Short-term SIM for the US - 2010 edition
Apr 14, 2010 | 4:51 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: BCN
Programs: BA Silver VY apologist IB up and coming
Posts: 8,706
I'm back from my trip. The service from Mr. Simcard was great. It worked as advertised, and they sent me an SMS after I arrived to let me know I could call anytime if I needed help.
The only drawback was that my handset didn't automatically configure the APN; I had to set it up manually. Since I didn't have internet access at the time I just plugged in the values I remembered from when I was a VoiceStream subscriber and it worked fine - I had fast 3G pretty much everywhere I went.
I would use them again.
The only drawback was that my handset didn't automatically configure the APN; I had to set it up manually. Since I didn't have internet access at the time I just plugged in the values I remembered from when I was a VoiceStream subscriber and it worked fine - I had fast 3G pretty much everywhere I went.
I would use them again.
Apr 25, 2010 | 4:02 am
#32
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1
Hi
I read this thread with interest a while ago, and bought the T-mobile unlimited data sim at the beginning of April which arrived at my house, ready for my Florida trip starting 28th April. So far so good. Then i get the following email last night
Seeing as i only wanted the sim card for the unlimited data and not calls (and i've already paid $80) this has suddenly become very expensive. Any ideas or alternatives would be appreciated.
I read this thread with interest a while ago, and bought the T-mobile unlimited data sim at the beginning of April which arrived at my house, ready for my Florida trip starting 28th April. So far so good. Then i get the following email last night
We have suspended sale of the T-Mobile iphone sim due to recent issues with activations and network support. .
We are happy however to announce that we have begun offering a new USA iphone sim that features Unlimited Talk + Unlimited Global Text + 2 renewable data bundles of 150MB and 200MB.. Data bundles are $10 for 50MB.. Our new sim offers the super low costs for international long distance calling and each sim activates with international calling enabled.
We would like to substitute our new simcard for your order. .Your new sim will have:
1. Unlimited USA Talk
2. Unlimited Text USA / Global
3. 150MB data (renewable).
.If this is satisfactory, just reply with :
1. (YES) - We will replace and ship the new sim directly. .Please advise address at point of arrival for shipping.
2. (NO) - We will apologize profusely and refund your order.
Eddie Lloyd
We are happy however to announce that we have begun offering a new USA iphone sim that features Unlimited Talk + Unlimited Global Text + 2 renewable data bundles of 150MB and 200MB.. Data bundles are $10 for 50MB.. Our new sim offers the super low costs for international long distance calling and each sim activates with international calling enabled.
We would like to substitute our new simcard for your order. .Your new sim will have:
1. Unlimited USA Talk
2. Unlimited Text USA / Global
3. 150MB data (renewable).
.If this is satisfactory, just reply with :
1. (YES) - We will replace and ship the new sim directly. .Please advise address at point of arrival for shipping.
2. (NO) - We will apologize profusely and refund your order.
Eddie Lloyd
Apr 25, 2010 | 9:35 am
#33
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 89
hey guys, i need 2 basic SIM cards that can provide me with cheap local calls as well as international calls. Any suggestions?
I've been looking at the gophone sim card but it does not seem to be available on the AT&T website. They seem to want me to buy some rotten phone when i can use my own gsm unlocked handset from asia.
thanks!
I've been looking at the gophone sim card but it does not seem to be available on the AT&T website. They seem to want me to buy some rotten phone when i can use my own gsm unlocked handset from asia.
thanks!
Apr 26, 2010 | 3:09 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,227
hey guys, i need 2 basic SIM cards that can provide me with cheap local calls as well as international calls. Any suggestions?
I've been looking at the gophone sim card but it does not seem to be available on the AT&T website. They seem to want me to buy some rotten phone when i can use my own gsm unlocked handset from asia.
thanks!
I've been looking at the gophone sim card but it does not seem to be available on the AT&T website. They seem to want me to buy some rotten phone when i can use my own gsm unlocked handset from asia.
thanks!
EDIT: With that said the cheapest GO phone right now is only $10 with free shipping. You can't really go wrong at that price.
Apr 26, 2010 | 5:52 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 163
hey guys, i need 2 basic SIM cards that can provide me with cheap local calls as well as international calls. Any suggestions?
I've been looking at the gophone sim card but it does not seem to be available on the AT&T website. They seem to want me to buy some rotten phone when i can use my own gsm unlocked handset from asia.
thanks!
I've been looking at the gophone sim card but it does not seem to be available on the AT&T website. They seem to want me to buy some rotten phone when i can use my own gsm unlocked handset from asia.
thanks!
Apr 27, 2010 | 3:52 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
Programs: AA, BA, Mucci: Sir Roger des Directions Routires, PCR
Posts: 13,609
If you need just a sim card, check it on Ebay. You can find them under $5. This is just one example.
Better not tell Orange (part of France Telecom), they're a bit picky about others using what they regard as ther trademark.
Apr 28, 2010 | 1:34 am
#37
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 163
Jun 16, 2010 | 12:25 pm
#38
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: Not much these days!
Posts: 1,341
Originally Posted by MrSimCard
We have suspended sale of the T-Mobile iphone sim due to recent issues with activations and network support. .
Jun 22, 2010 | 4:58 am
#39
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1
I'm a bit of a beginner on this one, so please bear with me!
