Travelling to the States, Mobile questions

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allblur

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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

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Reply # 522671 18-Sep-2011 15:48

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

NonprayingMantis

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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.

johnr

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Reply # 522682 18-Sep-2011 16:35

AT&T and T-mobile do

freitasm

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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.

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PenultimateHop

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.