iphone usage in Switzerland. please advise

First, check with your phone provider, as some plans, such as T-Mobile, include international calling for no additional charge. If not, then you have two choices — buying a SIM card or purchasing a time-limited international plan from your provider. If your time in Switzerland isn’t long, you can keep your phone number and use your phone as you usually do, for calls and data. This is the choice I usually make with my Verizon plan. For your 2nd option, If your phone is unlocked, you can buy a SIM card, which will allow you to use your phone in Switzerland. However, be advised that your phone will then have a different phone number until you return home and change out the SIM card again. You can find a detailed explanation of both these options if you look in the Travel Forum under Tips and Trip Reports in the Technology section.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I understand what you wrote. And you explained it perfectly. I wil investigate further with Verizon. What a relief. I am truly appreciative!!!

I have a Sprint plan. When I get to a new country all I have to do is reboot my phone and it hops onto the local network. Free 2G data, 20 cents/min phone and text.

There is a third option - rent a portable Wifi device. It won't allow you to make regular calls but you'll have full internet/email/map usage. Plus multiple travelers can share one device. Depending on the company you rent through, you either pick it up when you arrive (in or near the airport) or have it shipped to you before you leave for the trip.

rox,

The easiest solution will be to simply use international roaming with your home network, although of course there will be a cost for that. You may find these helpful.....

• https://www.verizonwireless.com/solutions-and-services/international-travel/
• https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/international-travel-faqs/

A Verizon rep. should be able to explain the options to you, assuming you can find one that is knowledgeable with international travel plans.

You could also purchase a local PAYG SIM card but there are pros & cons with that approach. For example.....

• you'd have a local number, so any family / friends that want to contact you would have to dial an international long distance call.
• the terms of your calling plan (cost of calls & text, cost of data) would change as you'd be using a different network.
• you'd have to top-up the card when your bucket of minutes was depleted, which may be an issue if travelling in different countries. Some firms offer automatic top-up via credit cards but I can't recall the details on that.

You could also purchase a "travel SIM" from one of the travel phone firms such as Cellular Abroad, OneSIM or others. With that option you'd be able to use the phone as soon as you step off the plane. Many of these use numbers based in the UK or other countries, so again anyone that wants to call you will be dialing long distance. You'll have to check their respective websites to see whether that might work for you.

"rent a portable Wifi device. It won't allow you to make regular calls but you'll have full internet/email/map usage. Plus multiple travelers can share one device."

I wouldn't suggest that option as it will likely be more expensive than just using your phone, especially if you're travelling solo. You would be essentially renting a device which connects to the cellular data network and provides the same capabilities as your phone. They tend to be a bit pricey and just one more device to haul around, charge, pay for, etc. If you'll be travelling with a group / family, that may be an option.

Hello Ken
Thank you ever so much for your thorough explanation of the choices. And the links. I will be so well informed now. So grateful for the time you took to reply, truly

Hello Fast Eddie. What a clever plan. So simple. I will definitely pursue this. I was not aware of it. Appreciate your time and your experience. Take good care

Hello Fast Eddie. What a clever plan. So simple. I will definitely pursue this. I was not aware of it. Appreciate your time and your experience. Take good care

Hello Fast Eddie. What a clever plan. So simple. I will definitely pursue this. I was not aware of it. Appreciate your time and your experience. Take good care