May 30, 2013, 7:55 pm
Last edit by: WIRunner
Good comparison of prepaid plans:
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2011...and-plans.html
AT&T GSM 850/1900, LTE Data
LTE Bands: 2, 4, 17
Basic and Messaging Phones (No Smartphones, iPhones, etc.)
No monthly fee - 10˘/minute, 20˘/text, Data 1˘/5KB of use
$2/Day (Only billed fee on days used) - Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text, Data 1˘/5KB when Used or $1/Day for 100MB
Smartphone or Basic/Feature Phones
$30/month Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text; Data is not included: 1˘/5KB of use, or $5/Month 100 MB
$45/month Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text, 1.5GB Data at "3G" speeds, thereafter throttled to 128Kbps
$55/Month Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text, Includes Unlimited calls to Mexico; 1˘ per minute for calls to Canada, calls within Mexico and Canada, and from Mexico and Canada to select countries, plus unlimited messaging while roaming in Mexico and Canada. 1 GB Data at "3G" speeds, throttled to 128 Kbps thereafter
$60/Month Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text, Includes Unlimited calls to Mexico, Unlimited Texting when in Canada or Mexico, 4 GB Data at "3G" speeds, throttled to 128 Kbps thereafter
Verizon CDMA, LTE Data
LTE Bands: 2, 4, 13
Pay-as-you-go (Feature/Basic Phones Only)
Daily access fees are billed only when device is used
$1.99/Day - Unlimited Domestic Airtime, Text Messages are 2˘/message (in or out), Picture Messages are 25˘/message (in or out), Mobile Web access 99˘/24 hour period
99˘/Day Unlimited Verizon to Verizon Calls, Standard Airtime Calls 25˘/Minute, Text Messages 10˘/Message (In or Out), Picture Messages 25˘/Message (In or Out); Mobile Web Access 99˘/24 Hour Period
$0.00/Day - Standard Airtime Calls 25˘/Minute, Text Messages 20˘/Message (in or out), Picture Messages 25˘/Message (in or out), Mobile Web access 99˘/24 hour period
Can add the following monthly text messaging options:
$20/month for Unlimited Messaging to anyone on any network in the U.S.
$10/month for Unlimited Mobile to Mobile Messaging with Verizon Wireless customers PLUS 250 additional messages*
Feature Phone Monthly Plans
$35/Month 500 Standard Airtime Minutes, Unlimited Domestic Texts, Unlimited Texts to Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, 500MB Mobile Web
$45/Month Unlimited Standard Airtime Minutes, Unlimited Domestic Texts, Unlimited Texts to Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, 500MB Mobile Web
Smartphone
$45/month Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text Includes 1GB LTE Data, 500MB included when signed up for monthly autopay. Data Stops once allotment is exhausted.
Additional Data for Monthly Smart or Basic Phone Plans
$5 for 500MB, $10 for 1GB or $20 for 3GB. Data access stops once data allotment is exhausted, would need to purchase additional data for the month or restart bill cycle for a new 30 Days
T-Mobile GSM 1900, LTE Data
LTE Bands: 2, 4, 12
$3/month 30 minutes of Airtime or 30 Texts (or a combination)
Data can be added: $5/day 500MB High Speed Data (LTE) or $10/week 1GB High Speed Data (LTE)
$30/month 100 Minutes Airtime, Unlimited Text, 5GB of High Speed data (LTE, HSDPA+) then throttled to "2G" speeds. Includes International texting at no charge to select countries Must be activated on-line, or purchased from Wal-Mart
$35/month Unlimited Airtime, Unlimited Text, No Data Included
The following plans include Unlimited Airtime, and Unlimited Text, Speed is throttled to 8 Mb/s regardless if a higher link is available, once data allotment is consumed throttled to "2G" speeds, or a max of 128 Kb/s. Price is listed monthly.
$40 - 1 GB Data
$50 - 3 GB Data
$60 - 5 GB Data
Add Unlimited landline, and texting to select countries for $10/month, Calls to mobile carriers in select countries are 20˘ per minute
Add Unlimited landline, mobile calling and texting to select countries for $15 per month
If the device supports it, these plans also have T-Mobile WiFi calling available at no charge.
