Guide for Mobile Voice & Data in the USA
Seeing as there has been a fair few people recently asking about different options for pre-paid Voice and Data services in the USA, I thought i'd take it upon myself to offer some viable options for travellers, both frequent and in-frequent, based on my time in the industry
Q. I'm going to the USA. Will my existing handset work there?
A. Depending on your model, the answer is most likely yes. Most modern phones (less than 5 years old) are at minimum tri-band, and in most cases, quad-band GSM phones. This means your phone should operate on 850/900/1800/1900mHz "2G" Networks. To check if your phone will work in the USA, the best site to visit is GSMArena.com - GSM phone reviews, news, opinions, votes, manuals and more... . Put your phone model into the top right search box, click on the right handset and look at "2G Network" at the top. This will list what frequencies your phone supports. As a general rule, most US networks use 850mHz and1900mHz for their GSM 2G networks, so if your phone has support for one or both of these, you should be right. Note that some carriers (AT&T and T-Mobile) sometimes only support one of the frequencies, depending on the area. It's not unusual to only see 1900mHz and no 850mHz in some areas.
If you have a 3G handset, it's almost a given you will have quad-band GSM, but check with the above website still to verify. Some networks will let you connect to their 3G network, others won't. It's best if you have a 3G handset with quad-band GSM, to maximise your global roaming capabilities if you travel to other countries apart from the USA.
Q. Great. My handset isn't going to work. How do I get a cheap phone to use whilst there?
A. Lots of options here. You can usually procure one online cheaply, just confirm it's quad-band GSM and you should be right to go. Try eBay, or many of the companies offering pre-paid services in the USA have phones they can sell you for a reasonable amount (sub $100 in most cases).
Q. OK. I have my phone arranged. What options do I have for pre-paid US Voice Calls?
A. This is where it can get tricky. There is a plethora of Global Pre-Paid SIM Card providers out there, all offering competitive rates and differing types of plans/service features that people may or may not find useful. One website that's dedicated to discussing pre-paid SIM cards for travellers is http://www.prepaidgsm.net . This site has a lot of people who test and trial all the products off companies who offer US and Global pre-paid SIM card solutions. It's probably a good idea to login there, and have a browse. The people there are usually very helpful and will be able to advise you of your options.
As pre-paid is a relatively new concept in the USA, most of the big carriers (AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon/Sprint) are still playing catch-up. There have been several "MVNO"'s or virtual-telcos that have sprung up, offering their own branded service whilst still operating on one of the major networks (AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon/Sprint). They also have different product offerings, and you need to investigate them carefully. Verizon and Sprint do not operate on GSM, rather they operate on CDMA and to a lesser extent, the new-to-the-block 4G standard known as LTE. It's probably best to stick with a carrier that does GSM to maximise your coverage and compatibility (so using an MVNO that offers either AT&T or T-Mobile, or sometimes even both).
You should also investigate each carriers roaming to Canada and Mexico thoroughly if you plan on visiting either or both of these places whilst in North America. Some products such as AT&T's pre-paid GO Phone offering, will not work in these areas.
Q. Great. I've found a carrier that does what I want and offers me suitable rates. Now what?
A. In most cases, it's probably best to get a SIM card sent to you before you depart. That way you can read up it, how it works, and what other benefits/problems it may incur for you. Some products will use what is known as 'call back' where you dial a number, press send on your handset, and wait for a call back to you. You answer the phone, and you get connected to another person. Other carriers offer normal calling without any of that. Then there are some that offer what is known as a Dual SIM card. This offers you the benefit of effectively two services on one SIM card. You can use a specific PIN when in the USA and another outside the USA, and access better rates whilst in the USA and cheap global rates when not. Once again, check out the forum and investigate what's best for you. Also, check eBay for SIM cards. Most of the MVNO's actually sell their SIM cards on there and you may get a better deal buying this way. Once again, shop around
Q. OK. I think i've made it through the maze. Now, what about pre-paid Data?
A. This is where it's messy. Most carriers still don't get pre-paid data at all. With the advent of the 3G iPad, AT&T was forced to offer pre-paid data services. The problem with that is a) they provide you with a micro-SIM card (which will only work in the iPad or iPhone 4) and b) it is data only, so you cannot place or receive voice calls on it. AT&T do offer pre-paid data, at around $20USD for 100mb. It's not cheap, but it may be an option. It can be tricky to add to your GO Phone account (the AT&T pre-paid voice offering) but it does work. If you have an iPhone and want to use this, you're best off looking at HOW TO: A guide for Australians using their iPhone 3G’s data services on AT&T in the USA. — perfectdarkmike for a step-by-step guide on how to add a MediaNet pack to your AT&T Pre-paid SIM card. If you're using an iPad or iPhone 4 with this, keep in mind you're going to need to cut the SIM to a micro-SIM size.
