costs of local sim

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Sep 22, 2010 | 7:24 am

#16

weekilter

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: Seattle, Washington USA

Posts: 972

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmosh

thanks. the IMEI number was easy to find as you mentioned

everyone -- I am returning to my original question.

Is there a way to get a US number without being cancelled ?
I am willing to sign a contract with a US carrier (e.g. T-mobile, AT&T, etc.) as long as: 1) my number is not cancelled no matter how much time it is not in use, and 2) I pay only for what I talk, no fixed monthly payment.

Do you think I can find this deal ?

thanks.

There is no way to keep a number indefinitely unless you find a carrier that has auto refill. With T-Mobile if you add $100 you get 365 day account expiry.

Sep 22, 2010 | 7:27 am

#17

weekilter

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: Seattle, Washington USA

Posts: 972

Quote:

Originally Posted by polonius

I bought an AT&T sim last time I was in the USA. The only way to keep it from being cancelled in a month is to buy 100 USD worth of credit, then it it good for a year. As long as you put another 100 USD on it within the year, it will not expire. This works for me, as I visit the USA about once a year and use about 100 USD when I do. May not work for everyone.

Or get a T-Mobile $100 voucher which gives you a year and you can just add $10 for the next year to keep the account active.

Sep 22, 2010 | 8:12 am

#18

cordelli

In Memoriam

Join Date: Feb 2000

Location: Easton, CT, USA

Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond

Posts: 31,801

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmosh

Is there a way to get a US number without being cancelled ?
I am willing to sign a contract with a US carrier (e.g. T-mobile, AT&T, etc.) as long as: 1) my number is not cancelled no matter how much time it is not in use, and 2) I pay only for what I talk, no fixed monthly payment.

Yes, but you need to put $100 on it first.

if you go T-mobile, you can fill it with $100 and the number will be good for a year. Each refill will extend that another year from the date of the refill, so you can for example pay $100 the first year and then $10 a year after that and your number never expires.

It's as close to not having a canceled number you will get, and probably for the least amount of money. There are a few services out there that let you keep the number for life like Mobal, but you are paying a fortune per minute for that to happen, and you will probably not get a US number.

Sep 23, 2010 | 1:33 pm

#19

bmosh

Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2010

Posts: 19

thanks all for the advices.
It really helps to get a clear picture of my options.

Sep 25, 2010 | 7:24 am

#20

Dubai Stu

Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai

Posts: 3,676

In my opinion, don't even bother keeping the same number. Sign up for a free Google Voice number and forward it to the SIM de jour. When you are back home forward the number to a GoogleChat account and talk free (and have accessible voice mail).