Traveling Internationally

[overcaffein8d]

So... In a few days, I'm leaving the country for awhile. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on what to do.

I've already got ac-dc adapters and converters and whatnot for electricity and charging and some movies loaded onto my droid.

Since it's Israel (there are some CDMA towers), I'm planning on calling vzw to tell them to let the phone work. Then, I'm planning on going into the Testing settings and completely turn off the radio. Is there a difference between this and Airplane mode (other than the fact that Airplane mode turns off wifi, which i can turn back on)? All i want to do is be able to turn on my phone and not be charged a fortune.

I don't want to use any kind of data (other than wifi). Really, I'm not planning on using voice either--that's what fring is for. I'm only activating vzw for emergencies, and i don't even know if activation is necessary.

But anyway--other than setting up the phone so I don't get charged hundreds of dollars, does anybody have advice? Anything--about the droid or in general would be appreciated. Thanks guys

 

[Legacystar]

Well you are on froyo so go into settings-wireless & networks-mobile network and unclick mobile data. That should turn off your data radio and just leaves the phone radio on. That help?

 

[overcaffein8d]

Well you are on froyo so go into settings-wireless & networks-mobile network and unclick mobile data. That should turn off your data radio and just leaves the phone radio on. That help?

yup i am.... and i'm planning on doing that as well. But i want the whole radio off so i can't make or receive calls unless i turn it on.

 

[Legacystar]

airplane mode does that for you

 

[overcaffein8d]

airplane mode does that for you

okay, that's what i thought.

also, i got gizmo5 and gv set up so no problem with outbound calls

 

[takeshi]

I've already got ac-dc adapters

AC-DC? Are you taking a DC charger for your Droid?

 

[nstallion]

AC-DC? Are you taking a DC charger for your Droid?

It's a device to convert things like Thunderstruck and Rock & Roll Train into Hebrew, I believe.

 

[overcaffein8d]

It's a device to convert things like Thunderstruck and Rock & Roll Train into Hebrew, I believe.

the above post is correct


actually i meant the plug adapters... i have adapters and a 120-230 converter. Pretty sure the charger is dual-voltage so it doesn't matter anyhow.

 

[dougwilson2000]

Go to settings and just turn off roaming in both data and radio.

 

[spectraphysics]

Along this same thought though, VZW really does need to release a CDMA-GSM phone like the BB Tour. I couldn't be happier switching from BB to Android, but I travel internationally pretty frequently and I'm back to carrying two phones which is a real PITA.

Verizon, do you hear???

 

[cubsphan23]

I just got a Droid yesterday...my first ever smart phone. I'm just now realizing how much stuff I need to learn. In 3 weeks I'm leaving for South America. I will mostly be in Bogota, Colombia, and also along the Caribbean coast tourist spots. I have so many questions. First off, does anyone know if there is a Spanish Translator App that I can download use OFF LINE?

 

[The Floyd]

Verizon phones, including the Droid, use the U.S. CDMA standard, rather than the GSM standard used by the rest of the world.

The Droid won't have a data/voice connection in South America. Verizon says they can arrange a loaner GSM phone for customers. Don't know if they can give you a Milestone, which is the GSM version of the Droid.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[cubsphan23]

Verizon phones, including the Droid, use the U.S. CDMA standard, rather than the GSM standard used by the rest of the world.

The Droid won't have a data/voice connection in South America. Verizon says they can arrange a loaner GSM phone for customers. Don't know if they can give you a Milestone, which is the GSM version of the Droid.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

I did not know that Verizon data/voice won't function in South America. However, i hadn't planned on using the data/voice anyway because I figured the International Roaming prices would be ridiculous. I intend on using it for the mp3 player, the camera (for when I don't want to lug around my Canon S5), the WiFi, and whatever apps I can use offline (obviously it would have to be offline unless I'm on Wifi at the moment). More than likely i would only use the Wifi a couple of times when I'm in an internet cafe or hotel that has Wifi. But I was hoping like hell that there were some apps I would be able to use, like an english/spanish dictionary or translator. I was also hoping to find a currency exchange calculator that functioned offline. Sorry for all the noob questions/comments, but do some Apps work offline?

 

[nstallion]

I did not know that Verizon data/voice won't function in South America. However, i hadn't planned on using the data/voice anyway because I figured the International Roaming prices would be ridiculous. I intend on using it for the mp3 player, the camera (for when I don't want to lug around my Canon S5), the WiFi, and whatever apps I can use offline (obviously it would have to be offline unless I'm on Wifi at the moment). More than likely i would only use the Wifi a couple of times when I'm in an internet cafe or hotel that has Wifi. But I was hoping like hell that there were some apps I would be able to use, like an english/spanish dictionary or translator. I was also hoping to find a currency exchange calculator that functioned offline. Sorry for all the noob questions/comments, but do some Apps work offline?

Unlikely you will find a currency calculator offline since exchange rates constantly change.

One app you might find handy is MapDroyd which has offline maps with GPS support. Make sure you download the maps you need before you leave though.

 

[overcaffein8d]

Along this same thought though, VZW really does need to release a CDMA-GSM phone like the BB Tour. I couldn't be happier switching from BB to Android, but I travel internationally pretty frequently and I'm back to carrying two phones which is a real PITA.

Verizon, do you hear???

can unlock the Tour to put in any SIM for GSM use? I know you can't lock the CDMA part obviously.

 

[Kimmer322]

You can call verizon and add the international data plan for only the time you'll be away. I did that when I went to Aruba, had them add it to my account for one week...cost me $21 for the week...they forgot to do it and the bill came in at over $500, I called them back (actually emailed them) they had the previous emails and credited my account immediately. Obviously this will not work in all countries.

 

[nader2013]

I am traveling to Jordan. So to keep WiFi but take off Data and Voice, I uncheck mobile data and nothing else?

 

[CaptainRon]

I travel internationally quite a bit with my Droid to both South America and Asia. I leave it in airplane mode and just enable wifi.

For an offline Spanish/English dictionary I use SlovoEd Deluxe. I also use Currency Converter for the exchange rates. For traveling purposes I find the exchange rates I downloaded before leaving the US work fine and I can always update them whenever I get wifi.