A friend has offered us the use of his cell phone which he bought and used in France. He has a French phone number for it, but we want to use it in Italy.

If we buy an Italian SIM chip will this give us an Italian telephone number? I am assuming we will buy some kind of prepaid phone card.

Thanks!

Yes, if you buy an Italian SIM, you'll have an Italian number. BTW my Italian SIM (Telecom Italia Mobile) worked in France too (roaming on the French system)!

Thanks Nutella. I didn't want friends trying to phone me from a mile away to have to call via France. (Gotta be more expensive.) Where can you buy the SIM card in Italy?

Marilyn, just about everywhere : ) You can buy them at the airport (I've seen kiosks, at Malpensa I think) selling cell phones and accessories), or in town at a store selling phones and/or electronics. Look for the TIM logo, although there are other major brands - Omnitel, Wind, Blu. The salesperson should be able to activate it for you, so you wont have to figure it out yourself. You'll also be happy to know that when your friends call you, unlike in the US, you don't pay for the call! : )
p.s. Although most phones sold in Europe are unlocked, you should verify with your friend that this is the case. If not, the phone wont allow the introduction of another sim card.

Thanks. His daughter used it in Spain, I believe, so I don't think it's locked.