[TexKat]

Natalee left her cellphone in her bag at the hotel. It would not work on the island (so she thought). The one person who stayed behind was able to reprogram it so that it would work in Aruba and he used it to call Natalee mom with until they got the island.

oh thank you brigette. Could Natalee have had someone else's cell phone with her?

[stlnative]

They do have rental cellphones on the island, but I understand that most US cellphones will not work on the island, so many people rent them and I have not heard that she rented one or had someone elses cell with her.

Some phones can be reprogrammed for international use, it all depends of the cell company. When I go to St. Louis I have to change my calling zone. I have 3 zones on my phone that I can use.