Sprint CDMA, LTE Data
No longer offers branded pre paid services, all plans are sold through Boost subsidary
H2O
U.S. Cellular CDMA, LTE Data
LTE Bands: 5, 12
Plans are listed per month
"Ready Connect" (Available at Wal-Mart and Amazon.com, and other stores)
$35 - Basic Phone Only - Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text, Unlimited Mobile Web
$45 - Smartphone - Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text, 1GB Data
$55 - Smartphone - Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text, 2GB Data
Maximum of 200MB can be used off network.
Data stops when allotment is exhausted, additional buckets can be purchased for $5/250MB, $15/1GB, $25/2GB
"Simple Connect" Plans all include Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data, the high speed allotment varies depending on the plan, prices are monthly
$40 - Basic Phones Unlimited Data
$45 - 1GB Data
$55 - 2GB Data
$65 - 4GB Data
Data is throttled to "1x" speeds thereafter (max of 196 Kb/s)
TracFone GSM 850/1900 or CDMA
Annual Cards (Good for 365 Days from Activation)
$199.99 1500 Minutes
$159.99 1000 Minutes
$119.99 800 Minutes (Plus double minutes on future refills)
$99.99 400 Minutes
$19.99 Package adds double airtime to all future refills
Pay-As-You-Go
$79.99 450 Minutes for 90 Days
$39.99 200 Minutes for 90 Days
$19.99 60 Minutes for 90 Days
$9.99 30 Minutes for 30 Days (online only)
Web Access for Android Phones
$50/2GB
$20/750MB
$10/300MB
Red Pocket (Link)
512MB - $5
1GB - $10
3GB - $30
5GB - $50
Uses T-Mobile's 4G/LTE network
All plans except 512MB are throttled after exceeding data usage.
SIM cards can be purchased inexpensively through Amazon and ebay
Cricket Wireless GSM 850/1900, LTE Data
AT&T Wireless Subsidy
Plans are monthly, and include Unlimited Talk and Texting, Included data varies; LTE speeds are throttled to 8Mb/s, HSDPA+ is throttled to 4Mb/s, $5 discount available when on autopay
$25 - NO Data Access
$40 - 2.5GB
$50 - 5GB Adds Unlimited Calling and Texting to Mexico, plus 35 additional countries
$60 - 10GB Adds Unlimited Calling and Texting to Mexico, plus 35 additional countries
$60 - 20 GB (Promotional Plan) Adds Unlimited Calling and Texting to Mexico, plus 35 additional countries
MetroPCS GSM 1900, LTE Data
T-Mobile Subsidy
Plans are monthly and include Unlimited Talk and Text. Included Data Varies, once package data is exceeded speed is throttled to "2G" speeds (128Kb/s max), prices include add fees and taxes
$40 - 2GB Data (promotional)
$50 - 4GB Data (promotional)
$60 - Unlimited Data
$50 Unlimited Data plan is available when purchasing a device from MetroPCS, BYOD is not available on that plan
Add-ons
$10/month Mexico Calling: Unlimited Calling to Landlines, 1000 minutes to mobile phones, Unlimited texting to mobile phones, 200 minutes and 200 texts when traveling in Mexico
$10/month World Calling - Select countries include unlimited calls to landlines, Unlimited texting, 200 minutes to mobile phones; 200 voice roaming voice minutes, Send 200 text messages, unlimited incoming text messages
Net10 GSM 850/1900, LTE Data
Pay as you go
$100 - 1500 Minutes, 180 Days
$60 - 900 Minutes, 90 Days
$45 - 600 Minutes, 60 Days
$30 - 300 Minutes, 60 Days
$20 - 200 Minutes, 30 Days
Monthly No Data Plans (Good for 30 Days)
$25 - 1000 Minutes
$30 - 500 Minutes
$15 - 200 Minutes
Monthly Unlimited Plans - Price is monthly. Includes unlimited Talk and Text, Amount of high speed data varies per plan and is then throttled to 64 kbps thereafter
$35 - No Data
$40 - 500 MB (additional 250 MB with autopay)
$50 - 3GB
$60 - 3.5GB (additional 1GB with autopay)
$75 - 5GB (additional 1GB with autopay)
Virgin Mobile CDMA
Sprint Subsidy
Monthly Basic Phone Plans "PayLo", Text Messages are 25
$40 Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text, 50MB of Data
$30 1500 Minutes of Talk, 1500 Text (in and out), 30MB data
