Connectivity overseas can be a real pain. Roaming is prohibitively expensive, so a local SIM is best. But most American mobile phones are "locked" to a carrier, and American phone companies use different network technologies and frequencies than most other countries. That's why I was excited to test my Verizon iPhone 5 abroad. Using the Verizon iPhone 5 on the Vodafone … [Read more...] about International Roaming With the Verizon iPhone 5
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Is there no such thing as a cheap, prepaid data SIM in the USA?
One of the coolest things I get to do these days as part of Tech Field Day is bring friends from all countries to the United States to meet with various companies. But too often, they find themselves isolated and unable to communicate because of our odd mobile phone network. Although prepaid SIM cards are more available these days, I'm having a tough time locating a data SIM … [Read more...] about Is there no such thing as a cheap, prepaid data SIM in the USA?
Switching from AT&T to Verizon for the iPhone 5
After more than a decade as a customer of the company now known as AT&T, I finally switched everything to Verizon this month. Although I had given up on AT&T long ago, I waited for the iPhone 5 to come out before buying new equipment. Now that I have moved over, I have no regrets. The process was amazingly smooth, and, at least where I live, the Verizon network is two … [Read more...] about Switching from AT&T to Verizon for the iPhone 5
What’s the Difference Between a Jailbroken and an Unlocked Phone?
If you've traveled much, you've probably run across “unlocked” mobile phones and devices. If you own an Android or iPhone smart phone, you probably also heard about “jailbreaking”. It seems like lots of people are confused about these two things, so I decided to write down a quick post explaining them. Carrier Locks and Unlocked Phones Most mobile phones in the United States, … [Read more...] about What’s the Difference Between a Jailbroken and an Unlocked Phone?
Verizon Offers Double 4G Data (But Not For MiFi)
Verizon Wireless has a promotion running in November that doubles the data allowance for 4G phones. This is a great deal compared to competitors, and it comes with Verizon's excellent 4G LTE coverage and performance. But it only applies to smartphones, not MiFi "mobile broadband" devices, and the offer ends in December. Let's hope they offer similar promotions for 4G data … [Read more...] about Verizon Offers Double 4G Data (But Not For MiFi)