Verizon to sell Latin American and Caribbean operations to America Movil

Will this end the free service in those areas for Verizon customers?

 

WHAT!? I wonder what this means for Verizon Dominicana. Another name change? Just two years ago they changed the name from Codetel to Verizon Dominicana.

And most importantly, Verizon Dominicana is CDMA, so will this mean that it will be converted to GSM? America Movil affiliates are all GSM across Latin America. So, if they choose not to convert the 2G portion, at least they should deploy UMTS in the future.

I bet this only means they are getting ready to buy their 45% VZW ownership from Vodafone.

Here's the article from America Movil's website:

 

What do you mean free service? There isn't any free service to those areas.

It WILL mean, however, that Verizon Wireless customers in the US will pay higher roaming fees per minute when going to the affected Caribbean and Latin American areas.

 

Oh, I always thought those areas were free roaming for vzw customers. Oh well.

 

haha....nop! Verizon users pay less, though. I believe Sprint users pay $1.29/min to roam on Verizon Dominicana but Verizon US users pay only $0.69/min.

One would think they won't charge you roaming, but they are not that nice. In Europe it's the same deal. T-Mobile users here in the US have to pay roaming when they roam in the T-Mobile UK or German system.

 

There's "free" roaming in Puerto Rico...which is being sold.

More than likely, America Movil will keep things at VZDR/VZWDR and PRTC/VZWPR largely as-is...meaning that VZWDR and VZWPR will stay CDMA, that VZW customers will continue to receive "free" roaming in Puerto Rico via some sort of sweetheart roaming deal, etc. Of course, it's possible that VZW could shift roaming in PR/the DR to Centennial -- who is CDMA in PR and the DR, unlike in the 48 where they're GSM -- or to SPCS in PR.

-SC

 

Bye Bye VZW Puerto Ricoissed: :devil: :thumbsdow

 

That's a safe bet.

 

Yeah, but PR is part of the US. I was referring to the international locations. Sorry for not clarifying.

With Cingular, Sprint and T-Mobile offering free roaming service in Puerto Rico (Sprint and Cingular are actually native), I highly doubt Verizon will start charging their US customers for roaming in PR. It would seem logical that they will shift their roaming privileges to Sprint since they are one of the preferred roaming partners in the rest of the US.

Interestingly, besides T-Mobile, Verizon will be the second national wireless carrier without native service in PR. I think they went too far there.

 

Vodafone says no dice so I wonder what VZW is up to now? :hmm:

Yes I know that old statement all businesses are for sale if the price is right.

 

I agree with Bobolito.

I think I heard somewhere that the Puerto Rico government is selling also the 48% from PRTC/VZWPR.

 

VZW uses SPCS for roaming in the US Virgin Islands so your SPCS does seem to be a likely candidate for PR roaming like you suggested.