USA Prepaid SIM card?

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JaBZ

404 posts

Ultimate Geek

#71272 7-Nov-2010 19:15

I am going to the US in Dec for 3 weeks. Will be going to SF, NY, LV, and LA
Will have my Iphone 4 with me. Whats the best option for a prepaid SIM? Ideally want a large data cap i.e. 5GB I don't mind paying a reasonable price for it.

I've had a look at the AT&T Pay as you go options and am quite disappointed that there are no large prepaid data options!
Am I looking in the wrong place? I can only find a $75 unlimited calling/txt option with 200MB, or a $19/month for 100MB option.

I have an Unactivated SIM I purchased from an Ebay shop, which I can activate online and add Pay as you go minutes. But if the data options are as above I may go another carrier!?

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..

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#401443 7-Nov-2010 19:19

I did this in May. Bought Sim cards off ebay and activated them online. No issues there. Found I tore through the credit though as the prepaid data was expensive and you pay to receive calls and sms's.... Next time I would stick to Vodafone traveller...

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tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#401481 7-Nov-2010 21:29

yeh prepaid in US is pretty complicated. Have you looked at T-Mobile? They seem to be more reasonable that AT&T

sep11guy

660 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#401495 7-Nov-2010 22:23

I am going US in dec as well but i am not sure to be with NZ sim or get a USA sim. if US, what provider?

I have vodafone, 2dg compatible phones. Also would like to know what did you get of ebay? I have never got anything of ebay before - is it straghtforward / safe like tradme?

Any suggestions??

davisg

74 posts

Master Geek

#401498 7-Nov-2010 22:26

We did this last year. We bought prepay SIM cards in San Francisco from AT&T. We just rolled up, were honest and said we were from overseas and needed SIM cards for this trip. They set us up on the spot. Very good value "Pay As You Go"' good voice and good data add on for Nokia smartphone BUT no data on my wife's iPhone. She could use voice and SMS but data would not work on her unlocked iPhone 3G.
At that time AT&T had the iPhone monopoly and did not permit foreign users access to data because their network data capacity was not up to the demand caused by the iPhone juggernaut.
So I would not count on being able to use an iPhone for data. Obviously the network can determine where your phone originates.

JaBZ

404 posts

Ultimate Geek

#401499 7-Nov-2010 22:30

Yea I did, however their 3G network is based on 1700MHz uplink and 2100 downlink.
The 2 phones I have iphone4 and Nexus One (AT&T) versions do not support this.
The MVNO simple mobile which uses T-Mobile 's network, has a $60 unlimited call/txt/data plan would've been perfect.

Pretty craptacular at this point.. still looking :)

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#401500 7-Nov-2010 22:32

contrary to popular thought in NZ, the USA can actually be pretty expensive for data.
If you just want data on device it's probably ok, but if you want to tether or use mobile broadband then it is around the same price as NZ (maybe even more expensive)

sep11guy

660 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#401503 7-Nov-2010 22:40

NonprayingMantis: contrary to popular thought in NZ, the USA can actually be pretty expensive for data.
If you just want data on device it's probably ok, but if you want to tether or use mobile broadband then it is around the same price as NZ (maybe even more expensive)

what do u recommend - being with nz sim or getting a new one der / get a new us sim posted out here, so that you can use it while there??

Which provider caters to same frequency as vodafone / 2dg? - thanks

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NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

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#401510 7-Nov-2010 23:06

sep11guy:
NonprayingMantis: contrary to popular thought in NZ, the USA can actually be pretty expensive for data.
If you just want data on device it's probably ok, but if you want to tether or use mobile broadband then it is around the same price as NZ (maybe even more expensive)

what do u recommend - being with nz sim or getting a new one der / get a new us sim posted out here, so that you can use it while there??

Which provider caters to same frequency as vodafone / 2dg? - thanks

ah sorry, I was referring to the relative price of data in the USA vs in NZ.

whatever you do do NOT use an NZ SIM in the USA, the cost will be ridiculously immense.

what phone do you have?

sep11guy

660 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#401511 7-Nov-2010 23:08

htc touch diamond 2 - - so i was wondering which provider in US to go with.

what i need for - mainly calls, txt. ocassional mail (pushed on the go)- web etc. . .

old3eyes

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#401538 8-Nov-2010 08:45

tardtasticx: yeh prepaid in US is pretty complicated. Have you looked at T-Mobile? They seem to be more reasonable that AT&T

T-Mobile don't currently do microSIMs so your going to be stuck with AT&T unless things change between now and the time you get there..

Regards,

Old3eyes

alastairkn

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#401549 8-Nov-2010 09:32

T-Mobile don't currently do microSIMs so your going to be stuck with AT&T unless things change between now and the time you get there..

if microSIM is the only issue one of these should solve the issue?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Mobile-phones/Accessories/Other/auction-329703758.htm

JaBZ

404 posts

Ultimate Geek

#401552 8-Nov-2010 09:53

So after a bit of looking at the major carriers I have decided to get a Simple Mobile (MVNO T-Mobile) SIM
which I will punch out into a micro sim with my cutter. They do a $60 unlimited everything.
Granted my data speed will be on their EDGE network should be fine for most browsing.

I cant express how disappointed I am in the AT&T offerings, I was prepared to pay their US$60 for unlimited calling/txt and a further $60 for at least 2 - 5GB data.

My opinions and ideas expressed in posts are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer in any way..

Linuxluver

5828 posts

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#401555 8-Nov-2010 10:01

NonprayingMantis: contrary to popular thought in NZ, the USA can actually be pretty expensive for data.
If you just want data on device it's probably ok, but if you want to tether or use mobile broadband then it is around the same price as NZ (maybe even more expensive)

Canada is much the same.

Kiwis actually have it pretty sweet. One per-minute price for the whole country and we don't pay for incoming. In Canada and the US everything outside your (often very small geographically) local calling area - in and out - is a toll call...and you pay for incoming txts, too.

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Linuxluver

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#401556 8-Nov-2010 10:03

JaBZ: So after a bit of looking at the major carriers I have decided to get a Simple Mobile (MVNO T-Mobile) SIM
which I will punch out into a micro sim with my cutter. They do a $60 unlimited everything.
Granted my data speed will be on their EDGE network should be fine for most browsing.

I cant express how disappointed I am in the AT&T offerings, I was prepared to pay their US$60 for unlimited calling/txt and a further $60 for at least 2 - 5GB data.

You quickly work out that North American telcos don't much like pre-pay. They want you on a two year contract. That's where the best rates are. But it's like a credit line from a bank and a non-resident typically won't be allowed to go on contract.

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sep11guy

660 posts

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#401557 8-Nov-2010 10:04

JaBZ: So after a bit of looking at the major carriers I have decided to get a Simple Mobile (MVNO T-Mobile) SIM
which I will punch out into a micro sim with my cutter. They do a $60 unlimited everything.
Granted my data speed will be on their EDGE network should be fine for most browsing.

I cant express how disappointed I am in the AT&T offerings, I was prepared to pay their US$60 for unlimited calling/txt and a further $60 for at least 2 - 5GB data.

the unlimited everything looks good for features but it seems like a "contract" plan. It does nt seem like a pre paid- pay once and all done thing

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