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Getting a US SIM for holiday |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,920
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Getting a US SIM for holiday
I'm going to the US for a month over the summer and was wondering how I go about getting a US SIM card for my iPhone 4 so I can avoid ridiculous roaming charges.
My iPhone 4 is unlocked so that's not an issue - can I get a SIM in the UK or is it best to just pop into an AT&T store when I'm there? |
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#2 |
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Guest
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,061
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Get a SIM out there, look at Cingular too, they are my preferred US SIM provider, when I'm out there.
Cingular to Cingular calls used to be free, not sure these days. |
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#3 |
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Guest
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 617
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Quote:
Get a SIM out there, look at Cingular too, they are my preferred US SIM provider, when I'm out there.
Cingular to Cingular calls used to be free, not sure these days. |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,636
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Cingular don't exist any more. They become the 'new' AT&T in 2005!
If anyone has any up to date info, that would help, as phone tariffs and availability change almost yearly. |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 796
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buy this and your sorted
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Unactivate...item45fad4e9e7 Activate it here before you go http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/ActivateCodes.aspx or this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Unactivate...item45fa3af586 activated here https://www.wireless.att.com/activations/ |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,920
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Quote:
buy this and your sorted
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Unactivate...item45fad4e9e7 Activate it here before you go http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/ActivateCodes.aspx or this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Unactivate...item45fa3af586 activated here https://www.wireless.att.com/activations/ 1) how do you pay for it/top it up? 2) how do you activate without a ZIP code? |
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#7 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 139
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Quote:
Thanks very much - two questions
1) how do you pay for it/top it up? 2) how do you activate without a ZIP code? Use the address and zip code of wherever you're staying. It's much easier if you're staying with friends or family than if you're in a hotel, but any address will do. They don't tend to contact you by mail for a pay-as-you-go plan, but you need to give an address because they give you a local area code phone number. The US doesn't have special codes for mobiles like the UK. |
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#8 |
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Guest
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,061
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Quote:
You can buy top-up cards with cash or card at most supermarkets, drug stores, gas stations - Walgreens have a good selection, and there's one on just about every corner, and so do 7-11.
Use the address and zip code of wherever you're staying. It's much easier if you're staying with friends or family than if you're in a hotel, but any address will do. They don't tend to contact you by mail for a pay-as-you-go plan, but you need to give an address because they give you a local area code phone number. The US doesn't have special codes for mobiles like the UK. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tyne & Wear
Posts: 1,326
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I'm doing the same myself, AT&T offer a gophone pre pay sim which seems to be the best option.
Bear in mind that for using data in the states only AT&T will work for 3G. |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 796
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Quote:
They also needed a US Credit card when I went for SIM, I used a relatives.
With reference to an address, mine is registered to the Microsoft Building, 5426 Bay Center Dr., Suite 700 Tampa, FL 33609 This was so i got a local Florida number (813) |
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#11 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 139
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Quote:
I'm doing the same myself, AT&T offer a gophone pre pay sim which seems to be the best option.
Bear in mind that for using data in the states only AT&T will work for 3G. AT&T's cheapest GoPhone plan including data is $75 a month, or you can add small amounts of data to their other plans. Either way, it's far more expensive (and confusing!) than the likes of Three in the UK for PAYG data. It's a shame you can't use your iPhone on Virgin Mobile. That's who I'm with, and I pay $25 for 300 minutes and unlimited text/data, on a 1 month rolling contract. It's a CDMA network (runs off Sprint) so won't work with UK phones. |
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#12 |
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Guest
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 715
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You can pick a cheap GoPhone at any of AT@T's numerous retail outlets.
I managed to blag a micro-sim for my unlocked iPhone 4 but generally they don't allow iPhone on GoPhone. They wouldn't sell me the $20 data package for it. Tariffs are $1 per day then 10c a min or 25c a min without the $1 fee. The $5 text option for offers 500 messages and although it says you can't use them internationally, I find you can. Hope that helps. |
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