Can I use US purchased Torch 9800 in Europe?

Question

I was about to ditch the Torch because I've read on travel sites that BB isn't supported in Europe, specifically Italy, Greece, England. ATT gave me instructions to unlock phone but I was told I'm best off buying IPhone or Samsung.
A short time ago I was up on blackberry's site FOR Italy. So, I figured, I have a "world phone" and you guys may be able to help me determine:
1. Keep BB or get new phone?
2. Unlock BB and get new sim cards in each country?
3. Do apps travel w/ me even if I change sim cards?
4. Best use of BB abroad to not rake up huge phone, SMS, wifi bills?
Any other words of wisdom?? (I've been w/ BB pretty much since day 1...I'd prefer to stay!)
TIA, McC

Answer 1

Hi and Welcome to the Community!
You might be interested in the information in this thread...rather than retyping it all, refer:
http://supportforums.blackberry.com/t5/BlackBerry-Bold/Roaming-charges-sim-card-changes-and-blackber...
With that as predicate, I will try to now answer your questions -- which, after you read all of that, may well change anyway...but nevertheless:
McCaryn wrote:
1. Keep BB or get new phone?
Something only you can decide. Each person is unique, with their own set of tolerance levels and expectations. No one can make that decision for you. Rather, you need to educate yourself about all of the issues, and then weigh that against your tolerance levels and expectations...and then decide accordingly.
McCaryn wrote:
2. Unlock BB and get new sim cards in each country?
Different issues surround that, as discussed in the linked post above. If your specific BB model number is not natively supported by the specific network on which you operate it, it will not receive BB services automatically, even if that network supports other BB models. When I traveled internationally, the solution was both...my "home" BB on an international roaming plan (so that people could call it and stil find me, as well as so I could have my BES services), and another device with a local SIM (so that local folks wouldn't have to dial the USA to reach me down the street from them in Beijing).
Again, only you can make your decision, armed with the best information you can gather.
McCaryn wrote:
3. Do apps travel w/ me even if I change sim cards?
Apps are associated to your BBID, which is stored at BlackBerry. But, it is accessed via the carrier BIS services...so, back to the above...if the carrier cannot provide your BB with BIS services, then nothing that depends on it (BBID) will function.
McCaryn wrote:
4. Best use of BB abroad to not rake up huge phone, SMS, wifi bills?
Again, "best" can only be determined by you. For me, I racked up $2,000 bills on my "home" BB each month that I traveled. But, for what was needed, this was acceptable since the alternative would have been cheaper, but not functional for my needs at that time.
OK....review all of that and see where it takes you...feel free to ask more once you've digested all of that information. Just know that, with BB, it's not as simple as just putting another SIM into the device...BBs are special, and BIS is needed for full services, but is not necessarily available to your specific BB model number. I know of no carriers that have their networks natively support all BB model numbers...that would be very cumbersome for them, and actually a bit useless (e.g., a GSM carrier has no need to support a CDMA-only model BB).
Good luck!
Occam's Razor nearly always applies when troubleshooting technology issues!
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