Next question for the team. I’m thinking of getting a SIM for use in my phone while in North America next year. I only need it for 2 weeks, to ring hotels or, god forbid, emergency services. Anyone got any ideas?
Phone SIM for use in North America
- Thread starter ebbo
- Start date
AberdeenAngus
Registered user
Be aware - the Septics use a different frequency from Europe so check if your phone will work first. Seem to recall the phone needs to be tri-band or quad-band to work in the US. You are probably better off going into the first Wall-Mart and buying a cheapo pay as you go.
Most modern phones work on the US frequency. I always just use my own phone. Make sure roaming is enabled and if necessary, buy a data bundle before you go. I think the last time I had a text conversation from the middle of Bonneville Salt Flats with a friend who was in Chicago on business, it cost me about 50p a text.
This Year in the States
Bought a cheap phone in Wallmart
Pay as you go Samsung
Tracfone Wireless Inc
Has 93 prepaid mins on it still
Service active until 1/7/13
If its any use to you pm me
Frank
Bought a cheap phone in Wallmart
Pay as you go Samsung
Tracfone Wireless Inc
Has 93 prepaid mins on it still
Service active until 1/7/13
If its any use to you pm me
Frank
I was in Florida last year and just bought a cheap T mobile card, PAYG, cost about $10 with credit on and put it in my I phone, worked a treat.
I'll be honest, I like the idea of just putting another SIM in my phone (iPhone4) so bowsers suggestion hits the nail on the head. but thanks for the offer Frank.
I've done a little research on line and found O2 will hopefully unlock my phone for me so it will take another make of card (this may take two weeks, but no rush) I've sent them my details inc IMEI code so hopefully that will get things started.
Meanwhile, if anyone has any other suggestions I'm all ears
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Red-Pocke...m_Cards_CV&hash=item27c8cd5082#ht_1482wt_1178
These are good but don't be tempted to call a UK landline as the tarif is twice as high as to a mobile
When you arrive just pop into a phone shop , they'll be able to help you best
"CALL COST WITHIN THE US IS FREEhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Red-Pocke...m_Cards_CV&hash=item27c8cd5082#ht_1482wt_1178
These are good but don't be tempted to call a UK landline as the tarif is twice as high as to a mobile
TEXTS AND MMS IN THE US ARE FREE
MMS TO THE UK ARE FREE
100 MINUTES OF CALLS TO UK LANDLINES INCLUDED
25MB OF DATA INCLUDED"
That's very interesting! mucho cheers
Other than that it's a phone shop in Las Vegas, hmmm that Red Pocket Mobile card looks even more interesting!
What happens when you put a 'new' SIM in an iPhone, does it retain all its settings and numbers etc, or does it go into freak mode and start setting its self up as a new phone?
AlanI
Registered user
Don't know the standard menu setup in the iPhones but on my Samsung Gallaxy S2 it's setup so as to send an alert to Samsung amongst others when a different SIM card is inserted..........additional security and all that. Not entirely sure how it works or how good it is as the phone is relatively new and still under my ownership LOL. Might be worth checking before swapping SIMS though.
Finally got my iPhone unlocked with O2
But it took months of persistence, I don't know whether O2 employ idiots or whether they have a policy to make it as hard as possible, but the last Guro I had on line chat with managed to unlock my iPhone within minutes (after the usual runaround of security numbers, what model Iphone it exactly is, what my phone number is, what my IMEI is, all this while sat dumbly looking at my records I presume)
But its done!
Anyone wanting to unlock your phone for use in the USA, do start months in advance, especially if its O2
Good luck!
But it took months of persistence, I don't know whether O2 employ idiots or whether they have a policy to make it as hard as possible, but the last Guro I had on line chat with managed to unlock my iPhone within minutes (after the usual runaround of security numbers, what model Iphone it exactly is, what my phone number is, what my IMEI is, all this while sat dumbly looking at my records I presume)
But its done!
Anyone wanting to unlock your phone for use in the USA, do start months in advance, especially if its O2
Good luck!
RobertG
Registered user
Take a look at these for your phone card now you have it unlocked. http://www.fonepool.com/simpacks/ We have used them several times for the kids in the summer. For about $60 per month you get unlimited calls/texts/data in the USA, unlimited world landlines and texts. The website is not very helpful but an email telling them what you want gets a quick reply.
Depending on where you are, the phone signal in the US can be very sketchy especially out in the sticks. I but a cheapo phone from Wallmart like a tracfone and keep my UK phone as a back up. It usually gets a better signal but as already said, make sure you turn the roaming off!!
I'm very likely using the above SIM for the trip (Info from Timolgra, thanks)http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Red-Pocke...m_Cards_CV&hash=item27c8cd5082#ht_1482wt_1178
These are good but don't be tempted to call a UK landline as the tarif is twice as high as to a mobile
Call cost within the US is free
Texts and mms in the US are free
Mms to the UK are free
100 minutes of calls to UK landlines included
25mb of data included
Cheers Bilco, I'll take advice from the seller regards data roaming, but may not be an issue with a pre paid SIM
Beyond that I can use Face time on the iPhone when I get a bit of free network,
I highly recommend T-Mobile as I found that a lot of companies wouldn't sell to me as I was from overseas. Sorry but the US forget they get lots of travellers.
I just popped the SIM into my smartphone and it worked perfectly. I top it up before I go to the US and adminster it online.
I just popped the SIM into my smartphone and it worked perfectly. I top it up before I go to the US and adminster it online.
Finally went for a Red Pocket deal on ebay 180905619656 in micro sim format - Good support already from the seller Brian, so far so good 
Details form ebay sale...
"THIS SIM CARD REQUIRES AN UNLOCKED HANDSET THAT OPERATES AT 850 AND 1900 MHZ GSM
CALL COST WITHIN THE US IS $0.10 PER MINUTE
ADDITIONAL CHARGES TO UK LANDLINES 1 CENT AND UK MOBILES 10 CENTS (THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC US CHARGE) PER MINUTE
(Other sellers are quoting 1 cent to the UK for landlines and 10 cents to Mobiles inclusive, this is incorrect)
We activate the card for you 72 - 48 hours before you travel and email the number to you (unlike other sellers)
We will support you with problem solving and advice ( unlike other sellers)
Your card is despatched from the UK (where the seller lives) and is normally received within 72 hours
24 hour Customer Services in the US with free calls from your handset and speakers in 4 Languages
$10 credit will give you 90 minutes calls to/from UK Landlines
Additional credit easily added before you travel or when you are there"
Details form ebay sale...
"THIS SIM CARD REQUIRES AN UNLOCKED HANDSET THAT OPERATES AT 850 AND 1900 MHZ GSM
CALL COST WITHIN THE US IS $0.10 PER MINUTE
ADDITIONAL CHARGES TO UK LANDLINES 1 CENT AND UK MOBILES 10 CENTS (THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC US CHARGE) PER MINUTE
(Other sellers are quoting 1 cent to the UK for landlines and 10 cents to Mobiles inclusive, this is incorrect)
We activate the card for you 72 - 48 hours before you travel and email the number to you (unlike other sellers)
We will support you with problem solving and advice ( unlike other sellers)
Your card is despatched from the UK (where the seller lives) and is normally received within 72 hours
24 hour Customer Services in the US with free calls from your handset and speakers in 4 Languages
$10 credit will give you 90 minutes calls to/from UK Landlines
Additional credit easily added before you travel or when you are there"
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