Chocolate Place Cards Do I Need A SIM Card For An LG Chocolate VX8550(new Version)?

Do I need a SIM card for an LG chocolate VX8550(new version)? - chocolate place cards

I try to buy LG Chocolate VX 8550 off eBay, but it says "Phone Activation: just place the SIM card into the phone and is ready, I think this means is that the SIM card is not supplied with the phone and whether I need it and how to?