$20 400 Minutes, 15˘ per text, 25˘ per picture message, $1.50/MB for Data
Unlimited Plans
$20 300 Minutes and Text
$35 Unlimited Talk and Text, 250 MB 3G/4G data throttled thereafter
$35 Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes 2.5GB 3G/4G data, throttled thereafter
$45 Unlimited Talk and Text, Unlimited International Text, 100 International Voice minutes, 1 GB 3G/4G data throttled thereafter,
$55 Unlimited Talk and Text, Unlimited International Text, 100 International Voice minutes, 3 GB 3G/4G data throttled thereafter
Data Share Plans
Plans are monthly and include Unlimited Text, Voice minutes vary by plan, data allotment is 2.5 GB of 3G/4G data and is throttled after the included data is exhausted, $20 starter kit is required and available only at Wal-Mart
$35 - 300 Minutes
$45 - Unlimited Talk
Additional data
$10/Month - 1 GB
$15/Month - 2 GB
$25/Month - 4 GB
$35/Month - 6 GB
$65/Month - 12 GB
$85/Month - 20 GB
$2 One time 100MB DATA
$5 One time 500MB DATA
$5 VOICE EXTENDED COVERAGE 60 MINUTES (ROAMING)
$2.50 DATA EXTENDED COVERAGE 10MB (ROAMING)
$5 DATA EXTENDED COVERAGE 20MB (ROAMING)
$10 DATA EXTENDED COVERAGE 40MB (ROAMING)
$2 100 MINUTES OF TALK (Good for 30 Days)
$5 300 MINUTES OF TALK (Good for 30 Days)
Ultra Mobile GSM 850/1900 UMTS 1700/1900 LTE 1700
LTE Bands 2, 4, 12
Roams off T-Mobile with theoretical full access to the T-Mobile network, but network coverage is slightly reduced as is 4GLTE coverage
All plans include:
Unlimited domestic calling
Unlimited domestic SMS/MMS
Unlimited global SMS/MMS
Standard features: 3-way calling, caller ID, voicemail, 411
Plans range from $19-49/month and generally include free international calling (landline/cell) and local access numbers for friends/family to call.
SIM card costs $1. See Ultra.me for more info.
You can purchase SIM and plan through 3rd parties such as EZKonnect or even Amazon for a discount.
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2011...and-plans.html
AT&T GSM 850/1900, LTE Data
LTE Bands: 2, 4, 17
Basic and Messaging Phones (No Smartphones, iPhones, etc.)
No monthly fee - 10˘/minute, 20˘/text, Data 1˘/5KB of use
$2/Day (Only billed fee on days used) - Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text, Data 1˘/5KB when Used or $1/Day for 100MB
Smartphone or Basic/Feature Phones
$30/month Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text; Data is not included: 1˘/5KB of use, or $5/Month 100 MB
$45/month Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text, 1.5GB Data at "3G" speeds, thereafter throttled to 128Kbps
$55/Month Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text, Includes Unlimited calls to Mexico; 1˘ per minute for calls to Canada, calls within Mexico and Canada, and from Mexico and Canada to select countries, plus unlimited messaging while roaming in Mexico and Canada. 1 GB Data at "3G" speeds, throttled to 128 Kbps thereafter
$60/Month Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text, Includes Unlimited calls to Mexico, Unlimited Texting when in Canada or Mexico, 4 GB Data at "3G" speeds, throttled to 128 Kbps thereafter
Verizon CDMA, LTE Data
LTE Bands: 2, 4, 13
Pay-as-you-go (Feature/Basic Phones Only)
Daily access fees are billed only when device is used
$1.99/Day - Unlimited Domestic Airtime, Text Messages are 2˘/message (in or out), Picture Messages are 25˘/message (in or out), Mobile Web access 99˘/24 hour period
99˘/Day Unlimited Verizon to Verizon Calls, Standard Airtime Calls 25˘/Minute, Text Messages 10˘/Message (In or Out), Picture Messages 25˘/Message (In or Out); Mobile Web Access 99˘/24 Hour Period
$0.00/Day - Standard Airtime Calls 25˘/Minute, Text Messages 20˘/Message (in or out), Picture Messages 25˘/Message (in or out), Mobile Web access 99˘/24 hour period
Can add the following monthly text messaging options:
$20/month for Unlimited Messaging to anyone on any network in the U.S.
