Cellular phone coverage in Italy is excellent. The phone system available in Italy, GSM, offers superior digital audio quality and reception and cellular coverage in Italy is virtually all over the country. There will be some spots where coverage is not available or even the possibility of areas where there are temporary downs but in general, cellular coverage and network availability are not issues.

As the saying goes, "when in Rome, do as the Romans." The vast majority of Italians uses a prepaid SIM card or "chip" that easily slips into their phone and allows them not only to use the GSM network, which allows for crystal clear reception, but to receive unlimited incoming calls from anywhere in the world...for free! These SIM cards are actually the brain of the phone and contain the phone number and track the usage. Local and international calls are very reasonable as well (about 50 cents per minute calling to the US), especially considering the alternatives which are to roam with your current cellular provider or to rent from one of the many cell phone rental outfits (expensive), or just dial directly from your hotel (also expensive, not to mention inconvenient). What you would need in order to "do as the Romans" is to rent or purchase a handset that is compatible in Italy and also purchase an Italian prepaid SIM card.

The easiest way of making sure you get an unlocked phone is to purchase one that has never been locked to begin with. Most people who need cell phone service for use in Italy or other countries only need a dual band phone - eliminating the need to even have to deal with a US carrier. You only really need a tri-band phone if you have a GSM provider in the US and you want to be able to use the same phone worldwide. Once you have an overseas cellphone, you just put in an Italian SIM card. Unless you have Italian residency or know someone who does, you cannot purchase a SIM card in Italy. Luckily, Cellular Abroad offers unlocked phones and Italian SIM cards and they are available to customers before their departure (which also allows customers to know what their Italian phone number will be even before they go to Italy). The benefit of this is that the cell phone number can be given to friends and family before the trip - which is a great way to take advantage of the free incoming calls! By the way, if you purchase a phone, the next time you go overseas you would only need to by the individual SIM cards for each country.