Moving to the US, best option for mobile phone

candyflip2011

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can offer me any advice..

I'm moving to the states next month, but at the moment I have 15 months left on my phone contract with Orange. I called them and they advised to try and find someone interested in taking over the contract (I've had no luck finding anybody yet..)

I have the HTC Desire... I would like to maybe take this with me if possible. I've not had much luck looking into SIM cards offering good rates in the US.. is this the best way to go tho?

What would you do? Just give the HTC to whoever takes over my contract and start a fresh in the US? Or hang on to the phone and get it unlocked and get a US sim?

Any advice much appreciated thank you!

exup

I'm not sure myself, but plenty of the guys in my gaming clan live in the US and are pretty friendly - I'll post your question on there and see what info they give back (the site is twbclan.com by the way)

paulinespens

You may be probs better off staring a fresh in the US. How long you going to be going in the state for?

Not all the US networks take sim cards. AT&T is the only network that takes simcards.

Im an ex pat and live in the USA. I just like to lurk here.

At the moment im with Virgin Mobile USA. I pay $25 a month for unlimted web text and data with 300 minutes.

www.virginmobileusa.com

They are a virtual nerwork who use Sprints Network (They don't use simcards)

Alot of USA mobile companies charge for receiving international text messages.

I would stear clear of At&t and Verizon as they are quite exepensive including there pay and go.

Sprint a US Network offers another company called Boost Mobile they do unlimited calls and texts for $50 a month.

If your near the Kroger family of stores check out www.iwirelesshome.com They don't charge you to recieve text messages and you get free minutes when you spend $100 in grocieres using your kroger plus card (like a tesco card)

Any questions give me a shout.

paulinespens

One more thing if your moving to the USA you may have a tough time getting a contract phone with having no credit history. Unless you can piggy back someone elses. There is some pretty good pay as you deals out there.

Someone on here may say get a $10 phone from Walmart but thats only hand if your here for a weeks vacation.

alisong1

Pre-paid cell phones can become very expensive too.
It really depends on what you need your cell phone for and how much you use it. Do you need emails and internet? Or just calls and texts? Do you spend a lot of time on the phone? Will you often call the UK?

Pre-paid phones are great if you don't need much and don't spend much time on your phone
I have Verizon, but I need to receive my emails and have access to the Internet. I actually have a SIM card with my blackberry (I think I had requested it). I use my phone when I am back in the UK too.

paulinespens has great recommendations, so it is now up to you to decide based on your needs.
Also, paulinespens is right, you might need a credit history to get into a contract (Verizon, AT&T), and if you don't stay in the US for too long, remember that most contracts will last at least one year.

exup

Posted the question on our forum and got a few answers back

Verizon is one of the biggest comanies in USA. He should try them.

Call packages are cheaper almost anywhere in the world other than UK.
Ie Digicel in Jamaica gave me an International sim to call uk landlines (only), almost everywhere else was landline and mobile inc USA & Canada
1000 minutes for £10 (30 day) pre paid.

I would take his phone and get it unlocked. My cousin lives in USA but all her family are in UK & I think calling is cheap for her.

Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint are some of the more popular cell phone company's in the states, our sim cards look like this. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/T-Mobile_SIM_car...

I've used every cell company here in the States, and have to say have gotten the best coverage, service, and plans from Verizon. Not to mention they now also have the IPhone, for those who desire one...

Using some reverse logic base don my experience buying cell phones in China to bring to the US. First question will be one of bands. Does the BTC use bands available in the US. (I think so, but be sure.)

You can use the phone in the US, however, not all features from teh phone may work. As and example my wife has an Australian Nokia working on T-Mobile in the US. The phone is not supported in the US and a T-Mobile feature for myFaves won't show up on her phone (it is a plan that let's you call any number without using minutes).

But as long as the phone shares bands with the US and the sim card is issued in the US, teh phone should work.

Don't know if this thread will answer all teh questions your firend has but he might want to start at it:
http://www.htcphones.com/categoryList.asp?category=HTC_DESIRE&gclid...

jammin_2

Motorola Startac is always a favourite of mine for use in the US.

paulinespens

exup wrote: »

Posted the question on our forum and got a few answers back

Verizon is expensive and would not touch with a barge pole.

jammin_2

Who's got a barge pole?

candyflip2011

wow thanks for all of the responses, really appreciate it!

i might have to keep the phone as no one wants to take over my contract

im not a big texter or caller really, i tend to use it more for internet, which is ok cos you can get wifi nearly everywhere in new york, which is where i'll be living.

i'm still unsure as what to do tho!

anyone want to take over my contract? haha

thanks again everyone