Guide for Mobile Voice & Data in the USA

[dfcatch]

Update for anyone using AT&T GoPhone pre-paid in the USA.

Data rates have been improved significantly for people using more than 100mb.

500mb is now available for $25USD, and the old 100mb goes to $15 (not better there, but the 500mb is reasonable).

Screen capture of the changes in the GoPhone Portal is below.

That's not too bad at all.

Thanks for the update.

 

[DeeJay]

This is why you use one of the international roaming SIM Cards. Eliminates the need for any phone card, and lets you use any GSM handset (providing it's tri/quad band). The company I work for does sell phone cards (it was our core business for many years) but people are demanding the SIM card. It gives you security travelling and lets people get in contact with you easily too.

Hi drewbles,

Would you be so kind to send me a PM with a link to the company you work for?
I can't PM you until I've posted 15 times (14 more to go ;-)

Many thanks!

 

[simongr]

Is there some guidance on iPad only - i.e. people who want data only in the US?

 

[Sprucegoose]

Drewbles, I'd love to see a list of your iPhone recommendations (turning push data off, etc) here. I tried to wade theough all the other posts, but obviousky dodn't get all the tips for my May trip - I got a $120 charge fromTelstra for 6 *minutes* of data in the US. :evil:

Absolutely criminal and can't be justified on any grounds!

 

[steveda]

Is there some guidance on iPad only - i.e. people who want data only in the US?

Maybe a bit late, but this is what I've just done...

• Buy unactiviated AT&Tmicrosim from ebay
• Insert into ipad (connected to wireless), go to "View Account" under Cellular Data settings menu
• Fill in the AT&T form and use a credit card that will pass address verification (must enter a US address). My Amex card kept failing the address verification, but a BankSA (St George) visa card worked with no problem. I just used the address for the hotel that I'll be staying at
• Pray that when I land in the US next Thursday morning and turn the ipad on, everything just works. Will make a note of AT&Ts APN details to enter manually if needed

Cheers

Steve

 

[PLANT]

Right can someone update this thread with NON APPLE bloody sim stuff.
Where and how can I get an AT&T(told by locals..like Telstra for coverage) sim in LA?
Think I read can be purchased from local shops and put $25 credit on for 90 days credit and Free USA call?
Can someone please confirm and let me know airport or local shop chain to purchase sim from

Regards

 

[dfcatch]

Right can someone update this thread with NON APPLE bloody sim stuff.
Where and how can I get an AT&T(told by locals..like Telstra for coverage) sim in LA?
Think I read can be purchased from local shops and put $25 credit on for 90 days credit and Free USA call?
Can someone please confirm and let me know airport or local shop chain to purchase sim from

Regards

AT&T store - buy a Gophone Pay As You Go SIM card.

You can also buy one in advance before you leave Australia.

Scroll up through the thread to find the links to where these can be ordered.

Most 7-eleven type stores in the USA are rather primitive and don't understand when you only want to buy the SIM card. This concept is relatively new to the Americans. Although they are slowly improving.

If you have time - I would order it in advance, then you have a working phone as soon as you land.

Just make sure your phone is at least tri-band compatible.

 

[drewbles]

Right can someone update this thread with NON APPLE bloody sim stuff.
Where and how can I get an AT&T(told by locals..like Telstra for coverage) sim in LA?
Think I read can be purchased from local shops and put $25 credit on for 90 days credit and Free USA call?
Can someone please confirm and let me know airport or local shop chain to purchase sim from

Regards

The reason I did this with iPhone in mind is it was the most common smartphone that people tended to roam with.

With the advent of Android devices being far more wide spread now, there's really little difference, except you a) don't trim your SIM down to fit in an Android (if there's one with a Micro SIM please correct me) and you just need to manually set the APN.

You can purchase AT&T SIM cards on eBay cheaply and have them shipped as well. You just need to put credit on them, activate them in a non-smart phone, bung them in your non-apple-device, set the APN and voila. Done.

 

[oz_mark]

With the advent of Android devices being far more wide spread now, there's really little difference, except you a) don't trim your SIM down to fit in an Android (if there's one with a Micro SIM please correct me) and you just need to manually set the APN.

Although not quite released yet (next week), I believe the Motorola Android Razr uses a Micro SIM.

 

[PLANT]

Are you saying an android is non-smartphone?

Is this AT&T: NEW AT&T 3G SIM CARD NEVER ACTIVATED CINGULAR

Or does it need to be:

Brand new, unactivate AT&T 3G SIM card-SKU 71247 ???

So are calls free in USA using SIM?

 

[dfcatch]

Are you saying an android is non-smartphone?

