which uk mobile (incl. uk sim) to take to california ?

zvonkokracun

hi, we are there, for 5 weeks only. we prob. will not go again. i read a few threads and buying one in the US seems complicated and wasteful, in our case. we don't mind buying one here, we have an ancient mobile only. so which PAYG, tri- or quad- band uk mobile ?? sim could be uk since we would only use it 5-10 times max. while over there and the rest of it's life in the uk.
thanks

redux

well, I'd advise against taking a UK SIM card to use over there, if you intend more than very limited use, as there just isn't any cheap roaming from any of the ordinary main network and virtual brands

so I would say if you will make quite a bit of use after all, either persevere about getting a US SIM card, or get one of the dual-numbered global SIMs that do have cheap roaming there, in fact free incoming when called on the IoM number, and with a US number convenient for people there calling you

the balance between these 2 options depends on how many calls you expect, and whether they are mainly to and from locally in USA, or to and from here

if you do go global SIM, note that the IoM number comes from some but not all UK networks inclusive minutes, so don't give your number to people on T-mobile, Vodafone or 3

if you choose US after all, then a tri-band phone form here would be needed for T-mobile, quadband for AT&T, and likewise for the mvno brands on them, such a TYuyo on T-mobile

on the other hand, there are very cheap phones available over there, just a few dollars in places like Walmart

and this latter option also leaves you the possibility to pick up a cheap phone on the CDMA networks like Sprint and Verizon, if those happen to have better network coverage in the places you'll be visiting (then give away the phone at the end as it won't work back here)