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
Mar 26, 2012, 5:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Don't know....
Programs: BA LTG, SQ TPPS, CX DMP, AA EXP, Bonvoy LTT, ALL PLT, Hilton DM
Posts: 4,008
[consolidated] Prepaid SIM cards in USA
Is there any prepaid Mifi services in the US? Was looking at the 4G LTE service with Verizon but don't see a prepaid service. I visit the US once every 6 weeks or so... everytime only for 3 or 4 days. So didn't want to get the monthly service they sell. So want to see what other options I have.
Mar 26, 2012, 7:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Programs: Lifetime AA Gold-1MM
Posts: 4,909
Virgin has one that's not quite pre-paid, but it's $10 for 10 days, only 100MB of data. Here's the link: http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobil...mifi-2200.html
Mar 26, 2012, 7:45 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ROC
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Choice PLT, UA Gold.
Posts: 253
I second the Virgin service. Easy to turn on or off as needed, service is through Sprint so coverage in most places. If you are able to get to a WalMart when you are here, it is slightly cheaper than from Virgin directly. I can also get a 1 gig "Wal Mart only plan" for 20 bucks/30 days.
Mar 27, 2012, 1:32 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 3,999
Can someone elaborate on this Walmart only plan?
I have a locked Canadian iPhone (with Fido). If I had access to mobile Internet (that I would pick up as a wi-fi connection on my iPhone), that would be great.
Can I just swing by a US Walmart and get this?
I have a locked Canadian iPhone (with Fido). If I had access to mobile Internet (that I would pick up as a wi-fi connection on my iPhone), that would be great.
Can I just swing by a US Walmart and get this?
Mar 27, 2012, 1:44 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
Both Virgin Mobile and the competing TMobile prepaid hotspot are cash and carry. Not every Walmart has them, but many do. I suggest going to Walmart's website. You can check product availability online.
Mar 27, 2012, 1:50 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 37,486
TruConnect is another option: http://www.truconnect.com/plans/
Mar 28, 2012, 10:34 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: OnePass, SPG
Posts: 32
I second the Virgin service. Easy to turn on or off as needed, service is through Sprint so coverage in most places. If you are able to get to a WalMart when you are here, it is slightly cheaper than from Virgin directly. I can also get a 1 gig "Wal Mart only plan" for 20 bucks/30 days.
I find that 1GB is enough for light use over the course of about ten days. I mostly use it to supplement the times when I can't use a nearby free wifi network.
If you keep your eyes peeled, you can find the 3G modem for cheaper than $100.
Mar 31, 2012, 1:10 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, PC Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 612
I've been thinking about buying an unlocked mobile hotspot/MiFi and the Novatel 2352/2372 were well recommended. I will initially use this for a month or two in the US (where I live), and then with local SIM's while travelling in Europe and elsewhere.
I came across the Huawei E586, and then a ZTE MF60/62 which looked really interesting so ended up ordering the MF62 through eBay ($150 shipped) - hopefully have it within a week.
I've bought both AT&T and T-Mobile prepaid SIM cards (former was $3 on eBay, latter $7 through T-Mobile direct). I'll likely activate the AT&T one on the GoPhone plan and add $25 for 500Mb data, good for a month. The T-Mobile Walmart-only $30 for 5Gb/month data plan looks great, but I don't think I can get T-Mobile's 3G frequencies on my ZTE (or Huawei, Novatel etc.).
Has anyone used an unlocked MiFi device with a US GSM prepaid data plan?
I came across the Huawei E586, and then a ZTE MF60/62 which looked really interesting so ended up ordering the MF62 through eBay ($150 shipped) - hopefully have it within a week.
I've bought both AT&T and T-Mobile prepaid SIM cards (former was $3 on eBay, latter $7 through T-Mobile direct). I'll likely activate the AT&T one on the GoPhone plan and add $25 for 500Mb data, good for a month. The T-Mobile Walmart-only $30 for 5Gb/month data plan looks great, but I don't think I can get T-Mobile's 3G frequencies on my ZTE (or Huawei, Novatel etc.).
Has anyone used an unlocked MiFi device with a US GSM prepaid data plan?
Mar 31, 2012, 5:25 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,230
If you're going to be in a city with Clear Wimax coverage, you can get Netzero 4G Mifi service for free (200 MB/month). Just buy the mifi for $100.
http://store.netzero.net/account/viewWirelessOffers.do
http://store.netzero.net/account/viewWirelessOffers.do
Apr 1, 2012, 7:05 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
If you're going to be in a city with Clear Wimax coverage, you can get Netzero 4G Mifi service for free (200 MB/month). Just buy the mifi for $100.
http://store.netzero.net/account/viewWirelessOffers.do
http://store.netzero.net/account/viewWirelessOffers.do
Jan 14, 2013, 5:57 pm
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
[consolidated] Prepaid SIM cards in USA
Wow, I have been Googling for hours now, and I still can't figure out what to do on my travel to California.
I have an unlocked iPhone 4 that I would like to use and I need lots of data, around 5GB with a relatively fast connection.
I am aware of the AT&T option, but it would require me to use around $60 on a phone to get the SIM card, and on the most expensive prepaid plan, I'm not getting more than 1GB of data anyway. Not a very good option.
Then there's T-mobile. But as I don't want to be stuck with EDGE speeds, they're out of the picture.
There's a handfull of prepaid operators like H2O wireless, Straighttalk etc. but the first will not fit my needs for data, and the latter will not accept data use for streaming music etc. Also, Straight Talk doesn't have CA dealers.
So have anyone out there a good option for me? Maybe a solution that I haven't discovered yet?
I have been many places around the globe, including developing countries, which are totally hassle free on these matters compared to the US. Help me please
I have an unlocked iPhone 4 that I would like to use and I need lots of data, around 5GB with a relatively fast connection.
I am aware of the AT&T option, but it would require me to use around $60 on a phone to get the SIM card, and on the most expensive prepaid plan, I'm not getting more than 1GB of data anyway. Not a very good option.
Then there's T-mobile. But as I don't want to be stuck with EDGE speeds, they're out of the picture.
There's a handfull of prepaid operators like H2O wireless, Straighttalk etc. but the first will not fit my needs for data, and the latter will not accept data use for streaming music etc. Also, Straight Talk doesn't have CA dealers.
So have anyone out there a good option for me? Maybe a solution that I haven't discovered yet?
I have been many places around the globe, including developing countries, which are totally hassle free on these matters compared to the US. Help me please
Jan 14, 2013, 10:02 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 21,530
Really depends on where in California you are going. Many T-Mobile markets (including San Diego, LA, and San Francisco) now have the 1900 band for HSPA+ specifically for people with iPhones. Their $70 plan would work out for you. When outside those markets, just play music stored on your phone.