verizon + google fi + international travel

[walterkurtz]

hi everyone! i am heading to europe indefinitely and trying to figure out how to keep my US number without spending a fortune at verizon. i went for a month in may and not only was it costly, but the service was S L O W. navigation was practically impossible. i am not tech savvy enough to know if that was verizon throttling my data or my US phone roaming.

i have a LGV40 which is single SIM. i think i can get google fi for it. but i think i would then be giving up my number.

i could get a new phone like the pixel or god forbid an iphone both of which support dual SIM (SIM plus ESIM as i understand it). but that means getting a new phone. and i like having my micro SD card, headphone jack etc...(of course i can adapt if necessary).

anyway, i have seen many approaches to this dilemma: porting a number to google voice, using google fi or buying local SIM cards and each seem to have their own advantages and disadvantages. but now that i am learning about google fi i am wondering if i can have verizon for wifi connected calls (keep my number) and use google fi for data. is that possible? any other suggestions?

thank you!

 

[B. Diddy]

I don't have a good solution for you right now, but I do recall seeing another post about someone who was using Google Fi extensively while out of the US, and the service was eventually cut -- there's a provision in the terms of service that says Google can cancel your service if it's abused, which includes using it excessively abroad.

 

[walterkurtz]

I don't have a good solution for you right now, but I do recall seeing another post about someone who was using Google Fi extensively while out of the US, and the service was eventually cut -- there's a provision in the terms of service that says Google can cancel your service if it's abused, which includes using it excessively abroad.

that's scary! thank you.

 

[walterkurtz]

ported my number to google voice and signed up for google fi. i've only been using it for a few hours but it is slow AF.

 

[B. Diddy]

Are you in an area with poor T-Mobile, Sprint, or US Cellular coverage? Or are you in Europe right now?

 

[Rukbat]

Use Hangouts Dialer for your GV number. I have 4 numbers on it, and never have a problem (unl;ess I'm in a call when another one comes in).

 

[walterkurtz]

Use Hangouts Dialer for your GV number. I have 4 numbers on it, and never have a problem (unl;ess I'm in a call when another one comes in).

i'll check it out thank you!

 

[walterkurtz]

Are you in an area with poor T-Mobile, Sprint, or US Cellular coverage? Or are you in Europe right now?

good question. i am still in los angeles and hoping my speeds won't get worse when i get to europe later this week. but part of my thinking with trying fi was that i think i can still keep my number ported to google voice if i end up dumping fi for a european SIM.

 

[Rukbat]

If it's on GV, and you have WiFi coverage, the only reason you'll need a local SIM is for local (in Europe) calls.

 

[walterkurtz]

If it's on GV, and you have WiFi coverage, the only reason you'll need a local SIM is for local (in Europe) calls.

ah i think the plan i chose included unlimited data calls and texts in most countries... I'll check again. thank you!