When traveling in Italy, calling home can sometimes be a challenge. International payphones can be expensive and confusing. Using a cell phone with an international plan can also be costly due to roaming charges. You can use many of the cell phones from the United States in Italy, though, and save a good deal of money on your international calls. All it takes is a little knowledge and some preparation before you travel.
Check to see if your current cell phone uses the GSM or CDMA network. Only GSM phones that are capable of operating on the 900 or 1800 megahertz bands will work in Italy. AT&T and T-Mobile are the two major U.S. carriers that use the GSM network, and both companies carry compatible tri-band and quad-band cell phones.
Make sure that your cell phone is not locked to a specific carrier. Usually your cell phone service center can determine if your phone is locked or not.
Purchase an Italian SIM card either online before you travel or at a cell phone store after your arrival. You will probably need your passport to purchase a card once you are in Italy. This is because the Italian government tracks cell phone usage as a counter-terrorism measure. Pre-paid cards are usually the best option for travelers. TIM and Wind are two of the more popular carriers in Italy. Most cell phone stores sell their cards.
Replace the SIM card in your phone with the Italian one. SIM cards are usually located under the battery in cell phones. Be sure and keep your original SIM card in a safe place so that you can reinsert it once you return to the States.
Call your contacts in the States and suggest they call you back at your new number. This can save you a lot of money, as all incoming calls on cell phones are free in Italy when using Italian carriers.
