Hi
I have a load of trips to the states coming up, and its probably gonna be worthwhile for me to get a US prepaid SIM card. I assume that the major GSM providers cover the whole country these days? I'll be visiting Portland, Boston and Seattle.
Whats the best provider to go for, I want cheap(ish) calls to UK, full internet access via GPRS, and cheap txt messages?
My device is unlocked so no worries there
Nigel
I use T-Mobile and will be again when I return to the states. You can buy these sim cards on ebay and when used in conjunction with a calling card you can get really cheap calls.
I am going to New York soon and am considering buying a quantity of these cards to sell on ebay myself.
Here is the auction I had my eye on and the shop this guy runs from is on new york. The auction below has now finished but it gives you an idea.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5738616726&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
I'm visiting Toronto on Friday for a week.
I want to get a PAYG SIM for either Rodgers or Fido etc. I'll be using it to phone home to the UK, It should also include some kind of data allowance as I will be using GooleMaps/Windows Live to help me get arround.
Can anyone suggest:
1) What PAYG SIM should I get
2) Where in downtown Toronto I can purchase one. I'm staying at the corner of Queen & Yonge.
Thanks
Mike
mike_m said:
I'm visiting Toronto on Friday for a week.
I want to get a PAYG SIM for either Rodgers or Fido etc. I'll be using it to phone home to the UK, It should also include some kind of data allowance as I will be using GooleMaps/Windows Live to help me get arround.
Can anyone suggest:
1) What PAYG SIM should I get
2) Where in downtown Toronto I can purchase one. I'm staying at the corner of Queen & Yonge.
Thanks
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
If your phone is network unlocked you can use either a FIDO or a Rogers prepaid SIM. They are available in 10, 20, 30 and 50 dollar refills. Data rates are 0,05 per KB. You can will need to buy a sim at any retail FIDO or Rogers store but refill cards are sold everywhere ( drug stores for example )
Check the following sites for details:
FIDO:
http://www.fido.ca/portal/en/packages/prepaid_airtime.shtml
ROGERS:
http://www.shoprogers.com/store/wir...sp?shopperID=H4836NBBN3759HMF046UK8UDPPFQ3QM2
One thing the reps will try to do is charge you for the sim card, and also an activation fee for setting up the PAYG line. To get around this state that you are an existing customer and you lost your phone, or your sim card got worn out and they will give you a sim for free. Then just sign up the sim card yourself on the websites above for PAYG and you should be good to go.
Hi,
I'm travelling to the States by the end of April. I will spend about ten days in Florida.
Can anyone recommend a specific mobile phone provider that offers prepaid services?
I think I will use it about 70:30 for domestic and international calls as well as for writing short messages.
I need a provider that covers all of Florida.
I think there is T-Mobile and Cingular.
Thanks for your reply!
I am to going to florida, i'm also looking for some prepaid plan.
But from what i've seen so far is that the "start-kits" are quite expensive.
Hi there, I'm going away on my holidays to the states tomorrow - and I need a sim card for my Desire which has a cheap\included data plan on it so I don't get utterly ***** by vodafone for 3g roaming.
I was wondering if any yanks knew of any? I tried looking at the usual suspects, but they didn't mention data...
Thanks
MOD EDIT : PLEASE DO NOT USE SUCH LANGUAGE, IT CAN SEND YOU OFF TO A VACATION.
Hi,
I just ordered an AT&T prepaid SIM.
Data plan is 19.99$ for 100MB and 30 days.
See: http://www.usasims.com/
There might be other resellers in your country based on AT&T or T_Mobile.
e.g SIM-BEE in Germany
http://www.sim-bee.de/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=5
I think AT&T has the better coverage.
Joerg
PS: Watch Out not to choose a CDMA net if you are using a GSM net in your country!
Through Tmobile you can get
Unlimited Data(10GB) Only for $39.99 a month.
or a plan
mine is 500 anytime minute, free nights and weekends
Unlimited TXT
Unlimited DATA(10GB)
59.99 a month prepay.
