Blackberry Storm [Verizon] - Sim Cards Avail?

You have two choices....

1) You can get Verizon's Global plan for your trip. You keep your phone number and can use the Storm in Europe like you would here. Data is included but phone calls are expensive. You pay only for the time you sign up.

Verizon Global Phone

or

2) You can get the phone unlocked and buy a sim card in Europe. You will have a different phone number than you have now.

Thanks, Frank.
Do you know if one way is preferable to the other? I don't really care if I use my own number or not. In a way I do NOT want it because I don't want to be called by my USA contacts inadvertently while I'm in Ireland.
So, 2 questions: How do I get my phone "Unlocked" and how do I buy/how much is a Sim Card?

Thank you!

I personally use Verizon's plan because it allows me to sneak away for a few days and no one is the wiser. Most people contact me via email anyway and that's included in the Global plan. If I have to return a call, I use Skype (see below).

To unlock the phone, get in touch with Verizon Wireless. And learn how to remove your sim card before you get to Europe. (And don't lose it.) Once there, just buy a sim card and put that one in.

One other option...if you have the Storm with wi-fi, you can download the Skype app, add some money to it and make phone calls for pennies a minutes. However, it will only be good if you have a wifi connection.

The Blackberry Storm 1 doesn't have WiFi, so that's out. BB Storm 2 does. Here's the scoop for unlocking the phone that I just found out and did today.
I had to specifically ask to talk to another, higher-up person at customer service 'cause the first one said she could not help me. Turns out you need the "Global Service" department of VerizonWireless. Once there, the person who helped me was easy-going and walked me through one phone and let me do the second on my own (she gave me the code). All the codes are unique identifiers for individual phones. You need to call to get yours. Here's the instruction:
1. Turn off all of the wireless connections (manage connections - turn all connections off)
2. Go to the Options icon on the device
3. Select Advanced Options
4. Select SIM Card
5. Hit the Menu key to select Show Keyboard
6. Enter mep2 (you will not be able to see the typed info)(enter just the mepd, no spaces, etc.)
7. Enter the letters: mep2
8. Now it will say enter network mep code
9. Enter the code given you, usually about 16 digits
10. Power down and do a battery pull.
11. Your Storm is now unlocked.
((My BB Storm 1 had a 16-digit number. My wife's Storm 2 had a 8-digit number))
Now I have the option to pay $1.29/minute for Verizon's use of my phone in Ireland OR i can buy a sim card there and switch it out whild I'm in Ireland. ~DrToonz.

I just got the new Blackberry Bold 9650 and it comes with all the information you need to unlock the phone.

But wait, if your wife has a Storm 2, with wifi, why not put Skype on her phone and use it? No hassling with sim cards.

Just got back from Dublin. I brought an old simple cell phone with me or you can buy a cheap one over thre, bought a new sim card at a Dublin phone store for 10 Euro and a phone card for local and international calls for 5E for about 90 min from a Hotel or B&B landline or about 20 min using the cell phone. Worked great.

The Wi-Fi think IS an option. The only problem with it is that she will need to be connected at a hot spot to use it. No ALWAYS a problem, but easily could be if she wants to call ahead to let someone know when she'll arrive or if she's 'lost' and needs directions to somewhere. In that case she'd not likely be within range of an internet connection. Good idea, however, and I will install it for occasions when it might work!