glennda Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 The time for me to fly over is approaching and I am wondering if anyone would have ideas about who to use for a wireless isp and mobile sim card please? The most appropriate that appears to cover most of the US is AT&T. Thank you in anticipation. Link to comment
RockBottom Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Unlike Europe, few US wireless companies--maybe not any--sell SIMs to pop in your phone. It's certainly not a matter of buying a card from an airport vending machine as at most European airports. So you'll probably need to buy an inexpensive prepaid phone. Those are available everywhere, including convenience stores. Verizon has the best national coverage. In fact, there was a huge advertising war when AT&T was the only carrier with the Iphone because it didn't work in so many places. Link to comment
Edgar Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 If you are planning on using your GSM phone in the US then you would want to look at ATT and T-Mobile. You will be able to change SIM's. Otherwise you can buy a phone on limited use pre-paid plan. For ISP's using a an air card there are a number of choices including the three mentioned in the posts, but none are easily transfered from Europe to the US. Link to comment
RockBottom Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 If you are planning on using your GSM phone in the US then you would want to look at ATT and T-Mobile. You will be able to change SIM's. Otherwise you can buy a phone on limited use pre-paid plan. For ISP's using a an air card there are a number of choices including the three mentioned in the posts, but none are easily transfered from Europe to the US. Are you sure AT&T or T-Mobile sell prepaid SIMs like in Europe? Link to comment
Edgar Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 There is no reference to pre paid sims. The reference is that you can use the phone that you are familiar with using a sim from another phone from a GSM carrier. Providing it fits of course. Link to comment
RockBottom Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 But, see, that's the point--in Europe and much of Asia you just buy a prepaid SIM from a vending machine and pop it into your phone. I had one of my old US phones unlocked for that purpose and have SIMs from UK, Singapore, and elsewhere. In the US you only get a SIM if you establish an account (which requires a contract). They have SIMs that go in prepaid phones like the GO Phones, but I don't think they sell the SIMs alone. Link to comment
FlyingFinn Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 How about buy a pre-paid phone from AT&T, pull out the SIM and stick it to your own (European) GSM phone. -- Mikko Link to comment
RockBottom Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 That might work. But then you're paying for the AT&T phone anyway and just not using it. Link to comment
glennda Posted March 11, 2011 Author Share Posted March 11, 2011 Oh boy I think I have started one here!!! Sounds like I may need to buy a phone. Love my i Phone as well! I appreciate the advice thank you. Link to comment
Beemer_Nancy Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 How bout you call your iphone carrier and see if they have reciprocity with a carrier here that could take care of your needs? I'd start there if I were going overseas. That said, I use Verizon. Link to comment
RockBottom Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Oh boy I think I have started one here!!! Sounds like I may need to buy a phone. Love my i Phone as well! I appreciate the advice thank you. It's a different market model here than the rest of the world--American wireless carriers underwrite the cost of handsets so they are very cheap (often free with a contract). But as a result, they're locked to one system or the other. E.g. a Verizon phone won't work on the AT&T network. That said, prepaid phones are cheap. But, of course, you'd lose all the other Iphone features. Link to comment
Boffin Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Oh boy I think I have started one here!!! Sounds like I may need to buy a phone. Love my i Phone as well! I appreciate the advice thank you. It's a different market model here than the rest of the world--American wireless carriers underwrite the cost of handsets so they are very cheap (often free with a contract). But as a result, they're locked to one system or the other. E.g. a Verizon phone won't work on the AT&T network. That said, prepaid phones are cheap. But, of course, you'd lose all the other Iphone features. That is how it works in the UK, except we can unlock the phones - at least one reseller unlocks every phone they sell - and pre-pay (we call them pay-as-you-go) phones have sims that can be put into your unlocked phone. We also get to keep our phone number even if we change carrier. Sim-only deals are common and as been said, you can buy 'roaming' sims from vending machines. When I travel, I put a pay-as-you-go sim into my phone so that if it gets stolen my contract isn't hit with vast charges. Andy Link to comment
Lil'G Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 AT&T sells a prepaid US SIM card. They have cards good for a month or a year with and without data. Gregg Link to comment
glennda Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 Thanks Nancy. Spoke with Orange, they now link with T Mobile. All they can offer at present is a 6 month suspension of my contract while away and unlock my phone so I can use it as "pay and go". I will check out your suggestion, thanks again Link to comment
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