Rand, I have not purchased a phone overseas in a couple of years but I'll try and update you on what we've done. We currently have three international cell phones - one for me, another for my wife, and the third for visitors! We purchased all these at different times & different ways!
Each of our phones is a UNLOCKED GSM "world" phone. They are compatible with any SIM card & we have used multiple country SIM cards in the last 10+ years.
We purchased one phone in London years ago and bought an Orange SIM card. we paid about $19 for the phone and about $15 for the card. The others we purchased more recently through the internet. Our best prices on phones over the years has come from eBay - doesn't appear you have the time for that. You can get a RUSH purchase from a site such as www.telestial.com. They also provide the SIM card. They are pricey but offer great explanations on their site of how SIM phones work!
Or you can wait & buy an inexpensive phone & SIM card here in Italy. Many folks do this and then send a blanket email from an internet cafe' (or hotel) back to all there friends telling them what their phone number is.... The disadvantage of waiting is you have to program in all your numbers, set up your phone, etc.
To purchase a phone you will need your passport, and depending on the vendor, an address in Italy - Use your hotel or apt! You can actually pick up a phone (or at least you could last year) in the Airport on the upper level (very top!).
You can also pick up your SIM card in the same way (which really is sometimes harder to get than a phone due to new anti-terrorist laws here!) There are multiple companies in Italy - TIM, Wind, Vodaphone, etc. You'll see their stores everywhere.
We use TIM as it seems to have the best service, coverage, and rates for us. It's about 12-15 cents for a local call, depending on who you're calling and 60-65 cents a minute to call the States (All prices in Euros).
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