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[mattlgroff]

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| May 21 2012 | 5:07 pm

Verizon this afternoon confirmed that four of its CDMA Android smartphones will receive software updates that allow them to connect to GSM networks outside the United States. The phones are the HTC Rezound, the Motorola Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX, and the Motorola Droid 4. All four of the phones phones are 4G LTE capable and thus have SIM cards, which generally is a hallmark of a GSM device.
Said Verizon:

Customers will see a notification on their device when the software update is available for their device. After the software update, customers will be able to take their smartphone overseas and use voice service in more than 220 countries and receive data in more than 205 countries.

Of course, you'll need to add some global service to your Verizon plan. Or, and this is the really good news -- Verizon tells us the phones already are SIM unlocked, so you should be able to use a prepaid SIM once you're in-country. If you don't travel outside the U.S., well, you can just go about your domestic business.

Thanks to jpcalhoun for finding this article.

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What do you guys think about this? Anyone going abroad later this year who might be using this feature?

[biggiesmalls657]

I am surprised! Its good to know that I have that option.

[boxermansr]

Since this option has been showing up in the newer leaks for the Razr/Maxx (from what I've read), it's looking more likely the 4.0.4 builds will be one of the final ones (not the ones that are out now, but likely, or hopefully a 4.0.4 build one).

[bilbobaggins]

But the .203 -.206 are 4.0.4 anyone know if they support the GSM radio? Haven't seen much other than a warning against flashing it.

[STiK]

.203 already has global as default so I would assume that the newer builds do as well.

[Alex.Abraham]

Yeesssss!!!!! I'm going to Israel next year to study and now I can take my phone!!!!!

Sent from my ICS Leak RAZR

[BigDaddyHicks]

Sweet, can still rock my pimped out RAZR next deployment!

Sent from my DROID SPYDER using Tapatalk 2

[yedei]

Yeesssss!!!!! I'm going to Israel next year to study and now I can take my phone!!!!!

Sent from my ICS Leak RAZR

u can already use ur phone in Israel because it roams onto the local cdma network it costs just $2 a minute lol.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[yedei]

.

[Alex.Abraham]

u can already use ur phone in Israel because it roams onto the local cdma network it costs just $2 a minute lol.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Hahahaha

Sent from my ICS Leak RAZR

[Clarkkent434]

My question is will this global update be another gingerbread update or it will be part ICS update.

Sent from my RAZR HD

[loociddreemr]

I am positive that this will be an ICS update. According to the timeline, global usage Will be unlocked later in the year, while ICS should be rollin out as of today.

[SpyderMan]

also, is this a s/w patch to be placed on top of whatever we have; or do we have to go back to stock -
& if that is the case… will it be GB or ICS based - significance is - will we be able to fastboot back to an ICS
stock & do we have the means to go fm a rooted stock ICS, perhaps loaded w/other dev based goodies & then go back to stock so we can get Int'l gsm support fm our sim card?

seeker

[raclimja]

so does this mean i could put a GSM simcard on my CDMA Droid Razr?

[snives]

also, is this a s/w patch to be placed on top of whatever we have; or do we have to go back to stock -
& if that is the case… will it be GB or ICS based - significance is - will we be able to fastboot back to an ICS
stock & do we have the means to go fm a rooted stock ICS, perhaps loaded w/other dev based goodies & then go back to stock so we can get Int'l gsm support fm our sim card?

seeker

It will be part of a stock ICS release, but any custom ROM based on that version or beyond should also work globally.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[snives]

so does this mean i could put a GSM simcard on my CDMA Droid Razr?

The CDMA Razr had always been a but of a misnomer. The phone had the hardware of a global phone, and several dev notes left in the files point to the intention of eventually allowing global mode. It was initially released with this feature locked though. Similar to a locked bootloader, we can tell what we don't have but we had to wait for them to allow it.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[SpyderMan]

@snives, thanks - based on past performance, approx how long should it take to get Fastboot files, rooting, CWM recovery & eventually ROMs? I realize that much can depend on unknowns, but I'm looking for indications based on prev experience.

tia, seeker

[G8orDroid]

A bit off topic, and you'll probably think I'm trolling, but I'm on the .79 leak and I pulled up my Mobile Network Settings yesterday and the Network Mode showed "Global". Not thinking, (should have grabbed a screenshot), I tapped and changed it back to LTE/CDMA. Only afterwards realizing that there was no "global" option in the list. Also, under phone info > preferred network type it is set to "unknown". Not sure what this means because my 3G and 4G seem to work fine. I changed it back to GSM/CDMA auto but when I checked it later it was unknown again.

I'm guessing these ICS leaks may already be global capable or at least they are working on it. I tried rebooting the phone to get the "Global" option back in Network Mode, but it stayed at LTE/CDMA.

[ncwildcat]

Wonder if this means we can put Rezound or Raxr on the straighttalk sim plan...something to keep in back pocket in case I get screwed with the data situation.

[MkVsTheWorld]

What can you can use with global enabled. Is it HSPA+/HSPA/EDGE etc.? If it's EDGE, then that's really only good for phone calls and texting and a bit of data. Nonetheless, being able to drop a GSM SIM card for just EDGE would be helpful while on vacation or travel. But, does anyone have any specific clarification on what will work?

[Thach]

Sweet, can still rock my pimped out RAZR next deployment!

Sent from my DROID SPYDER using Tapatalk 2

I was thinking the exact same thing. How awesome that is going to be.

[SpyderMan]

What is straight talk?

[BigDaddyHicks]

I was thinking the exact same thing. How awesome that is going to be.

Going to be a lot of jealous soldiers lol.

Sent from my DROID SPYDER using Tapatalk 2

[decentralize]

It's just great news ! I'm from Russia and we do not have CDMA and LTE. I bought my droid razr on e-bay. I believe that GSM unlocked!
=)))

[thrasher194]

today i just got a text msg from Verizon "Free Verizon Message" Your Phone will soon be upgraded to Android 4.0. At that time we will remove your Verizon Wireless Mobile IM app because it is not supported on Android 4.0. Please download a new instant messaging app to use IM on your phone. Thank you for using Mobile IM!"

[DEMO333]

Yeap I got a msg today and this links whit the msg

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Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[ausi61a]

Hey everyone,

I just returned from China. Before leaving I called Verizon to ask if they would unlock my Maxx. Several levels of support told me they cannot unlock it and it will not work in China unless I sign up for global roaming (and then only where there is a CDMA provider).

Elsewhere I'd read that the (stock/unrooted) phone is global after the ICS update so I decided to risk it. My phone isn't rooted (yet).

In Shanghai I got a China Mobile micro-Sim card for 250 Yuan (I'm sure there are many cards available, mine has no monthly charges if you only use it to call, 5 Yuan/month for a modest amount of data, very cheap calls in China -- 0.2 Yuan/min outside Shanghai, free inside), popped the radio into "GSM (auto) PRL" mode using "PhoneInfo" and it worked fine.

Whatever you read elsewhere or hear from never-let-the-truth-get-in-the-way-Verizon, these beautiful things really are global.

Thought you'd like to know if you're planning to travel overseas.

[ThankMeLater]

Good to know we have the option but I don't travel outside the U.S. a lot so they can just give my phone 4.1 Jelly Bean instead and I'll be straight