Using iPhone when traveling

Last activity 20 June 2022 by Scott McKnight

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Scott McKnightMember19 June 2022 03:16:47

For good or for bad, after 5 years, I’m heading back to USA for an indefinite stay. I am investigating options for using iPhone after landing. No one will meet me at airport and I have many little tasks to do that require a phone before the long drive to my destination. I’m not sure what options I’ll find and their cost at Dallas and Detroit airports, transit and final. I want to wait to buy a data plan, and not sure what immediate SIM card options I’ll have and where I can locate them in airport terminal. Has anyone used the wifi calling feature on their iPhone with their Vietnam carrier (like Viettel) when traveling abroad? Does it work ok for when wifi is available? The charges gets routed to your Vietnam carrier without problem? If it works should I top up for any extra costs?

Thanks

jonnysharp6New member19 June 2022 04:37:08

Viettel is a Vietnamese company so no you won’t be able to use it This thread is pointless admins

SimCityATExpert19 June 2022 04:48:41

11208

Viettel is a Vietnamese company so no you won’t be able to use it This thread is pointless admins
- @jonnysharp6

Why is it pointless? The OP is asking for advice!

OceanBeach92107VIP Member19 June 2022 04:59:32

6920

....This thread is pointless admins
- @jonnysharp6

This comment is pointless, admins...

Guest2023Guest19 June 2022 05:23:09

214245

Viettel is a Vietnamese company so no you won’t be able to use it This thread is pointless admins
- @jonnysharp6

A change of name for this troll is needed, maybe NotSoSharp would suit.

Scott McKnightMember19 June 2022 06:27:31

I found further info digging on web…

“Bear in mind, too, that some countries (including China, Vietnam, North Korea, and Cuba) block the use of Wifi calling, so if you are traveling in these countries, you won’t be able to use it, even if you have a Wifi connection.” I don’t know how accurate/dated it is. So jonny might be correct, but I think for the wrong reason. And that wont count towards intelligence.

OceanBeach92107VIP Member19 June 2022 06:58:53

6920

For good or for bad, after 5 years, I’m heading back to USA for an indefinite stay. I am investigating options for using iPhone after landing. No one will meet me at airport and I have many little tasks to do that require a phone before the long drive to my destination. I’m not sure what options I’ll find and their cost at Dallas and Detroit airports, transit and final. I want to wait to buy a data plan, and not sure what immediate SIM card options I’ll have and where I can locate them in airport terminal. Has anyone used the wifi calling feature on their iPhone with their Vietnam carrier (like Viettel) when traveling abroad? Does it work ok for when wifi is available? The charges gets routed to your Vietnam carrier without problem? If it works should I top up for any extra costs?
Thanks
- @Scott McKnight

Not a direct answer to your question, but getting a US phone number from Google talk and/or Skype might be another option available to use when you have a Wi-Fi connection.

if I were in your situation I would look into getting a Google talk number and downloading the app, and turning off my data before I got to the United States.

You can do that on your phone OR on their websites.

The only hitch might be that when you attempt to secure the number online it probably won't let you do it while you're in Vietnam.

You probably know there are creative ways to work around that on your phone or on an iPad or laptop.

I can't give you advice to use illegal means in Vietnam such as a VPN, so I won't...

Good luck!

Scott McKnightMember19 June 2022 07:43:07

Maybe there’s something I can do with google voice. I use google number to receive sim message verifications from US, but I was never successful with voice.

I’ll dig more.

OceanBeach92107VIP Member19 June 2022 07:53:26

6920

I use google number to receive sim message verifications from US...
- @Scott McKnight

Please tell more about that.

Were you hooked to a physical phone in the us?

on my last trip to Vietnam, I was having trouble receiving text message verifications from one particular Bank (US Bank) when I would attempt to use my credit cards online within Vietnam.

is the situation you're talking about something that would direct your stateside messages to Google talk and then you'd read them in the app wherever you are?