The new up-and-coming MVNO's based in the USA are also starting to offer all-you-can-eat packages for voice and data. You may be best off examining one of these as well if you plan on being there for a few weeks, or want to use plenty of data. Once again, the pre-paid GSM forum should have plenty of information on this.
Q. OK I've decided i'll do with wifi and not use any kind of mobile network for my data and I have an iPhone. I've heard horror stories about people coming back with large bills even though they don't have data roaming enabled. What gives?
A. Typically, this should not happen. Disabling data roaming in the iPhone should stop you from getting any charges like this on your account. As a general rule, if you do not see a small º up next to your signal, or E or 3G, you should not be able to use data.
As of iOS 4.0 (the Operating System that iPhones,iPod Touches and iPads run), Apple has now included an option to disable Mobile data totally, whilst allowing you to leave wifi operational. To do this, on your iPhone/iPod/iPad go to Settings -> General -> Network, and you will see Cellular Data which will most likely be set to ON. Slide the button to the left and it should change to OFF. This will then hide all mobile data options from your phone, leaving you with wifi only. Note that 3G has nothing to do with data, and is a technology only. The option for this on your screen can be left on.
You are now free to use just wifi.
If you do not have iOS 4.0 on your phone, it's advisable to upgrade. To do this, plug your device into the machine you activated it with using iTunes, and click 'Check for Update' from the Summary screen for your device. Note: to ensure you don't lose any Apps or call/SMS history, click the 'Sync' button in the bottom right prior to clicking 'Check for Update'. This will ensure your device is backed up and you don't lose any precious data.
If you really really really don't want to upgrade to 4.0, you'll need to install a fake APN. The APN, or Access Point Name, is what is used to control your access to the data network. Each carrier uses one or more APN to allow people access to data. In a nutshell, when carriers have agreements to allow each others customers to roam, the APN's are also allowed on the visiting network. If you put a fake APN into your phone, the network you'll be roaming on will not know about it, and it will fail. Unfortunately, most carriers restrict your access to modify the APN with your home SIM card in it. This is to prevent people accidentally deleting it and reduces their support queries. It's still advisable to just upgrade to iOS 4, but if you must stay on an old version for some reason, visit http://www.unlockit.co.nz/unlockit/ which has information on how to change your APN. Change it to something that makes no sense, say random characters. This will ensure that you cannot use any data at all.
If you're using one of the various MVNO's out there, a lot of them will allow you to modify your APN yourself. To do this, go to Settings -> General -> Network -> Cellular Data Network. In here, you'll see APN settings for Data, MMS and possibly other services. Make sure that all the APN's are set to random characters. When you get home, to ensure you're going to be able to access data and MMS, you'll need to reset your network settings. To do this, put your regular SIM back in your iPhone, go to Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. You will be asked for your phone Passcode and then prompted to confirm your decision. Your phone may reboot. This will not erase any of your phone data, it simply resets the phone settings for access to the network.
Other things to keep in mind:
- If you are visiting Japan or South Korea, you are going to need a 3G handset. The networks in these countries are UMTS/HSDPA 2100mHz only, and older 2G style handsets will not work. You can check if your handset is 3G via GSMArena.com - GSM phone reviews, news, opinions, votes, manuals and more... and if it's not, simply buy one that does support 2100mHz 3G.
- If you are going with an MVNO, check the inbound and outbound rates. The USA doesn't believe in free-to-receive calls, and chances are you're going to have your pre-paid balance depleted for people calling you. Most are a moderate fee to receive, but it's still worthwhile factoring in.
- As mentioned, different MVNO's use different technologies and always "piggyback" off one or more of the existing larger carriers. They effectively buy "air time" and re-sell it to you, at a reduced rate. These are usually the most cost effective, and don't compromise quality. Some will partner with multiple carriers to give you more coverage in more places.
- You can always roam with your normal SIM card. Keep in mind that carriers like to stick it to you if you do this. You'll likely end up paying anywhere from $3.50-$5 per minute to make a call, and typically around $1.50/minute to receive one. Of course if you're only after an 'emergency' phone, the best thing to do is divert all calls (before you leave your home country) to voicemail/paging and check it sparingly. Calling voicemail will be the same as calling home in most cases, so you'll be stung the high outbound call cost. Data is typically around $20-30 per megabyte, so avoid that unless you really really really need it. Roaming is expensive when you're not using a local SIM or Global MVNO.
