Expert: DebiN - 7/24/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a Blackberry Storm and my carrier is verizon.  I'm about to leave for Europe, visiting the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic.  How do I get my Blackberry to work over there?  Do I need to do something before I leave?  Do I need to contact verizon?  Thank you for ANY help.

ANSWER: YES! You must contact Verizon and have them enable international roaming for you before you leave. There is a charge for discounted international roaming ($5.99 a month) PLUS a per minute charge (in the countries you are going to, it should be $0.99 a minute for voice) and you also need the international BlackBerry data package (an additional $20.00 a month). Your SIM card that should have come with the device has to be activated and the plans added and then you can use the device. If you don't do this before you leave, nothing will work abroad. If you haven't had service with Verizon for 90 days or more, they will not enable international features for you. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help which was very clear and useful. One further question, what will my phone number be?  If someone in the UK calls me while I'm in the UK will they have to dial 001 (for the U.S) followed by my regular U.S. phone number?
Thank you.

Answer
When someone calls you, the way that they dial you is always the same regardless of where you are located. Remember that your phone number is your phone number and the person calling you doesn't know where you are, they just call your number the same way 100% of the time. What changes is where you are - so if you are in the UK, the calls will reach you but you will be charged for a roaming call because your carrier has to pay their partner in the UK to carry the call. Whether you make or receive a call when you are out of your "home" zone (i.e., the US), there is a roaming charge. When your friends in the UK call you, they have to dial you the same way that they do normally - once again, nothing changes because you are in another country. Keep in mind that when they call you, they will be placing an international dialing call (there is a charge for this for them), so they will be paying for international dialing and you will be paying for international roaming, even if you are standing next to each other. No way around that one. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN