Advice requested on buying one's first cell phone

I've never had a cell phone, I've thought them frivolous.

I think they are too. Since I never get any calls at home, there's nothing to make me think I'll get calls when I'm away from home.......

Last week I drove out in the country (well, not really country as we know it anymore) to a real small lake to do some ice fishing. When I got out there, there was a kid and his truck off the side of the road stuck in the snow. He asked me if I had a cell phone so he could tall AAA towing because his had just gone dead. I guess he was out of range or whatever those phones do when they die. Anyway, I told him that his bad luck was continuing because the only guy to come along who could possibly help him was me and I had no phone.......LOL!

Fortunately, another truck drove by and stopped and pulled the kid out with a rescue strap.

The reason is that Verizon and Sprint use a superior cell phone technology referred to as CDMA. In Europe and Asia (Except China which is using primarily CDMA), the governments mandated an inferior cell phone technology known as GSM. ATT used to use another variant but when they bought Cingular, they are now GSM.

What GSM phones give you is the ability to change the SIM card in the phone so that you can adapt to the local providers when traveling in Europe. The phone itself has to be purchased "unlocked" from the carrier which is usually much more expensive.

Verizon and Sprint both offer GSM rental phones for travel and thus you can use the minutes available in your plan.

I would agree with the bulk of what Incorrigible said in his reply - that's the reason I suggested Verizon wouldn't be the best choice if you travel to Europe.

I would differ on a couple of points. While Verizon does offer rentals to use in Europe, they are expensive. (It isn't just a matter of using your minutes. Figure on at least $4.00 per day and about $1.50 a minute.) (I think Sprint may be a little more, but I had need to price the service). http://www.vzwrentinternational.com/international_coverage_and_rates.aspx
http://www.vzwrentinternational.com/international_cell_phone.aspx
(The phone is $3.99 a day, but you know how cell phone companies are about hidden charges and fees).

The second point I'd question is the assertation that CMDA is better than GSM. They are different, but unless you are selling one or the other, I wouldn't consider one better or worse.

Final note - I've been a Verizon subscriber since they bought my old cell phone supplier several years ago. I've never had any problem with them or their equipment except for a dead spot in the Atlanta area where I never could get the phone to work. If I change, it will be to go with a GSM supplier.

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