spare one phone

[civi68]

Any have experience with this phone service? It looks like you just get a sim card in country and use it.
http://www.spareone.com/

[ML]

No, I would not recommend it.

If you plan to travel overseas, you need a true quadband mobile phone for use on GSM systems.  As I read it, this phone can only handle one of two dual bandGSMs that you choose.

In USA, there are many areas only served by Verizon and Sprint which are CDMA systems not GSM.

Just go on ebay and search for 'unlocked quadband GSM mobile phone.'

They can be had new from about $25 and up over $400, depending on how much silliness you want on the phone.

[Chicagoguy]

When my daughter-in-law was here with her boyfriend I asked him if he could find ways to unlock cell phones in Moscow. He said yes - in about 10 minutes time.
 

[Faux Pas]

When my daughter-in-law was here with her boyfriend I asked him if he could find ways to unlock cell phones in Moscow. He said yes - in about 10 minutes time.

You can unlock about any phone (smart phone) online for about 10 bucks

[BobFeltham]

I travel around Europe a lot and I use WorldSim. I'm very happy with it and it works in all the countries I've recently been to : Russia, Malta, Spain, Germany and the UK of course. I'm pretty sure it'll work in Ukraine as well.

http://www.worldsim.com/defaultuk.aspx

When I was searching for one I found another company that seems to be USA specific:

http://www.onesimcard.com/international-sim-card/

But if you're only going to Russia then I suggest buying a Tele2 Sim card there when you arrive.