With summer coming and the kids out of school, a lot of people are planning vacations. Occasionally I get a call asking if the iPhone will work overseas, to which I always have to ask, “AT&T or Verizon?” Most people don’t realize that there is a difference—an iPhone is an iPhone is an iPhone, right? Well, not quite.
When buying an iPhone, there’s more to your selection criteria than just color and storage space. Even though the phones are functionally the same, the cellular networks are very different. Here in the good ol’ US of A, the major difference between AT&T and Verizon is the way data is handled.
AT&T’s network combines voice and data on the same stream, so you can talk and surf the Internet at the same time. Verizon’s iPhone uses CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) which splits voice and data onto different channels. While this makes each one more reliable on their own, it means you can’t use both at the same time. If you’re on a phone call with someone and they ask you to look something up on Google, you can’t do it. You have to end your call, look up the info, then call them back.
It gets even weirder when you leave the States. European countries came up with GSM (Groupe Spécial Mobile, or Global System for Mobile Communications) for their mobile networks. The US also uses GSM, but for whatever reason, our GSM network uses different frequencies, so your GSM phone may not work in Europe.
When buying a phone for world travel, you have to make sure the phone is listed as a “World Phone” (for AT&T) or a “Global Phone” (Verizon). These phones are called “quad-band,” meaning they support US and European GSM frequencies. The iPhone 3G and 3GS, as well as the AT&T iPhone 4, are all quad-band. Verizon’s iPhone is not quad-band, so it will not work at all in Europe. (There are a few areas of China that support it, but for Europe, it’s GSM or nothing.)
But wait, there’s more! Even though the AT&T iPhone will work in Europe, you definitely have to consider the cost of roaming. Some global phones will let you purchase a pre-paid SIM card for use on the local network, but the iPhone is locked to AT&T, so someone else’s SIM card won’t work.
AT&T does have International Travel data and calling plans, but you’re going to have to figure out how much you’re likely to use. If you go over, you could be in for a shock—the web is full of horror stories from people who were told they would be fine on their current plan, only to later be charged $3,000 for a three-day visit.
Remember that data and voice are billed separately, so make sure you understand the rates for each before stepping off the plane. Most of the web sites I checked recommend putting your phone into Airplane Mode, which basically turns it into an iPod touch. No data will go in or out on the cellular network; however, it will still latch onto a Wi-Fi network. If you want to be extra safe, you can still use applications like Skype or chat programs to keep in touch with people without running up an astronomical roaming bill.
As with any high-tech toy, it pays to do the research, both before and after the sale.