Who is your service provider? If it is Verizon, it will not work as a phone.

It is Verizon. I have the 4s so it will work unlike the iPhone 4. I was able to figure that much out. I'm just not sure if I should go through Verizon or something to do with buying a sim card over there. Don't really understand that one. I'm just having major info overflow. Nothing is making sense.

I too have a 4S with Verizon. I believe it will work as a phone over in Europe ( not the 4) You need to call Verizon and have them unlock your phone before you leave. Also you need to decide if you want free wii fi where you travel or pay for the very expensive 3g plan Verizon provides. They have several plans that we chose not to use in May.

It is .99 a minute if you pay $3.99 or $4.99 a month ahead of time per call or $1.25 I believe if you do not pay that little extra. It is .50 to send a text and .05 to receive one. To use the 3g is $30 for a very limited amount of megabytes.

My DH wants the 4s unlocked for business. Then he will return the calls on the phone will purchase in Italy. Actually I am going to purchase an Italian Sim card to put in a phone that I purchased in France a couple of years ago. It is much much cheaper to buy the Sim card in the country you are traveling in.

I am a retired female teacher not much up on technology but inexpensive European phones have worked well for me in the past. Also this is suppose to be one thing the 4S and Verizon can do.

I did not actually mean the one thing the 4S can do, but one of the many many things it can do!!!

All you need to do is call Verizon and have them set it up. If all you want to do is use it for a few phone calls or texts and maybe a little bit of data, there's no need to mess with unlocking it and getting SIM cards. If you plan to use it more than that, you probably want to look at other options.

I was recently in Paris for 9 days. My 4S worked like a dream. I got the voice/text and international data plans; I kept data roaming turned off religiously unless I was actively using it. I haven't gotten my bill yet, but I called Verizon after I was back and they said I used 27MB of international data - I turned it on once or twice a day and looked at email/Facebook/maps for a very short time. If I was in wifi range, it worked great to do whatever I needed - no data plan used. The data plan was nice to have, but I could have lived without it.

Assuming your accommodations have wifi - will your mom accept a daily email? Fifty cents a day adds up. If she gets frequent emails and can easily reach you in an emergency (which she can with your iPhone), hopefully she'll be fine.

Side note: Check out the Paris2Go app (I believe they have a London equivalent as well). It includes maps you can use offline - and your phone's GPS will work, even without using your data plan - plus metro maps and Wikipedia info on the main attractions. I mostly used the map and metro maps, and they're great to have.

I too have a Verizon Iphone 4S and will be headed to London and Paris in the next few months. This info is very helpful, but can someone clarify one thing for me? When you refer to a "international data plan" - is that what allows you to check email/text/call? Can you still use apps on the phone without using international data, and if so, how?

I think I can do without having the ability to make calls and text (and will have computer access at my accommodations) but want to be able to use apps for maps/GPS as well as wifi when I am out and about and it is available.

You have following options with the Verizon 4S.

1. Most expensive, but no work to do on your part. Use Verizon wireless's roaming partners: Just use voice, text, data. The data roaming will likely to make you faint when you see the phone bill.

2. Somewhat cheaper, need to get international plan: somewhat better rates on your service. Still using Verzon's roaming partners.

3. Cheaper: have the phone unlocked to accept non-Verizon SIM, aka local SIM from France or UK, use French/UK carrier. The Verizon wireless service is not used at all.

4. Cheapest, and least work on your part, but no mobile: don't use wireless voice/text/data roaming. Use WiFi only: WiFi internet, WiFi Skype for voice, etc. The cost is the use of WiFi. If your hotel, etc, gives you free WiFi, your iPhone 4/4S use on WiFi is also free.

GPS does not require mobile carriers, so it is free everywhere, BUT unless you have an offline map you can use when not on mobile or WiFi internet, it would be useless. It takes quite a while to locate your position. Try it at home with your phone in Airplane mode.

Assisted-GPS, the one that gives your location faster. This requires mobile data roaming.

Sloane...when people talk about "international data plan" that refers to using the cellular connection to the internet.

