South American cell phone use

[Fritz]

Anyone have travel experience there?

Will US T-Mo, ATT iPhone or VzW phones work in South America? (It appears all GSM, so I guess no VzW)
If yes, would a T-Mo and/or iPhone best be be unlocked? And/or "rooted" or JB'd?
Data and voice?
Local SIM cards bought locally?
Best providers?

[Ombligo]

I travel to Central America (Honduras) and the cell phone deals are incredible! The government supports the cell companies because it saves them a fortune on infrastructure. Being it is Latin America, I am sure there are kickbacks involved as well.

I have found it best to just purchase a cheap phone there. They don't have contracts and are literally giving the things away (no, the phone are not the greatest). Rates can be 1¢ or 2¢ per minute with calls to the USA actually giving you minutes back. It is not unusual for a family member to call my wife from there just to rack up some minutes on their phone.

Everyone has one, even 5-6 year olds.

I wish we had it so good.

[silvarios]

If you want access to 3G, unlocked AT&T phones will probably function (assuming coverage), but not T-Mobile. T-Mobile in the USA uses AWS, not many carriers use this frequency (all in North America I believe). Either way, pick up a local SIM card so you don't have to pay extraordinary amounts of money to use your phone in another country.

Or do as Ombligo suggested and get a local phone for next to nothing.

[thermarest]

Dunno about data, but for voice any unlocked GSM phone will be fine. Jailbreaking has to happen first, then unlocking is one of many things you can do to the iphone after JBing. Buy a sim card locally on the street, load it up with however many $ you want. Takes 10 min. South America is a big place and the best providers will vary.

[Fritz]

I guess if I went T-Mo I'd have to get their world phone.
Otherwise my old iPho 3G may have to foot the bill.