Money and Phones

[drewbles]

If I buy something like this NEW AT&T ATT SIM CARD GO PHONE (PRE-PAID) 3G | eBay
then can I just activate it online? And then go to https://www.paygonline.com/websc/index.jsp and put in some credit? Is there a minimum amount of credit that needs to be added?

Thanks!

You can set it up online, but you have to wait until you get to the USA to get your PIN (it's SMS'd to you during the setup process) so you can't put credit on until you get there. Some places do sell pre-activated SIM's but beware as AT&T expire SIM's very quickly now if you don't keep the money flowing (30-90 days from activation or expiry of credit as a rule, up to 365 days for $100 recharge).
Travel Guru, try the PM again too sorry didn't realise it was full.

 

[auriga]

You can set it up online, but you have to wait until you get to the USA to get your PIN

Thanks for that. I was hoping to have the number set up prior to arriving so that others on a later flight can contact me--- so looks like that is not going to happen!

 

[DeKa]

Thanks for that. I was hoping to have the number set up prior to arriving so that others on a later flight can contact me--- so looks like that is not going to happen!

SMS them the moment you have your number, whilst they're still in the air?
SMS is free to receive, even when roaming.

 

[drewbles]

SMS them the moment you have your number, whilst they're still in the air?
SMS is free to receive, even when roaming.

Not everywhere it isn't...
And I think auriga would be SMS'ing to Australia, incurring a roaming cost SMS (usually around $0.50-0.75 depending on your provider/plan).

It's a little annoying doing it that way, but it's the most cost effective if you want data (if you don't want data and only want voice, there's other better ways of doing it )

 

[DeKa]

Not everywhere it isn't...

I've just looked at Telstra's roaming site as a reference, and cannot find a single country where it costs money to receive an SMS whilst roaming. Can you find me an example as I'm curious.

I was suggesting auriga send an SMS from his new number to his friend who is on the aircraft when he gets his new local SIM activated.

 

[drewbles]

I've just looked at Telstra's roaming site as a reference, and cannot find a single country where it costs money to receive an SMS whilst roaming. Can you find me an example as I'm curious.

I was suggesting auriga send an SMS from his new number to his friend who is on the aircraft when he gets his new local SIM activated.

There are many products around that charge for incoming SMS when you're in the USA (not Telstra/Optus/Vodafone) when you have a US number on your SIM card (ours do). If you get a text sent to our UK number though, you don't pay.

Two way charges in the USA are all too common (ie you pay to make the call, and the receiver pays to take the call). It's double dipping yes, and the carriers get away with it. More and more are just upping the 'included minutes' each month (they work on a xx_ minutes/month rather than a call ceiling like here where you get $450 worth of calls but each call is charged differently).

 

[auriga]

Not everywhere it isn't...
And I think auriga would be SMS'ing to Australia, incurring a roaming cost SMS (usually around $0.50-0.75 depending on your provider/plan).

It's a little annoying doing it that way, but it's the most cost effective if you want data (if you don't want data and only want voice, there's other better ways of doing it )

Actually, I really only need voice/SMS, not data. I would love to know of "better ways", thanks so much!

 

[Newk]

Hi all,
Heading to the States and Canada in a few weeks and the only loose ends are what credit cards should I take to minimise exchange rate and other fees AND what to do about phone coverage and internet access for my iphone and ipad. Any advice greatly appreciated.
PS after days of tearing my hair out trying to sort out a rental car out of Washington DC I found A.F.F. and was introduced to net flights and hey presto saved $400.
Great site

I don't think anyone else here has said it yet:

always stay at places with cheap or free wi fi...you can then use programs like Skype or Viber to make calls...some small cost in Skype I know but worth it

Also there are many shopping centres with free wi fi. Some in the USA get you to watch an advertising video or answer a consumer survey first

The golden arch burger chain has free wi fi and you'd be surprised how often when everything else fails, a quick trip to Macca's helps

My favourite story is once making a phone call on Skype using the free wifi from a bus next to us in a traffic jam in the UK

That said I also have a very very cheap handset that I can use in the USA and pick up a SIM card or recharge when there. Sadly I went out of my way to find a phone shop only to later realise as others have pointed out here how widespread these things are sold as extras in other sorts of shops

Credit Cards: always have at least two ways of getting money. If there are two of you have at least two each. The more choices you have the better. My wife and i have both had occasion when, totally out of the blue our primary card would not work in particular machines.

Enjoy

 

[Roadrunnersp1]

Hi Flyag,

I did a trip with my family through USA, Canada and MX a while ago and found Travel Jigsaw very competitive and obliging on the rental car side of things. We hired cars through US and Canada with them for over two months with no problems (accept, when we got to Seattle after Canada, we could not fit all our luggage into the chosen car for that leg and had to upgrade to a bigger one at extra cost) but over all, I was very happy with them.
As for the phone, I just get a "throw away" prepaid phone from Radio Schack to make calls to home and email my new # to everyone back home so they can call me on that #. Hope that helps.

 

[CaptBob]

I am in Canada quite a bit, and use a Phone card for LD back home. $20 Cdn gets you 500 Minutes to AKL.
As I am here a lot I have Cdn phone, I want to keep my Cdn Phone number. Hope you get an idea from this....

 

[boylero]

plus 1 for skype and wifi

a colleague of mine receieved a nasty telstra bill for roaming OS $3200 :O

 

[robd]

plus 1 for skype and wifi

a colleague of mine receieved a nasty telstra bill for roaming OS $3200 :O

To be 100% sure this doesn't happen, you can have Telstra put a data bar on your phone whilst your overseas, so it doesn't roam.

 

[neon_crossing]

I always use Mr. Simcard www.mrsimcard.com +1-703-953-2272 | +44.7520763500 to puchase sim cards for my iPhone when I am in the USA. never failed me so far, some good deals, they set the sims up for you, great service.