Travel Technology - Question re T-mobile pre paid SIM

I'll be visiting the States in Sept/Oct and am bringing my quad band Nokia phone. I've read other posts here recommending T-mobile so thought I'd get one of their pre-paid SIM cards. However, when I look on their website I can't find anything that tells me how much the calls cost. I can find costs for texts and international calls but what I want to know is how much it will cost me per minute to make a call to another cell that is not with T-mobile. Also, will it cost me to receive calls either domestic or international? My husband will be calling me from Australia so I need to know whether this will cost me. It's all so complicated! :p

I'll be visiting the States in Sept/Oct and am bringing my quad band Nokia phone. I've read other posts here recommending T-mobile so thought I'd get one of their pre-paid SIM cards. However, when I look on their website I can't find anything that tells me how much the calls cost. I can find costs for texts and international calls but what I want to know is how much it will cost me per minute to make a call to another cell that is not with T-mobile. Also, will it cost me to receive calls either domestic or international? My husband will be calling me from Australia so I need to know whether this will cost me. It's all so complicated! :p

I have a pre-paid SIM from T-mobile (in the US) and I believe I pay 10 cents a minute domestically. I'm not sure about the cost (if any) of incoming calls, but I do get calls and texts both domestic and international.

The cost per minute depends on which refill you buy (same price for incoming and outgoing).

If you buy $10 worth of minutes, that's 30 minutes (33 cents a minute)

If you buy $25, that's 130 minutes (19 cents a minute)

If you buy $50, it's 400 (12.5 cents a minute)

and if you buy $100, it's 1,000 minutes (10 cents a minute)

Once you spend $100 with them, the refills above jump to 35, 150, and 460 minutes.

Other charges:

Text messaging ($0.10 to send, $0.05 to receive)
Picture messaging ($0.25 to send or receive)
Download ringtones and wallpaper (prices vary)
Download games and applications (prices vary)
411 & More directory assistance ($1.49 per call plus airtime)
International dialing to over 150 countries (international rates apply)

from here

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/default.aspx?plancategory=4

A cost saving tip for you would be to buy the prepaid sim card off Ebay. I usually buy one for my relatives when they visit the U.S. The price hasn't fluctuated much over the past few years and is about $10 (includes shipping in the U.S.) and they get about 150 minutes to use for 60 days. International shipping will cost more unless you have someone in the U.S. you can mail it to at your destination. You can refill the minutes if you want. However, just buying another card off Ebay even with the change in telephone number is way cheaper. Perfect for vacationers to the U.S.

Just don't buy the card too soon since most of them come activated already with the clock ticking on the 60 days.

TF:cool:

Second vote for ebay.

I routinely by new TMO prepaid sims on ebay for US$6 with 150 minutes. That's US$0.04 per minute. I also routinely refill for about US$90 for 1000 minutes.

ALL calls cost with TMO prepaid... Incoming, outgoing, nights, and weekends.

Their product is very good and their customer service even better. But their coverage won't be found in many rural areas away from expressways.

Oh, yes, free limited WAP sites (called T-Zone)!

Aaahhh! It all becomes clear now! I was confuzzled with the minutes thing cos here in Australia we buy credits & then call costs are different (& more expensive!). So it looks like ebay is the way. We will only be in the US for 1 month & will be driving around the western states, mostly on freeways so I think the coverage will be fine. Thank you all for your advice/help. :)