Whats the best USA sim card deal at the moment?

[infinity]

Net10 website mails to US & Canada addresses

Had a look at Net 10 website and cant see where you can buy a sim??

 

[serfty]

Had a look at Net 10 website and cant see where you can buy a sim??

It's under "Buy Phones and More":

Net10 - Buy Your SIM Card

 

[jastel]

A few points

If you are going to big cities most cards should work.
If you are going to be in rural areas ATT has the best coverage.
If you are going to the desert canyon areas of Utah etc Sprint is the only one.
Some areas have NO cell phone coverage at all.

NYC due to Sandy and flooding has very slow 3G due to many offices sth of Wall St having no landline communications so they are clogging up the mobile airwaves to keep open.

Many cities in USA are now on 4G as well.

There aee many wifi hotspots in the cities to use.

Your phone MUST be unlocked to use another sim.

I have been using ATT Go phone $25 calls pm, $25 1gb data pm,must be on the $25 call pack first. Can pay cash easy. Short walk to store from LAX hotels. It is just next to In N Out Burger.
Like here ipads are treated differently. Have $30 for 3 gb pm. CC needed, and fake US address. Dont forget to cancel when you return or they will keep charging you. Ipad sim does not expire though.

 

[infinity]

Just ordered 2 Net 10 $65 sims for delivery to my US address.

Will let all know how I go.

One question though, I will use them in an iphone 5 and iphone 4.

Will need to cut down the iphone 5 sim I guess as not given a choice for that size sim??

 

[DeKa]

Just ordered 2 Net 10 $65 sims for delivery to my US address.

Will let all know how I go.

One question though, I will use them in an iphone 5 and iphone 4.

Will need to cut down the iphone 5 sim I guess as not given a choice for that size sim??

Yes. Buy the Noosey brand nano sim cutter on Amazon and have that sent to your US address too. That is the best and most accurate cutter.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009AU7H02


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[AVC]

We used an AT&T sim, which you can buy from Target (there was one across the road).

They didn't have the micro-sim when we were there, but I used it in a Nokia N9 and has a wi-fi hotspot app, so our iPads could be used.

We burned through 1gb in about 2 weeks though. (we were there for 3 weeks) And that's with free internet at the Hilton for a week. Mapping will burn through data fairly quick.

 

[tuppaware]

Just back from the US.
I used a H20 sim from mrsimcard.com +1-703-953-2272 | +44.7520763500.
Although I had plenty of time to plan it. Got it 4 weeks before I left, it was activated 2 days before I got in.
They did a nano sim for my iphone5, when I put it in I had to be on wifi to download the net profile (lounge is good for that)

2g sim for $89.00 - best money I ever spent. It uses ATT network.

 

[DeKa]

Welcome James, but please don't spam.

James Boardman - Australia | LinkedIn

 

[Kerrodt]

I spent 7 weeks in the USA over August and September. I did a fair bit of research on this topic trying to work out what was the best option and quite frankly, it was confusing. There are hundreds of different opinions and many contradict each other. And, the situation changes regularly with different rates and plans etc.

I was recommended to take a look at travelgear.com.au as a good source of information and products to buy for an Australian traveling overseas. They seemed to have what I was after, and to make sure, I called them up - they are Melbourne based - and chatted on the phone to them to be sure of exactly what I was doing was right.

Your particular solution will depend on what phone you have and how you plan to use it.

I ended up getting the T-Mobile plan. T-Mobile don' t have 3G but they are rolling out 4G and the default is 2G / EDGE. I found this was ok for basic data needs out and about on my Iphone 4 which was on EDGE all of the time.

The kit of stuff they send out has instructions on what to do to set it up properly on the phone. Very easy!

I'd strongly recommend you take a look at their site. I'd definitely use them again. If you are unsure,call them. They are friendly and helpful.

I would strongly recommend against trying to do it all when you get to the USA. It will be a nightmare for you. most mobile phone retail outlets don't understand the concept of only selling a sim card and a month by month tariff. They are used to selling a phone and plan bundle.

