International cell use, smartphones, and VioP/VoWIFI

[kmstill]

Not caving, but given that we've got some international members and heavy travelers (not to mention several technophiles), I thought I'd pick the list's collective brain.

Moving to Korea (CDMA cell network) and will need to change up my phone situation. Planning on Vonage or some other VoiP provider for calls to the states but hate the idea of no cell access (esp since the cell's my only phone now!). Planning to spend some $$ on a multi-use phone, but will want it to "last" and be versitile for travels and work/internet access - have been looking at smartphones (I'd be looking to get pre-paid U-RIM (Korea's CDMA) and SIM (International GSM) cards for oversees use). Up to now I've only used the w/ contract freebie phones, so I'm way outta my league here!

Rough criteria for now is to find a phone w/: CDMA /quad GSM (esp if I can add a miniSD wireless card) or GSM/wifi enabled; some degree of PDA function (at least a good calander and address book, but leaning toward full PDA +- office software and touchscreen); bluetooth necessary; USB/SD type slots preferred; camera and music functions prefered but negotiable. available unlocked and without a contract, likely via web.

OK, questions now-
1. Anyone have any experience on using VoiP connections from Wifi enabled cells? any specific advice concnering compatability from different providers/phones (esp Vonage)
2. Any experience w/ getting pre-paid CDMA cards (U-RIM?) esp in Korea?
3. Love/hate any specific phones or software?
4. Specific feedback regarding Vonage or Skype. WiFi intent is to use it at home w/ the VoiP for call comfort and to use it on the go for cheap phone and data access - will that work in reality?
5. any experience with add-on wireless for cells?
6. Buy it here (states) vs buy it there (Korea) votes - remember, I'll want it to work w/ a US provider when I move back in a year.

ug, making my head hurt. I have a few other feelers out, especially to Korea directly, but would really appreciate any input from those who speak tech as a first language.
k

[tallgirl]

ive had a cellphone in germany that was pay as you go that worked all over europe and my mothers phone also from germany was able to be reused here in the US just by purchasing a different smartchip for it. nokia and motorola i think are both good at having a standardized smartchip card so you can just get a different one for different places you go with pay as you go accounts on each. america is behind most every country on pay as you go cellphones. the hardest part would prolly be to get a service that works here as well might just want a pay as you go for travel purposes only.

[kmstill]

thanks for the reply - that meshes w/ what I've heard about Europe and some of the SIM card options. Problem is, Europe (and most of the world) is on GSM, while Korea is on CDMA; the two don't speak. there's supposedly limited GSM coverage in korea for travelers, and the early hints of 3G technology, but not reliable for regular in-country use (someone, please correct me if your experience is different or if times have 'a changed). I'm really starting to think that wifi may be useful (and cheap to use, though expensive to buy) if it works as good as it should.
k