Best option for getting mobile data (dont care about calls) when in USA/Mexico?

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duckDecoy

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#317372 10-Oct-2024 11:04

What's the best option for getting an apple phone mobile operating when in the USA and Mexico? 2 weeks US then 2 weeks Mexico then 2 weeks back in USA.

Global roaming on the existing plan is not an option, its a work phone and permission has been denied.

I have heard about esims, are these the best option? As long as it has data then we wont need calling as we can use WhatsApp or similar to connect to each other. If esims are best are there any you would recommend? Totally new to this so ease of use would be a selling point.

Or are picking up a local sims card from a phone shop the better option?

AS MUCH DATA AS POSSIBLE IS IDEAL, will be used for watching movies etc on long journeys as well as regular internet stuff.

Dulouz

877 posts

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#3295384 10-Oct-2024 11:23

I used Airalo for my last trip to the US. I regretted the data-only option as having a local number is required for some local apps/services. For example, renting a Citi Bike in NYC was a pain without a local mobile number.

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Senecio

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#3295388 10-Oct-2024 11:32

Airalo as above is one recomendation. I've used Nomad myself for roaming eSIM. There are a few different providers around but do shop around. There are a few travel bloggers who will provide recomendations on best options based on countries visited and type of data usage required.

nztim

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#3295389 10-Oct-2024 11:36

Dulouz:

I used Airalo for my last trip to the US. I regretted the data-only option as having a local number is required for some local apps/services. For example, renting a Citi Bike in NYC was a pain without a local mobile number.

Several states are introducing laws to deal with that, public services like parking/bike rental/etc under these laws will have to accept international numbers and make their aps available in all country app stores

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

duckDecoy

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#3295507 10-Oct-2024 12:44

Has anybody had experience with this company??

https://nz.simcorner.com/products/esim-att-unlimited-max-plus-usa-canada-mexico

Any red flags ? (we've never used esims before)

shk292

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#3295510 10-Oct-2024 12:51

I used SIM corner for a recent trip to Europe, all worked fine for me.

duckDecoy

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#3295512 10-Oct-2024 12:55

shk292: I used SIM corner for a recent trip to Europe, all worked fine for me.

Total noob questions.

Did you have to set it up before you went? Or did you buy it when you arrived?
Someone said you have to scan a QR code to activate the esim, but how can you do that from the phone itself?

shk292

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#3295680 10-Oct-2024 19:24

In my case, I set the travel esim up a day before travel because I had a few days spare in its duration and didn't want to be doing it in the airport overseas.
It's easy enough to transfer the QR code to another device and then scan it using the phone you want to use it on. Crude as it sounds, just using the phone on another camera works

noroad

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#3297108 14-Oct-2024 09:24

duckDecoy:

Has anybody had experience with this company??

https://nz.simcorner.com/products/esim-att-unlimited-max-plus-usa-canada-mexico

Any red flags ? (we've never used esims before)

On a recent trip to the US I used Airalo esim on my phone and a t-mobile e-sim from simcorner for the wifes phone as it does not have e-sim capability. Both worked fine. The Simcorner one is sent locally and you need to specify the start date. I had previously used the simcorner one and it did not work when I landed but I think that was beacuse the activation date did not take into account the timezone. This time I set the activation date to be the day before and it was working fine upon landing. Airalo you can activate via the app just prior to landing or on wifi at the airport.

nzkc

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#3297112 14-Oct-2024 09:40

On a trip to Canada and US (Florida) early in the year I used this for the family: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08291D5C4?ref_=pe_19115062_429603572_302_E_DDE_dt_1&th=1

At the time was by far the cheapest and worked really well. Completely happy with it and would use again.

You do need to check your handset capability with the T Mobile network is all. Whilst we could have used calls/sms to each other we mostly used WhatsApp (occasional call to find where people were on the mountain).