Travel Calling: Are All Sprint Phones Compatible?

If you're a frequent traveller, staying connected with friends and family is essential. Sprint, now part of T-Mobile, offers a range of international calling options and add-ons to help you stay in touch. With Sprint International Calling, you can make phone calls to over 180 countries, but do all Sprint phones allow for calls when travelling?

Roaming charges for Sprint phones in the US, Canada, Mexico, and internationally

Roaming charges for Sprint phones vary depending on the location and the type of device being used. In the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Sprint users can utilize their monthly data roaming allowance included in their standard plan. There are no additional fees for this service, but data usage is limited to 200 MB.

For those travelling to Canada or Mexico, the roaming charge is $2 per day or $10 per week for a high-speed data pass. Most international destinations cost $5 per day or $25 per week, while a few others cost $10 per day or $50 per week.

Sprint Global Roaming is included with all Sprint plans and qualifying smartphones, offering text, basic data (up to 2G speeds), and calls for 25 cents per minute in 205 destinations.

For those with a mobile broadband device, additional options are available. When you reach 100% of your data roaming usage, you can either suspend your data roaming service for the month or choose to pay the overage charges and continue using the service.

It is important to note that roaming charges may not appear on your bill for up to 60 days, and notifications about your data usage may also be delayed.

Sprint Global Roaming and its costs

Sprint Global Roaming is a feature that allows users to access the following services in specific international destinations:

• Fast data at an affordable package
• Global voice calls at an additional charge of 25 cents per minute
• High-speed internet by opting in through their Smartphone

High-Speed Data Pass Offerings:

• Canada and Mexico: $2 per day or $10 per week
• Most destinations: $5 per day or $25 per week
• Other destinations: $10 per day or $50 per week

With Sprint Global Roaming, users can utilise their text and data in 205 worldwide destinations. This feature is included with all Sprint plans and qualifying smartphones, providing access to text, basic data (up to 2G speeds), and calls for 25 cents per minute across 205 destinations.

For those seeking faster speeds, purchasing a local SIM card is an option to consider. Alternatively, Sprint offers daily and weekly passes starting at $5 per day or $25 per week, depending on the destination.

Sprint's Coverage:

Sprint provides coverage in popular tourist destinations, including Canada, Mexico, Europe, China, Egypt, and Africa.

Domestic Roaming:

When roaming in the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, Sprint users can utilise their monthly data roaming allowance included in their standard plan. Sprint will send notifications to users when they reach 75%, 90%, and 100% of their data limit.

International Roaming:

Sprint Global Roaming offers text, basic data, and calls for 25 cents per minute in 205 destinations. For faster data speeds, users can purchase high-speed data passes.

Optional Travelling Services:

Sprint offers two additional travelling services: the Japan Plan and 4G for tablet/mobile broadband device. The Japan Plan provides free data roaming and high-speed data for $5 per month. For tablets and mobile broadband devices, high-speed data is available for $0.03/MB in over 200 destinations, with usage notifications at $50 increments.

How to set up a Sprint phone for international use

If you are planning an international trip and you use Sprint as your cell phone provider, you will want to know about the costs of international roaming, which can quickly add up if you are not careful. Sprint has a feature called "Sprint Global Roaming", which is already included with all Sprint plans and qualifying smartphones. This means you will get access to text, basic data (up to 2G speeds), and calls for 25 cents per minute in 205 destinations across the globe.

• Check that your device is LTE/GSM capable. You can only use Sprint Global Roaming on available LTE/GSM-capable smartphones.
• Make sure your new phone is compatible with Sprint's CDMA-enabled network. Sprint uses CDMA technology in their phones, so if your new phone is CDMA-equipped, it will probably be acceptable.
• Purchase your new phone. You can buy or lease one through Sprint, or buy one elsewhere.
• Set up your new phone and make sure it is fully charged.
• Go to the Sprint website. Under "Activate" at the top right-hand side of the screen, there is a dropdown menu. You should see an option to activate your phone replacement.
• Have the new phone's box handy in case you need any of the information. There is a yellow tab that says "Activate Your Phone". Click on it and follow the instructions.
• During the process, you will be asked for the new phone's ESN (electronic serial number). This can be found on the packaging or on the physical device.
• If you would prefer not to activate your new phone using the Sprint website, you can contact Sprint's service department using a landline telephone. You will need your new phone's ESN and make and model information, as well as all your account info.
• Follow the customer service agent's instructions, which will involve performing some simple programming steps on the new phone's keypad.
• Once you have done this, your new phone should be ready for use.