$10/month for Unlimited Mobile to Mobile Messaging with Verizon Wireless customers PLUS 250 additional messages*
Feature Phone Monthly Plans
$35/Month 500 Standard Airtime Minutes, Unlimited Domestic Texts, Unlimited Texts to Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, 500MB Mobile Web
$45/Month Unlimited Standard Airtime Minutes, Unlimited Domestic Texts, Unlimited Texts to Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, 500MB Mobile Web
Smartphone
$45/month Unlimited Domestic Talk and Text Includes 1GB LTE Data, 500MB included when signed up for monthly autopay. Data Stops once allotment is exhausted.
Additional Data for Monthly Smart or Basic Phone Plans
$5 for 500MB, $10 for 1GB or $20 for 3GB. Data access stops once data allotment is exhausted, would need to purchase additional data for the month or restart bill cycle for a new 30 Days
T-Mobile GSM 1900, LTE Data
LTE Bands: 2, 4, 12
$3/month 30 minutes of Airtime or 30 Texts (or a combination)
Data can be added: $5/day 500MB High Speed Data (LTE) or $10/week 1GB High Speed Data (LTE)
$30/month 100 Minutes Airtime, Unlimited Text, 5GB of High Speed data (LTE, HSDPA+) then throttled to "2G" speeds. Includes International texting at no charge to select countries Must be activated on-line, or purchased from Wal-Mart
$35/month Unlimited Airtime, Unlimited Text, No Data Included
The following plans include Unlimited Airtime, and Unlimited Text, Speed is throttled to 8 Mb/s regardless if a higher link is available, once data allotment is consumed throttled to "2G" speeds, or a max of 128 Kb/s. Price is listed monthly.
$40 - 1 GB Data
$50 - 3 GB Data
$60 - 5 GB Data
Add Unlimited landline, and texting to select countries for $10/month, Calls to mobile carriers in select countries are 20˘ per minute
Add Unlimited landline, mobile calling and texting to select countries for $15 per month
If the device supports it, these plans also have T-Mobile WiFi calling available at no charge.
Sprint CDMA, LTE Data
No longer offers branded pre paid services, all plans are sold through Boost subsidary
H2O
U.S. Cellular CDMA, LTE Data
LTE Bands: 5, 12
Plans are listed per month
"Ready Connect" (Available at Wal-Mart and Amazon.com, and other stores)
$35 - Basic Phone Only - Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text, Unlimited Mobile Web
$45 - Smartphone - Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text, 1GB Data
$55 - Smartphone - Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text, 2GB Data
Maximum of 200MB can be used off network.
