Best USA mobile network

pkc · 24-07-2008, 14:43

I am looking for peoples expierence with USA based mobile networks.

Any help would be welcomed.

SilentLoner · 24-07-2008, 15:15

when you go roaming your on at&t or t-mobile they are they only gsm networks. By gsm it is the same standard that mobile phone's over here and the majority of the world use therefore your phone from here works in america if unlocked. there is also sprint and version and they use a different technology which is a name that escapes me at present.

ricki · 24-07-2008, 15:21

I own a t-mobile usa sim card that i use on my trips to the states

needs to stay active and new credit every 6 months, but there are cheap to buy (eBay) and credit is the same .

pkc · 24-07-2008, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentLoner

when you go roaming your on at&t or t-mobile they are they only gsm networks. By gsm it is the same standard that mobile phone's over here and the majority of the world use therefore your phone from here works in america if unlocked. there is also sprint and version and they use a different technology which is a name that escapes me at present.

Yep.. there are 3 bands also..

I am all okay with the technical side, just trying to work out what is best value.

pkc · 24-07-2008, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricki

I own a t-mobile usa sim card that i use on my trips to the states

needs to stay active and new credit every 6 months, but there are cheap to buy (eBay) and credit is the same .

T-mobile, if you topup 100$ its valid for a year, then when that year is near to expiry topup by 10$ for another year's validity.. My mum has a t-mobile over there...

ricki · 24-07-2008, 16:24

yeh thats what i do!

one thing to remember about USA MOBILE Costs are

you have a local number - so if your in Manhattan and your landline is (212) you mobile is also (212)

When someone calls you, you get charged - Sounds a little odd, but it's cheaper because calls are local rate

which in BT terms is 1p a min etc etc etc

bumsex · 26-07-2008, 06:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkc

I am looking for peoples expierence with USA based mobile networks.

Any help would be welcomed.

Hi i deal with a Lot of US customers every day. The 2 largest networks over there are Verizon Wireless ( www.verizonwireless.com )and AT&T (formerly Cingular) ( www.att.com ). AT&T are a GSM network where as Verizon operate as a CDMA ntework predominently. The CDMA phones are easily spotted as they do not have a sim card. Also GSM service only really covers half of the mainland too so check where you are going and see if the coverage is OK.

Katia Polletin · 26-07-2008, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentLoner

When you go roaming your on at&t or t-mobile they are they only GSM networks. By GSM it is the same standard that mobile phone's over here and the majority of the world use therefore your phone from here works in America if unlocked. there is also sprint and version and they use a different technology which is a name that escapes me at present.

Not quite.

In the UK and most the rest of the world we use GSM 900 (o2 & Vodafone & virtuals) and GSM 1800 (T-Mobile, Orange & virtuals).

In the USA they use GSM 850 and GSM 1900 as they were late to adopt GSM and other technology uses / used the 900Mhz / 1800Mhz frequency.

So if you only have a regular dual-band phone then it won't work in the USA, unlocked or not.

At the least you'll need a tri-band phone which adds on GSM 1900, with a quad band that adds on GSM 850 too.

spanglysteve · 27-07-2008, 22:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricki

When someone calls you, you get charged - Sounds a little odd, but it's cheaper because calls are local rate

which in BT terms is 1p a min etc etc etc

Thats rediculous, why should they charge you for someone else calling you, surely the other person should pick up the cost of calling you?

Last edited by spanglysteve : 27-07-2008 at 22:15. Reason: Accidentally switched the caps lock on!

Katia Polletin · 27-07-2008, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanglysteve

Thats rediculous, why should they charge you for someone else calling you, surely the other person should pick up the cost of calling you?

In the USA and a couple of other countries it is the person being called who has to pay the difference in the high cost of running the call.

In the UK and most of the rest of the world, the person calling the mobile phone pays the difference, hence it's dearer to call a mobile than a landline.

In the USA (& Canada) and a couple of other countries the cost to call a mobile is the same as the cost to call a landline, however the person you are calling has to pay the difference, either at a rate of 10 - 15c / minute or taken out of their inclusive minutes. This is why it took a lot longer for mobiles to take off in the USA.

spanglysteve · 27-07-2008, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katia Polletin

In the USA and a couple of other countries it is the person being called who has to pay the difference in the high cost of running the call.

In the UK and most of the rest of the world, the person calling the mobile phone pays the difference, hence it's dearer to call a mobile than a landline.

In the USA (& Canada) and a couple of other countries the cost to call a mobile is the same as the cost to call a landline, however the person you are calling has to pay the difference, either at a rate of 10 - 15c / minute or taken out of their inclusive minutes. This is why it took a lot longer for mobiles to take off in the USA.

cool i understand, i guess its the same as us being abroad... as the caller is calling a "uk" number, they wouldnt know we were abroad and hence we pick up the difference. The callers in the USA would not know they are calling a mobile and therefore the mobile owner picks up the cost. Must say, I prefer our method of doing it, dont really like the idea where I'm scared to pick up my phone as it will cost me!

Katia Polletin · 27-07-2008, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanglysteve

cool i understand, i guess its the same as us being abroad... as the caller is calling a "uk" number, they wouldnt know we were abroad and hence we pick up the difference. The callers in the USA would not know they are calling a mobile and therefore the mobile owner picks up the cost. Must say, I prefer our method of doing it, dont really like the idea where I'm scared to pick up my phone as it will cost me!

Yeah, I prefer our method too.

24-07-2008, 14:43	#1
pkc Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Brighton Posts: 5,192	Best USA mobile network I am looking for peoples expierence with USA based mobile networks. Any help would be welcomed.

