Prepaid SIM for iPhone 4 (US)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BRU
Programs: BAEC, Finnair+, ClubOne Gold, Stockmann First
Posts: 195
Prepaid SIM for iPhone 4 (US)
I'm heading to LAX in a few weeks and was wondering if any operators offer this or if a mobile broadband rent would be a better choice, roaming is a ripoff.
Thanks.
Thanks.
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYJ
Posts: 2,230
so i cut the sim down which is easy (did it in the rental car parking lot with my swiss army knife.).
you need to go to unlockit.co.nz while on wifi to install a new profile. follow their instructions. easy.
no other companies in the us are on the same GSM bands so att is your only choice as far as i know.
#3
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Seattle, Washington USA
Posts: 972
i use AT&T paygo but it's a normal size sim since they won't sell anything for the iphone on prepay, including data.
so i cut the sim down which is easy (did it in the rental car parking lot with my swiss army knife.).
you need to go to unlockit.co.nz while on wifi to install a new profile. follow their instructions. easy.
no other companies in the us are on the same GSM bands so att is your only choice as far as i know.
so i cut the sim down which is easy (did it in the rental car parking lot with my swiss army knife.).
you need to go to unlockit.co.nz while on wifi to install a new profile. follow their instructions. easy.
no other companies in the us are on the same GSM bands so att is your only choice as far as i know.
#4
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands
Programs: UA-1P AB-Gold SPG-Plat Hilton-DIA Hyatt-DIA PC-Gold MR-Plat Hertz-PC
Posts: 3,140
i use AT&T paygo but it's a normal size sim since they won't sell anything for the iphone on prepay, including data.
so i cut the sim down which is easy (did it in the rental car parking lot with my swiss army knife.).
you need to go to unlockit.co.nz while on wifi to install a new profile. follow their instructions. easy.
no other companies in the us are on the same GSM bands so att is your only choice as far as i know.
so i cut the sim down which is easy (did it in the rental car parking lot with my swiss army knife.).
you need to go to unlockit.co.nz while on wifi to install a new profile. follow their instructions. easy.
no other companies in the us are on the same GSM bands so att is your only choice as far as i know.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,439
#6
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Diamond, AA Plat Exec, Hilton Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador & Marriott Plat
Posts: 756
Best advice I can give for US is to go to Walmart and buy the $9.98 samsung gophone plus some calling credit.
Getting a Micro SIM cutter maybe the challenge - ebay or amazon is the best place.
Activate the phone on line and choose a smartphone tariff. Add your calling credit. Add a data package - best value is 500 mb for $25 valid for 30 days. Use the IMEI from the Samsung phone. You can keep this phone, give it away or as I did recycle it for charity.
Now your SIM is active you can cut it down and pop it into your iPhone.
I initially got a $100 voucher as it gave me 12 months connectivity.
To get data working you need to change the APN to AT&T settings. This can be done manually or with a wifi connection open safari on your iPhone and go to www.unlockit.co.nz and follow the instructions.
You can now make and recieve calls and use data and because you chose the AT&T smartphone tariff it allows free wifi access to AT&T hotspots.
Getting a Micro SIM cutter maybe the challenge - ebay or amazon is the best place.
Activate the phone on line and choose a smartphone tariff. Add your calling credit. Add a data package - best value is 500 mb for $25 valid for 30 days. Use the IMEI from the Samsung phone. You can keep this phone, give it away or as I did recycle it for charity.
Now your SIM is active you can cut it down and pop it into your iPhone.
I initially got a $100 voucher as it gave me 12 months connectivity.
To get data working you need to change the APN to AT&T settings. This can be done manually or with a wifi connection open safari on your iPhone and go to www.unlockit.co.nz and follow the instructions.
You can now make and recieve calls and use data and because you chose the AT&T smartphone tariff it allows free wifi access to AT&T hotspots.
#7
#8
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MCO/FRA
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 799
Seems like a better deal IMHO...
#9
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Canada
Programs: AA EXP 3.2MM, Hyatt Courtesy Card/Diamond, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 764
I've bought an att card in ebay and charge the sim card everytime I go to the US. that gives you 30days of data.
here the process documented:
http://wpjrnl.com/2010/11/07/activat...3g-for-iphone/
here the process documented:
http://wpjrnl.com/2010/11/07/activat...3g-for-iphone/
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,008
If your iPhone is unlocked and you don't mind slower GSM data, Simple Mobile is your only real option - and there is no reason not to use them unless you need coverage outside of TMO's limits.
Now if your iPhone came unlocked/unbranded, there is anecdotal evidence that you *will* get 3G data while on the Simple/TMO network - but not if you did the software unlock/hack.
Now if your iPhone came unlocked/unbranded, there is anecdotal evidence that you *will* get 3G data while on the Simple/TMO network - but not if you did the software unlock/hack.
#13
Join Date: May 2005
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