If I have an HTC Desire (UK, Vodafone) and want to use the sim package from MrSimCard that is mentioned above (or indeed any other, cheaper, data package that might work?):
Thank you!
If I have an HTC Desire (UK, Vodafone) and want to use the sim package from MrSimCard that is mentioned above (or indeed any other, cheaper, data package that might work?):
- What exactly do I need to order?
- What do I need to do on the phone to make to make it work?
- What is an APN? How do I change it, and what would I need to change it to?
Thank you!
Jun 22, 2010 | 7:38 am
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: BCN
Programs: BA Silver VY apologist IB up and coming
Posts: 8,706
You'll need to unlock the phone, first of all, so it will work with a non-Vodafone SIM: http://www.htcsimunlock.com/htc-desire-unlock.html
The Desire will automatically configure itself for the appropriate APN when you insert an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM.
The Desire will automatically configure itself for the appropriate APN when you insert an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM.
Jul 8, 2010 | 6:13 am
#41
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA Premier, VS Red
Posts: 12
I'm also a bit of a beginner on this one but in much the same position with a new phone!
I have an HTC Desire (UK, T-Mobile) and want to use a sim package from MrSimCard for a 14 day trip to Las Vegas.
Any help provided from the more experienced amongst you is greatly appreciated.
I have an HTC Desire (UK, T-Mobile) and want to use a sim package from MrSimCard for a 14 day trip to Las Vegas.
- Which would you order Simply Mobile or T-Mobile as both offer Android Data?
- Either way, do I need to do anything on the phone to make to make it work?
- Do I need an APN since I'm already with T-Mobile? If I do, how do I change it, and what would I need to change it to?
Any help provided from the more experienced amongst you is greatly appreciated.
Jul 28, 2010 | 9:44 pm
#42
Ambassador, LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lima, Per
Programs: LATAM, Lifemiles
Posts: 922
I'm going to be in the US for a couple of weeks (I'm staying at an aunt's so I can ship things there) and was looking into buying a SIM card just for making and receiving some local calls.
I have a phone (Nokia 5220) that I should be able to unlock (by my local carrier since I've had it for over a year).
I'm just looking for the cheapest option...
If I buy this TMobile SIM card, which rate would I be charged? It's not clear to me from that page if the SIM corresponds to a prepaid plan or how that works.
If I were to buy a SIM card from ebay, I would get a non-local number, right? Does that matter (cost-wise)?
I don't know if it's more practical to just buy a cheap prepaid phone but I'd like to avoid that if possible.
I'm just getting more confused every time I try to research this and I'd appreciate any help...
I have a phone (Nokia 5220) that I should be able to unlock (by my local carrier since I've had it for over a year).
I'm just looking for the cheapest option...
If I buy this TMobile SIM card, which rate would I be charged? It's not clear to me from that page if the SIM corresponds to a prepaid plan or how that works.
If I were to buy a SIM card from ebay, I would get a non-local number, right? Does that matter (cost-wise)?
I don't know if it's more practical to just buy a cheap prepaid phone but I'd like to avoid that if possible.
I'm just getting more confused every time I try to research this and I'd appreciate any help...
Jul 29, 2010 | 8:37 am
#43
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
TMO prepaid plans
Visit here:http://www.t-mobile.com/Shop/Plans/P...-Overview.aspx
TMO has several prepaid plans - you can:
1. order phone/sim card on-line or go into tmo store or radio shack, best buy, walmart to get same
2. just buy the sim card on-line (cheapest option) or from TMO store for use into unlocked phone
TMO has several prepaid plans - you can:
1. order phone/sim card on-line or go into tmo store or radio shack, best buy, walmart to get same
2. just buy the sim card on-line (cheapest option) or from TMO store for use into unlocked phone
Jul 29, 2010 | 8:59 pm
#44
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 138
I just arrived in the USA and have been trying to purchase an AT&T SIM card.
I've been to a few shops in this neighborhood. Each one has proposed a different price for the SIM card itself (even though it's free on AT&T's web site). Interestingly, the first two shops insisted that the quoted price was the real/official price, despite one wanting $10 and the other wanting $18.50. At the third shop the owner informed me that he, like the other two, were actually AT&T authorized dealers and only the AT&T-owned corporate stores gave out free SIMs (you still pay for the credit value). He said the dealer margins were so slim that they didn't make any money unless they added their own fee.
Tomorrow I'll try to find a corporate store and see how it works out.
I've been to a few shops in this neighborhood. Each one has proposed a different price for the SIM card itself (even though it's free on AT&T's web site). Interestingly, the first two shops insisted that the quoted price was the real/official price, despite one wanting $10 and the other wanting $18.50. At the third shop the owner informed me that he, like the other two, were actually AT&T authorized dealers and only the AT&T-owned corporate stores gave out free SIMs (you still pay for the credit value). He said the dealer margins were so slim that they didn't make any money unless they added their own fee.
Tomorrow I'll try to find a corporate store and see how it works out.
Jul 29, 2010 | 11:21 pm
#45
Ambassador, LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lima, Per
Programs: LATAM, Lifemiles
Posts: 922
I've been searching some more and I think that I should probably just get a SIM card. There's the TMobile SIM card on the website for $7 (complicated because they want a US billing address) but there are also AT&T and TMobile SIM cards on eBay... I'm going to compare the AT&T and the TMobile prepaid plans and see what I come up with. Does anyone know whether I might have restrictions trying to refill online from either carrier with my non-US credit card?