various providers depending on where you are at that time. (it shows up on top of your screen).

I use the BB a lot for work, so I had a need to keep in touch while away. So I temporarily changed my existing plan to the world plan for two months and used the BB for e-mails and for surfing the Net. Having access to the Net-on the move, was extrememely benefical and saved me time, money and got me out of some tourist jams. Did not make or receive any calls in India, using the BB, as I knew the charges would be like $3-$5. For local calls I unlocked by Old Motorola Razr for $10, while still in the USA. I then purchased a sim card when I arrived in India. It worked great.

Regarding your concern about loosing the BB, Well, protect it as you would any of yor other belongings and you will be fine.

Relax and Enjoy India. It is a wonderful country.

samuelcooper

Ok, malayalee, what you say is consistent with what the BB guy told me. So, bottom line is you used your BB for surfing and email but didn't use it for making or receiving calls. Instead, you used for local calls an old phone for which you bought a SIM card in India? Is that right so far?
Now, here my ignorance comes into play. ummm...What exactly is a SIM card? The Verizon guy installed one in my BB just for this trip. How is that different from buying one for a phone in India?
Also, how would using a separate phone for calls be any different from using the phone on your BB for those calls?
Have I completely confused this whole thing?
Is that enough questions?

The_Londoner

Vrizon's World Edition Blackberry supports GSM network, thus allowing you to use it abroad, like most other Blackberrys.

With regards to roaming charges, please be aware, as I explained in another thread, DATA roaming charges are very very expensive. Check what is allowed with option that Verizon are offering you and what DATA limits are, and your $64/m is for International roaming.

It is generally cheaper to take a unlocked second hand phone, and take it to India. Getting a pre-paid SIM card in India should be easy. You will also save money calling the US from India on Indian SIM card.

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thejag

A sim card is just a small chip containing your account info.

The sim installed by verizon has your verizon account details. if you are on roaming the networks present there will scan the info on your sim (it works a little differently but im just trying to reduce the amount of text i type) and decide if they should let you use their network (if thay have an agreement with verizon for example) and so what ever you do is charged to that account. So with a verizon sim in your BB if you make a call anywhere in the world you will be charged a price decided by verizon.

If you purchase a sim from a service provider in india you basically open an account with them. you pay the amount into your account in advance and when you make a call with that sim in your phone your account with that service provider is charged. This has no bearing on your account with verizon.

Using a SIM bought in india in your BB: Most phones sold by service providers are programmed to accept SIM cards issued by that service provider. your Verizon issued BB is most likely locked to accept SIM cards issued by Verizon. to use a Sim bought in india you would need to get this unlocked by Verizon. Unless ofcourse it is already unlocked. I don't know Verizon rules regarding this so you can call them and check other forums for more info.

edwardseco

Londener & Jag have confirmed what I was told. BB is a quad phone and will operate in India. But, buy a local sim card to keep the expense down. Now if I can figure out how to load google earth..

samuelcooper

Finally. thanks for dumbing it down for me! Think I'll keep it simple and leave the BB home. Need to deal with my addiction sometime.

As far as google earth goes, I have it on my BB. I'm sure it was simple if I did it.

edwardseco

Hale & hearty fellow. I am just beginning my addiction..

thejag

Quad Band usually refers to a GSM phone that can work in four different frequencies. Not all BBs are quad band and the phone in question here the 8830 or the world edition is only dual band and supports the following networks -

Dual-band 900/1800 Mhz GSM/GPRS networks

Dual-band 800/1900 MHz CDMA2000 1X Ev-DO networks

Found this article on a wikipedia listing that explains frequencies and bands. may not be the latest or most updated but if you want to know the basics it looks like a good bet.

http://www.thetravelinsider.info/roa...bandphones.htm

samuelcooper

Imagine that. I'm trying to learn stuff about India and I'm getting schooled on cell phones. This is great! Thanks everyone.

edwardseco

Me too.!