International phone

[KryptoNyte]

I would guess we have a few cell phone gurus around this place, and I could use some help with cell phone compatibility.

I would like to purchase a gift for a relative that travels frequently to China. I've been targeting the Galaxy Note 4 because of the phone's large size, processor ability, battery removal, micro-sd card slot, and what I find to be a reasonable 'brand new' device cost.

When this person is in The States, they need to slip a Verizon sim card into this phone, but when they head to China, they need to pull the Verizon sim and put in a Chinese sim. Right now this person has a Galaxy S3 that works fine with sim in China, but will not work with Verizon sim. At some point, this phone may get the SageTV mini-client for use on local network.

Not sure where to turn here.

[KryptoNyte]

Any idea where that post went where I was trying to pick and International phone that would run the SageTV miniclient?

[Fuzzy]

Into the Community forum, I believe: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63302

[KryptoNyte]

What the hey? I would have sworn that I put it here.

Thanks, Fuzzy.

[KryptoNyte]

Additionally Fuzzy, if you could keep your helpful response time under 60 seconds in the future, it would be much appreciated.

[KarylFStein]

I don't think Verizon uses a SIM card for access. However it's been a while since I looked at carriers so maybe things are different now with CDMA. I remember not choosing Verizon because you were limited to phones that had CDMA and GSM on the same device, (I needed something to use overseas), and Verizon was a bit more locked down, (they had to approve the actual device for access--you couldn't just slip a SIM card in). I do remember that the person I talked to at the Verizon store was very helpful and open about the pros and cons. Not an answer, but maybe just stop by a Verizon store and see what they would accept?

[KryptoNyte]

My Verizon S4 has a sim card. From what I've read, they had to make the move from CDMA to GSM sim card to use the 4GLTE. The issue with the US services is that they are far more proprietary than the Chinese services - for example, a Verizon phone can't be used on AT&T it seems.

When you stop into the Verizon store, the only thing they will guarantee is that a "Verizon" phone will work on Verizon's network. With the S3, we tried to bring that phone back to The States, but when Verizon slipped a sim card in, it wouldn't function.

In this example, we have a Verizon phone that is not unlocked, I assume that means it won't work with sim cards in other countries;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...A26AR3D0ZLMVQP

In this example, we have a Galaxy phone that is unlocked, but claims it won't work with Verizon (similar to what Karyl stated I suppose);
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galax...dp/B00Q79IBZY/

I'm starting to wonder if this just isn't possible due to all the proprietary Verizon crud.

[KryptoNyte]

Maybe something like this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Samsung-...5ULr3Qg1gMAfkQ

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

Maybe something like this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Samsung-...5ULr3Qg1gMAfkQ

I don't have a ton to offer. In general, any CDMA+GSM+LTE phone that supports Verizon's frequency bands and whatever is used in China would work. The main problem you could run into is that you may have problems activating a Verizon SIM if the phone isn't a Verizon phone. The workaround is usually to activate the SIM in a Verizon phone, and then move it over to your unlocked phone.

The phone you found should work, but it looks like it only supports two LTE bands. A Nexus 6P has very, very broad support for different bands, but it's also going to cost more.