Is this AT&T: NEW AT&T 3G SIM CARD NEVER ACTIVATED CINGULAR

Or does it need to be:

Brand new, unactivate AT&T 3G SIM card-SKU 71247 ???

So are calls free in USA using SIM?

No - calls are charged as per your plan. Just the same as in Australia.

Although AT&T pre-paid has some good value plans now. Some calls are free on some plans (like mobile to mobile on same network), others are cap plans.

Same as here - read the plans and select the one that's best for you.

Landline calls in the USA are generally free for the local area (ie same suburb), any further and it's "long distance".

 

[PLANT]

Finally understood and viewed the AT&T website.
This is the link I needed:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-ph...ans.jsp?wtSlotClick=1-005ZH4-0-1&WT.svl=title

Read as many post as I could find.
1. LAX does not have AT&T shop....Its AT&T Express store on road outside airport.
2. Looking at $2 a day PAY AS YOU GO Sim plan. ONLY on days used.
3. Buy the SIM and then put $25 REFILL credit on it and $10 International calls package.
4. This gives me unlimited mobile to mobile in USA and 250 minutes to LANDLINE AUSTRALIA. NO DATA!
5. Here is the coverage map:
AT&T Coverage Viewer

Does the Sim come without a phone?
Want to use my own phone.
IN Australia I have DATA OFF and therefore are not able to send MMS.
Will this be the case in USA?

Regards

 

[drewbles]

Update:

It appears as though AT&T are now expiring SIM's pretty quickly. I checked my SIM last night and it was just as well as they were going to cease the service mid this month.

It now appears as though after your credit expires, they will cease the service 30 days later.

Something for people to keep in mind if they're not in the US every 90-120 days.

A $25 recharge will give you another 90 + 30 days though (which I just had to do as my planned trip this month has been canned until January).

 

[jastel]

Do you know if that SIM can be reactivated??
Or is it throw away and get another one.

I still have ipad and normal SIM from last year, but they would have both been deactivated by now.

Last time I went to AT&T they had no ipad SIMS, luckily I had one, they activated it easily.
Used the stores address and Aussie CC.

 

[drewbles]

Do you know if that SIM can be reactivated??
Or is it throw away and get another one.

I still have ipad and normal SIM from last year, but they would have both been deactivated by now.

Last time I went to AT&T they had no ipad SIMS, luckily I had one, they activated it easily.
Used the stores address and Aussie CC.

Once an AT&T GoPhone SIM is deactivated, it's dead. You'll need to purchase another. This was a recent change since they introduced lower SIM expiry dates.

The iPad SIM may be different though. Not sure on that one.

 

[Leumas]

Just a quick note that AT&T will not allow iPhone 3G data unless you're on the $25 or $50 per month pre-paid plan.

I used to just pop my AT&T SIM card in, charge it up while the plane is taxiing, but no go this time, so I'll be looking for an alternative next trip...

 

[jastel]

Well in LA now at airport hotel, walked up the roadto the AT&T store, just past In n Out Burger, and got set up.
Can confirm my old SIM , Android full size, not used for 12 months, is dead. However the ipad SIM still works and can be recharged by credit card in the usual way via wifi.
Got charged $25 for purchase SIM, $25 for 250 minutes talk, (not international), and unlimited SMS.
Then you add data plan $25 for 1 gb, or $15 for 250 mb. I took the 1 gb.
All has 30 day expiry.
I am tethering the ipad for now, works but a tad slow.
Note phones must be unlocked. Store guy changed all the settings and checked they worked before I left the shop.

 

[schomers87]

Kudos to Mactalk.com.au who have put up an updated guide to using an iphone in the USA. T-Mobile in the major cities have come on board with 1900mhz that all Australian iphones use, and T-Mobile is by far easier to get a SIM card from.

Link: MacTalk - How-To: Using Your Australian iPhone in the USA (2013)

 

[flyer999]

I'm in the US at present. Went to AT&T and bought a GoPhone plan then found it does not work with IOS 6.1. The calls work but no data. Then I went to T Mobile and got a great sell job but after paying my money for a month of unlimited data I found that it only worked on the Edge network and was not worth having except for emails.

Lucky the hotel has WiFi. It's been a learning experience. Avoid T Mobile based on my experience.

 

[DeKa]

I'm in the US at present. Went to AT&T and bought a GoPhone plan then found it does not work with IOS 6.1. The calls work but no data. Then I went to T Mobile and got a great sell job but after paying my money for a month of unlimited data I found that it only worked on the Edge network and was not worth having except for emails.

Lucky the hotel has WiFi. It's been a learning experience. Avoid T Mobile based on my experience.

AT&T go phone should work if you set the APN using unlock.co.nz via wifi.

T mobile has 3G that works on iPhone but only in some locations.

It pays to research before you travel