iPhones in Italy

Jan, see if these links help. I've included ones that are about the iPad because they often also discuss iPhone usage. And, yes, fees will be high. For phone use as well as data use, buying a local prepaid SIM card is almost always less costly. Note that there have also been message threads about whether getting a local SIM in Italy requires more than just plunking down your Euros (some say yes, others no). iphone in Italy iPad in Italy? iPhone virgin asks: Will I be able to send email via wifi? IPAD 2 with wireless and 3G for Italy ITouch or Iphone for trip this June

I've heard that the verizon phones, including the iphone, are not compatible in Europe. WiFi would woke, but not phone service.

Jan, Hopefully the links that Paul provided will answer your questions. The Verizon version of the iPhone will NOT work in Europe (AFAIK), as it's configured for CDMA networks. The AT&T version will work fine, however you won't be able to use Euro micro-SIM's unless the phone is unlocked (which means you'll be tied to AT&T's roaming plans). Finding a calling plan which includes data is a bit difficult, as these are usually limited to customers on a contract. There are some available from U.K. carriers, but that won't help if you're going to Italy. Fees can be enormously high if you're using the cellular data network. The prices for voice calls will also be high, unless you arrange a roaming plan. If you just want a "basic" phone, buying a local PAYG phone is often an economical solution. However that won't provide data (Internet) capability. You could also purchase a basic phone from one of the "travel phone" firms such as Roam Simple, Cellular Abroad, Call In Europe, Telestial or Mobal. These are usually billed on a "post paid" basis, with calls charged to a credit card. Good luck and happy travels!

My friend used her AT&T smart phone in France last year, and swears it was not expensive. I, unfortunately, have Sprint service, and am locked into a plan. Is there any way I can buy a phone here in the US with the needed sim card in it and take it to Italy? Last year, my husband wasted an entire day of our vaca wandering the streets looking to find a sim card, and I do NOT want to repeat that eperience -- as I am going with a girlfriend this year -- and do not have his tech abilities.

Donna, you'll need to go with a travel phone company to do what you're asking. Here is a message thread with links to most of the companies (scroll down a few messages to find it): Phone chips for calls in Italy to Italy hotels Also, Jan, here is another link to messages with other Italy phone information: mobile phone sim card

Thank you Paul. I will check on that!

Donna, You can buy a quad band, unlocked gsm phone on eBay and then purchase an Italian simm card with TIM or vodaphone. There is a TIM store in Stazione Termini upstairs from the McDonald's one the other side. A simm card with cost about 10 euro and you will have an Italian phone number. Then you can use the phone in Italy and can call home, as well at much cheaper rates. Buon viaggio,

Donna, one other thought: You used to be able to get "contract" phone service from T-Mobile and AT&T without actually entering into a contract. This service was not prepaid. You had to have the necessary credit and were billed monthly. I am pretty sure that you could use this type of plan internationally. (As a general rule with those two companies, prepaid service is good only in the U.S., or perhaps the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.) Anyway, you could sign up with one of these GSM carriers and activate international roaming. Then you could use that account over there and not be locked into keeping it when you get home (assuming you get a phone with the necessary frequencies for Europe). The advantage is that you'd have a U.S.-based number that others back home could use to contact you. Roaming internationally is generally expensive, though, and is super expensive for data use, so if you go this way, be careful.