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?

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.

I thought Cingular were bought out by Verizon?

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.

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/

Thanks very much - two questions

1) how do you pay for it/top it up?
2) how do you activate without a ZIP code?

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.

They also needed a US Credit card when I went for SIM, I used a relatives.

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.

Ive never had to register a CC with T Mobile USA, i dont know if you do for AT&T,

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)

Watch out for paying through the nose for any prepaid plan with data.

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.

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.