Parents off to the US - Which mobile network to use?

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ajobbins

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#111523 6-Nov-2012 14:17

My parents are off to the US next month and have asked me about getting a local SIM card while they are there.

Can anyone suggest the best network for them to use with an iPhone 4?

They need to be able to get set up easily (ideally insert SIM and go). APN settings would be too hard for them to manage.

Data is important (probably 1GB min), and some calling minutes would be good too.

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TechSol

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#712919 6-Nov-2012 14:19

Yuo will probably need to do the APN thing regardless.... however you can help them out by using unlockit.co.nz and pre-emailing the APN file to them... once that is one the phone, it's one click to load all the settings.

I used AT&T when I was there (their pre-pay division "go phone) - was about $50 all up to get the card necessary and then load a data pack (that part had to be done online) - so not very straight forward.. but worked well.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#712920 6-Nov-2012 14:19

I always use AT&T. Just ask for the micro SIM, say you have your handset, don't say it's an iPhone. Get the $2 a day deal then call 611 and buy mobile data for $20. I usually get $50 credit on the SIM to load as data and have a few days on the deal.

johnr

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#712923 6-Nov-2012 14:21

AT&T as other have already pointed out above

ajobbins

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#712926 6-Nov-2012 14:26

Wonder if I could order an AT&T SIM online and have it delivered to their Hotel? Do they have an activation process?

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keewee01

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#712933 6-Nov-2012 14:34

We've just returned from the US and made the big mistake of not getting a SIM before we left the international terminal and transferred to the Domestic terminals. We then found it impossible to get on anywhere near where we were! (We were near International Drive in Orlando, which is their tourist district)

They (SIM's/MicroSIMs) are not as widely available in the US as they are here! (Couldn't even get one at a WalMart Superstore unless I was buying it with a phone!!!)

Several providers do allow you to order the sim online and have them delivered. I was looking at AT&T and Verizone, but with only a week left on our trip at that stage decided against it.

Interestingly when I roamed on any network except AT&T I could get data; but on AT&T I could not automatically get data (so I just ignored it as we had so much to see and do).

To some degree you need to consider where they are going in the US, but AT&T should pretty much cover them anywhere.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#712947 6-Nov-2012 14:51

You can easily find SIM/micro SIM in mobile stores. Don't look for them at supermarkets.

nate

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#712991 6-Nov-2012 15:54

keewee01: We've just returned from the US and made the big mistake of not getting a SIM before we left the international terminal and transferred to the Domestic terminals. We then found it impossible to get on anywhere near where we were! (We were near International Drive in Orlando, which is their tourist district)

I had the same issue when travelling in the States two weeks ago.

If you're folks are just after data, I was amazed at the number of places that have free WiFi (seriously, everywhere has it). I ended up not getting a SIM card and just using the free WiFi everywhere, and my SIP account back to WxC.

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keewee01

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#713030 6-Nov-2012 16:55

freitasm: You can easily find SIM/micro SIM in mobile stores. Don't look for them at supermarkets.

Yeah - our issue was all the mobile stores were 10miles in the wrong direction from where we were always going.

There was a Sprint store in the right direction but it wasn't in a location we'd be easily able to get to with our transport arrangements.

I was just really surprised that gas stations, supermarkets and electronics stores didn't carry them. Just like that cheese was either off-white or orange, sliced or shredded.

old3eyes

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#713105 6-Nov-2012 19:22

keewee01:
freitasm: You can easily find SIM/micro SIM in mobile stores. Don't look for them at supermarkets.

Yeah - our issue was all the mobile stores were 10miles in the wrong direction from where we were always going.

There was a Sprint store in the right direction but it wasn't in a location we'd be easily able to get to with our transport arrangements.

I was just really surprised that gas stations, supermarkets and electronics stores didn't carry them. Just like that cheese was either off-white or orange, sliced or shredded.

As Sprint and Verizon are CDMA carriers a SIM card from them would be a non event..

Regards,

Old3eyes

code15

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#713107 6-Nov-2012 19:32

I've been in the US for the past month and have been using straight talk (AT&T MVNO). $45 a month prepaid for unlimited call, text and data. If you want data, it's the best option. They sell them at Wallmart, micro sims too.

eXDee

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#714389 8-Nov-2012 21:14

code15: I've been in the US for the past month and have been using straight talk (AT&T MVNO). $45 a month prepaid for unlimited call, text and data. If you want data, it's the best option. They sell them at Wallmart, micro sims too.

I was also going to suggest straight talk. Never travelled there myself but from reading online they have a very good deal and they use AT&T as well as T-Mobiles network - so you should get even better coverage.