HELP! Going to SOUTH AFRICA!

loveisnear · Mar 27, 2013

Going to South Africa in 2 weeks... did not expect to travel internationally when I first got the TB. I've read that it's not a global phone and that South Africa uses GSM. If I unlock my phone and use LTE on/off... that still won't work will it? Does anyone have experience? I really don't want to rent a phone. And I can get a SIM card, but they won't register it until you get there in person with passport and proof of residency in hand. Please help! Thanks.

Buddha64 · Mar 27, 2013

Unfortunately, you're out of luck.

Countries Where Any Verizon Wireless Phone Will Work

(LTE is used for data, and has nothing to do with the cell radio in your phone.)

loveisnear · Mar 27, 2013

I did see that, but also spoke to 4 different reps today about my options (upgrade in about a month, renting, etc.).
One of them told me that my phone should work because of the ICS update. Motorola got global capabilities with it, and I can verify that with google. But I can't find any info about HTC/TB. Do you know anything about that? Thanks Buddha64!

Buddha64 · Mar 27, 2013

First, if you go into Network Settings you won't find GSM as an option, just LTE/CMDA or CDMA only. And that's also true on my rooted phone with the latest 4.0.4 ROM. If there are other ROMs out there which can support GSM, I am not aware of them. I mean, we just got 4.0.4 a few weeks ago, and there aren't that many clean ROMs based on it.

Second, there are additional dependencies, even if the TB could support GSM. The primary being the frequency at which the phone transmits. US based GSM is 850/1900MHz, while Europe (incl. S. Afr) is 900/1800MHz. When I was with AT&T and traveled for work, I had a GSM phone (Samsung Captivate) which was not international and I could not connect in Europe.

Still looks slim to me.

loveisnear · Mar 27, 2013

Okay, so he was mistaken and GSM was not included. Wondered how the update could just switch on a GSM radio that wasn't there...
So, I couldn't even roam in South Africa then? I was worried about getting an occasional text/phone call ($$$) while I had the phone on at the hotel for wi-fi capabilities. Should I take out the SIM card?
Also, will skype work without data/network? (just wi-fi) Thanks so much! I apologize for all the questions. Looks like I'm going to have to rent a phone there because my family is not content with an occasional Facebook message. TY

Buddha64 · Mar 27, 2013

What I've read suggests you will not even be able to connect so roaming isn't likely either.

I can't speak to whether WiFi on the phone would continue work without the SIM - even though the SIM and WiFi are not directly related. I'm just not sure if the phone would let you proceed beyond the "No SIM" warning that comes up. Only one way to find out... pull it and try.

CegAbq · Mar 27, 2013

If you're planning on using the phone in Airplane Mode / Wifi only, then you don't need to take the SIM card out.

I've traveled with it in Paris, Benin (Africa), and London, and wifi worked great.
Just put the phone into Airplane Mode, then turn on wifi.

markdoc · Apr 1, 2013

I have used a spare Tbolt without a sim card or SD card. You can still send and receive email and do anything else you can do over wi-fi. I have downloaded apps, received updates, etc. You have to make sure that any app you want to use is completely on internal memory. Easy to test for yourself. Just boot up and ignore the SIM card warning.

markdoc
not rooted

HELP! Going to SOUTH AFRICA!

Lurker

Android Enthusiast

Lurker

Android Enthusiast

Lurker

Android Enthusiast

Well-Known Member

Android Expert

BEST TECH IN 2023

Smartphones

Best Android Phones

Upcoming

Best iPhones

Upcoming

Tablets

Best Tablets

Upcoming

Laptops

Best Laptops

Upcoming

Televisions

Best TVs

Upcoming

Game Consoles

Best Game Consoles

Upcoming

Wearables

Best Wearables

Upcoming

Smart Home

Smart Home Tech

Upcoming

Similar threads