That's just an overview of it all. Global Roaming is meant to be "Easy" and it is, but it's only easy if you pay for it (thanks to your incumbent telco liking to make lots of cash off roaming partners). It often pays to spend a bit of time investigating options, to save yourself a small fortune to stay in touch whilst away overseas
Seeing as there has been a fair few people recently asking about different options for pre-paid Voice and Data services in the USA, I thought i'd take it upon myself to offer some viable options for travellers, both frequent and in-frequent, based on my time in the industry
Q. I'm going to the USA. Will my existing handset work there?
A. Depending on your model, the answer is most likely yes. Most modern phones (less than 5 years old) are at minimum tri-band, and in most cases, quad-band GSM phones. This means your phone should operate on 850/900/1800/1900mHz "2G" Networks. To check if your phone will work in the USA, the best site to visit is GSMArena.com - GSM phone reviews, news, opinions, votes, manuals and more... . Put your phone model into the top right search box, click on the right handset and look at "2G Network" at the top. This will list what frequencies your phone supports. As a general rule, most US networks use 850mHz and1900mHz for their GSM 2G networks, so if your phone has support for one or both of these, you should be right. Note that some carriers (AT&T and T-Mobile) sometimes only support one of the frequencies, depending on the area. It's not unusual to only see 1900mHz and no 850mHz in some areas.
If you have a 3G handset, it's almost a given you will have quad-band GSM, but check with the above website still to verify. Some networks will let you connect to their 3G network, others won't. It's best if you have a 3G handset with quad-band GSM, to maximise your global roaming capabilities if you travel to other countries apart from the USA.
Q. Great. My handset isn't going to work. How do I get a cheap phone to use whilst there?
A. Lots of options here. You can usually procure one online cheaply, just confirm it's quad-band GSM and you should be right to go. Try eBay, or many of the companies offering pre-paid services in the USA have phones they can sell you for a reasonable amount (sub $100 in most cases).
Q. OK. I have my phone arranged. What options do I have for pre-paid US Voice Calls?
A. This is where it can get tricky. There is a plethora of Global Pre-Paid SIM Card providers out there, all offering competitive rates and differing types of plans/service features that people may or may not find useful. One website that's dedicated to discussing pre-paid SIM cards for travellers is http://www.prepaidgsm.net . This site has a lot of people who test and trial all the products off companies who offer US and Global pre-paid SIM card solutions. It's probably a good idea to login there, and have a browse. The people there are usually very helpful and will be able to advise you of your options.
As pre-paid is a relatively new concept in the USA, most of the big carriers (AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon/Sprint) are still playing catch-up. There have been several "MVNO"'s or virtual-telcos that have sprung up, offering their own branded service whilst still operating on one of the major networks (AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon/Sprint). They also have different product offerings, and you need to investigate them carefully. Verizon and Sprint do not operate on GSM, rather they operate on CDMA and to a lesser extent, the new-to-the-block 4G standard known as LTE. It's probably best to stick with a carrier that does GSM to maximise your coverage and compatibility (so using an MVNO that offers either AT&T or T-Mobile, or sometimes even both).
You should also investigate each carriers roaming to Canada and Mexico thoroughly if you plan on visiting either or both of these places whilst in North America. Some products such as AT&T's pre-paid GO Phone offering, will not work in these areas.
Q. Great. I've found a carrier that does what I want and offers me suitable rates. Now what?
A. In most cases, it's probably best to get a SIM card sent to you before you depart. That way you can read up it, how it works, and what other benefits/problems it may incur for you. Some products will use what is known as 'call back' where you dial a number, press send on your handset, and wait for a call back to you. You answer the phone, and you get connected to another person. Other carriers offer normal calling without any of that. Then there are some that offer what is known as a Dual SIM card. This offers you the benefit of effectively two services on one SIM card. You can use a specific PIN when in the USA and another outside the USA, and access better rates whilst in the USA and cheap global rates when not. Once again, check out the forum and investigate what's best for you. Also, check eBay for SIM cards. Most of the MVNO's actually sell their SIM cards on there and you may get a better deal buying this way. Once again, shop around
Q. OK. I think i've made it through the maze. Now, what about pre-paid Data?
A. This is where it's messy. Most carriers still don't get pre-paid data at all. With the advent of the 3G iPad, AT&T was forced to offer pre-paid data services. The problem with that is a) they provide you with a micro-SIM card (which will only work in the iPad or iPhone 4) and b) it is data only, so you cannot place or receive voice calls on it. AT&T do offer pre-paid data, at around $20USD for 100mb. It's not cheap, but it may be an option. It can be tricky to add to your GO Phone account (the AT&T pre-paid voice offering) but it does work. If you have an iPhone and want to use this, you're best off looking at HOW TO: A guide for Australians using their iPhone 3G’s data services on AT&T in the USA. — perfectdarkmike for a step-by-step guide on how to add a MediaNet pack to your AT&T Pre-paid SIM card. If you're using an iPad or iPhone 4 with this, keep in mind you're going to need to cut the SIM to a micro-SIM size.