Data stops when allotment is exhausted, additional buckets can be purchased for $5/250MB, $15/1GB, $25/2GB
"Simple Connect" Plans all include Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data, the high speed allotment varies depending on the plan, prices are monthly
$40 - Basic Phones Unlimited Data
$45 - 1GB Data
$55 - 2GB Data
$65 - 4GB Data
Data is throttled to "1x" speeds thereafter (max of 196 Kb/s)
TracFone GSM 850/1900 or CDMA
Annual Cards (Good for 365 Days from Activation)
$199.99 1500 Minutes
$159.99 1000 Minutes
$119.99 800 Minutes (Plus double minutes on future refills)
$99.99 400 Minutes
$19.99 Package adds double airtime to all future refills
Pay-As-You-Go
$79.99 450 Minutes for 90 Days
$39.99 200 Minutes for 90 Days
$19.99 60 Minutes for 90 Days
$9.99 30 Minutes for 30 Days (online only)
Web Access for Android Phones
$50/2GB
$20/750MB
$10/300MB
Red Pocket (Link)
512MB - $5
1GB - $10
3GB - $30
5GB - $50
Uses T-Mobile's 4G/LTE network
All plans except 512MB are throttled after exceeding data usage.
SIM cards can be purchased inexpensively through Amazon and ebay
Cricket Wireless GSM 850/1900, LTE Data
AT&T Wireless Subsidy
Plans are monthly, and include Unlimited Talk and Texting, Included data varies; LTE speeds are throttled to 8Mb/s, HSDPA+ is throttled to 4Mb/s, $5 discount available when on autopay
$25 - NO Data Access
$40 - 2.5GB
$50 - 5GB Adds Unlimited Calling and Texting to Mexico, plus 35 additional countries
$60 - 10GB Adds Unlimited Calling and Texting to Mexico, plus 35 additional countries
$60 - 20 GB (Promotional Plan) Adds Unlimited Calling and Texting to Mexico, plus 35 additional countries
MetroPCS GSM 1900, LTE Data
T-Mobile Subsidy
Plans are monthly and include Unlimited Talk and Text. Included Data Varies, once package data is exceeded speed is throttled to "2G" speeds (128Kb/s max), prices include add fees and taxes
$40 - 2GB Data (promotional)
$50 - 4GB Data (promotional)
$60 - Unlimited Data
$50 Unlimited Data plan is available when purchasing a device from MetroPCS, BYOD is not available on that plan
Add-ons
$10/month Mexico Calling: Unlimited Calling to Landlines, 1000 minutes to mobile phones, Unlimited texting to mobile phones, 200 minutes and 200 texts when traveling in Mexico
$10/month World Calling - Select countries include unlimited calls to landlines, Unlimited texting, 200 minutes to mobile phones; 200 voice roaming voice minutes, Send 200 text messages, unlimited incoming text messages
Net10 GSM 850/1900, LTE Data
Pay as you go
$100 - 1500 Minutes, 180 Days
$60 - 900 Minutes, 90 Days
$45 - 600 Minutes, 60 Days
$30 - 300 Minutes, 60 Days
$20 - 200 Minutes, 30 Days
Monthly No Data Plans (Good for 30 Days)
$25 - 1000 Minutes
$30 - 500 Minutes
$15 - 200 Minutes
Monthly Unlimited Plans - Price is monthly. Includes unlimited Talk and Text, Amount of high speed data varies per plan and is then throttled to 64 kbps thereafter
$35 - No Data
$40 - 500 MB (additional 250 MB with autopay)
$50 - 3GB
$60 - 3.5GB (additional 1GB with autopay)
$75 - 5GB (additional 1GB with autopay)
Virgin Mobile CDMA
Sprint Subsidy
Monthly Basic Phone Plans "PayLo", Text Messages are 25
$40 Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text, 50MB of Data
$30 1500 Minutes of Talk, 1500 Text (in and out), 30MB data
$20 400 Minutes, 15˘ per text, 25˘ per picture message, $1.50/MB for Data
Unlimited Plans
$20 300 Minutes and Text
$35 Unlimited Talk and Text, 250 MB 3G/4G data throttled thereafter
$35 Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes 2.5GB 3G/4G data, throttled thereafter
$45 Unlimited Talk and Text, Unlimited International Text, 100 International Voice minutes, 1 GB 3G/4G data throttled thereafter,
