hi. I have been a user of Cingular for four years and absolutely love them. If you go to the website Cingular.com, you can view all their phones that they have (some are actually free with a contact) I am partial to the Nokia but have used Motorola and had no problem. I currently have a Nokia that I have had for the duration of our contract. I have been with two other service providers and find Cingular has the best customer relations dept. Good Luck!!! I am on a venture myself. I'm looking for an international phone that will work it Korea. There are no service providers in the States that have a phone that will work there. Also to answer your final question, Cingular does work off of sim cards.