Did you check out the AT&T calculator to see what their plan would cost you based on your anticipated usage?

i did! handy tool. that calculator is for data usage. between iphone and ipad, i can get away with the 120MB data package for $30/mo (assuming i can use one plan and share between the 2 devices).

sorry to be so dense -- but to recap -- the 120MB AT*T data package would cover basically any facebook posts, email retrieval or web usage while NOT on a wi-fi. THEN. . i would get a SIM card (do i need a separate for texts and a separate for calls? there won't be many, a handful if any) for any local phone calls or texts over there. BUT -- i need to "unlock" my phone before the SIM card will work?? are there drawbacks to "unlocking" a phone??

Only get a local SIM if you don't want to mess with AT&T's international plan.

Just remember that if you want to use a local SIM, your phone has to be unlocked.

thank you, thank you!

There are no drawbacks to unlocking a phone... in fact, call ATT and they may do it for you. You will then be able to use any SIM you want. A SIM is what gives you a phone number and allows the phone to sign on to a carrier. Without a SIM ,you essentially have an iPod Touch.

Unless you use a 3rd party app, texts are also sent using the telephone connection and therefore the SIM. Just so you know... here's what a SIM looks like...
http://tinyurl.com/opkt6b5

Basically 3 flavours... SIM, microSIM and nanoSIM.

The SIM will also do your data (not WIFI) connection. If you do decide to get your phone unlocked get a SIM from Lebara.fr
Pick one up at a Tabac in Paris or order in advance. If you add "USA" to the line for "State" on the online orderform you should get yours in 1 or2 weeks by mail.

<i>Basically 3 flavours... SIM, microSIM and nanoSIM. </>

I hate that so much!

@ ParisAmsterdam. . i had to look up "Tabac", hahahahh! but now i think i've got it. thanks to all for the feedback! i did talk to AT&T and unfortunately, because my current iphone hasn't satisfied their req'd 2 yr contract.. they won't unlock it for me. but the AT&T operator (and an employee at an AT&T store) told me that i can purchase the unlock service on ebay for like 5 bucks! i found a few on there that seem to be reputable (100% positive reviews, high number of reviews) and have responded to my inquiries in a timely manner. i guess i have no choice but going that route. . . everyone seems to think it's *pretty* safe :/