I have been to FSU many times.  First several times, I got by without mobile.  Last several times I have had the use of mobile in FSU.  These mobiles have been lent by companies I work with or by lady friends, and I have rented a couple of mobile phones while there.  Now I am thinking it will be less hassle if I just buy one for use only while I am there.

The last one I rented in Ukraine, they showed me how the new sim chip was placed under the battery and then they set up all the connections for me.  Here in USA I have looked at mobile phones of friends and there was no sim chip under the battery.  Don't know if they even have sim chips anywhere . . . I didn't take them completely apart.

I have read in some of the discussions on these sites about GMS vs other systems, about bi and tri band phones, and many other terms that I know nothing about.

So I would like to get some serious advice from those who actually know something about this.  I am leary of getting advice from the phone sellers at the mall shops here in USA because many of these young kid sellers probably don't really know if the particular phone would actually work in Ukraine.

What sort of features should I require of a phone purchased here in USA if it is to be taken and used in Ukraine?   What are the important words, features, etc., that are absolute requirements for the phone to have?

What I am thinking I will do is purchase the phone here, take it to Ukraine on my next trip in April, buy a sim chip there, and use the phone there.

So what are the suggestions, brand and model numbers, etc. and what problems am I overlooking, etc., etc.