Guide for Mobile Voice & Data in the USA

[albatross710]

On my trip to USA in June I picked up a Lycamobile SIM from my local ubiquitous Duane Reade. USD29 was the sticker price with taxes is about AUD50. 6GB of data, 30 days, free calls and texts on this offer.

Absolutely the most difficult company to initialize and get things going. Once I had it going after 15 calls to them I hope to never have to contact them again. Even their touted mobile app for USA...doesn't support USA. go figure that piece of marketing brilliance. I was never able to register on their website.

Anyway, the SIM worked for what I needed, data for out and about, calls to local numbers and texts. The SIM also supported tethering.

At the time of initial purchase I did buy an extra SIM pack for a return trip later this year. It's about 4 months away and I assume this original SIM will have expired. The idea being I can be quickly up and running when i land. I made lots of notes, so it will be interesting to see if my user experience improves the 2nd time.

 

[Rich]

I have previously used AT&T SIMs with no problems, but with Telstra roaming now becoming reasonably priced, I just used that for a trip earlier this year. Plus having read about these Samsung problems it sounded like roaming was going to be a better bet.

 

[jastel]

Albatross was your phone apple or android?

 

[SYD]

I have previously used AT&T SIMs with no problems, but with Telstra roaming now becoming reasonably priced, I just used that for a trip earlier this year. Plus having read about these Samsung problems it sounded like roaming was going to be a better bet.

Really? $10 p/d is unreasonable when Optus and Vodafone can do $5 p/d (which is ok for shop hops but still too much on multi-week trips).

 

[Rich]

Really? $10 p/d is unreasonable when Optus and Vodafone can do $5 p/d (which is ok for shop hops but still too much on multi-week trips).

With Telstra pre-paid which I had in April, roaming cost was $25 for 14 days for 50 mins calls 50 SMS and 4GB. There are other packages for 3 or 7 days from memory.
$50 for 4 weeks.

 

[SYD]

With Telstra pre-paid which I had in April, roaming cost was $25 for 14 days for 50 mins calls 50 SMS and 4GB. There are other packages for 3 or 7 days from memory.
$50 for 4 weeks.

Ah, that’s interesting and I don’t recall that being mentioned on other threads. Thanks!

 

[albatross710]

Albatross was your phone apple or android?

My phone is iPhone.

At the time I was travelling with iPhone 7 on it's last legs as I like to extend my tech. Day after I got back I upgrade to iPhone 14 and now I'm looking forward to eSim freedoms.

 

[albatross710]

With Telstra pre-paid which I had in April, roaming cost was $25 for 14 days for 50 mins calls 50 SMS and 4GB. There are other packages for 3 or 7 days from memory.
$50 for 4 weeks.

seems many providers have moved to this model. Amaysim have 365 days expiry with 50 calls, 50 texts and 1 gb.

 

[jastel]

So no current data on whether Samsungs/Android are still being locked out...

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Any good e-sim options that come with US phone number?

 

[SYD]

Any good e-sim options that come with US phone number?

T-Mobile has been handy for some with a freebie 1 month promo.

Looking at eSIMDB, “Globalesim” (I’ve never used it) has an option to add “voice” mins to a data plan and therefore then comes with a local US number - if that’s what you need v ability to make calls / send texts in the US?

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

T-Mobile has been handy for some with a freebie 1 month promo.

Looking at eSIMDB, “Globalesim” (I’ve never used it) has an option to add “voice” mins to a data plan and therefore then comes with a local US number - if that’s what you need v ability to make calls / send texts in the US?

Where is the freebie 1 month promo?

 

[qaz]

Where is the freebie 1 month promo?

this might help:

Using a Mobile phone Overseas – eSIM, Travel SIM, International Roaming - OzBargain Wiki

www.ozbargain.com.au

 

[SYD]

this might help:

Using a Mobile phone Overseas – eSIM, Travel SIM, International Roaming - OzBargain Wiki

www.ozbargain.com.au

That article has the links to some of the USA free trials (if they’re still active). The article is otherwise far from comprehensive.

Users here are sharing their experience with different eSIMs and Oz telco roaming packs.

Best options for making cheap calls/text when overseas?

So what are peeps doing these days for cheap calls/text back to Oz, or local/international calls/text while you’re travelling OS? Background. Since 2019 I’ve had the Optus $50 plan that included roaming data, unlimited calls & text when OS (to/from select countries) and calls/text from Oz to OS...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

eSims, what is your experience.

I am interested in the concept of eSims but have no experience with them. The notion of running my local sim plus having an international sim for phone use while in USA and EU could be handy. What have members experience been? TIA

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[qaz]

That article has the links to some of the USA free trials (if they’re still active).

yes, they're still active

The article is otherwise far from comprehensive.

i'm sure that it doesn't cover/include everything - it's a wiki page, so anyone can update/add to it, if you're interested in contributing?

Users here are sharing their experience with different eSIMs and Oz telco roaming packs.

Best options for making cheap calls/text when overseas?

So what are peeps doing these days for cheap calls/text back to Oz, or local/international calls/text while you’re travelling OS? Background. Since 2019 I’ve had the Optus $50 plan that included roaming data, unlimited calls & text when OS (to/from select countries) and calls/text from Oz to OS...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

eSims, what is your experience.

I am interested in the concept of eSims but have no experience with them. The notion of running my local sim plus having an international sim for phone use while in USA and EU could be handy. What have members experience been? TIA

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

indeed, but rather than going through them all, a reference guide, such as that OzBargain page, can be quick start/summary of what's available