From what were told here in the states ATT has removed all prepaid data plans. All they have for prepay now is 3 plans which all suck. If your gonna travel alot and need 3G on the interstates just go with ATT for a month and run the credit check for 10 minutes and get 1 month of service. Otherwise if your gonna be in major cities most of the time your here get tmo because its cheap, and unlimited data. Even ATT legacy unlimited DATA plans are limited at 2GB.
I don't know if things are different in EU but here in the states ATT won't sell a data plan alone unless its for an ipad with a microsim. I asked for something for my phone and they said they had nothing data only.
Just ran by ATT's site and there saying they have 4 prepay plans
1. $3 a day unlimited
2. $1 a day unlimited mobile to mobile.
3. $0.25 a min
4. $60 unlimited TXT and VOICE.
I recommend looking at what T-Mobile has to offer. Give them a call 1-800-t-mobile
They're very friendly
Well,
I bought my prepaid 2 days ago, and I was told, that there are prepaid data plans at AT&T.
See also here at AT&T and
http://www.usasims.com/ATT_SIM.html.
The first site also mentions, that there are no PREPAID data plans at T_Mobile.
I have to use AT&T, as I travelling around a lot. Can tell you more in about 10 days, when I will activate my SIM and add plans.
Joerg
maxpower097 said:
Through Tmobile you can get
Unlimited Data(10GB) Only for $39.99 a month.
or a plan
mine is 500 anytime minute, free nights and weekends
Unlimited TXT
Unlimited DATA(10GB)
59.99 a month prepay.
From what were told here in the states ATT has removed all prepaid data plans. All they have for prepay now is 3 plans which all suck. If your gonna travel alot and need 3G on the interstates just go with ATT for a month and run the credit check for 10 minutes and get 1 month of service. Otherwise if your gonna be in major cities most of the time your here get tmo because its cheap, and unlimited data. Even ATT legacy unlimited DATA plans are limited at 2GB.
I don't know if things are different in EU but here in the states ATT won't sell a data plan alone unless its for an ipad with a microsim. I asked for something for my phone and they said they had nothing data only.
Just ran by ATT's site and there saying they have 4 prepay plans
1. $3 a day unlimited
2. $1 a day unlimited mobile to mobile.
3. $0.25 a min
4. $60 unlimited TXT and VOICE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/Cell-Phone-Plans.aspx?catgroup=Individual&WT.z_unav=mst_shop_plans_individual
T-mobile has a contract free service called even more plus. For$59 you get 500 minutes, unlimited web, and unlimited text. Granted, the free texting will only be inside the united states and you will be callled extra if you call international. They have a $5 addon that gives you discounted calling to many countries, for example $0.06 to UK landlines. Or you could just set up google voice with your new US based number and used google's rates for international.
Depending on your device, you may not be able to use 3G on T-mobile.
For data on T-Mobile you would need the AWS 1700 MHz on your phone - i believe the G1 has it, but most phones don't. If you don't have that then you will only get dial-up or EDGE speeds.......Also those data plans are not mentioned on their website under prepaid.......I think that they are no contract post paid plans that you would need a Credit card and SS# for - But i don't know
Right now in Prepaid on GSM - you only have Simple mobile that is on the T-Mobile AWS 1700 MHz and AT&T which used to be unlimited for $20 until about a year ago when they changed it to 100 MB for $20
One of the things that people don't realize about data is, is you are not tethering or watching video than you really do not use that much data. email, google maps, ect.... use very very little data and 100MB for a month is more than enough
schrej said:
Well,
I bought my prepaid 2 days ago, and I was told, that there are prepaid data plans at AT&T.
See also here at AT&T and
http://www.usasims.com/ATT_SIM.html.
The first site also mentions, that there are no PREPAID data plans at T_Mobile.
I have to use AT&T, as I travelling around a lot. Can tell you more in about 10 days, when I will activate my SIM and add plans.
Joerg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you haven't activated your card yet? I think either you won't be able to get a data plan on ATT and that site is outdated, or its a special plan if your a vodofone customer or overseas customer? I went through hours of argueing with ATT for a decent prepay plan but I missed the cut off by 2 weeks. Tmobile does have prepay they just call it flexpay for some reason?