24-07-2008, 15:15	#2
SilentLoner Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Aylesbury Posts: 3,995	when you go roaming your on at&t or t-mobile they are they only gsm networks. By gsm it is the same standard that mobile phone's over here and the majority of the world use therefore your phone from here works in america if unlocked. there is also sprint and version and they use a different technology which is a name that escapes me at present.

24-07-2008, 15:21	#3
ricki Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 79	I own a t-mobile usa sim card that i use on my trips to the states needs to stay active and new credit every 6 months, but there are cheap to buy (eBay) and credit is the same .

24-07-2008, 15:58	#4
pkc Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Brighton Posts: 5,192	Quote: Originally Posted by SilentLoner when you go roaming your on at&t or t-mobile they are they only gsm networks. By gsm it is the same standard that mobile phone's over here and the majority of the world use therefore your phone from here works in america if unlocked. there is also sprint and version and they use a different technology which is a name that escapes me at present. Yep.. there are 3 bands also.. I am all okay with the technical side, just trying to work out what is best value.

24-07-2008, 15:59	#5
pkc Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Brighton Posts: 5,192	Quote: Originally Posted by ricki I own a t-mobile usa sim card that i use on my trips to the states needs to stay active and new credit every 6 months, but there are cheap to buy (eBay) and credit is the same . T-mobile, if you topup 100$ its valid for a year, then when that year is near to expiry topup by 10$ for another year's validity.. My mum has a t-mobile over there...

24-07-2008, 16:24	#6
ricki Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 79	yeh thats what i do! one thing to remember about USA MOBILE Costs are you have a local number - so if your in Manhattan and your landline is (212) you mobile is also (212) When someone calls you, you get charged - Sounds a little odd, but it's cheaper because calls are local rate which in BT terms is 1p a min etc etc etc

26-07-2008, 06:53	#7
bumsex Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 584	Quote: Originally Posted by pkc I am looking for peoples expierence with USA based mobile networks. Any help would be welcomed. Hi i deal with a Lot of US customers every day. The 2 largest networks over there are Verizon Wireless ( www.verizonwireless.com )and AT&T (formerly Cingular) ( www.att.com ). AT&T are a GSM network where as Verizon operate as a CDMA ntework predominently. The CDMA phones are easily spotted as they do not have a sim card. Also GSM service only really covers half of the mainland too so check where you are going and see if the coverage is OK.

26-07-2008, 16:34	#8
Katia Polletin Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Little Village Posts: 3,984	Quote: Originally Posted by SilentLoner When you go roaming your on at&t or t-mobile they are they only GSM networks. By GSM it is the same standard that mobile phone's over here and the majority of the world use therefore your phone from here works in America if unlocked. there is also sprint and version and they use a different technology which is a name that escapes me at present. Not quite. In the UK and most the rest of the world we use GSM 900 (o2 & Vodafone & virtuals) and GSM 1800 (T-Mobile, Orange & virtuals). In the USA they use GSM 850 and GSM 1900 as they were late to adopt GSM and other technology uses / used the 900Mhz / 1800Mhz frequency. So if you only have a regular dual-band phone then it won't work in the USA, unlocked or not. At the least you'll need a tri-band phone which adds on GSM 1900, with a quad band that adds on GSM 850 too.

27-07-2008, 22:13	#9
spanglysteve Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,380	Quote: Originally Posted by ricki When someone calls you, you get charged - Sounds a little odd, but it's cheaper because calls are local rate which in BT terms is 1p a min etc etc etc Thats rediculous, why should they charge you for someone else calling you, surely the other person should pick up the cost of calling you? Last edited by spanglysteve : 27-07-2008 at 22:15. Reason: Accidentally switched the caps lock on!

27-07-2008, 22:22	#10
Katia Polletin Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Little Village Posts: 3,984	Quote: Originally Posted by spanglysteve Thats rediculous, why should they charge you for someone else calling you, surely the other person should pick up the cost of calling you? In the USA and a couple of other countries it is the person being called who has to pay the difference in the high cost of running the call. In the UK and most of the rest of the world, the person calling the mobile phone pays the difference, hence it's dearer to call a mobile than a landline. In the USA (& Canada) and a couple of other countries the cost to call a mobile is the same as the cost to call a landline, however the person you are calling has to pay the difference, either at a rate of 10 - 15c / minute or taken out of their inclusive minutes. This is why it took a lot longer for mobiles to take off in the USA.

27-07-2008, 22:25	#11
spanglysteve Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,380	Quote: Originally Posted by Katia Polletin In the USA and a couple of other countries it is the person being called who has to pay the difference in the high cost of running the call. In the UK and most of the rest of the world, the person calling the mobile phone pays the difference, hence it's dearer to call a mobile than a landline. In the USA (& Canada) and a couple of other countries the cost to call a mobile is the same as the cost to call a landline, however the person you are calling has to pay the difference, either at a rate of 10 - 15c / minute or taken out of their inclusive minutes. This is why it took a lot longer for mobiles to take off in the USA. cool i understand, i guess its the same as us being abroad... as the caller is calling a "uk" number, they wouldnt know we were abroad and hence we pick up the difference. The callers in the USA would not know they are calling a mobile and therefore the mobile owner picks up the cost. Must say, I prefer our method of doing it, dont really like the idea where I'm scared to pick up my phone as it will cost me!

27-07-2008, 22:27	#12
Katia Polletin Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Little Village Posts: 3,984	Quote: Originally Posted by spanglysteve cool i understand, i guess its the same as us being abroad... as the caller is calling a "uk" number, they wouldnt know we were abroad and hence we pick up the difference. The callers in the USA would not know they are calling a mobile and therefore the mobile owner picks up the cost. Must say, I prefer our method of doing it, dont really like the idea where I'm scared to pick up my phone as it will cost me! Yeah, I prefer our method too.

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