Blackberry use in America for 10 weeks

scottyj17

Hi All,

Not sure where i should place this question...

I've booked a tour of North America which lasts for 10 weeks. It starts in LA and is a full circle of the continent arriving back in LA approx 10 weeks later.

My question is; at home i have a Blackberry Torch that i was looking to take with me. I was hoping to simply find an American pay as you go style sim that would cover a few minimal texts and calls and primarily the data side of things, instead of keeping with english sim card for the time being and having massive phone bills on return...

Can anyone advise me of the best deals etc to go with? Any advice on what to do??

Many Thanks

Scott

watcherman

Maybe something like these, and access e-mail via web, rather than BIS?

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/prepaid-plans.aspx

Or see if they do a BIS add-on for prepaid.

DUTR

Don't forget to make sure your handset is unlocked and that you obtain the correct settings for the chosen sim network provider to make use of all the features of the account.

in_the_Cotswolds

Who is you service provider? O2 do a data abroad bolt on, Blackberrys aren't as data hungry as some other smartphones. In all the time I've had Blackberrys including using them abroad, it was only 2 weeks, I've never had a bill anywhere £100. The most I've paid is £70.00ish.

scottyj17

Thanks guys. My current provider is o2 but i was thinking of leaving the sime card behind as i just assumed an american sim would be cheaper.

My last android phone cost me £70 for 4days in New York so i'm quite conscious of the prospective costs.

The phone is unlocked yes.

Any help would be much appreciated as it is the data side that i'm looking at really. All travel sim cards skip the data side of things.

Jon_01

If you go into Walmark, Target or any of the chain drug stores (CVS ect) they have payg sim in packs by the tills. They also have (or had last time I was there) complete phone/sim packs for around $30.

DUTR

scottyj17 wrote: »

Thanks guys. My current provider is o2 but i was thinking of leaving the sime card behind as i just assumed an american sim would be cheaper.

My last android phone cost me £70 for 4days in New York so i'm quite conscious of the prospective costs.

The phone is unlocked yes.

Any help would be much appreciated as it is the data side that i'm looking at really. All travel sim cards skip the data side of things.

It may well work out cheaper the get a local sim card on payg.
And well done for being aware before the trip :cool:
Saves us having another "my bill was £1000's thread"

scottyj17

How do i know that these prepaid ones will work with BIS (Blackberry Internet Service)?

Jon_01

They come stuck to a HUGE bit of cardboard with all the info on it (or they did last time I was over there).

If it doesn't say, I'd think the best bet would be to try a phone shop.

Also, thinking about it, can you have a BB talking through 2 different networks ? Would you need to release your pin on the UK network to have it work on the US ??

Exemplar

Just go to wal-mart. They have all the plans printed on the prepaid cardboard holders (they look like gift cards). Just be aware that the US is a biiiiiiiiiiig country and that sometimes you will have to roam networks which will add to costs. Lastly some of the US still only operates on 2g and non digital networks.