Is there a US mobile company that sends free sim cards? - General Questions and Answers

In the UK I'm used to have been ordering sim cards for various reasons from company websites. But from what I've seen so far, no US company does that.
is there a reason for this? is there a company that does? really would like to know.

T-mobile does, but shipping from the states to the UK might cost you at the most probably $20 USD, whatever that translates to in other currencies.
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/?shape=simalone

thx.
I'm in the US, I gave the UK as an example.
The sim card in T-mobile requires a monthly plan. You can't only the card and activate later. I just need a card to test a phone.

http://www.mysimplemobile.com/ProductDetail_Test.aspx?id=1
They cost $13, but if you decide you like it, you can get unlimited everything for $60/month.

You can probably get SIM cards cheapest on eBay.

Yeah I've figured it out. Never thought about it in first place...

Related

US Prepaid Providers - Which To Go For?

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

Verizon TP2 in Jamaica

Hi all,
I will be traveling to Jamaica soon and would like to be able to use my phone while there. At a minimum, I would like to at least be able to browse the web and check email. I currently have the unlimited data plan with Verizon. At first glance, it looks like they want to charge $129/mb. That's INSANE! At that rate, i'd be scared to even turn my phone on for fear it might accidently sync with exchange and download 20 meg of email. I've read some on this forum about unlocking the sim card so i can use the phone on another network. Should i consider that for this trip? What would i gain? What's involved? Just swap the sim card? Thanks in advance!
Call 611, and ask for global services. Tell them you want to unlock your phone because you want to use your phone with a different sim card in Jamaica. Then just buy a local SIM card for use with the phone. I don't know how the data works but that's probably your best bet.
FYI, VZ will only unlock if you have been a customer for 6 months or more in good standing.
i've been looking to do the same thing to avoid the $1:50/min roaming fee from sprint. i know digicel is the local service in jamaica. i've found a few vendors on the web that sell sim cards and time but still the fee for data can be still a bit high. i'm not sure if it's better to buy off the web before i get there or just hit a local provider when i hit the island. below are a few links i found to compare for buying the card and service time.
http://www.planetomni.com/SIM_INTL_passport_DTL.shtml
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=LSIM-JM02
http://www.mrsimcard.com/s-digiceljam.html
http://www.rangeroamer.com/roaming-rates-start.aspx

[Q] Prepaid Infuse carrier?

Hey,
I'm recently got an infuse off contract, rooted it, etc, but I haven't been able to make myself transfer my service too it from my other phone. I'm really torn, as it is a great phone but ehhh.
Anyway.
I'm just wondering if there is some way I can use this phone on a pre paid network or something. I looked it up and saw straight talk was perhaps an option, but it seems very confusing.
Thanks.
well you could use simple mobile. (they have ads on this site alot) you could the infuse unlocking guide to unlock your phone and use it on this service. they use t mobiles towers and have 4g (hspa+) in certain areas. their plans are 40 unlimited talk and text, 50 unlimited talk text and 2g data, and 60 unlimited talk text 3g/4g data. you should check them out.hope all goes well my friend.
thank you very much! are there any cheaper options? do you know anything about straight talk?
can i use it on att month to month?
Well simple mobile is one of the cheapest prepaid gsm carriers around. And I know of straight talk. But the only straight talk smart phone is the nokia e71 I believe and that's the only straight talk phone that uses a sim card. So you would have to buy a 200+ phone JUST to get the straight talk sim card out. And yes you can use simple mobile from month to month but after 30 days of no payment they will take your number and deactivate your sim. And another good cheap prepaid option is walmarts family plan. The only thing is to start to see savings you would have to have multiple lines that's why it's good for families. Finally you could check out h20 wireless solutions they have similar rates to simple mobile but they use att towers.... Whew....that was allot of typing....lol
Itaer said:
thank you very much! are there any cheaper options? do you know anything about straight talk?
can i use it on att month to month?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on conversations on IRC with a ST user:
If your SIM was taken from one of th $200 Nokias, you can use in the Infuse. ST is a Tracfone reseller, which uses AT&T's network.
SIMs from all other ST phones are specifically locked to the phone.
ALSO: If you use a SIM from one of the $200 Nokias, you MUST keep the Nokia. If that phone is ever activated with another service, ST will drop service on your SIM.
Edit: Note, I'm an AT&T contract user, all of the above are hearsay from IRC a month or two ago.
i believe you need a $200 nokia smartphone on strait talk but never sell the nokia! the sim is locked to the imei somehow and if the nokia is activated again the old sim is deactivated. also i think strait talk is a reseller of many carriers, they have cdma phones and a few of the nokia smart phones are on t-mobile sim cards from what i understand. you can try it but i think ifg the sim has a "t" on it then you cant use it, only problem is you have know way to know which sim will be in the phone you are buying.
many of those prepay services have one of a number of methods to lock the phone to their network. do as much research as posible before dropping cash on a device that might be useless
I though Att itself has a pay as you go with no contracty plain also tat works for this for for $5 data (10 mb ha) and $.010 a min talk.
Dani897 said:
i believe you need a $200 nokia smartphone on strait talk but never sell the nokia! the sim is locked to the imei somehow and if the nokia is activated again the old sim is deactivated. also i think strait talk is a reseller of many carriers, they have cdma phones and a few of the nokia smart phones are on t-mobile sim cards from what i understand. you can try it but i think ifg the sim has a "t" on it then you cant use it, only problem is you have know way to know which sim will be in the phone you are buying.
many of those prepay services have one of a number of methods to lock the phone to their network. do as much research as posible before dropping cash on a device that might be useless
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So theoretically, you could buy the 200 phone, and buy the cheap ass phone......in separate transactions, from Wal-mart and then use the expensive sim card, but put the cheap sim card in the expensive phone pkg and return the phone......only if you are evil!
I understand you could use the GoPhone plans, but you will need a new sim card, and also have to have a data plan to go with it, not sure how much the Simple Mobile plans are they talk about, but your looking at around 55-60$ for GoPhone plans with minimum data. 50$ unlimited talk and text and 5$for 10mb. Tops is 25$for 500mb, thats still not a lot of data though. I think 10mb for a phone is a joke, in my opinion. Maybe check out the Simple Mobile, you will have to unlock your phone for that though. Instructions for that are XDA.
emeralds5668 said:
So theoretically, you could buy the 200 phone, and buy the cheap ass phone......in separate transactions, from Wal-mart and then use the expensive sim card, but put the cheap sim card in the expensive phone pkg and return the phone......only if you are evil!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. If the expensive phone is EVER activated with another SIM, the expensive SIM you're using will get deactivated according to everything I've heard.
Entropy512 said:
No. If the expensive phone is EVER activated with another SIM, the expensive SIM you're using will get deactivated according to everything I've heard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah but if the phone is returned, after it has been opened, then its not returned to the shelf. I think it would be considered refurb. I dont know, but they would probably reassign the imei to another sim. Dont know. I think I will just keep my edge speed in the hope that when att buys t-mobile that I will finally gtr hspda.