$55 Unlimited Talk and Text, Unlimited International Text, 100 International Voice minutes, 3 GB 3G/4G data throttled thereafter
Data Share Plans
Plans are monthly and include Unlimited Text, Voice minutes vary by plan, data allotment is 2.5 GB of 3G/4G data and is throttled after the included data is exhausted, $20 starter kit is required and available only at Wal-Mart
$35 - 300 Minutes
$45 - Unlimited Talk
Additional data
$10/Month - 1 GB
$15/Month - 2 GB
$25/Month - 4 GB
$35/Month - 6 GB
$65/Month - 12 GB
$85/Month - 20 GB
$2 One time 100MB DATA
$5 One time 500MB DATA
$5 VOICE EXTENDED COVERAGE 60 MINUTES (ROAMING)
$2.50 DATA EXTENDED COVERAGE 10MB (ROAMING)
$5 DATA EXTENDED COVERAGE 20MB (ROAMING)
$10 DATA EXTENDED COVERAGE 40MB (ROAMING)
$2 100 MINUTES OF TALK (Good for 30 Days)
$5 300 MINUTES OF TALK (Good for 30 Days)
Ultra Mobile GSM 850/1900 UMTS 1700/1900 LTE 1700
LTE Bands 2, 4, 12
Roams off T-Mobile with theoretical full access to the T-Mobile network, but network coverage is slightly reduced as is 4GLTE coverage
All plans include:
Unlimited domestic calling
Unlimited domestic SMS/MMS
Unlimited global SMS/MMS
Standard features: 3-way calling, caller ID, voicemail, 411
Plans range from $19-49/month and generally include free international calling (landline/cell) and local access numbers for friends/family to call.
SIM card costs $1. See Ultra.me for more info.
You can purchase SIM and plan through 3rd parties such as EZKonnect or even Amazon for a discount.
[consolidated] Prepaid SIM cards in USA
Feb 17, 2013, 10:29 pm
#61
Join Date: May 2000
Location: lax - mci - bos
Programs: nowadays: dl pm, formerly: hp plat/us cp/aa exp, nw plat
Posts: 239
Straight Talk offers $45/ month with unlimited data on any unlocked GSM phone. SIM cards are only sold through their website... problem is they're paranoid about credit card fraud and have policies make it difficult to get one delivered even as a resident (let alone a foreign visitor): restricted delivery to the cardholder's billing address only - absolutely no exceptions.
Either SIM will work in an unlocked phone but it is good to have one of each so I can buy the cheapest locked AT&T or T-Mobile smartphone and not have to worry about unlocking.
Feb 18, 2013, 2:09 am
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,140
Inputs much appreciated - I shall explore in depth later, and hopefully understand some of it! I hardly ever use my PAYG mobile at home, so 'going foreign' is a bit exciting!!
Feb 18, 2013, 2:39 am
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,220
Three ideas for you:
For the ultimate configuration, sign up with localphone.com and get another US number. Then forward your Google Voice number to that localphone number, which then forwards to your international mobile phone. Also add your USA T-mobile SIM card. And then in your overseas home hook up an Obihai 100 with a normal phone. What does this give you? If someone calls your Google Voice number and you are NOT in the USA, then BOTH your home phone rings AND your mobile phone rings (just like Google Voice in the USA). Whichever one you answer will take the call. The person calling pays no long distance from the US, and if you answer at home the call is free for you. If you answer on your mobile it's free to receive calls but your localphone balance will be deducted (it's cheap though). Finally if you happen to be INSIDE the USA, then your American phone will ring. Basically this gives you a US number that will work to reach you no matter where you are in the world, all for much, much cheaper than any kind of roaming. For instance, I did this in Russia and the costs are less than 10 cents a minute total, or free on the Obi 100.
