Best cell phone options while in Italy for Cricket customer

If you buy a local Italian SIM card you can have all of the above, except for no. 2. Once the Italian SIM is installed, your phone will have an Italian phone number, then you won't be able to receive SMS texts to your US phone since your US Sim card will no longer be installed in your phone. So you would need to switch the SIM card back to receive the messages to your US numbers. I don't know how much your plan would charge for texts internationally, my T-Mobile allows me to use unlimited texts and 5 GB of data while abroad at no extra charge. The alternative is to have another separate phone and install the Italian SIM on that phone, unless your phone has dual SIM capability. I don't have Iphone 15 or Samsung S22 so I don't know if they do. My earlier version of Iphone does not.

From what I understand, the Samsung S22 supports dual sim (1 Sim and 1 eSim).

Cricket doesn't have international coverage in Europe. But I'm hoping my US phone number would still work via Wifi?

I was thinking of using Airalo. From my understanding, this is data only. I wouldn't have an actual Italian number. Does this sound correct?

I was hoping that I could have both Cricket physical Sim and Airalo eSim active. Cricket would be used for calls / text (via Wifi as no actual cell coverage is available in Europe) and Airalo for local data. However, I have absolutely no experience with this.

I believe Cricket isn't a carrier but a reseller. Probably best to hook up with T Mobile for at least a few months.

"I believe Cricket isn't a carrier but a reseller."

Cricket is classed as an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). They don't own or operate a cellular network, but buy time from an established network and sell phones for operation on that network, in this case their parent company AT&T.

When you switch on your phone in Europe, the "visited" network will check with your "home" network to determine which capabilities you're allowed. As you're using an iPhone 15, it should have all the necessary cellular frequencies to operate in Europe, however those won't be enabled; I'm not familiar with the Samsung S22. As Cricket doesn't offer roaming outside of Canada and Mexico, you won't have cellular capability, but should have text capability via WiFi.

However there are several points I'm not sure of.....

1. I don't use What'sApp so not sure how that works?
2. If you have access to WiFi, you should be able to make outgoing calls? You could consider renting a mobile HotSpot which would provide WiFi even if you're away from the hotel. You might call this firm to determine whether that might work for you - https://cellularabroad.com/ .
3. If you're away from a WiFi connection, I doubt that you'll be able to receive SMS verification texts.
4. Changing the SIM to allow data for internet and GPS may be an option as I believe the iPhone 15 has dual-SIM capability.

I also have to be accessible when travelling via my home cell number, and I've tried several solutions over the years. I eventually came to the conclusion that the easiest, simplest and most reliable solution was to simply use roaming with my home network (although it's not the cheapest option). That method has worked flawlessly for many years.

I wish I could suggest more definite solutions, but perhaps these few thoughts will be of some help.

Obtaining a European SIM won't disable anything associated with your US SIM, for either of your phones, as they both have dual-SIM capabilities. So wifi calling using your Cricket SIM should still work. I have no idea about texting over wifi.

Note that adding a SIM, including an eSIM, doesn't actually "change" your phone number. Your Cricket service just isn't active in Europe. After adding the data SIM, make sure you use the SIM Manager function in your S22 settings to ensure both SIMs are active, though you'll probably need to make the data SIM primary.

We also use an MVNO service, Spectrum wireless, which employs the Verizon network in the US. They give us free texting overseas and pretty cheap calling (5-12 cents per minute), so we don't absolutely need a European phone number. Data with Spectrum is spendy, though, at $10 per GB, so we get data SIMs for travel. The data SIM comes with a phone number, but the number can't be used for either texting or calling. It's usually Polish.

If I were you I'd be exploring alternatives to your Cricket provider to one that at least allows overseas texts. Texts over wifi in general are pretty unreliable IME.