It may clarify to realize your phone connects to the world in 3 ways:

1 -- cellular connection to the voice network. This is how you make phone calls

2 -- cellular connection to the data network/internet, which is how you get email, surf the web etc.

3 -- wifi connection to the data network/internet.

So when we talk about international calling, we mean #1, and international data means #2.

#3 is completely different, in that you don't need to do anything, or unlock anything or pay to use the wifi part of your phone whereever you are.

Now, as far as apps go...some require an internet connection, some don't. Email is just an app, and it requires an internet connection. It can be either a cellular or wifi connection, the app doesn't care. you do, because if its cellular you may be paying for it. But the app doesn't. It just wants a connection.

Some map apps, as greg explains well, require the internet..such as google maps. Also, downloading maps use a LOT of data. So if you are planning on using an international dataplan, beware of counting on it for something like google maps. You will use up your data allocation pretty fast.

there are map applications where the maps are downloaded in advance (when you have a data connection) and then can be used offline later. I haven't actually used one, so I can't offer a specific recommendation, but if you google around you should be able to find some that are well regarded.

Two good posts from greg and china_cat! Many people don't realise just how expensive international data roaming is, and get a huge shock when they receive their next phone bill. Apps that automatically refresh eat up data without you even knowing. When travelling outside my home country I always turn off data roaming, and use my iPhone for text messages and the occasional quick phone call.

There are lots of wi-fi hotspots in Europe these days, many of them free, where the iPhone can be used for emails and web surfing. Has anyone tried using a Skype app to make phone calls over the net?

there are map applications where the maps are downloaded in advance (when you have a data connection) and then can be used offline later.

Exactly like the 2Go apps I mentioned. They're better than relying on the Maps app because the entire city map is already stored on your phone, so no use of data is required. On an iPod Touch, you can scroll around till you find where you are. On an iPhone (and I assume an iPad - I don't have one), the GPS will work, so you can tap the little arrow and it will locate you.

Can you still use apps on the phone without using international data, and if so, how?
It depends on the app, but usually yes. Games and music can be used any time. Apps which require data (Facebook, news apps, Instagram...) can still be used if and when you have a wifi connection. If you're just out walking around town, you can't use CNN or Google, but if you're back at your hotel and have wifi there, you can do just about anything.

Other option for calling back home with iPhone is to use FaceTime, if the folks back home have iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch with front-facing cameras and iOS version 5.

Or a recent Mac with Lion (10.7).

I set my dad up with an iPod Touch to do FaceTime with my iPhone or my MacBook Pro while my folks were overseas.

One thing though about hotel Wifi is that some places charge a lot and it's slow or there are limitations like you can only use one device on it. So that's when using mobile data with a SIM can be a good alternative.

However, the European countries differ in the prices for prepaid data. Italy is one of the cheapest. France is one of the most expensive. I hear UK has very competitive rates.

I would not pay Verizon to data roam in Europe. The voice roaming at 99 cents a minute might be okay for occasional use.

Otherwise, if you have good access to Wifi, look into FaceTime, Skype and other VOIP communications. Only downside is that if you're away from the hotel and someone from overseas tries to reach you because of some emergency, you won't get it until you have a data connection again. But in an emergency, they should just dial your number or text you and you can accept the charges (by answering).

One thing though about hotel Wifi is that some places charge a lot and it's slow or there are limitations like you can only use one device on it.

How true! In my experience the most expensive hotels also charge the most for wi-fi, while many cheaper hotels offer it for free. Coffee shops often have wi-fi for customers, just like in the US.

This is a suggestion for something else rather than a daily call in--

How long will you stay over in London and Paris? You may consider setting up a Twitter account for the check in. My son took an iPod touch to Italy with him. I kept up on his exploits through his Twitter account. You could set up a time that you will tweet "Hi, we're OK!" each day when you wake up. Then skype or HeyTell or tweet back and forth when you can. Make sure your Mom understands that the internet connection will probably not be the same as the States. If you have emergency contacts, extra funds in another place and extra copies of your papers such as passport, you should be fine.

I always say that if something is wrong, someone will call me.

Just remembered, when my son went to a rave in Belgium, I did ask him to put a 10 euro note in his shoe along with his name, my phone and his hotel name. Made me feel better when he was in the sea of 20,000 music fans!

