triband phone to work in italy

From USA,

Hi, I am interested in purchasing a triband phone unlocked. Here are my requirements-perhaps you can suggest an applicable phone?



I live predominately in the US and will use the phone alot in the US.

I travel to Italy for three months a year and want to use a local (Italian) prepaid sim card in my triband phone to curb expenses.

I also travel to other european countires on occasion (England, Germany, Spain and France).

Which carrier if you know will support the use in the US yet still enable me to switch sim cards when abroad and still work?

I would like to be able to keep my current nextel phone number--however I do not want a nextel phone or nextel provider anymore as they suck! PS am leaning towards Nokia

Very important feature needed: I would like to be able to send text messages to my italian friends in Italy while I am in the US--most of them are still on SMS and not MMS yet-if it makes a difference.



Can you suggest a phone that will enable the above? Thank you! Christina

chriswrieden@hotmail.com

From London,

probably t mobile as they are in some states. I wouldnt even bother with cellular activities there networks are terrible and highly limited

From Texas,

Can one use a dual band phone just as easily? Even with an Italian SIM card? T-Mobile assures me it's possible...