Phones - specifically I-Phone

Mary, I'm a bit unclear on the question? Regarding the information you mentioned: > AT&T - If you're living in Europe for a year, you could certainly switch to a European SIM. Did the AT&T rep. mention anything about their iPhones being "locked"? > Verizon - Their advise is correct, as Verizon iPhones won't work in GSM areas. If you're going to be there for a year, it would be advisable to obtain a Smart phone there, on a local plan. I don't have any information on South America. You might check the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree website. Can't recall if this has been mentioned previously, but if you're going to be in Europe for a year, I assume you're aware of the Schengen Visa rules? Cheers!

Don't get a Verizon iPhone it is CDMA and does not work in Europe. Apple just started selling unlocked iPhones in the US for $650, that is your best bet with an AT&T iPhone you would be stuck with a 2 year contract. Then just buy a SIM cards in each country is it your cheapest option. The other option for SIM cards is an international SIM card but it will cost a lot more.

Mary, I take it that you do not have an iPhone right now. Any particular reason why you feel compelled to buy one for your year abroad? You might have better luck with a different type of smartphone, such as an Android or Windows 7 phone. Apple imposes some restrictions on its phones that other companies don't. If you haven't used an iPhone before, you may find that one of the competitors does everything you are looking for in the Apple phone. Otherwise, you can probably buy an unlocked iPhone in Europe and that might make more sense because you surely will want to get a European-based phone number for a trip that long. (You can get a prepaid account and not have to commit to a long-term contract.) The Verizon iPhone reportedly has the radio technology to work in Europe, but Apple hasn't activated it. At least that is what I have read. It doesn't much matter: If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. You need the one sold by AT&T or sold directly from Apple to work over there.

Paul your information is misleading. It's not that Apple hasn't activated part of the Verizon iPhone it just does not have a SIM slot that a GSM phone needs and that is the system used in Europe and most of the rest of the world. It is not just Apple, it is AT&T,current GSM iPhones are locked to AT&T but as I said above Apple is now selling unlocked iPhones. Any unlocked phone you buy in the US is going to be much more expensive than unlocked ones that goes for android, blackberry or Win phone 7. Most likely when the next iPhone comes out it will not be locked to any carrier.

"Any unlocked phone you buy in the US is going to be much more expensive than unlocked ones that goes for android, blackberry or Win phone 7." Huh? Anyway, you can buy unlocked phones of all kinds on eBay for much less than they would cost at a carrier's store, so it won't be more expensive.

FYI $640 might sound like a lot for a phone but if you are away for a year you don't want to have to pay $70 or more a month to AT&T for a contract you won't use.

Topic = specifically I-Phone!

Lisa, I only was repeating what I've read. Lack of a SIM slot is a problem. It now looks like the dual technology iPhone may come arrive with an iPhone 5 (see, e.g., http://www.cultofmac.com/evidence-mounts-that-iphone-5-will-have-dual-gsmcdma-radio/78448). For that reason, someone considering getting an iPhone that can be used both overseas and back in the U.S. may want to wait and see if this speculation is correct. When is Mary heading to Europe? It may pay for her to wait a bit before buying a new phone. If she has to have an iPhone right away, I'd see what an iPhone costs from a European carrier and then see if the unlocked version that is now being sold by Apple is cheaper or more expensive.