I'd be lost without access to Google maps or the metro apps! But O2 charge Ł6/MB How much data does maps actually use?

Get yourself a US prepaid (Simple Mobile i.e.). Google maps can really use a lot of bandwith, 0.5-1.5 Meg for searching an address and scrolling around in a map doesnt sound strange to me.

I have used mrsimcard.com in the past to get a US SIM card before travelling, although on my recent trip I didn't bother because Vodafone now do an option for Ł5 for 25MB per day. Having said that, I did hit 25MB a couple of times when I used Maps heavily in cities/areas I didn't know or trying to find specific restaurants or bars.

25 Meg x GBP 6 = much more than a whole month of EDGE Flatrate access + flatrate incoming + flatrate outgoing + flatrate text on simplemobile ($ 50 / month All in)

But...

- Get to keep my phone number
- Get to receive incoming texts without having to swap my SIM card
- Simple Mobile won't sell over web to a non-US address so need to go through a third-party eg Mr Simcard who add their own markup OR find a retail store (of which there were none where I was going)
- And for a 7-day trip GBP 35 = USD 57 so sometimes not worth the hassle...

Hi,

of course it brings some inconvenience, but:

1) Forward your call or make an announcement on your voicemail (I prefer the first way which is not more expensive than incoming roaming)
2) get yourself a second triband-phone, on ebay from GBP 15
3) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Simple-Mobil...ht_1630wt_1163 as a microsim or http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brandnew-Sim...item35a8d742ca as a regular sim, so even cheaper than official retailers in US. You can activate the simcard online the day of your departure, top up $ 50 via CC and: There you go!

At the end you save a lot of money + have the good feeling of "unlimited". Some years ago you could get the same directly from t-mobile for less than $ 20, that was a PERFECT deal.

And shipping minimum $14 (unless I go for regular airmail, not very comfortable), so already I'm at $66, so I've spent more than I did on my 25MB a day - which I hit I think twice within an hour of "switchover", so it didn't impact me much.

Vodafone UK doesn't allow diversion of UK numbers to the US, and I don't necessarily want callers to have to note down another number and call a US number to reach me. And maybe a second phone, look there's another Ł15. Not saving money now, am I? (Clearly, breakeven is different for regular visitors/users or for a longer stay)

I agree that Simple works for some people, and I've used them in the past... I was just pointing out that there is a UK provider that has US data at a not-too-extortionate rate that doesn't involve buying SIMs, changing APNs manually every time I swap SIM to check my text messages.