For the ultimate configuration, sign up with localphone.com and get another US number. Then forward your Google Voice number to that localphone number, which then forwards to your international mobile phone. Also add your USA T-mobile SIM card. And then in your overseas home hook up an Obihai 100 with a normal phone. What does this give you? If someone calls your Google Voice number and you are NOT in the USA, then BOTH your home phone rings AND your mobile phone rings (just like Google Voice in the USA). Whichever one you answer will take the call. The person calling pays no long distance from the US, and if you answer at home the call is free for you. If you answer on your mobile it's free to receive calls but your localphone balance will be deducted (it's cheap though). Finally if you happen to be INSIDE the USA, then your American phone will ring. Basically this gives you a US number that will work to reach you no matter where you are in the world, all for much, much cheaper than any kind of roaming. For instance, I did this in Russia and the costs are less than 10 cents a minute total, or free on the Obi 100.
Feb 18, 2013, 4:31 am
#64
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver, EK Silver, ABP ;)
Posts: 1,631
You can pick up an Android Smartphone from a T-Mobile shop for around $140.
If you load $100 onto it you get to keep the number for a year, and get all-you-can-eat data and calls for a month. You can then renew when you need to for $70 for a whole month.
Depends how often you are going to return I guess.
If you load $100 onto it you get to keep the number for a year, and get all-you-can-eat data and calls for a month. You can then renew when you need to for $70 for a whole month.
Depends how often you are going to return I guess.
Feb 18, 2013, 5:08 am
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,140
OK, my simple needs will be met with T-Mobile (Option 1). Thanks again, drbobguy.
Fortunately there's a T-Mobile store a couple of blocks away from where I'll be in NoVA, so I'll just drop in there after arrival. $30 for a month, and just throw the card away at the end of the trip - buy a new one 6 months later. There's no way I could ever burn $100 on calls! In fact, the Pay-By-The-Day could be even better, as I don't expect to use it every day!
Fortunately there's a T-Mobile store a couple of blocks away from where I'll be in NoVA, so I'll just drop in there after arrival. $30 for a month, and just throw the card away at the end of the trip - buy a new one 6 months later. There's no way I could ever burn $100 on calls! In fact, the Pay-By-The-Day could be even better, as I don't expect to use it every day!
Feb 18, 2013, 5:30 am
#66
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London, UK
Programs: VS Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 102
Was just about to say about EE. They are bloody great; Ł25 for 1 gig of data in the USA that you can use over 30 days.
Feb 18, 2013, 7:43 am
#68
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: Dirt
Posts: 949
If you just need the SIM, my suggestion is to buy the prepaid SIM activation kit online for 99 cents or free. I think their web site only accepts US-based credit cards and shipping address.
Feb 18, 2013, 7:50 am
#69
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Heathrow
Programs: A variety of Platinums, Golds, Silvers and other fancy metals.
Posts: 1,985
re T-mobile Sim card - are they easy to get going with?
ie, if I pre order and get it sent to hotel, can I get it preset up so I can just put it in my dongle and connect away without hassle?
Feb 18, 2013, 9:05 am
#72
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: * Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 292
Very easy to get. Just go to any tmobile shop with your passport and in 5 mn you'll have your prepaid sim card. Phone number is valid for 3 month and normally up to a year without credit loss after a 100 $ refill. The 3$ per day will work on iPhone 5 when T mobile is going to sell it, sometimes this year. I use the 2$ per day with my iPhone 5. Speed is 2G or Edge and sometimes 3G in NY. I guess it's due to the ATT frequency T mobile got after their deal on T mobile take over fell.
Last edited by FCO36; Feb 18, 2013 at 9:12 am
Feb 18, 2013, 9:13 am
#75
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,425
Be forewarned that this plan can only be activated in a Wal-mart store or on T-Mobile.com. The T-Mobile store will not be able to activate you on this plan. Instead, they will put you on the other $30 plan of 1500 minutes/sms plus 30MB data. Additionally, Wal-mart does not sell T-Mobile SIM only package. The prepaid SIMs are bundled with phones.
If you just need the SIM, my suggestion is to buy the prepaid SIM activation kit online for 99 cents or free. I think their web site only accepts US-based credit cards and shipping address.
If you just need the SIM, my suggestion is to buy the prepaid SIM activation kit online for 99 cents or free. I think their web site only accepts US-based credit cards and shipping address.
Once you have the SIM, can you just activate it online for the $30/month unlimited data plan?