[DSB335d]

What's the best/easiest thing to do? Buy a throw away phone in the country in traveling too. My old phone is a Verizon iPhone 4s which may or may not be a gsm/CDMA; I'm not at home to look. I know it has a SIM card slot.

Anyway thanks for any help.

[KingOfJericho]

Last time I was abroad I just bought a SIM and loaded it with funds. It ran out quicker than I thought but it did work well.

[DSB335d]

Did you have to have your phone "unlocked" or anything? That would be awesome if it was as easy as swapping SIM cards.

[davis449]

If the phone has a SIM card slot (even if it's VZW), you can call and request that your phone be unlocked for going abroad and they will do it. Usually takes a few days to complete. Once that's done, not only will you be able to use it with a prepaid SIM abroad, it will stay unlocked when you come back to the states and re-insert your VZW SIM.

[gatorfast]

Do you need cell service specifically when tooling around abroad? If not, I would recommend getting by on wifi (can use skype, imessage,etc). Phone/data service costs a fortune abroad.

[DSB335d]

Originally Posted by davis449

If the phone has a SIM card slot (even if it's VZW), you can call and request that your phone be unlocked for going abroad and they will do it. Usually takes a few days to complete. Once that's done, not only will you be able to use it with a prepaid SIM abroad, it will stay unlocked when you come back to the states and re-insert your VZW SIM.

Thank you.

[DSB335d]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Do you need cell service specifically when tooling around abroad? If not, I would recommend getting by on wifi (can use skype, imessage,etc). Phone/data service costs a fortune abroad.

Not really we just need to be able to contact some of the places we will be staying. A couple places are B&B's and we need to be able to let them know approximately when we will be arriving so someone can be there to meet us.

Yeah I called my current provider AT&T and <1GB data is $150... Dafuk!

[KingOfJericho]

The iPhone 4S needs to be unlocked through Verizon (you can call to have it done) but the 5 and newer are all unlocked out of the box. I used my Verizon 5 in Italy by just swapping SIMs.

[davis449]

Originally Posted by DSB335d

Not really we just need to be able to contact some of the places we will be staying. A couple places are B&B's and we need to be able to let them know approximately when we will be arriving so someone can be there to meet us.

Yeah I called my current provider AT&T and <1GB data is $150... Dafuk!

Yep, welcome to AT&T and whatever you do, DO NOT GO OVER WHATEVER AMOUNT YOU PURCHASE!

[DSB335d]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

The iPhone 4S needs to be unlocked through Verizon (you can call to have it done) but the 5 and newer are all unlocked out of the box. I used my Verizon 5 in Italy by just swapping SIMs.

Hmm well I have an AT&T 5s, do they come unlocked?

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by DSB335d

Hmm well I have an AT&T 5s, do they come unlocked?

Yes.

[kscarrol]

I've done both. You can basically get a free phone as long as you put £15-£20 (at least in the UK) on it. Last trip we unlocked our old iPhones and put in the intl sim chip. Both work well though the iPhone gives you internet access. The throw away phone will be a basic model with little or no internet access generally...

[Hisam135i]

Just toss in prepaid sims and make sure your phone is unlocked

[DSB335d]

Alright. Thank you everyone.

[G559]

AT&T iPhones DO NOT come unlocked, only newer Verizon iPhone 5 and up.

For AT&T, google their unlock form, takes a few days and it's free, or you can have a third party unlock it for you(keep in mind it currently costs $75+ and takes 1 week)

If for any reason AT&T doesn't want to unlock your iPhone(sometimes they deny unlock requests) feel free to contact me and I can help.

[UncleWede]

iphones have SIM card slots???

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

iphones have SIM card slots???

Yes.