Also, as a side note I bought an additional sim for my iPad to access data via 3G. I never used it once in 7 weeks as free wifi is widespread in the USA. Every hotel I stayed at had free wifi, many coffee shops have free wifi, Starbucks has it for free, and some public spaces have it for free. Much better than Australia. It was good as a backup, but when I go to the USA next time I won't bother with a sim for my iPad.

Im a very happy and satisfied customer of travelgear.com.au and happy to share my experience.

I hope this helps out a bit.

Enjoy the travel.

 

[Tryin Bingham]

ATT has a good pay as you go ($2 per day) or a flat monthly rate ($25-29 from memory) You get unlimited domestic SMS text messaging, and either;
1) unlimited calls for $2/day
2) 250 minutes for the monthly plan. (remember minutes in the USA are used regardless of whether you are the originator of the call!)
3) You do not get data - so use your free wifi hotspots (all over the USA; Starbucks, Denny's etc) for that.

The number stays valid in the system for 3 months, sometimes longer if you switch to a $2/day before you leave - you can do this online, or by getting the card of the salesperson, calling them and having them switch your account before you leave. You can also add a small credit, which will keep the card active for 360 days.

I've found this to be the best solution to stay within communication within the USA with very good reception everywhere I've travelled.

 

[Limewood]

Walked into a ATT store in SFO last Aug, free sim and $30 a month for all I needed for iPad (used constantly), cancelled it on my return

 

[jastel]

ATT has a good pay as you go ($2 per day) or a flat monthly rate ($25-29 from memory) You get unlimited domestic SMS text messaging, and either;
1) unlimited calls for $2/day
2) 250 minutes for the monthly plan. (remember minutes in the USA are used regardless of whether you are the originator of the call!)
3) You do not get data - so use your free wifi hotspots (all over the USA; Starbucks, Denny's etc) for that.

The number stays valid in the system for 3 months, sometimes longer if you switch to a $2/day before you leave - you can do this online, or by getting the card of the salesperson, calling them and having them switch your account before you leave. You can also add a small credit, which will keep the card active for 360 days.

I've found this to be the best solution to stay within communication within the USA with very good reception everywhere I've travelled.

I was told it had to be $100 in credit for the sim to stay active for a year, at that price I will buy a new one each time as I dont go there every year.
On a side note the sim I had I kept getting calls for the previous owner from Time Warner Cable, a BMW dealer and his friends, most of whom wanted money...I guess the sim was cancelled for 3 months and then the number reissued to me.
Anyone have similar stories?

 

[Rebekkap]

I spent 7 weeks in the USA over August and September. I did a fair bit of research on this topic trying to work out what was the best option and quite frankly, it was confusing. There are hundreds of different opinions and many contradict each other. And, the situation changes regularly with different rates and plans etc.

I was recommended to take a look at travelgear.com.au as a good source of information and products to buy for an Australian traveling overseas. They seemed to have what I was after, and to make sure, I called them up - they are Melbourne based - and chatted on the phone to them to be sure of exactly what I was doing was right.

Your particular solution will depend on what phone you have and how you plan to use it.

I ended up getting the T-Mobile plan. T-Mobile don' t have 3G but they are rolling out 4G and the default is 2G / EDGE. I found this was ok for basic data needs out and about on my Iphone 4 which was on EDGE all of the time.

The kit of stuff they send out has instructions on what to do to set it up properly on the phone. Very easy!

I'd strongly recommend you take a look at their site. I'd definitely use them again. If you are unsure,call them. They are friendly and helpful.

I would strongly recommend against trying to do it all when you get to the USA. It will be a nightmare for you. most mobile phone retail outlets don't understand the concept of only selling a sim card and a month by month tariff. They are used to selling a phone and plan bundle.

