Can I use a Straight Talk phone with Verizon in ports?

[Shaelyn]

I have been looking to get a Straight Talk phone. Verizon works best where I live, but looking at Verizon's prepaid map, it will not work anywhere in Alaska. Has anyone tried this? I will be in Fairbanks, Denali, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Straight and Ketchikan. Thanks!

[DragonOfTheSeas]

I had an old Verizon flip phone when I was there in 2012. :p It worked in the cities fine. I even used it at Denali near the Visitor center.

 

I also used a Verizon USB 3G-LTE internet card. It worked very slowly sometimes and was spotty in Skagway.

[Paula_MacFan]

Thanks for the info! I just got a Straight Talk phone too, and it runs on Verizon. It's good to know it (hopefully) will work in Alaska.

[Shaelyn]

Thank you! It didn't make sense that you could only use a Verizon phone in Alaska if you had a contract with them. I may just take my chances.

[theloo]

Okay, this is one of those things that I did not think about. I just assumed my phone would work, but it looks like my T-mobile plan only covers Anchorage. Is there any other prepaid phone that I can use for the 10 days that I'm cruising & around Denali? P.S. I only need voice coverage.

Edited January 10, 2014 by theloo

[Shaelyn]

I have been doing some research and it looks like you should be able to use T-Mobile and AT&T prepaid plans. It has something to do with Verizon and Sprint prepaid not roaming. I'm having problems finding much on this.

[theloo]

I have been doing some research and it looks like you should be able to use T-Mobile and AT&T prepaid plans. It has something to do with Verizon and Sprint prepaid not roaming. I'm having problems finding much on this.

 

Please let me know what you find. I have T-mobile prepaid & I looked up their coverage map on the web & it said there's only data coverage through a partner. When I called CS, the rep was the one who said there's voice coverage in Anchorage.

 

ETA: I looked at the coverage map again and I zoomed OUT and it showed voice coverage for all the main cities. I think I just misread the map.

Edited January 10, 2014 by theloo