Travel Technology - Blackberry --> US for 5 days (2012 Version)

Hi,

I will be traveling to NYC with my Canadian Blackberry. I would like to have unlimited texting and data (ie google maps, simple internet searches) for a cheap/reasonable price.

I do not need to text/call Canada. I need to text/call US #s and have data in the US.

I COULD top-up my Koodo plan (Canadian provider) with an add-on that allows me to receive unlimited texting, up to 50mins of talking, $1.00/MB roaming rate for $40 on top of my usual plan. But I'm only in the US for 5 days ...

I COULD get a mi-fi, but I don't travel that much, and it seems to be a more expensive option than the Koodo add-on plan at the end of the day

or

I COULD get a prepaid SIM Card (with or w/o a new temporary phone).

I've noticed that there is a similar thread, but its a 2010 version and require updated information.

1) How many service providers are there in the US?
2) Which one has the most reasonable prepaid SIM Card for someone like me who is only there for 5 days?
3) Does it have good connectivity/customer service?
4) Is it easy to register?
5) What are the total costs associated to the plan (texting/calling/data)?

Thank you in advance, I don't even know where to begin my search so any guidance would be grateful!

OR Is there a consolidated page about prepaid SIM cards in the US anywhere??

I think I have found my solution, I am going to update this thread so that people in similiar situations can consult what I have found through my research:

Both AT&T and T-Mobile seem to have prepaid SIM card services rated PER day with unlimited texting/calling and web browsing. It appears that for AT&T you have to purchase a phone so T-Mobile seems like the best to go in this situation.

But I have a lot of questions for them, and will be chatting/calling them once they open at 3am Pacific Time. More information to come!

Tmobile 2 or 3 dollar unlimited talk text and web is great, except for blackberry users.

Because you cannot add a Blackberry Internet Service option, the data does not work (at least I havent figured it out.)

There is a discussion over at Howard's Forum about to hack in some data on a Blackberry phone running on a non-Blackberry plan. It isn't perfect, but it is something. You need to do the configuration back in Canada when you have access to Blackberry.

Simple Mobile has a prepaid Blackberry plan for GSM:

http://www.mysimplemobile.com/plans-blackberry-features.aspx

Make sure that your Koodo phone is HSPA compatible. The older CDMA models won't work on ATT and TMobile.

Pacha ---> You're right - for both T&T and T-Mobile's pay as you go plans internet does not work for Blackberry phones. The T&T provider told me that they don't work for Apple phones either :s T-Mobile rep told me that I am better off with their $2/day plan since it is no different than the $3/day plan for BB users. It sucks that I don't/can't get data roaming. GPS is vital!!!

Dubai Stu --> Thanks for the info! Although my BB is HSPA compatible it wasn't listed under their list of compatible phones :s I think this would be a great alternative for someone who's going for 3+ weeks, but I'm only there for 5 days so am probably better off with T&T or T-Mobile's pay per day phone w/o internet (but with WiFi) so hopefully they'll be many WiFi hotspots in my area

Updates on T&T and T-Mobile

After grilling both customer rep's it seems that both don't have many hidden fees. However, T&T requires a 5.95 fee (i cant remember if its an activation fee or the fee for sending the activation pacakage+sim card. but its a one time fee) whereas T-Mobile doesnt seem to have it (just the 99cent SIM card fee).

Both providers dont seem to have the SIM card+prepaid daily services available in the store - as in, you can't walk into a store and have a rep do it all for you. They can only send you all the information in a given US postal address, so you better have a hotel booked or know your friend's postal address before getting their service.

I'm not sure about T&T but apparently for T-Mobile, there's a couple fees when you top-up your payment. I need to double check on this one but it seems like if you know how many days you'll be in the US you may as well pay that much+a little extra, and not pay less.

So far T-Mobile seems to be the better option that T&T for me (someone who is in NYC only for a couple of days) but it bothers me that I won't have data ....

I found something new - not sure if it is a legitimate company but this place called mr. sim card has the following, yet im nt willing to pay $80 for Data - thats too much lol but this, and the one that DubaiStu suggested are probably great options for people staying in the US for a month+.

Simple Mobile Sim Card Options

1. 30 day sim -Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data - $89.99 -BUYNOW
2. 15 day sim - Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data - $79.99 -BUYNOW
3. 60 day sim - Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data - $169.99 -BUYNOW
4. 90 day sim - Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data - $209.99 -BUYNOW
5. 30 day sim - Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data + CALL 50 COUNTRIES-$99.99 -BUYNOW
6. 15 day sim - Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data + CALL 50 COUNTRIES- $89.99 -BUYNOW

Boost Mobile has an unlimited $3/day prepaid Blackberry SIM card plan but you HAVE to get a Boost blackberry mobile phone apparently. The rep told me that an unlocked Blackberry will not do. since im not willing to purchase an entirely new blackberry, i guess i have to cross this company out of the list.

Starhub is another one that I just found online but the website isnt very customer friendly....

So as I was pursuing the T-Mobile prepaid $2/day service it turns out that

ALERT ALERT!

a) the name of the package when sending the sim card + activation kit MUST be the name on the credit card
b) non US credit cards are not accepted

soooo i have to go to a store

the store has more restrictions
a) instead of a 99 cent SIM card its $10
b) they have a minimum $15 cap (how much money you have to put in prepaid)
c) so its $28 (including tax in NYC)

:(

but since the delivery can take up to 4 days, i might as well go to the store

I found something new - not sure if it is a legitimate company but this place called mr. sim card has the following, yet im nt willing to pay $80 for Data - thats too much lol but this, and the one that DubaiStu suggested are probably great options for people staying in the US for a month+.

Simple Mobile Sim Card Options

1. 30 day sim -Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data - $89.99 -BUYNOW
2. 15 day sim - Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data - $79.99 -BUYNOW
3. 60 day sim - Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data - $169.99 -BUYNOW
4. 90 day sim - Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data - $209.99 -BUYNOW
5. 30 day sim - Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data + CALL 50 COUNTRIES-$99.99 -BUYNOW
6. 15 day sim - Unl Talk/Global Text/BB Data + CALL 50 COUNTRIES- $89.99 -BUYNOW

Mr. Sim card is absolutely legitimate. I didn't suggest them because their plans made no sense for you.