Thread: Sim card in Argentina GSM/UMTS or Global

My daughter is going to Argentina and I am trying to make it as easy as possible for her to use a local sim. I did get her an Argentina sim card and she will have to activate it when she gets to Argentina. I want her to be able to use the Argentine sim for phone calls and switch to her Verizon sim for the Global data plan. Note Verizon charges $4.99 an minute for voice calls in Argentina.
The Question is does she have to set the options-mobile network to GSM/UMTS to use the local sim? If she puts the Verizon sim back in does she have to change the setting? Or should she leave it on Global?

Originally Posted by Joe

My daughter is going to Argentina and I am trying to make it as easy as possible for her to use a local sim. I did get her an Argentina sim card and she will have to activate it when she gets to Argentina. I want her to be able to use the Argentine sim for phone calls and switch to her Verizon sim for the Global data plan. Note Verizon charges $4.99 an minute for voice calls in Argentina.
The Question is does she have to set the options-mobile network to GSM/UMTS to use the local sim? If she puts the Verizon sim back in does she have to change the setting? Or should she leave it on Global?

You can leave the setting on automatic, and leaving the sim in should not be an issue. be sure to have Verizon unlock her device before she leaves.
If she has her contacts on her SIM, she will need to transfer to the phone.

I did get it unlocked. So she can just leave it on automatic and switch the card back and forth.
Just for my knowledge because Argentina does not us CDMA could she just leave it set to GSM/UMTS?
Thanks

Originally Posted by Joe

I did get it unlocked. So she can just leave it on automatic and switch the card back and forth.
Just for my knowledge because Argentina does not us CDMA could she just leave it set to GSM/UMTS?
Thanks

Either way, leaving it set to Global is fine, she will have to use the Verizon SIM for data. The Argentina pre-paid will be for voice only.

I will throw my two cents into the ring since I have travelled to Argentina with my Storm. First off you defintely want to get your SIM card unlocked so good going there. As cruz pointed out this will only give you voice not data.

Argentina was like a black hole for me in terms of getting my Storm to work there. And when I did get it to work it only do so if I forced it by setting it to GSM/UMTS. Cruz is right that in that Global setting should be fine but that was not the case.

I know this might help you out but since I do travel internationally quite a bit, I have learned that I need two phones. VZW for the states and T-Mobile for anywhere else. There is not better international carrier that T-mobile IMHO.

Did you use a local sim card while in Argentina for voice?
Did you use Verizon's Global Data plan
Sorry for all the questions. If I was going I would probably be able to play with it and make it work. My daughter is 17 and not a tech person at all, so I am trying to write a step by step instruction sheet for her.

Originally Posted by Joe

Did you use a local sim card while in Argentina for voice?
Did you use Verizon's Global Data plan
Sorry for all the questions. If I was going I would probably be able to play with it and make it work. My daughter is 17 and not a tech person at all, so I am trying to write a step by step instruction sheet for her.

No problem Joe I know the feeling.

My phone is unlocked with VZW so I am able to use a local sim cards (this is something you need to request from VZW though). Yes I did use a local sim card in Argentina for voice. I do have VZW global data plan. If you have any other questions let me know.

I did get both of our Storms unlocked. When I saw the two for one deal at Verizon I thought it was a great idea to get my daughter a Storm. I knew she was going to school for a short time in Buenos Aries and could use a global phone but I didn't realize that Verizon's voice rate was $4.99 a minute. I did get her a Personal Argentine Phone card with about a 100 minutes prepaid. I just want to make it as easy as possible for her to use it. She will have a phone card for land lines also. I guess I am just another over protective father that wants to make sure every thing will be great for her.
This is why I like this forum, people like me can get a straight answer without all the bull.
Thanks Again

Originally Posted by Joe

I did get both of our Storms unlocked. When I saw the two for one deal at Verizon I thought it was a great idea to get my daughter a Storm. I knew she was going to school for a short time in Buenos Aries and could use a global phone but I didn't realize that Verizon's voice rate was $4.99 a minute. I did get her a Personal Argentine Phone card with about a 100 minutes prepaid. I just want to make it as easy as possible for her to use it. She will have a phone card for land lines also. I guess I am just another over protective father that wants to make sure every thing will be great for her.
This is why I like this forum, people like me can get a straight answer without all the bull.
Thanks Again

Anytime. I will tell you your daughter will have a blast in Buenos Aires. It is one of my favorite cities.