Getting a nano sim for Verizon iPhone 5 use in Italy

[HNfan]

Hello,

I am traveling to Italy in about a week and need help figuring out the best way to be able to use my Verizon iPhone 5 there. Need to be able to check email once a day and make a rare phone call, and light internet surfing. Biggest need is to be able to text (mainly iMessage) many times a day. I'll be there 3 weeks.

Is it better to use Verizon's global services, or to buy (or rent) a sim card from a carrier over there?

How hard is it to get a sim card there that will fit an iPhone 5?

Any idea on costs for the various options?

Thanks!

[mitico]

No it's not that hard. Go to Tim or Wind stores (they're everywhere) and ask for the sim card for the iphone 5. It'll cost you 5 to 10 euros and should be activated in a few hours. You can buy data options that will allow to use one giga (1Gb) a month for about 10 euros,or ten giga (10 Gb) for about 20 euros.

[Applejuiced]

Originally Posted by mitico

No it's not that hard. Go to Tim or Wind stores (they're everywhere) and ask for the sim card for the iphone 5. It'll cost you 5 to 10 euros and should be activated in a few hours. You can buy data options that will allow to use one giga (1Gb) a month for about 10 euros,or ten giga (10 Gb) for about 20 euros.

That's a pretty good deal.

[cutienoua]

you need to pay attention to the offers. otherwise you end up paying by the mb.
still beats roaming by far!!

[Clevans]

I actually was in Italy and the Mediterranean earlier this year for about two weeks. I added on a 500 text msg plan a 1 gb international data plan and a $10 feature to get discounted roaming rates on any calls. It raised my bill by about $40-50 for that month but I never went over those limits. Leave the features on for the whole month so that when the phone companies in Italy send th charges back to your carrier here they see you have those features to cover it then cancel at the end of the billing cycle. Use wifi whenever possible. I used the cell networks daily for texting, email, light Internet use, and made only a handful of calls

[Blorzoga]

Originally Posted by Applejuiced

That's a pretty good deal.

US carriers are thieves compared to their European counterparts. I'm not sure the phone will work with another carrier. It is probably locked to verizon. I have heard that verizon will temporarily unlock if requested.

[Applejuiced]

Originally Posted by Blorzoga

US carriers are thieves compared to their European counterparts. I'm not sure the phone will work with another carrier. It is probably locked to verizon. I have heard that verizon will temporarily unlock if requested.

I hear you on the high price US carriers charge.
About the Verizon i5 it is indeed officially unlocked out of the box for any GSM carrier. so it will work fine. There's no need for an unlock to be requested by them at all.