Have fun!

One other thing on Verizon...

There was a poster on here a while back in a panic because Verizon never told her you had to enter some "key sequence" BEFORE you left the US to turn on the gloabal phone feature. If you go with thier plan make VERY sure they explain all of that to you.

(I use ATT and don't have to do that, but...)

CarolA - I wonder if that was an old step, or maybe you have to do it with some phones and not others? I didn't have to do anything like that either. I just called Verizon, added the appropriate plans and when I turned my phone on at CDG, it worked.

1st off I have to thank each and everyone of you!

2nd y'all are highly informative!

My sister and I will be gone for 2 weeks. Mutti you sound just like my Mom! That is an excellent idea with the $ and info in the shoe! I will tell my Mom and be sure my sister and I do that. AND TWITTER TOO!

Thank you!

I have a 4S that I got in December. I called Verizon, and they unlocked the phone. Was a very simple process.
But I have no idea about the SIM card.
I am leaving shortly to go to France & Italy.
How do I get a SIM card?
Is this something I can get at the Airport?
Do they install it for me?
Are there options that I should know about.
Any advice would be most helpful.
Thanks

Jgsing-I'm still in Paris on my trip. I had Verizon unlock my iPhone 4s and that's it. I've been using an app called whatsapp that you can text for free over wifi. I've been using wifi 99% of the time. Whatsapp is free for droid users and .99 for iPhone users. Been using FaceTime over wifi too. With wifi you really don't need anything else. With a quick hello and I love you to Mom on the phone all has been great. Skyping over wifi with those with no iPhones or iPads is great too. As long as you got wifi and dial in emergencies you don't need anything else.

I apologize for yet another question about this, but I'm still confused! Do I need to have Verizon unlock my iPhone 4S if I plan to solely work off of wifi? Or is that something I can do myself? I believe by doing: Settings/General/Network/Cellular Data OFF and Roaming/Voice Roaming OFF.

Or is unlocking my phone a necessary step if I plan to get a SIM card?

Unlocking only refers to changing the SIM card. Use it for wifi requires no changes. Just turn off date and roaming and you are good to go.

Back from my trip, and it all was easy.
When I got to France, at the Airport, I bought a SIM card at an American Express counter. It cost around $20.00 and already had credit on it.
The people running the American Express booth new that I need the mini-SIM card. I was able to recharge the SIM via a web site with my credit card. Data was a bit pricey in France and cheap in Italy. The same SIM card worked in the UK, France and Italy. I was even able to get a US phone number.
The card still worked in the phone after I returned to the US. But, I took the card out, and the phone reverted to its normal Verizon state.

Seems to me if you've had your phone for a certain amount of time Verizon will unlock it allowing you to use other SIMs when you're away.

Here is some of what I do with a non-Verizon iPhone4S (on a Canadian plan), but the details vary depending on the trip requirements.

1) Get the Fishtext app. This allows you, if you have wi-fi, to send text messages that cost at most 2 or 3 cents. If you know it's free to send text messages, or you are using the internal iPhone messaging to talk to another Apple i-device, then Fishtext is not helpful in that case. But in Europe, it might be helpful.

2) Get the Skype app. Get a small amount of credit. Then you can make phone calls to other numbers with impunity, if you have wi-fi. I can phone my voicemail and listen to my messages, rather than using telephone minutes to listen to my messages.

3) I turn off cellular data when out of Canada - period. I can't risk any surprises.

I personally have a mobile broadband plan that is separate from my iPhone plan, for when I visit the US, and I use this for wi-fi, but I don't know if this is easily available for Europe - I suspect not. With this plan, I have to be quite mindful of usage. I definitely turn off Location, and limit heavy browsing to when I am in coffee shops, etc. with free wi-fi.

I am thinking of getting my iPhone unlocked and switching SIMs, but that would obviously make it harder for people to text me on my usual cell number, so I haven't done that yet.

I have a follow up question: if I have Verizon unlock my 4S and I buy a local sim card in London, will it give me a local Tel #? Will my US Verizon # ring through to my phone in London or will I need to give people the # associated with the local sim card?