Originally Posted by
Sea-Wolf
Does anyone know if there's a way to get hold of these SIM cards and set them up outside the US? I'll be travelling there in June and this seems like a good fit for what I'll need. Of course, since I'll be visiting I can't get a SIM mailed to me, previously I've gotten goPhone SIMs off eBay for a few dollars, so I'd have it with me, activated and ready to go when I stepped off the plane.
Previously I've gotten AT&T goPhone SIM cards, but the cost of data packs on them is pretty steep, this seems much better value.
Any suggestions for how I can do this?
First step is making sure your phone is compatible with one of the US networks and selecting your SIM based on which network - TMO and ATT have different frequencies for data, which will affect your experience. Also, make sure your phone is unlocked.
When you're ready to order the SIM, use your first hotel as the address, select (and pay) overnight shipping and let the hotel know to expect and hold a package for you. The only hitch is the billing address/credit card - so I would call Straight Talk, ask to speak with a billing supervisor and make sure you can use your offshore credit card for payment before doing any of this.
The phone number will be lost when your plan runs out, so if you want a permanent US number, setup a Google Voice account when you arrive, add the ST phone number as the primary forward and give out the GV number to people instead of the ST number - so next time you visit, and get a new ST number, your "real" phone number won't change.