Recieving calls whilst in USA

runciman94_2

My partner is working in the USA for the next month, we are both on Orange so its free for me to call him but costs a fortune for him to recieve the call 77p. I have called orange who have added a bundle to decrease the charges to 49p for him to recieve it. Texts are also cheaper, does anyone know any other cheaper ways around this at all? He cant connect to wi-fi in his hotel because with it not being the orange network hes using he will get data charges. I just need something so its cheaper for him either to ring me (with this bundle costs about £1) or for me to call him to make it cheaper for him to recieve the call. Thanks

ali-t

I don't know if it is still the case but I knew someone who used to buy a cheap PAYG sim when in the USA and use that. It would be worth checking the networks in USA and see if any of them offer something suitable

mrcamp

He should be able to get a cheap payg sim by walking into tmobile or AT&T store or buy it from walmart, target, etc. The WiFi in his hotel will likely be free, so I am not sure why he can't connect.

SandLake

I bought a payg sim from AT&T last summer and ended up paying for incoming calls and texts!

mrcamp

Yes. In the US you pay for incoming calls and texts. Regarding the incoming calls, it's because the US uses a RPP (Receiving Party Pays) system. So, the US does not differentiate between mobiles and landlines. Hence, it does not cost anyone calling you extra to call a mobile. For example, it costs less for folks in the UK to call your US number than even a UK number. OTOH, you the UK and most other countryies use a CPP (Calling Party Pays)system, and has free incoming calls to their mobiles, but it sure costs a hefty premium to call a mobile phone.

SandLake wrote: »

I bought a payg sim from AT&T last summer and ended up paying for incoming calls and texts!

twistedmoosie

You can connect to wi-fi for free in any hotel or hotspot that offers it without paying data charges. When I visit the US I switch off the 3G/2G network signal and just connect through wi-fi, then use Skype to call home.

spannerzone

I was looking at the same thing..... apparently Gophones are preloaded cheapy pay as you go phones from Walmart etc but often have no SIM so you use what you buy rather than putting the SIM in your own phone..

See this MSE article
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls

mrcamp

Totally incorrect. GoPhones are AT&T sim/phone combination or just sim that can be bought on ebay, AT&T, walmart etc. You can buy it, load the thing up with credit and use the phone it comes with. Or just get the sim and pop it into your own phone.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=att+3g+go+phone+sim+card

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/prepaid-phones.jsp

spannerzone wrote: »

I was looking at the same thing..... apparently Gophones are preloaded cheapy pay as you go phones from Walmart etc but often have no SIM so you use what you buy rather than putting the SIM in your own phone..

See this MSE article
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls

NickAJ

I'm looking for a similar solution for when we go on holiday later this year.

Ideally I'd like to have the SIM card set up before we go so we know the number etc.

Does anyone know of reputable firms which ship cards to the UK? I guess somewhere like Orlando should be covered by the major networks OK.

spannerzone

mrcamp wrote: »

Totally incorrect. GoPhones are AT&T sim/phone combination or just sim that can be bought on ebay, AT&T, walmart etc. You can buy it, load the thing up with credit and use the phone it comes with. Or just get the sim and pop it into your own phone.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=att+3g+go+phone+sim+card

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/prepaid-phones.jsp

Thanks for correcting me...I must have been given some incorrect info on the gophones.... it seems that carriers that use CDMA are sim free and locked (which I was told the GoPhones were) but anyway much appreciated, but at least I got the MSE link right, didn't I?