Comments on: On the (International) Road Again

By: Jared Bernstein

Jared Bernstein — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:10:49 +0000

Are the other carriers truly inferior re US coverage? Otherwise, seems a no-brainer for anyone who travels abroad to switch.

By: Misaki

Misaki — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:07:43 +0000

>In fact, I understand many phones have replaceable SIM cards that easily facilitate international use.

What I was thinking. I guess it’s a problem of the frequencies or technologies used?

By: David

David — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:15:52 +0000

Outside the US, all the world uses the GSM standard, which greatly facilitates international phone use. “GSM” means “Global System for Mobile Communications.” This is the “interchangable SIM card” standard. The US has refused to mandate GSM. In the US, AT&T and T-Mobile voluntarily use the standard, Verizon does not. So, while the Verizon network coverage is very good in the US, it is effectively zero outside the US. The frequencies and protocols are simply not compatible. There is no real technological fix for this, other than Verizon finally adopting the global standard (which would require a gigantic capital investment on their part).

By: Fred Brack

Fred Brack — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:32:36 +0000

Is this an inappropriate place, Mr. Berstein, to commend you for your restraint on the Dylan Ratigan show today (Thursday)? Normally I mute MCNBC when Ratigan is on, but when I saw you, I listened. I was amused to observe your head bobbing back and forth as we all struggled to understand whatinthehell Ratigan was talking about. You looked like a cockatoo trying to comprehend a speech by Prof. Irwin Corey.

By: Bumpa

Bumpa — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:04:21 +0000

I heartily agree about the “jumping through hoops.” Personally, I refuse to use a phone that carries with it more potential than I can easily comprehend (“hold mode for 3 sec, then enter pin #, press send…” is NOT intuitive!) Makes one yearn for the days of a loooooooong string and a couple of Dixie Cups!

By: The Raven

The Raven — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 09:05:47 +0000

Buy an unlocked international phone; you can get one from Google, see http://www.google.com/nexus/ . Telestial also makes a business of international phones, but some of their offerings are dicey.

Verizon has the best coverage of all the US cell carriers. They also have, in my experience, customer service so awful that I hope I never do business with them again.

Price? Well…not. This is expensive. Cell service in the USA is overpriced by, near as I can figure, 5-10x.

By: Jared Bernstein

Jared Bernstein — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 03:05:11 +0000

Thanks much! Is AT&T quality in the US worse than Verizon (I find V pretty good, actually, as long as you don’t cross the border)?

By: Bill Gatliff

Bill Gatliff — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:16:08 +0000

Others can address Verizon’s policies and devices specifically. I’m with AT&T, however, and while their general quality of service in the USA leaves something to be desired, I can personally attest to the compatibility of their truly “world” phones with overseas operation. To date I have tested the Samsung Galaxy Skyrocket in several European countries, India, Japan, and Taiwan. Will be adding Brazil to the list in a few days.

You have to get their “international” service plan if you don’t want to spend a fortune, however. Fortunately, they have the sense enough to make it a’la carte so you can turn it on and off as you need it.

Love your On The Economy posts, which among other things give me reassurance that someone with common sense is still out there. The fact that they make economics comprehendible to me is a nice bonus, too.

By: David Siegel

David Siegel — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:06:12 +0000

I just used my Verizon Droid Global for a week in Canada for both text and data with no problem. Just costs money.

By: cat

cat — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:13:52 +0000

Its not the way to win the future, but to turn smart phones into global devices would require governments to pick winners and losers by mandating standards and that won’t go over well in the US.