01-21-2011, 12:02 AM
Be aware that any iPhone/DROID you buy and want to use abroad with a local SIM would need to be unlocked. That is becoming increasingly difficult with the iPhone (probably impossible for the moment with any new iPhone you buy today). Best bet would be to buy a used one that is already unlocked off of Craigslist or eBay, or buy one in Europe that is factory unlocked. For an iPhone 4, a European factory unlocked phone would probably cost a few hundred more than a US one that has been unlocked. But this means you'd probably be spending around $1,000 on the phone. Note that there is no unlock for US iPhone 4's running 4.2.1, so you're stuck at 4.1 or 4.0. A used iPhone 3 or 3GS would probably be a few hundred pre-unlocked.
The Verizon iPhone doesn't support GSM/SIM cards, so that's a no-go. There are Verizon DROID's with GSM support, but I don't know if that's just for roaming, or if they support other carriers' SIM's.
And yes, the iPhone 4 uses Micro SIM's. But you can cut a regular SIM down to Micro SIM size. There are small, cheap cutters you could bring with you so you don't have to do it with scissors and a template.
I got an AT&T International Data Plan for my iPhone 4 while I was abroad earlier this month. It's ridiculously expensive ($60 for 50MB, there is one cheaper and a few more expensive plans), and a I used it only for e-mail and a little web browsing.
The Verizon iPhone doesn't support GSM/SIM cards, so that's a no-go. There are Verizon DROID's with GSM support, but I don't know if that's just for roaming, or if they support other carriers' SIM's.
And yes, the iPhone 4 uses Micro SIM's. But you can cut a regular SIM down to Micro SIM size. There are small, cheap cutters you could bring with you so you don't have to do it with scissors and a template.
I got an AT&T International Data Plan for my iPhone 4 while I was abroad earlier this month. It's ridiculously expensive ($60 for 50MB, there is one cheaper and a few more expensive plans), and a I used it only for e-mail and a little web browsing.