Also, as a side note I bought an additional sim for my iPad to access data via 3G. I never used it once in 7 weeks as free wifi is widespread in the USA. Every hotel I stayed at had free wifi, many coffee shops have free wifi, Starbucks has it for free, and some public spaces have it for free. Much better than Australia. It was good as a backup, but when I go to the USA next time I won't bother with a sim for my iPad.

Im a very happy and satisfied customer of travelgear.com.au and happy to share my experience.

I hope this helps out a bit.

Enjoy the travel.

Do you work for them??

I bought a sim card from them last time I was travelling to the US. Never again. SMS wouldn't work, and although they answered my initial email, they then ignored the response and a couple of further follow up emails, while I was away and trying to make the phone work.

I'm not technologically illiterate - I used to work in IT - but despite a bunch of fiddling around and changing settings the thing was stuffed, and the customer service more
so.

 

[mella2007]

Agree re Travel Gear also. Phone didn't work during entire trip. Initial phone call didn't fix anything. Follow up email I sent went unanswered. Waste of $89 when they had the red pocket travel sim. I spent hours trying to fix. Waste of time and pathetic service. Would not recommend.

 

[Kerrodt]

Do you work for them??

No I don't. Thanks for asking. If I worked for them I would obviously disclose such a significant conflict.

I simply reported on my experience in (a) searching the Internet for a solution, and (b) the solution I ended up going with.

Im sorry you had problems with your sim card and the service from them.

 

[Rebekkap]

No I don't. Thanks for asking. If I worked for them I would obviously disclose such a significant conflict.

I simply reported on my experience in (a) searching the Internet for a solution, and (b) the solution I ended up going with.

Im sorry you had problems with your sim card and the service from them.

I'm glad it's obvious to you that you need to disclose such conflicts - it's certainly not obvious to everyone.

It seemed like your post was a little too glowing, and linked to the site a few too many times - but I'm glad I was mistaken.

I'm obviously not the only one who's had problems with their customer service, but it's good to hear you didn't.

 

[gwslade]

You might want to check out a company called Travelers Mobile they will ship a US SIM and no contract pre-paid plan to Australia. They carry Red Pocket, Simple Mobile, H2O and Net10 so lots of options for plans. They also carry DataJack for Data.

 

[infinity]

You might want to check out a company called Travelers Mobile they will ship a US SIM and no contract pre-paid plan to Australia. They carry Red Pocket, Simple Mobile, H2O and Net10 so lots of options for plans. They also carry DataJack for Data.

Currently in USA and Net 10 were abismal. couldnt even get them to ship to a USA address they wont take Aust or even USA c/c's.

Avoid them like the plague.

Just got the standard AT&T card for $25 for about 250 minutes of USA calls (I dont need to make that many) and $25 for 1 gig of data.

Working fine in Florida, coupled with wifi. All good

 

[Rebekkap]

Currently in USA and Net 10 were abismal. couldnt even get them to ship to a USA address they wont take Aust or even USA c/c's.

Avoid them like the plague.

Just got the standard AT&T card for $25 for about 250 minutes of USA calls (I dont need to make that many) and $25 for 1 gig of data.

Working fine in Florida, coupled with wifi. All good

Am currently in the US, using a Net10 sim that's giving me 4G coverage on my iPhone - I had it before I left and activated online when I arrived - $50 for unlimited text, talk and data.
And they took my Amex no problem.

 

[file51]

Has anyone had any experience with Globalgig? ( Globalgig - Low cost data roaming in the US, UK and Australia )

I am considering the 5GB plan they have, and suspending the service after 3 weeks of being
in the US then paying the reconnect fee for another 3-4 weeks in a couple of months time.

$129 for the wifi unit seems a little steep, but given my need for data on potentially more than
1 device whilst away it would pay for itself very quickly. 2-3GB is the amount of data I would need
to be covered for.

Also, travelling with 2-3 others who always come back from US trips with $1k+ phone bills
(all company paid), mostly from data use... they could certainly make use of this service
(for them it is mainly emails).

Any other suggestions if there are other options would be appreciated