Moving to Europe from US with iphone 4?

Okay so I'm moving to Switzerland in July to live there for a full year. I'm not sure if I will continue to live there when the year is up, or if I will move back to the states.

I have an iphone 4 on my dad's contract so he pays for it. I will have a job when I move to Switzerland, so I don't mind paying my own phone bill, and I will be living with 2 adults who also have iphones, so that part isn't a problem.

I will be using an app to message friends and family back home, and I would like to be able to make calls and text people in Switzerland. I have verizon btw is that makes a difference.

But I don't know how to switch my phone or what to do at all!

I'm not sure what my smartest choice is and I don't know much about the topic. Should I get a new phone over there, or is there a way to keep using the phone I have now? Can it still be on an American account if it's being used in Switzerland?

Also, I know someone who can jailbreak it for me if needed, but I would prefer not to.

Can someone please help me out and explain things in depth because I've never even been out of the US and i don't know what to do about my phone at all because it will be necessary to have. Lol thanks guys!

Business friends travel between continents with no problems. They have international phone plans, and American wireless providers.

The iPhone 4 sold on Verizon is a CDMA only product; as such, you can't use it with a Switzerland mobile service as they use SIM cards (GSM).

As such, you should definitely leave your iPhone in the United States (it will be useless in most of Europe, unless you want to use it on Wi-Fi), and purchase a prepaid SIM card and compatible GSM phone when you get to Switzerland.

Hope this helps!