3G in the USA ?

swayzak

Hi

My O2 Nokia 5800XM is unlocked so can accept any SIM cards.

Would I be able to pick up a prepaid SIM in the States that could utilise the data facilities on this phone (GoogleMaps, Satnav etc.) at reasonable cost ?


thanks

Exhortation

If it's quad band then you can use it in the USA. You have to remember that Google Maps downloads as it goes so using it for satnav in the States would probably cost a fortune.

swayzak

Exhortation wrote: »

If it's quad band then you can use it in the USA. You have to remember that Google Maps downloads as it goes so using it for satnav in the States would probably cost a fortune.

Thanks

I know I can use it (it is quad band), but would I be able to use a local 3G SIM card ? If so what sort of cost (for data usage) ?

Chorlie

Do they do PAYG in the USA?

I was over there in the summer and most people didn't know what a sim card was, there deals are expensive and long term.

You might be better looking to buy before you leave the UK, there are several site that sell sim cards that can be used in the USA, I'd have a look into them and there costs first.


http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls#simcards

swayzak

Chorlie wrote: »

Do they do PAYG in the USA?

I was over there in the summer and most people didn't know what a sim card was, there deals are expensive and long term.

You might be better looking to buy before you leave the UK, there are several site that sell sim cards that can be used in the USA, I'd have a look into them and there costs first.


http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls#simcards

Thanks

Hmmm .. I'm sure when I went to WA state a couple of years ago I picked up a prepaid SIM for my unlocked Samsung phone from one of the big network shops. Are they difficult to get then ?

Exhortation

Americans have somethig they call "disposable cellphones", which I imagine is how they refer to PAYG phones.

Chorlie

swayzak wrote: »

Thanks

Hmmm .. I'm sure when I went to WA state a couple of years ago I picked up a prepaid SIM for my unlocked Samsung phone from one of the big network shops. Are they difficult to get then ?

You might be able to buy one, I was with a group of people and my (UK) friends phone was flat so borrowed my phone and swoped sims as we do often and all the Americans where amazed, never seen it before, or even knew what a sim card was (it was like we'd shown them fire for the first time).

So we got chatting about mobiles and cost etc, there monthly charge is high but they have a standard number (landline) so it's cheaper to call a mobile.

Have a look on best buy web site or the USA T-Mobile site it should give you the answers

Nikkisun

When we went to Florida this year I bought an AT&T payg sim from Ebay before we went, topped it up online and added a data package, worked no problem.

swayzak

Nikkisun wrote: »

When we went to Florida this year I bought an AT&T payg sim from Ebay before we went, topped it up online and added a data package, worked no problem.

I assume you have to know which network covers the area you're travelling to in order to purchase the correct SIM ?

Nikkisun

For 3G coverage in USA there's only AT&T and T-Mobile. I think both cover most of the country unless you're going somewhere really obscure!

swayzak

Nikkisun wrote: »

For 3G coverage in USA there's only AT&T and T-Mobile. I think both cover most of the country unless you're going somewhere really obscure!

Cheers

NYC is a reasonable-sized village ... should get at least some coverage

E-bay it is then.