USA Sim Card

[barnesn]

Hi there - in traveling to the USA next week and was wondering if anyone has experience purchasing a local prepaid sim card? Mostly for data (google maps, Facebook, Skype, etc) and some local calls.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ReLoad]

At either MEL or SYD into terminal (after immigration) stop in at simcorner and get it before you leave.

Simple easy and cost effective.

Only tip I'd suggest is to make sure your phone is unlocked.

 

[serfty]

see this link to dedicated thread ... pay attention to the more recent posts as things have changed somewhat since it's inception ...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ternet/guide-mobile-voice-data-usa-25580.html

 

[JMFK]

I personally purchased a AT&T mobile hot spot a couple of years back which I use whenever I'm in the states. $75 (incl $25 activation charge) will get you 5gb of data. I need to get incoming calls on my mobile so I couldn't switch out the SIM cards.

The hotspot allows me to use skype, email, maps etc while on the go.

GoPhone is AT&T's prepaid service. Plenty of info on their website. I'm sure Verizon's is good too, but I only have experience with AT&T.

All you need is a passport!

 

[Limewood]

Last time in USA got AT&T sim for free in SFO shop, paid $30 for a month on CC, then cancelled out when I left.

 

[TheRealTMA]

All you need is a passport!

Actually you don't need any identification if you buy PAYG sim plan. Just bought one from AT&T in Seattle. Cost around $53 inc tax for one month calls, sms and 1.5 G data.

Wierd isn't it that in the land of 911 you don't need any ID to buy a sim and PAYG. ( You do for a monthly plan though.).

in Australia you need the whole 100 point ID check.

 

[Squirrel.Monkey]

The Sim Corner one is awesome. I bought one with a code from oz bargain https://www.ozbargain.com.au and it worked a treat. Cost me around $50 with free delivery and arrived within a couple of days.

I was in the USA for 4 weeks and had ample data, the kicker was free local and international calls to landlines. I swapped out my sim on the flight over, turned the phone on when we landed and instant 4G, great for calling the hotel shuttle.

Even if I was in the USA for a week I would get this as it eliminates the need for depending on hotel wifi, the tethering is limited to about 3G of data which was fine even in 4 weeks for me.

 

[Dr_Fliptop]

Great tip - thanks!

 

[Denali]

We went to T-Mobile and got a sim starter kit with 5GB and up to other devices (by memory) but it was a recycled number so I got a few weird text messages.

Hubby is with Vodafone and he paid $5 per day for unlimited\

edit: Sim/data plan cost $80

 

[TheRealTMA]

We went to T-Mobile and got a sim starter kit with 5GB and up to other devices (by memory) but it was a recycled number so I got a few weird text messages.

Interesting in the US whenever you buy a new SIM you always get calls from unknown in Texas, well in our cases they have all been from Texas.

 

[JMFK]

Actually you don't need any identification if you buy PAYG sim plan. Just bought one from AT&T in Seattle. Cost around $53 inc tax for one month calls, sms and 1.5 G data.

Wierd isn't it that in the land of 911 you don't need any ID to buy a sim and PAYG. ( You do for a monthly plan though.).

in Australia you need the whole 100 point ID check.

This wasn't my experience any time I've bought a sim from AT&T. YMMV.

 

[Limewood]

AT&T didn't ask me for any ID in SFO.

 

[TheRealTMA]

This wasn't my experience any time I've bought a sim from AT&T. YMMV.

It did indeed. Done it four times now from different companies in different cities. Maybe you were just lucky.

But one always has some id in any case if needed.

 

[JMFK]

I clearly look guilty!

Perhaps it was just to get the spelling of my name?

They always put the store address as 'my address' so I don't think its too official.

 

[seanpodge]

Looking to go to Seattle and Vancouver in September. Is there a SIM card that can be used in both at reasonable rates or am I better off getting separate SIMs in both countries? Much more interested in data than calls or SMS.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Looking to go to Seattle and Vancouver in September. Is there a SIM card that can be used in both at reasonable rates or am I better off getting separate SIMs in both countries? Much more interested in data than calls or SMS.

When we bought the month SIM from AT&T, I asked about this and yes and no. They do one that will work in USA and Canada but it costs about $75 AFAIR and then one has to add data I believe (although one nay not need this since hotels and free wifi are in abundance.) maybe check out the AT&T site?

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

USA Prepaid Sim Card - Travel Sims Direct

have decent deals for t-mobile cards

bought one on sale earlier in the year for $40 which will do nicely for my october trip.

they also sell sim cards for other countries.

 

[serfty]

USA Prepaid Sim Card - Travel Sims Direct

have decent deals for t-mobile cards

bought one on sale earlier in the year for $40 which will do nicely for my october trip. ....

Sadly their t-mobile sims have been unavailable for several months ... cheapest is currently a h2O 1GB for $50 ...

http://www.travelsimsdirect.com/#!product/prd1/3972627041/h2o-1gb-prepaid-usa-sim-card

 

[coriander]

cheapest is currently a h2O 1GB for $50 ...

Looks to have gone up to $60 now. It's interesting that there is now a clear difference between Simcorner and TravelSimsDirect: I've knocked up a table to show the differences.



It also seems that the "price war" of 30-50% off has abated over the past month or more.

 

[coriander]

While I'm on a roll here, I've been trying to work out what my next phone will be - currently looking at the latest crop of released smartphones. Frequencies, LTE bands can do your head in. I sat down and produced a table to try to make my next-phone-decision a little more information-based rather than emotional.

Hope this is useful to some here.