Also heres what your going to find from providers, ATT will have 3G coverage almost everywhere in the US, but its incredibly slow in major cities, near tmo's edge network. Tmo on the other hand only has 3G in major markets and has Edge in smaller cities and G in the middle of no where. But in the city their 3G speeds a blistering fast. In Tampa we would get board at work and have cellphone races. With an HD2 on Tmo I was the undefeated champ. So much faster the ATT guys all had to hook up to my phone via wifi so they could watch HD youtube. Otherwise ATT couldn't handle it and it would just buffer every 10 seconds. I can also stream netflix movies on my tmo 3G with no glitching at all. Entire movies on my laptop through my phone.
Hi,
just tried to order it again; incl. 100MB data plan
See:
AT&T/GoPhone SIM $15
- Arrival City and State, province Chicago
- Departure date from home country 08/20/2010
- ATT GoPhone Plan 30 days unlimited
- Increase account balance US$15, 30 days expiration
- Add DynaSky eCard 0
- Enable Data Plan $19.99/100MB Yes
So, I think, if I pay for it, I will get it.
Regarding T-Mobile: The plan mentioned in post #6 above includes a 35$ activation fee, which ends up in a 100$ fee for less than one month of vacation.
(And I'm not quite shure, if you really can cancel this contract after just one month)
Joerg
maxpower097 said:
So you haven't activated your card yet? I think either you won't be able to get a data plan on ATT and that site is outdated, or its a special plan if your a vodofone customer or overseas customer? I went through hours of argueing with ATT for a decent prepay plan but I missed the cut off by 2 weeks. Tmobile does have prepay they just call it flexpay for some reason?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah with Tmo you can buy a simcard off ebay for $5 and there is no activation fee. That so called activation fee is a scam by tmo stores to charge $20-$30 for a simcard. Tmo's prepay/flexpay is easily cut off after 1 month. Thats what its for. So you should easily be able to order a tmo sim on ebay for $5. Then call up tmobile and have them activate a flex account for $59.99+8.75 for tax. Your bill will be $68.74 a month plus the $5 for a sim card.
just tried to order it again; incl. 100MB data plan
See:
AT&T/GoPhone SIM $15
- Arrival City and State, province Chicago
- Departure date from home country 08/20/2010
- ATT GoPhone Plan 30 days unlimited
- Increase account balance US$15, 30 days expiration
- Add DynaSky eCard 0
- Enable Data Plan $19.99/100MB Yes
The way it reads this may be for overseas people only. Arrival city, departure date, etc.... ATT may have different plans for foreign people just visiting a month or two.
Hi all,
just want to let you know, that I'm in the US now.
Activted my GoPhone SIM and filled it up with 25$.
Then logged in at https://www.paygonline.com/websc/index.jsp (redirection fromm AT&T site) and had the option to add a data plan of 1MB or 100MB.
Works like a charm.
This ist the standard GoPhone Website, so I don't have any clue, why it should not work for others (even US citizens).
Joerg
maxpower097 said:
So you haven't activated your card yet? I think either you won't be able to get a data plan on ATT and that site is outdated, or its a special plan if your a vodofone customer or overseas customer? I went through hours of argueing with ATT for a decent prepay plan but I missed the cut off by 2 weeks. Tmobile does have prepay they just call it flexpay for some reason?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll soon be taking a three week trip equally split between the USA and Canada. Like most people on this forum, I'm going to want data access from my GSM smartphone for the duration, especially Google Navigation. Of course using my Orange UK contract SIM is out of the question because I don't intend to remortgage my house. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good SIM which will allow reasonable data changes across both countries?
In the past I've used T-Mobile for USA-only trips, but it appears the charge $10 a Mb in Canada which is out of the question. AT&T appear to be similar. The best deal from the Canadian networks in the USA appears to be $1 a Mb which is also too much. Is the only solution really to get two SIM cards?
I know their are many specialist roaming SIMs available, but I haven't come across any which cover this combination well. Any insights would be welcome.