Since my cell phone wont work outside the US I have a few options for when I travel to Italy later this year:

1. I can actually rent one from my provider. A pretty easy solution and I think just $10.00

2. Buy a pre-paid phone when I get there.

I like option 2 best since I really hope to travel to Europe more in the coming years.

This way I'll just keep the same phone and number for each trip and add minutes to the phone when I need too pretty cheaply and easily.

Since I'll be landing in Ireland first, can anyone confirm that a pre-paid phone bought there will also work in Italy?

Also, can I use it to call and receive calls from the US?

thanks!

My solution: I bought in the US a GSM unlocked phone ( cheap on ebay or tigerdirect for example ) - When I am here I use the phone with an Italian card ( vodafone wind etc ) - That way I pay only Italian phone charges -
If you buy the phone in Ireland I think it will work in Italy but you would still have to pay roaming to use the phone in Italy - a solution depends on how long you will stay in each country - If you stay long enough in Italy you are better off buy a card in Italy -

When I go to italy I buy an unlocked phone and change the sim card you can buy one a pay as you go and then you can make and recieve phone calls. If I want to make international calls to family back home I use skype.

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Fra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare!!!

This is a great thread and has been on my mind for my upcoming trip to Italy.

HEre in the US, I have a phone that has 'world phone" feature. I'm not 100% sure what that means, but I was told that I can by a SIMS card in Italy...and I'm good to go. I don't know how that works either.

If the price difference is not great, I might just by a prepay phone while I'm there. I'm up for all suggestions.

world phone eh sounds really interesting are you sure there are no extra charges or something cause not sure how it works in the states but in canada you can only use a cell with the provider of the phone they are locked so sms cards of different companies won't work.

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Fra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare!!!

Bella:

I believe the "world phone" is merely a feature on newer phones that allow the SMS card to be changed for use around the world.

Ask however if the world phone is unlocked ! Else it is going to work in Italy but at roaming from the US prices.
After a few times of fighting the US carriers to gem my phone unlocked I bought for about $100 a blackberry ( 8700 ? ) that works great as a phone and for SMS which are free and popular in Europe - I never activated email service however since I am always at the computer and when I am not I rather not get emails