I used to be a Cricket customer. Reliable service and a good price. But when I started travelling after the Covid epidemic I wanted a phone that worked in Europe in case I got sick, as well as for the general convenience of being able to text and call. So I switched to Google Fi on the Flexible plan. They were able to port my Cricket number. The monthly price here in the US is similar to what I was paying with Cricket, in Europe data is reasonable and texts are free. See https://fi.google.com/about/international-rates

We have t-mobile. It supposedly works in Europe. However, we never make phone calls. When we need to contact the next place of stay, we use email or text. We've been to Europe 6 times since 2011, and have made exactly 1 phone call when our access to money machines was closed off for some reason.

Yes Ken you're right, I wasn't near a keyboard so didn't want to go into the MVNO explanation.

I still think changing over to T Mobile before the trip and then either changing back when you get home or keeping it if you like it, makes sense. This might require a new phone but they always have deals.

phred,

Changing to a different network for the duration of the trip is certainly one option, but for me it would be too much of a nuisance. In this area it would be more complicated for those on a contract, as they might have to buy that out before changing. Buying a different phone for the trip (even at a special price) wouldn't work for me either as it wouldn't have all the apps and files that I depend on when travelling. My home network has a Roam Like Home plan that has worked great and the cost isn't a big deal for me.

I know a Paris resident who uses Cricket for her 2FA of her US accounts, but in her own apartment. I would not connect with a bank over a hotel wifi. She told me it costs her $15 a month. I’m still paying Google Fi 25, so next time I’m in the US, I’ll change if these prices are correct. But again, I use it with my protected home nextwork.

The problem you are stating is one a lot of ex-pats have. But you are in Itayl for only a week, not a lifetime. Cap 1 sends confirmations on every purchase. So, unless you see something unusual, you won’t need 2FA for that one week. Even if you were to get your 2FA switched to email instead of texts, would you want to open 2FA on a hotel wifi.

The good news is that most European companies include international calling for free on their sims. I call banks, Social Security, IRS from France for free. So, if you think it’s really necessary, just buy a pre-paid physical sim in a telephone shop, but be sure it includes international calling. One of my sons just bought a 30-day sim while visiting. It cost 16-euros.

A few comments re: postings.

I don't want to go through the hassle of changing carriers for just 1 week. T-mobile isn't an option as they have horrible coverage at my home in the US. I'll look into Google Fi. But from a preliminary look, it would be significantly more expensive (we have 6 lines on cricket with 4 teenagers using a ridiculous amount of data).

I have enabled WiFi calling on both the iPhone15 and Samsung S22. The main reason I'm doing this is to obtain 2FA from our financial institutions (especially Capital One). I don't want to be locked out of our financial institutions overseas. I may actually disable 2FA on the Capital One CC that we use the least (in case we do run into problems with 2FA).

I planned on getting an Airalo eSim. From what I understand, this is data only. This would allow data and GPS to function. Any calls that we would have to make to family in the US can be handled by WhatsApp.

Thanks for all the help!
Chad

Chad, please report back on your success with 2FA over wifi. I think many travelers would benefit!

Will report back. Thanks.

I happened to come across this when I was browsing last night. Perhaps it would work for you?

https://www.airalo.com/

Apparently it allows the user to retain their home number.

Yes. Plan on using Airalo. Thanks!

Someone is asking to report back about 2FA over wifi: it works. I use it every month with my US phone. Google Fi cut my overseas data access a long time ago for being out of the US too long, but 2FA works fine with my wifi. FYI my Google Fi data is restored the moment I touch down during visits to the US.

FYI the last time I checked Google Fi uses T Mobile as the underlying carrier. If you have poor service at home or elsewhere on T Mobile it’s probably going to be the same on Google Fi.

I am also a Cricket customer. Last year I used the Orange esim with my phone in Europe and it worked great. I was able to make calls and texts. I'm going back to Europe in a few weeks and am planning to use Orange esim again.

@rocket at home Google Fi for me uses our wifi. T-mobile service quality only matters when away from home. But, yeah, if you live in a community where T-mobile quality is lousy then Fi probably isn't a good choice.