SimCityATExpert19 June 2022 07:55:16

#10

11208

Surely you would be using an American Network when you arrive in the USA, you would be able to use WiFi Calling because it won't be blocked?

Scott McKnightMember19 June 2022 08:53:00

#11

@OceanBeach92107

Not sure I can help with your question. I just give my google number to bank, etc for verification messages. Their reply is routed to my email and notification pop up appears. Sometimes institute doesn’t accept my google number. But that’s not your issue, I think.

gobotViP19 June 2022 10:23:29

#12

1430

At a US airport, you can use wifi (if you can find it) and you don't need a sim for that. You can take out the sim card, and wifi will work. Airports should/might have free airport wifi, SFO does, the only US airport I've been to in many years.

When I go the US, and rent a car, the first stop is a T-Mobile or ATT store for a traveler's sim. In May, I went to Metro T-Mobile, they sell T-Mobile services, and got the "$44 T-Mobile Prepaid SIM Card Unlimited Talk, Text, Data for 30 Days" plan. Do not buy a sim at the airport from a random vendor, probably ripoff price.

Google voice is my favorite thing in Vietnam, as I can call and receive calls and text from the US. Works with my banks and brokerages too. It isn't useful to me in the US, because you still need a data plan to use the iPhone, and you will get voice included with the sim you buy.

If you don't have Google voice yet, wait until you are in the US. You will need a second US phone number one time to verify the service, so a friend's phone should work.

Hope that helps.

Scott McKnightMember19 June 2022 11:59:49

#13

@gobot

I like to hear people’s experiences rather than their guesses, so yes it helps to know.

Thanks

pogiwayneSerial expat19 June 2022 12:48:40

#14

322

@gobot
I like to hear people’s experiences rather than their guesses, so yes it helps to know.
Thanks
- @Scott McKnight

Scott I have a dual sim Iphone that I use internationally. When you arrive get your rental car and go to the nearest Walmart, Target or Best Buy and purchase a calling card that includes a sim. Install and you will be good to go.

If you are going to purchase a phone Best Buy or Apple store is the best. You can purchase a unlocked phone and use it anywhere in the world with any carrier. I use ultra mobile and pay $45 a month for unlimited data and talk. For my esim I use Ubigi to have data everywhere in the world. It works great in Vietnam. In the US there is no need for this.

You can get service from a major name ATT, Tmobile or other but you will pay significantly more.

gobotViP19 June 2022 14:17:56

#15

1430

@gobot
I like to hear people’s experiences rather than their guesses, so yes it helps to know.
Thanks
- @Scott McKnight

Scott I have a dual sim Iphone that I use internationally. When you arrive get your rental car and go to the nearest Walmart, Target or Best Buy and purchase a calling card that includes a sim. Install and you will be good to go.
If you are going to purchase a phone Best Buy or Apple store is the best. You can purchase a unlocked phone and use it anywhere in the world with any carrier. I use ultra mobile and pay $45 a month for unlimited data and talk. For my esim I use Ubigi to have data everywhere in the world. It works great in Vietnam. In the US there is no need for this.
You can get service from a major name ATT, Tmobile or other but you will pay significantly more.
- @pogiwayne

Thx for the tip of Ultra mobile. I will add to my list for the next visit. Plans are always changing.

Never heard of Ubigi esim either. I have iPhone 12. Nice you can add it remotely, and don't need to find local service when traveling. The World plan I see is $88/5GB a month. Maybe if I was hopping around Europe or something, but I am mostly in Vietnam at the moment.

FYI my Vietnam setup is two sims. The original nano sim I just use for voice and text now, keeping my original phone number. I call so rarely, it probably costs 10.000d a month, I just top up once in a while.
For data I got a Thế Giới Di Động store esim. For 50.000d, I get 2.5G per day. That's plenty for several Youtubes, in case I am out and about, or on the roof with bad wifi reception. So cheap.

Scott McKnightMember20 June 2022 00:25:53

#16

@pogiwayne thanks for that info as well! I wii check them out.

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