The new up-and-coming MVNO's based in the USA are also starting to offer all-you-can-eat packages for voice and data. You may be best off examining one of these as well if you plan on being there for a few weeks, or want to use plenty of data. Once again, the pre-paid GSM forum should have plenty of information on this.
Q. OK I've decided i'll do with wifi and not use any kind of mobile network for my data and I have an iPhone. I've heard horror stories about people coming back with large bills even though they don't have data roaming enabled. What gives?
A. Typically, this should not happen. Disabling data roaming in the iPhone should stop you from getting any charges like this on your account. As a general rule, if you do not see a small º up next to your signal, or E or 3G, you should not be able to use data.
As of iOS 4.0 (the Operating System that iPhones,iPod Touches and iPads run), Apple has now included an option to disable Mobile data totally, whilst allowing you to leave wifi operational. To do this, on your iPhone/iPod/iPad go to Settings -> General -> Network, and you will see Cellular Data which will most likely be set to ON. Slide the button to the left and it should change to OFF. This will then hide all mobile data options from your phone, leaving you with wifi only. Note that 3G has nothing to do with data, and is a technology only. The option for this on your screen can be left on.
You are now free to use just wifi.
If you do not have iOS 4.0 on your phone, it's advisable to upgrade. To do this, plug your device into the machine you activated it with using iTunes, and click 'Check for Update' from the Summary screen for your device. Note: to ensure you don't lose any Apps or call/SMS history, click the 'Sync' button in the bottom right prior to clicking 'Check for Update'. This will ensure your device is backed up and you don't lose any precious data.
If you really really really don't want to upgrade to 4.0, you'll need to install a fake APN. The APN, or Access Point Name, is what is used to control your access to the data network. Each carrier uses one or more APN to allow people access to data. In a nutshell, when carriers have agreements to allow each others customers to roam, the APN's are also allowed on the visiting network. If you put a fake APN into your phone, the network you'll be roaming on will not know about it, and it will fail. Unfortunately, most carriers restrict your access to modify the APN with your home SIM card in it. This is to prevent people accidentally deleting it and reduces their support queries. It's still advisable to just upgrade to iOS 4, but if you must stay on an old version for some reason, visit http://www.unlockit.co.nz/unlockit/ which has information on how to change your APN. Change it to something that makes no sense, say random characters. This will ensure that you cannot use any data at all.
If you're using one of the various MVNO's out there, a lot of them will allow you to modify your APN yourself. To do this, go to Settings -> General -> Network -> Cellular Data Network. In here, you'll see APN settings for Data, MMS and possibly other services. Make sure that all the APN's are set to random characters. When you get home, to ensure you're going to be able to access data and MMS, you'll need to reset your network settings. To do this, put your regular SIM back in your iPhone, go to Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. You will be asked for your phone Passcode and then prompted to confirm your decision. Your phone may reboot. This will not erase any of your phone data, it simply resets the phone settings for access to the network.
Other things to keep in mind:
- If you are visiting Japan or South Korea, you are going to need a 3G handset. The networks in these countries are UMTS/HSDPA 2100mHz only, and older 2G style handsets will not work. You can check if your handset is 3G via GSMArena.com - GSM phone reviews, news, opinions, votes, manuals and more... and if it's not, simply buy one that does support 2100mHz 3G.
- If you are going with an MVNO, check the inbound and outbound rates. The USA doesn't believe in free-to-receive calls, and chances are you're going to have your pre-paid balance depleted for people calling you. Most are a moderate fee to receive, but it's still worthwhile factoring in.
- As mentioned, different MVNO's use different technologies and always "piggyback" off one or more of the existing larger carriers. They effectively buy "air time" and re-sell it to you, at a reduced rate. These are usually the most cost effective, and don't compromise quality. Some will partner with multiple carriers to give you more coverage in more places.
- You can always roam with your normal SIM card. Keep in mind that carriers like to stick it to you if you do this. You'll likely end up paying anywhere from $3.50-$5 per minute to make a call, and typically around $1.50/minute to receive one. Of course if you're only after an 'emergency' phone, the best thing to do is divert all calls (before you leave your home country) to voicemail/paging and check it sparingly. Calling voicemail will be the same as calling home in most cases, so you'll be stung the high outbound call cost. Data is typically around $20-30 per megabyte, so avoid that unless you really really really need it. Roaming is expensive when you're not using a local SIM or Global MVNO.
That's just an overview of it all. Global Roaming is meant to be "Easy" and it is, but it's only easy if you pay for it (thanks to your incumbent telco liking to make lots of cash off roaming partners). It often pays to spend a bit of time investigating options, to save yourself a small fortune to stay in touch whilst away overseas
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