Will a GSM micro-SIM card work abroad?

[anon(20593)]

Hi,

I understand that my Galaxy Nexus on Verizon uses a micro-SIM card. My question is: after my phone is unlocked (presumably by Verizon after 6 months or so of use; I've been their customer for over 3 years now), can I put in a micro-SIM card from another network when I'm abroad and use a local network with its voice and data plans on my Galaxy Nexus? I am only interested in this functionality abroad, not within the US.

If yes, can it be any provider's micro-SIM card? Or does it have to be a CDMA carrier only? Any other things I should be aware of?

Thank you!

 

[jdbower]

Of course it will work, just not in the VZW Galaxy Nexus

The GN on VZW is CDMA only for voice, you may be able to find an LTE SIM on a network that has the same frequency as Verizon but LTE is pretty fragmented compared to GSM where a few radios can cover the bulk of the world.

You'll need a World Phone from Verizon for this to work and there aren't any LTE+World phones on Verizon at the moment. You'd probably be better off renting/buying one locally whenever you travel.

 

[anon(20593)]

Just to clarify: if the VZW 3G and not LTE radio frequency is the same as that being used by a carrier abroad, then my unlocked VZW phone will work on a foreign GSM or CDMA provider?

 

[jdbower]

No GSM at all on the Galaxy Nexus, you're stuck with CDMA providers or getting a second GSM phone I'm afraid.