You are here:

Cellular Phones/Blackberry and European SIM card

Advertisement

Expert: - 11/5/2009


Question
I have a Blackberry 8830 World Edition, kindly unlocked by Verizon, and a Verizon SIM card when travelling internationally. I will be in Europe soon and hope you can provide some advice:
1) Do you have any information on purchasing a European SIM card that includes a data plan for the BB? I thought some countries in Europe made it difficult for foreigners to buy SIM cards, unless they could provide a local European address.
2) Is it as simple as replacing the Verizon SIM with the European SIM or does one have to make any setup changes to the phone?

Thanks in anticipation.  

Answer
There are not any European SIMs that you can purchase which will allow you to use the data functions of your Verizon BlackBerry abroad. The BlackBerry is associated only with Verizon's BlackBerry server and you can't have it associated both with their server and another and you can't change this.

With an unlocked BlackBerry, you can use it for voice with a local SIM, but I'm afraid that is it. I'm sorry that they didn't tell you this when they unlocked it for you. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN

Cellular Phones

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

DebiN

Expertise

I can answer questions on cellular phones, the physical device, the network, contracts, billing, ordering, porting and what to look for when purchasing cell phones. I am located in the United States. I am an expert on BlackBerrys, Treos, HTC devices and iPhones as well as cellphones and aircards. I have over 15 years of experience in both the wireless and wireline world with the carriers. I have a lot of knowledge regarding the wireless providers - their services, prices and policies, both GSM AT&T and T-Mobile) and CDMA (Verizon, Sprint/Nextel). I am very familiar with the individual devices and their specifications. I can also answer questions regarding BlackBerrys, iPhones and other PDAs, both Palm-based and Windows-based. I can troubleshoot most any problem someone is having with their cellular device or with the provider.

Experience

Over 20 years in the Telecom industry working for the carriers with individuals, small business, medium business and large corporations(Fortune 500). Also worked as a professor in Maryland for 10 years teaching telecommunications.

Organizations
I belong to several organizations

Education/Credentials
Master's in Telecommunications

Awards and Honors
Received several awards for papers that I have published over the years

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.