Recommendations for USA Sim Card with Data

[robd]

Does this mean that at your first reload of $100 your sim will be active for 12 months even though at the end of the first month you only have say $40 credit left?

I believe so. You don't have to have $100 of credit sitting there. You just have to reload before the expiry date to keep it active.

 

[drewbles]

I would rather it (data) turn slow, then go bankrupt with a bill I could never repay!

You'd think that AT&T "4G" (which is really 3.5G when using an AU handset as LTE frequencies in the USA are different to here) was actually already throttled. I use AT&T directly, and my HSDPA speeds are sub that of what I see on Telstra's saturated 3G network. In fact, i've had better performance on Telstra's EDGE network than AT&T's 3.5G.

USA networks are slow, period. I would imagine the throttling would be to GPRS speeds, which in the USA, is slower than dialup.

 

[drewbles]

Have you guys heard if Vodafone offering they had only recently doubled there data rate and also 5 bucks a day roaming max to pay and then you can use. All your data allowance ie 5 Gig on the 65 dollar plan

Using this requires you to be on a specific Vodafone Plan. Also, they limit it to around a maximum of 6 weeks a year I believe, making it OK for people requiring it when needed, but poor value for regular travellers.

Also, the way the Vodafone system works is, when you register on an overseas network for the first time, you're automatically charged the $5 daily fee, regardless if you make/receive a call, send/receive an SMS or use data. It's the registration that triggers it. So you can't leave your handset on for 'emergencies' or the like. Once it's on, the juice is running.

 

[drewbles]

IIRC, loading the sim with $100 will keep it active for 12 mths. At the end of twelve months, everything expires (your remaining credit & the sim) unless you reload.

Correct. It's actually 12 months plus 30 days. The $100 is valid for 12 months of credit balance, and then expires. All SIM cards totally expire 30 days after any credit balance has expired.

 

[drewbles]

So to keep the US phone number and SIM card active from year to year you only have to have to have a minimum of $100 credit in account?.

Or does a $100 recharge at the start of use keep the SIM active for 1 year even though there is $0 in account - because you used that $100?.

If you have $100 credit in the SIM card when you return home from the US, how do you prevent the credit from being depleted before the next time you go back to US?.

I would think that the prepaid plans (for eg ATT will deduct a fixed amount each month until you tell it to stop, but if you tell it to stop what plan do you default to while keeping sim active?

Anyone had experience with mobipassport.com?

You put credit into your GoPhone account, and choose how you want to use it. I use the $60 unlimited talk and text with 2GB of data. That removes $60 from the $100, leaving me with $40.

When I board the plane out of the USA, I dial 611 and change my rate plan to the 10c per minute plan. This then leaves me with the $40 after I take off.

AT&T, and other pre-paid providers in the USA, do levy a '911 fee' of around 75c/month though when you're not on a plan, so it will slowly eat into the $40. Adding another $100 to the account, will extend your balance expiry by 12 months from the date of recharge (ie, not add 12 months to the current expiry date).

 

[Princess Fiona]

Go easy on me as I'm technologically challenged.
Skimming through this thread, I will be in the US for two months, have an unlocked iPhone 5S. Can I land in LAX go to an AT&T shop and get a pre-paid nano-sim for $65 per month with 2G data?
Do I need a US credit card to do this?

 

[Quickstatus]

Go easy on me as I'm technologically challenged.
Skimming through this thread, I will be in the US for two months, have an unlocked iPhone 5S. Can I land in LAX go to an AT&T shop and get a pre-paid nano-sim for $65 per month with 2G data?
Do I need a US credit card to do this?

That's what I'm going to do. Don't need US credit card if you are in AT&T shop. $60 prepaid (not $65) for unlimited domestic calls, domestic SMS and SMS to Australia (yes to Oz), 2gb at 4g speed. Pay extra $10 for calls to OZ landlines. Your unlocked iphone 5 if bought in Oz is a Worldphone- can be used in US. See the back of iPhone. If model A1429 =Worldphone. If last credit load is $100 then sim will be alive for 12 months from last $100 load.

AT&T uses GSM

 

[Quickstatus]

Or use mobi.passport.com.au if you want a AT&T sim before you leave for the US.

sim cost $20

In US sim costs $10

Which is better I don't know.

 

[drewbles]

That's what I'm going to do. Don't need US credit card if you are in AT&T shop. $60 prepaid (not $65) for unlimited domestic calls, domestic SMS and SMS to Australia (yes to Oz), 2gb at 4g speed. Pay extra $10 for calls to OZ landlines. Your unlocked iphone 5 if bought in Oz is a Worldphone- can be used in US. See the back of iPhone. If model A1429 =Worldphone. If last credit load is $100 then sim will be alive for 12 months from last $100 load.

AT&T uses GSM

Yes, it can be used... *but*...

Not as true 4G. With iOS 7, the icons changed on the iPhone for AU. Prior to iOS 7, you had º denoting GPRS, E denoting EDGE, 3G denoting HSDPA/UMTS and LTE denoting what we know as 4G.

In the USA it's º, E, 3G, 4G and LTE. There, 4G is actually HSDPA+ or what we know here as 3.5G. It's an 'enhanced' 3G service, much as EDGE is an enhanced version of GPRS. You'll get 4G on your AU iPhone in the USA, which is actually 3.5G (You'll never get true LTE with an iPhone 5 or 5S in the USA).

