Jamaica (Verizon & Samsung S8)

[uncaged74]

February of 2017 I went to Jamaica with my iPhone 5S and getting off the plane learned really quick Verizon don't work there. Also I wasn't aware of calling over WIFI (which I thought was only a T-Mobile thing) I also later learned it's not available on my 5S (months after I got back to the states).

HOWEVER...I am going back to the islands...MON on March of 2018 and want to be able to make a few calls. So I looked and see the option to call over WIFI. I guess I can basically answer my own question by doing tests but would also like to hear from others that utilized WIFI calling how well it works and so on.

.Thank You.

 

[TylerLV76]

February of 2017 I went to Jamaica with my iPhone 5S and getting off the plane learned really quick Verizon don't work there. Also I wasn't aware of calling over WIFI (which I thought was only a T-Mobile thing) I also later learned it's not available on my 5S (months after I got back to the states).

HOWEVER...I am going back to the islands...MON on March of 2018 and want to be able to make a few calls. So I looked and see the option to call over WIFI. I guess I can basically answer my own question by doing tests but would also like to hear from others that utilized WIFI calling how well it works and so on.

.Thank You.

It works as well as the wifi where you are works.

I have to use it when I go to Puerto Rico since the house is on the beach and the nearest tower is behind us a couple miles away. We have pretty fast internet there so the call quality is good. I've used it in hotels with shared wifi and its pretty choppy because of the speed of wifi and how many people are using it.

Another option that I've done is, if your phone is unlocked, pick up a prepaid sim from the local cell company and forward your main number to it, or forward everything through Google Voice.

 

[uncaged74]

It works as well as the wifi where you are works.

I have to use it when I go to Puerto Rico since the house is on the beach and the nearest tower is behind us a couple miles away. We have pretty fast internet there so the call quality is good. I've used it in hotels with shared wifi and its pretty choppy because of the speed of wifi and how many people are using it.

Another option that I've done is, if your phone is unlocked, pick up a prepaid sim from the local cell company and forward your main number to it, or forward everything through Google Voice.

I am not sure if it's unlocked. How do I know for sure?

 

[TylerLV76]

Re: Jamaica (Verizon & Samsung S8)

Easiest way is to put another carrier's sim in and see if it works. Use a friend or coworkers sim from at&t, T-mobile etc.

Did you buy it outright? Have you asked Verizon to unlock it?

 

[uncaged74]

Re: Jamaica (Verizon & Samsung S8)

Easiest way is to put another carrier's sim in and see if it works. Use a friend or coworkers sim from at&t, T-mobile etc.

Did you buy it outright? Have you asked Verizon to unlock it?

Payments with Verizon at a Verizon store.

 

[TylerLV76]

If your on a payment plan it's not unlocked.

 

[beri]

I'm from Jamaica and also had Verizon. my advice would be to look into a SIM card when you get there being that the networks there, Digicel and Lime, are prepaid and if you want to call the states it's easy to get that added on and also cheaper.

Whether or not you're on a payment plan, the device is unlocked. I was told this by a Verizon rep when I contacted them with concerns when travelling. I've been to Europe, Jamaica, and the Middle East with Verizon devices on payment plans and they were unlocked. According to the rep "all 4G devices come unlocked" some times you may need to look up the APN for the network you wish to connect to and input manually you can Google that or take it to the local cell company.

I've travelled back to Jamaica for many years and I've used numerous Verizon phones there and works every time. Never had to unlock one.

IPhones are a bit tricky. I believe those need to be jailbroken or unlocked to work on a foreign network.

 

[TylerLV76]

I'm from Jamaica and also had Verizon. my advice would be to look into a SIM card when you get there being that the networks there, Digicel and Lime, are prepaid and if you want to call the states it's easy to get that added on and also cheaper.

Whether or not you're on a payment plan, the device is unlocked. I was told this by a Verizon rep when I contacted them with concerns when travelling. I've been to Europe, Jamaica, and the Middle East with Verizon devices on payment plans and they were unlocked. According to the rep "all 4G devices come unlocked" some times you may need to look up the APN for the network you wish to connect to and input manually you can Google that or take it to the local cell company.

I've travelled back to Jamaica for many years and I've used numerous Verizon phones there and works every time. Never had to unlock one.

IPhones are a bit tricky. I believe those need to be jailbroken or unlocked to work on a foreign network.

I keep seeing that Verizon phones are unlocked but I've never had this be the case. We switched from Verizon last August and the 2 phones we had through them wouldnt work on At&t or T-Mobile. S7 edge and Moto Z force while they were still on payment plans. Has this changed recently? The S7 edge was spossed to be kept but we ended up trading it in at T-Mobile and the Z force we sold to another Verizon user.

 

[James Rogers2]

All Verizon phones are unlocked. You might have to change the APN when using it on another network.

 

[beri]

I keep seeing that Verizon phones are unlocked but I've never had this be the case. We switched from Verizon last August and the 2 phones we had through them wouldnt work on At&t or T-Mobile. S7 edge and Moto Z force while they were still on payment plans. Has this changed recently? The S7 edge was spossed to be kept but we ended up trading it in at T-Mobile and the Z force we sold to another Verizon user.

I have never had an issue but then again I have never tried on another US network, just overseas. It could be a case where it doesn't support the US frequencies or maybe just edit the APN and that might work.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: Jamaica (Verizon & Samsung S8)

Easiest way is to put another carrier's sim in and see if it works. Use a friend or coworkers sim from at&t, T-mobile etc.

Did you buy it outright? Have you asked Verizon to unlock it?

Verizon phones are unlocked right out of the box. Contacting CS isn't needed like it is for other carriers.