Travel Technology - Best deals for 3G internet

Hi,

I'll be in NYC, LV, LA and SF in July for 2 weeks, and would like to pick up a Pay as You Go sim from some provider with a good 3D deal, as I would like to use it 24/7 in my phone for GPS purposes. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

The more info you give the better. You don't state if your cell works on a particular type of network. Basically it's Tmobile vs ATT network and their MVNO resellers.

Oh, right. It's a smartphone, unlocked, and I'm from UK. It should be working on any GSM network, I think.

T-Mobile's 3G frequency is different than most of the world, so I would go with AT&T if you do not have a pentaband phone. I think there is a thread here somewhere (or was it at fatwallet.com??) about Sidekick deals.

straighttalk, H20 and Redpocket are your 3 choices. You can buy a sim for them on amazon before leaving and activate before your flight. I personally use RedPocket in my iPhone 4 and like it.

straighttalk, H20 and Redpocket are your 3 choices. You can buy a sim for them on amazon before leaving and activate before your flight. I personally use RedPocket in my iPhone 4 and like it.

OK thank you, I'll look into Red Pocket then and see how much would it cost me to have 3G internet for 12 days straight...

Also, can anyone advise on this please -- I'll be using WiFi on my phone and tablet for maps/navigation when I'm in NYC, LV, LA and SF, and I will always be in the city centers, so I'm sure there should be WiFi spots at most places.

Are they very expensive? And would it be a better option to buy a 12 day access to one of the most popular WiFi access points so that I can use it on the go everywhere I go? I mean would it not be cheaper or better internet this way, and would I have to worry about loosing connection anywhere in the city with this option?

Thank you!

Wifi is free in McDonalds (Most), Panera, Starbucks, and Caribu. Boingo (www.boingo.com) has a good prepaid tablet/smartphone plan apx. $7.50 a month.

Just checked Red Pocket -- not really a good option, as this is not what I'm looking for. They offer good rates for texts and calls (not the Internet), but I'm not planning on making a lot of those -- the only thing I care about is the internet.

Wifi is free in McDonalds (Most), Panera, Starbucks, and Caribu. Boingo (www.boingo.com) has a good prepaid tablet/smartphone plan apx. $7.50 a month.

Just checked this one out: http://www.boingo.com/wifi-plans/laptop/boingo-unlimited/

Sounds very good. Anyone has experience with this? How are their hotspots? Can I trust them to provide me with WiFi when I'm in Manhattan, on the Strip, in Hollywood, and center of SF?

OK thank you, I'll look into Red Pocket then and see how much would it cost me to have 3G internet for 12 days straight...

Also, can anyone advise on this please -- I'll be using WiFi on my phone and tablet for maps/navigation when I'm in NYC, LV, LA and SF, and I will always be in the city centers, so I'm sure there should be WiFi spots at most places.

Are they very expensive? And would it be a better option to buy a 12 day access to one of the most popular WiFi access points so that I can use it on the go everywhere I go? I mean would it not be cheaper or better internet this way, and would I have to worry about loosing connection anywhere in the city with this option?

Thank you!

I agree with everything that has been said. I only wanted to stress that TMobile's 2g data network is widely available for $2 a day. They have one of the peppier 2g EDGE networks I've used, but I recognize that for many people, that isn't acceptable.

Blackberry tether app from Tether Bridge is the best and cost effective way to get internet facility while traveling. It just shares the data plan at once with minimum charges and you can get it for lifetime on your blackberry. You've not to worry about any tethering and any contract.

Blackberry tether app from Tether Bridge is the best and cost effective way to get internet facility while traveling. It just shares the data plan at once with minimum charges and you can get it for lifetime on your blackberry. You've not to worry about any tethering and any contract.

True, but I do have to worry about getting a blackberry, because I don't have it :) Thanks for suggestion though.

If you can manage tMobile's 2G network, that is something to consider. For $2/day you get unlimited data (plus voice and txt). You can get the sim on ebay or walk into walmart, radioshack, etc.

Wifi is free in McDonalds (Most), Panera, Starbucks, and Caribu. Boingo (www.boingo.com) has a good prepaid tablet/smartphone plan apx. $7.50 a month.

And unless you're in a full service hotel, WiFi will probably be free in your accommodation too. I've always found my data roaming costs in the US low enough not to bother because of the plethora of free options. Add Skype with some credit and that's the voice calls sorted out.

Hi there!

I'm still VERY confused on which network to go with when I'm in USA, when I only need 3G! I don't particularly care for texts/calls (the most minimum would be sufficient). Can anyone please advise where can I find plans mentioned for 3G plans only? I can't seem to find this info on T-Mobile and AT&T websites, they only offer texts/calls + data monthly plans, which are totally useless to me.

Thanks!

Get yourself a MiFi or USB modem rented from Xcom Global:

http://www.xcomglobal.com/

T-Mobile does do mobile prepaid data:

http://mobile-broadband.t-mobile.com/plans

Any T-mobile store in the US can set up a sim for this and sell a prepaid top-up card.

I'm still VERY confused on which network to go with when I'm in USA, when I only need 3G! I don't particularly care for texts/calls (the most minimum would be sufficient). Can anyone please advise where can I find plans mentioned for 3G plans only? I can't seem to find this info on T-Mobile and AT&T websites, they only offer texts/calls + data monthly plans, which are totally useless to me. Thanks!

For simplicity and ease of setting up your Android/smartphone ? mainly for 3G data to GPS, which does NOT use a lot of data - I would recommend getting the AT&T Gophone prepaid SIM, on a Pay As You Go basis. Since you are in big cities, you should be able to walk into any AT&T Corporate Store, and get a Gophone 3G SIM card, it's free activation and while the Gophone Sim is usually bundled with a Gophone (found in most Walmart, Target, Best Buy or even chained store pharmacies or even supermarkets) - you can sometimes get one free from the store if you buy a Prepaid Refill Card (typically for $25 or $50.) The stored value is good for up to 90 days - several pay-by-the-minutes or monthly plans available, and, for your purposes, just sign up for the 10 cents per minute plan - skip the $2.00 daily plan as you aren't using it for calls or texting.

You will need to add a Data Bundle, I recommend 200 MB package for $15, good for up to 90 days or for 1GB of data, just $25 - no VAT, fees or other charges, etc.

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/prepaidplans.html (use Zip Code of 10013 for NYC, if prompted)

Depending on your device, at $15 or 200 MB - it is likely to be more than enough to run GPS on your mobile phone. Just make sure you know how to access, change & input APN settings for AT&T for your unlocked quad-band devices,

When I was using the Gophone SIM on an older HTC Windows Mobile 6.5 device with 3G and WiFI, 100 MB would last me an entire month as long as I stay off the browser or kept web surfing to a minimum - email checking & GPS usage do not use up a lot of data allowance.

The current options are great - only $25 USD for 1 GB of data, which is very generously vs. regular monthly contract plans.

Tech. support is available 24/7 from AT&T - and it's easy to manage the details and refill online yourself. Authorized AT&T agent stores might have the SIM card but they are in the business of selling the regular plans & phones, so might be less interested in helping you if all you wanted is to buy a Gophone Sim card (without a $25 or $50 Refill ...) ;)

Otherwise, you will find brand new Gophone Sim card available online for sale at sources like eBay - might be too late since you are traveling this month to the cities. Online activation, however, has to be done here in the US initially, as confirmation email/SMS is send directly to the device once the IMEI is inputted and validated directly OTA.

Reseller of AT&T services are fine, except for your purposes, saving a few bucks isn't a big deal and their tech. support is far more limited.

Good luck & hope this is helping you out. Questions - please feel free to ask.