The new iPad Air actually has a combined radio that does work with LTE in AU and the USA. Now, if only they'd bring that to the iPhone (hopefully next year) you'd have decent speeds in the USA

A1429 = the Apple model for specific markets, not 'worldphone'. With the exception of the above mentioned iPad, there is no LTE phone from Apple that works globally... yet

 

[drewbles]

Or use mobi.passport.com.au if you want a AT&T sim before you leave for the US.

sim cost $20

In US sim costs $10

Which is better I don't know.

AT&T SIM's are free in the USA. No point paying for them.

Walk into an AT&T store, say you want a PAYG GoPhone Nano SIM for iPhone 5 and they'll set you up. Just pay a recharge onto it there too. Makes it so much easier.

 

[marki]

Oh so there is a catch after all but I thought you could ask for the five dollar international rate to be suspended then you have an ordinary phone for use as stand by.

 

[Quickstatus]

AT&T SIM's are free in the USA. No point paying for them.

Walk into an AT&T store, say you want a PAYG GoPhone Nano SIM for iPhone 5 and they'll set you up. Just pay a recharge onto it there too. Makes it so much easier.

Ok will do. I was told by a friend that he was charged $10 walking into shop in LAX. Maybe some charge (perhaps ATT resellers) and others don't

 

[drewbles]

Ok will do. I was told by a friend that he was charged $10 walking into shop in LAX. Maybe some charge (perhaps ATT resellers) and others don't

Perhaps a reseller may charge, but the AT&T stores don't (well, they've never charged me at least).

To the best of my knowledge, there are no AT&T resellers or company stores in LAX. The closest I know of is just out of the airport roads, on Sepulveda (which is a reseller).

 

[Quickstatus]

To the best of my knowledge, there are no AT&T resellers or company stores in LAX. The closest I know of is just out of the airport roads, on Sepulveda (which is a reseller).

Correct: 8949 S Sepulveda Blvd.
1.3 miles from LAX airport.

Not sure what reseller he went to.

 

[drewbles]

PF, I have a spare AT&T Nano SIM here which hasn't been activated. You're welcome to it if you want (I'll have to dig it up, it's at home). You should be able to activate it via https://www.wireless.att.com/GoPhoneWeb/ too; it's never been used (once they've been activated, if you let it expire, the SIM is dead and they will not re-activate it).

 

[Quickstatus]

PF, I have a spare AT&T Nano SIM here which hasn't been activated. You're welcome to it if you want

Maybe AFF members when they travel can acquire a spare Sim or two to give to other AFF members. Personally I wouldn't give or use a secondhand sim unless its an unactivated one. Preferential selection as to who gets it can be based on number of posts by member.

If PF declines and you find it can i have it?

 

[drewbles]

Maybe AFF members when they travel can acquire a spare Sim or two to give to other AFF members. Personally I wouldn't give or use a secondhand sim unless its an unactivated one. Preferential selection as to who gets it can be based on number of posts by member.

If PF declines and you find it can i have it?

AT&T won't just hand you bulk SIM's unfortunately SIM cards do have a real cost associated with them for the telco (and it's substantially more than most people think!).

I have loaned my SIM to friends before, but once a SIM has been activated, and the balance has expired, it only has 30 days before it's killed for good anyway. This is a relatively new policy from AT&T (in the past 12-18 months). Prior to this, they did not expire. Believe it or not, having a SIM Active in their HLR actually costs money.

 

[Princess Fiona]

PF, I have a spare AT&T Nano SIM here which hasn't been activated. You're welcome to it if you want (I'll have to dig it up, it's at home). You should be able to activate it via https://www.wireless.att.com/GoPhoneWeb/ too; it's never been used (once they've been activated, if you let it expire, the SIM is dead and they will not re-activate it).

That would be fantastic drewbles
PM being sent

 

[drewbles]

That would be fantastic drewbles
PM being sent

No problems

 

[legroom]

This is what I received from Vodafone when I switched my iPhone on in the USA last week:

"... Welcome to The USA.

Warning, now that you have activated your mobile device overseas, there may be delays in receiving usage information and alerts.

The good news is you can now use your Australian plan while you're here. This means for just $5 extra a day you can make calls to standard numbers, send TXT, or use the internet - all from your regular plan allowance.

This Vodafone offer is automatically activated each day you send/receive calls, use your data, or send a TXT/PXT. For more info or to opt out, free call +61414141414 from your Vodafone Mobile.

Don't forget you now need to dial +61 instead of 0 when calling Aussie numbers.

Happy travels!....."

So, only when you make/receive calls or text or start using data, not when phone is idle with Data Roaming switched off.

Using this requires you to be on a specific Vodafone Plan. Also, they limit it to around a maximum of 6 weeks a year I believe, making it OK for people requiring it when needed, but poor value for regular travellers.

Also, the way the Vodafone system works is, when you register on an overseas network for the first time, you're automatically charged the $5 daily fee, regardless if you make/receive a call, send/receive an SMS or use data. It's the registration that triggers it. So you can't leave your handset on for 'emergencies' or the like. Once it's on, the juice is running.