Call/Data plan for Android in the US
Jun 8, 2012 | 3:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sydney
Programs: Qantas Platinum, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 272
Call/Data plan for Android in the US
Just seeing if anyone can give any information on the best sim option for a unlocked Android phone for use in the US.
Thanks
Thanks
Jun 8, 2012 | 3:44 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Prepaid? Post-paid? For how long?
Do you know which 3G bands your model supports?
T-Mobile, AT&T, Straightalk and H2O Wireless are the pre-paid options which I am aware of.
A specific recommendation may follow once people understand your requirements.
I've been using T-Mo pre-paid for ~ 8 years for my frequent trips to the U.S.; I now use the $2/day option for unlimited calls, texts and 2G data.
Do you know which 3G bands your model supports?
T-Mobile, AT&T, Straightalk and H2O Wireless are the pre-paid options which I am aware of.
A specific recommendation may follow once people understand your requirements.
I've been using T-Mo pre-paid for ~ 8 years for my frequent trips to the U.S.; I now use the $2/day option for unlimited calls, texts and 2G data.
Jun 8, 2012 | 4:16 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sydney
Programs: Qantas Platinum, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 272
Looking at pre-paid for just over a month. (Jun 16- Jul 22), phone works across all bands of 3G as far as I am aware.
I have heard about the AT&T GoPhone(?) sims, just wondering if that would be a option.
I have heard about the AT&T GoPhone(?) sims, just wondering if that would be a option.
Jun 8, 2012 | 6:57 am
#4
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 23,209
* Where are you going?
* How will you be traveling?
* How many minutes will you need?
* How much data will you need?
* Will you be using the phone every hour/day/third day/week?
* How will you be traveling?
* How many minutes will you need?
* How much data will you need?
* Will you be using the phone every hour/day/third day/week?
Last edited by pseudoswede; Jun 8, 2012 at 7:07 am
Jun 8, 2012 | 6:58 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MCO/FRA
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 799
Straight Talk has been good to me, 15mins and I had an active phone. No data issues.
Not a fan of AT&T Go Phone plans so...
Jun 8, 2012 | 8:03 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sydney
Programs: Qantas Platinum, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 272
*Minutes probably could get away with 200 minutes, as for data 2GB+
Using the phone probably multiple times a day when I am away from the hotels and my lap top.
Jun 12, 2012 | 2:16 pm
#9
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Fortunately three band will suffice for use anywhere in the U.S.
Even pentabands don't work across all possible 3G network bands/frequencies.
For use with Tmobile, your phone must opearate im band IV (AWS) and for AT&T, on two bands PCS and CLR.
Do check to ascertain which of these bands your phone can operate in.
Originally Posted by Blackadder1402
Looking at pre-paid for just over a month. (Jun 16- Jul 22), phone works across all bands of 3G as far as I am aware.
I have heard about the AT&T GoPhone(?) sims, just wondering if that would be a option.
I have heard about the AT&T GoPhone(?) sims, just wondering if that would be a option.
Even pentabands don't work across all possible 3G network bands/frequencies.
For use with Tmobile, your phone must opearate im band IV (AWS) and for AT&T, on two bands PCS and CLR.
Do check to ascertain which of these bands your phone can operate in.
Jun 12, 2012 | 2:30 pm
#10
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removed due to inadvertant duplication.
Originally Posted by Blackadder1402
Looking at pre-paid for just over a month. (Jun 16- Jul 22), phone works across all bands of 3G as far as I am aware.
I have heard about the AT&T GoPhone(?) sims, just wondering if that would be a option.
I have heard about the AT&T GoPhone(?) sims, just wondering if that would be a option.
Last edited by Yaatri; Jun 12, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Jun 12, 2012 | 2:33 pm
#11
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Also, you wil not have free incoming calls. Missed call routine that you might be used to will not work. Do evaluate your requirements.
Originally Posted by Blackadder1402
Looking at pre-paid for just over a month. (Jun 16- Jul 22), phone works across all bands of 3G as far as I am aware.
I have heard about the AT&T GoPhone(?) sims, just wondering if that would be a option.
I have heard about the AT&T GoPhone(?) sims, just wondering if that would be a option.
Jun 12, 2012 | 2:49 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 582
If fast data is not critical, tmobile'e $2/day option for unlimited calls, texts and 2G data, is actually a good deal. Plus, the sim can be had cheaply on ebay or one of the several stores. AT&t is not bad either. It's $0.10/cents min to anywhere in the US. Yes, incoming calls are not free, but there is a reason for that - It does not cost folks a HEFTY surcharge to call a US mobile (Receiving Party Pays), just like it does in other countries that have free incoming calls (Calling Party Pays).
Jun 12, 2012 | 3:06 pm
#13
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Terminating call surcharge is not real basis for not offering free incoming calls. There are countries with supposedly hefty termination charges, who offer free incoming calls, you can call a mobile phone in those countries for far less than the typicall rate of aeound 10 cents a minute here. The marker here took a different approach. Here, we have unlimited nights and weekends or free in- network calls.
Terminating call surcharge is not real basis for not offering free incoming calls. There are countries with supposedly hefty termination charges, who offer free incoming calls, you can call a mobile phone in those countries for far less than the typicall rate of aeound 10 cents a minute here. The marker here took a different approach. Here, we have unlimited nights and weekends or free in- network calls.