nanabee

Andrew I think iPhones don't use SIM cards? I somewhat remember a Verizon guy saying that. Ive mentioned before you can turn on roaming and are charged a small fee per call. OR can simply have Verizon institute a $10 per day flat rate for each day you use service. This gives you Internet and cell phone service. Its much easier to do than tracking down SIM cards, unlocking locked phones, etc.

Andrew

Your iPhone has a Verizon SIM in it now. If you wanted to use your iPhone in Europe, you'd remove the Verizon SIM and replace it with the one you bought in Europe.

Here are some Verizon instructions for removing your iPhone's SIM, if you are curious:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/support/iphone-6-sim/

Verizon uses CDMA technology in the US. GSM is the technology used in Europe but also used by T-Mobile an AT&T in the US. GSM phones have had SIM cards for a long time, maybe always. That's how they were designed to work - the SIM card lets you change their identity. CDMA traditionally does use a SIM card, so older CDMA phones never had SIM cards. The newer CDMA smart phones do have SIM cards, probably so you can use your Verizon phone on GSM networks in Europe, for example.

grandmere

According to what the AT&T (my provider) guy told me before my trip, my iPhone was not locked since I had bought it at Apple, not at their store. Getting the Orange SIM was a very simple process, if not the least expensive.(The clerk used a paper clip to get my SIM out.) Although, the AT&T international plan is not cheap either and still costs .99/minute for calls; for me, buying the Orange SIM was the better choice. And my SIL used another paper clip upon my return to reinstall my "American" SIM.