07 September 2009

The New Cell Phone

We'd been worrying about cell phone service in New Zealand. We probably won't use one often, but we might need one for emergencies, or to call ahead for reservations and so on. There was some doubt the phone we had would work abroad.

Then, coincidentally and fortuitously, David saw an online review of a new, nice, inexpensive dual-band (GSM/CDMA) phone from Verizon, our cell carrier. So Saturday he trotted down to the Verizon store and got one.

It's a kind of nice maroon color. We've set up the display so it shows local time and Los Angeles time, both. Right now, they're the same. But in a week plus a day, they will show quite different times and dates!

The phone has a camera, but Verizon makes it almost useless. The only way to get a picture out of the camera is to send it in a special Picture Message, to one's personal Verizon album. That costs 25cents per picture domestic—I don't want to know what it costs from abroad. Log on to "My Verizon" and now you can send your picture from your album by email to yourself. That would be the only way of getting the actual picture to your computer.

Our Number Remains the Same

Anyway, bitchin' at Verizon aside, our cell phone number (387-3645) remains the same. It should be possible to dial it from the US and have it ring in New Zealand.

We are not actually planning to spend a lot of time on the phone, since the roaming charge is $1.99 per minute. But it's nice to know the ability is there.

No comments: