Travelling to the States, Mobile questions

Forums › Off topic › Travelling to the States, Mobile questions

allblur

101 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Topic # 90271 18-Sep-2011 15:16

Hi, just wondering if anyone can give me information on getting a mobile or prepay plan for when I go to the states?

I'm going for a year and I need a mobile that can go on the net preferably smartphones. I've looked up some of the phones they have offered and some of them are pretty decent, just one thing that nags me is that, do they accept SIM cards when I bring the phone back ?
What about bringing my own phone, will it be easier that way?
I was told to buy a monthly phone since it's easier and cheaper too......

What's your say ?

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2600
Inactive user

Reply # 522671 18-Sep-2011 15:48

I am here in the US now and yes they use SIM cards

NonprayingMantis

6433 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1571

Reply # 522681 18-Sep-2011 16:31

johnr: I am here in the US now and yes they use SIM cards

not all do. Sprint still has a CDMA network for example.

Try Wrike: fast, easy, and efficient project collaboration software

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2600
Inactive user

Reply # 522682 18-Sep-2011 16:35

AT&T and T-mobile do

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
60012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 11111

Administrator

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 522711 18-Sep-2011 18:05

Go to an AT&T store, get a free SIM and topup $40. Use $20 to buy the 500MB/30 day service, and use the $20 for the $1/day all you can eat SMS/national voice calls.

Geekzone broadband switch | Amazon (Geekzone aff) | MightyApe (Geekzone aff) | Backblaze cloud backup (personal and business) | My technology disclosure

You can support content creators (and Geekzone) by using the Brave browser.

PenultimateHop

637 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

Trusted

Reply # 522714 18-Sep-2011 18:17

freitasm has probably the best advice -- prepay is probably the best way to go for you.

If you have no US credit history it can be painful to get a monthly cellular account, since everything is driven by your social security (or taxpayer ID) number and credit file. If you have a trusted friend/associate/company that can get you a phone on their account, that will be the easiest way for a monthly account. It can be done on your own but it's painful and annoying.

NonprayingMantis

6433 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1571

Reply # 522720 18-Sep-2011 18:46

johnr: AT&T and T-mobile do

correct, I was just pointing out that some don't.

However even GSM carriers lock their handsets. So even buying a phone from one of them entails a pain to get it unlocked when bringing it back to NZ.

the OP shouldn't bother buying a phone in the USA. He risks it either not working at all if it is CDMA, or being locked to the US network and useless back in NZ. better to take your own and buy a sim as freitasm suggested

richms

20891 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4100

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 523555 20-Sep-2011 14:50

Do they still have any iden networks there? Was all the rage when my friend was over there with the PTT on ugly motorola things.

Richard rich.ms

SandyJ

152 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 523643 20-Sep-2011 17:24

I just take my iPhone with me .. with a NZ vodafone prepay. It works fine at all the airports enroute to the States (including Oz and LAX) .. then just buy a sim when I get there. On the way back I put my NZ sim back in. Havent had any problems so far. :)

old3eyes

7759 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 765

Subscriber

Reply # 523704 20-Sep-2011 19:31

richms: Do they still have any iden networks there? Was all the rage when my friend was over there with the PTT on ugly motorola things.

Idens still running. Supposed to close some time in 2013..

Regards,

Old3eyes

openmedia

1952 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 144

Trusted

Reply # 523758 20-Sep-2011 21:01

freitasm: Go to an AT&T store, get a free SIM and topup $40. Use $20 to buy the 500MB/30 day service, and use the $20 for the $1/day all you can eat SMS/national voice calls.

Bugger. Wish some one in an AT&T store had mentioned this when I was there a couple of months ago.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat New Zealand as a Solution Architect for all things Linux, Virtual and of course Cloud. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.