[Q] Pay as you go phone?

Hey, my daughter wants a new pay as you go phone. We are with t mobile and she gets texting and calling. All data is wifi only! Her phone is slow and takes time to process. Can I get a phone from eBay or amazon and put her sim card in and continue with the same plan?
Thanks,
Rachael
rachaelslp said:
Hey, my daughter wants a new pay as you go phone. We are with t mobile and she gets texting and calling. All data is wifi only! Her phone is slow and takes time to process. Can I get a phone from eBay or amazon and put her sim card in and continue with the same plan?
Thanks,
Rachael
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer craigslist. Phones are cheaper and you can ask the seller to meet you at a nearby T-Mobile store. Or at least take your SIM card with you and test prior to purchase. This will ensure the phone isn't stolen, carrier locked or incompatible prior to purchase.
Any unlocked GSM phone will fit your current needs. However, if you decide later to include a data plan it's best to be using a carrier model. Carrier Androids typically include only the 3/4g bands for their own network.
Hey, to test, do you just put the sim card in and try it?
Thanks!
rachaelslp said:
Hey, to test, do you just put the sim card in and try it?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, confirm with the seller before hand that this is what you require. If they say no, it'll save you a trip. Test as much functionality of the phone as you're able. Generally, if it looks to be in good shape you should have no problems. If it's beat up, test EVERYTHING.
Beware that there are overpriced phones on craigslist too. 10% off the average Buy It Now price on eBay is the most I'd pay.
Just post what kind of phone you are looking for and I can give you a ball park price of what you should pay.
more cheaper good smart phone in market at moment

Do I have to pay AT&T monthly if I buy on Amazon no-contract?

It costs $549, and I want just the phone itself, no business with AT&T what so ever. I wanted to buy it from AT&T store, but they said I can't buy just the phone at no-contract price, I still have to open a wireless account and pay monthly service. If I order the phone from Amazon, I don't have to pay anything else to AT&T? Will it turn on without a simcard (or it already has dummy sim without service)?
No Need
You don't need any business with AT&T. The phone turns on great without any sim & if you buy it on Amazon for the full price 500$ something, your free to do whatever you like. Worst case scenario, buy a dummy sim from AT&T @10$ max if your phone requires a sim when booting.
You welcome.
Cool, thanks a lot!
!? I've bought about 6 phones from several AT&T corp stores, never had an AT&T plan, ever.
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