[consolidated] Prepaid SIM cards in USA
 

Is there any prepaid Mifi services in the US? Was looking at the 4G LTE service with Verizon but don't see a prepaid service. I visit the US once every 6 weeks or so... everytime only for 3 or 4 days. So didn't want to get the monthly service they sell. So want to see what other options I have.

Virgin has one that's not quite pre-paid, but it's $10 for 10 days, only 100MB of data. Here's the link: http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobil...mifi-2200.html

I second the Virgin service. Easy to turn on or off as needed, service is through Sprint so coverage in most places. If you are able to get to a WalMart when you are here, it is slightly cheaper than from Virgin directly. I can also get a 1 gig "Wal Mart only plan" for 20 bucks/30 days.

Another option is Ting. The rates aren't as good, but I like the way it expands and contracts with the data used.

Can someone elaborate on this Walmart only plan?

I have a locked Canadian iPhone (with Fido). If I had access to mobile Internet (that I would pick up as a wi-fi connection on my iPhone), that would be great.

Can I just swing by a US Walmart and get this?

Both Virgin Mobile and the competing TMobile prepaid hotspot are cash and carry. Not every Walmart has them, but many do. I suggest going to Walmart's website. You can check product availability online.

TruConnect is another option: http://www.truconnect.com/plans/

Yup, check online first but just hop in and grab one. They are normally in the electronics section. Mine ran about a hundred dollars.

I've used the Walmart special plan a couple of times now. When you register one of the MiFi 2200's bought at Walmart (or online) it adds the one-month plan option to your Virgin account. These can be purchased using a top-up card or by directly adding money to your account.

I find that 1GB is enough for light use over the course of about ten days. I mostly use it to supplement the times when I can't use a nearby free wifi network.

If you keep your eyes peeled, you can find the 3G modem for cheaper than $100.

I've been thinking about buying an unlocked mobile hotspot/MiFi and the Novatel 2352/2372 were well recommended. I will initially use this for a month or two in the US (where I live), and then with local SIM's while travelling in Europe and elsewhere.

I came across the Huawei E586, and then a ZTE MF60/62 which looked really interesting so ended up ordering the MF62 through eBay ($150 shipped) - hopefully have it within a week.

I've bought both AT&T and T-Mobile prepaid SIM cards (former was $3 on eBay, latter $7 through T-Mobile direct). I'll likely activate the AT&T one on the GoPhone plan and add $25 for 500Mb data, good for a month. The T-Mobile Walmart-only $30 for 5Gb/month data plan looks great, but I don't think I can get T-Mobile's 3G frequencies on my ZTE (or Huawei, Novatel etc.).

Has anyone used an unlocked MiFi device with a US GSM prepaid data plan?

If you're going to be in a city with Clear Wimax coverage, you can get Netzero 4G Mifi service for free (200 MB/month). Just buy the mifi for $100.

http://store.netzero.net/account/viewWirelessOffers.do

There are a ton of a little gotchas in Netzero's offer and Clear doesn't even cover all the major markets. The deal is also for one year. If you ever want to exceed the 200 meg cap you can't revert back to the free plan.

[consolidated] Prepaid SIM cards in USA
 

Wow, I have been Googling for hours now, and I still can't figure out what to do on my travel to California.

I have an unlocked iPhone 4 that I would like to use and I need lots of data, around 5GB with a relatively fast connection.

I am aware of the AT&T option, but it would require me to use around $60 on a phone to get the SIM card, and on the most expensive prepaid plan, I'm not getting more than 1GB of data anyway. Not a very good option.

Then there's T-mobile. But as I don't want to be stuck with EDGE speeds, they're out of the picture.

There's a handfull of prepaid operators like H2O wireless, Straighttalk etc. but the first will not fit my needs for data, and the latter will not accept data use for streaming music etc. Also, Straight Talk doesn't have CA dealers.

So have anyone out there a good option for me? Maybe a solution that I haven't discovered yet?

I have been many places around the globe, including developing countries, which are totally hassle free on these matters compared to the US. Help me please :)

I'd love to hear the answer to your conundrum. I find the US mobile market to be under-developed, uncompetitive and massively over-priced.

Really depends on where in California you are going. Many T-Mobile markets (including San Diego, LA, and San Francisco) now have the 1900 band for HSPA+ specifically for people with iPhones. Their $70 plan would work out for you. When outside those markets, just play music stored on your phone.