Additional information:

If you are travelling through Canada or Mexico, Sprint provides a premium experience for all its customers. If you have a qualifying smartphone with Sprint, you will get the following:

• 5GB of high-speed data included with Sprint Unlimited Basic
• 10GB of high-speed data included with Sprint Unlimited Plus
• Free access to 4G/LTE high-speed data
• Free access to calls and texts while travelling in Canada and Mexico
• Sprint Unlimited Premium will give you access to unlimited 4G LTE high-speed data
• Free international long-distance calls from the US to Canada and Mexico

If you need faster data while travelling, you can upgrade to an affordable package. Global voice calls cost an additional 25 cents per minute.

Roaming costs:

• Canada and Mexico: $2 per day or $10 per week for a high-speed data pass
• Most destinations: $5 per day or $25 per week for a high-speed data pass
• Other destinations: $10 per day or $50 per week for a high-speed data pass

Sprint's international calling rates and add-ons

Sprint offers its customers affordable international calling rates and add-ons. As an alternative to standard pay-per-use rates, customers can choose from two add-on packages: Sprint Open World and Sprint International Connect. These packages offer significantly cheaper per-minute call rates.

For example, calling a mobile phone in Mexico would cost $0.67 per minute with the standard pay-per-use rate. However, with the Open World or International Connect add-ons, calls to both landlines and mobile phones in Mexico are unlimited and free. Similarly, calls to Canada are priced at $0.49 per minute for both mobiles and landlines on a pay-per-use basis, but they are free and unlimited with the add-on packages. Text messages to all included countries are also unlimited and free with Sprint plans and both add-on options.

The Open World add-on, launched in August 2015, is ideal for customers planning to travel internationally. It offers 1GB of data, unlimited texts, and calls back to the US when roaming in North and Latin American countries. It also includes discounted calls from the US to over 100 countries and is free to add to your Sprint plan.

On the other hand, the International Connect add-on is available for $15 per month and offers great rates for calls to both landlines and mobile phones overseas. It provides unlimited calls to landlines in over 60 countries and unlimited mobile calling in 35 countries, along with unlimited texts to over 180 destinations.

Sprint also offers a feature called "Sprint Global Roaming," which allows customers to access fast data and make global voice calls for an additional charge. Global voice calls cost an extra $0.25 per minute, and high-speed data passes are available for purchase. The cost of these passes varies depending on the destination, with prices ranging from $2 per day or $10 per week to $10 per day or $50 per week.

With Sprint Global Roaming, customers can use their text and data services in 205 worldwide destinations at no additional cost. This feature is already included with all Sprint plans and qualifying smartphones, providing access to text, basic data (up to 2G speeds), and calls for $0.25 per minute in these destinations.

For customers travelling to Japan, Sprint offers the Japan Plan for an additional $5 per month, which includes free data roaming with high-speed data access. For those travelling with a tablet or mobile broadband device, Sprint provides high-speed data at an affordable rate of $0.03/MB in over 200 destinations, along with usage notifications at $50 increments.

How to save money on international calls with Sprint

International calls can be expensive, but there are ways to save money. Here are some tips specifically for Sprint customers, as well as some general advice on making cheap international calls.

Sprint has a feature called "Sprint Global Roaming", which is included with all Sprint plans and qualifying smartphones. This allows you to:

• Use text and data in 205 worldwide destinations.
• Make calls for 25 cents per minute.
• Access text, basic data (up to 2G speeds) in 205 destinations.

If you need faster data speeds while travelling, you can sign up for one of Sprint's daily or weekly passes. These are typically priced at $5 per day or $25 per week, depending on your destination.

Other Ways to Save Money on International Calls

• Use an international calling card: You can buy these online or in some shops, and they usually come with a preset value. You dial an access number and then the number you want to call. Rates will differ depending on where you're calling, but you usually only pay a rate per minute with no access charges.
• Use an online calling app: There are many apps that allow you to make free audio and video calls over the internet, including Skype, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, Google Meet, and Facebook Messenger.
• Get an international SIM card: You can pick up international SIM cards cheaply or even for free, and then just top up as you go.
• Speak to your provider: Find out the cost of an international calling bundle from your mobile contract provider.
• Use a paid online calling provider: Some providers, like Skype, allow you to call real-world phone numbers at a cost. There are also lesser-known providers that offer these calls at a fraction of the cost.

Frequently asked questions