Cheap data roaming: Article discussion

secretmachines

can anyone advise... I'd like to get one of the $2/$3 TMobile sim cards )as mentioned above), so I can use data, etc. while over on the States for a week.

I have a friend in the States, who I'm thinking of asking if they'll pick one up for me and mail it to the UK, so I have it ready to go (saves on holiday time, tracking down a T-Mobile store!).

Is it a simple case of sticking the sim card into an unlocked phone, and of you go? Do I need to register it, etc.?

do you have to choose whether you want a $1/2/3 sim card, or does it automatically choose the appropriate level on connection?

Thank yooou!

NFH

secretmachines wrote: »

I have a friend in the States, who I'm thinking of asking if they'll pick one up for me and mail it to the UK, so I have it ready to go (saves on holiday time, tracking down a T-Mobile store!).

You might want to consider getting your friend to order several at http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit for $1 each, as each one comes with $3.34 credit; you could use one per day for example. If you set up a Google Voice number, you could keep the same US phone number forever while changing the underlying T-Mobile number whenever you wish.

secretmachines wrote: »

do you have to choose whether you want a $1/2/3 sim card, or does it automatically choose the appropriate level on connection?

The SIM card is not specific to the daily option. You would choose this separately.

secretmachines

NFH wrote: »

You might want to consider getting your friend to order several at http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit for $1 each, as each one comes with $3.34 credit; you could use one per day for example. If you set up a Google Voice number, you could keep the same US phone number forever while changing the underlying T-Mobile number whenever you wish.

The SIM card is not specific to the daily option. You would choose this separately.

thanks NFH
i think i'd go for the less hassle-free option and get one card, top it up with say, $20 and have that last for the week.

i'm a bit confused now, so do i just need one of those $0.99 activation sim cards, then get the $2/day Unlimited Talk Text & 2G Web plan applied to it?

i don't think there's any point getting the $3/day plan if my UK handset isn't compatible with the US 3G/4G signal?

NFH

secretmachines wrote: »

i'm a bit confused now, so do i just need one of those $0.99 activation sim cards, then get the $2/day Unlimited Talk Text & 2G Web plan applied to it?

Yes.

secretmachines wrote: »

i don't think there's any point getting the $3/day plan if my UK handset isn't compatible with the US 3G/4G signal?

Your understanding is correct. However, T-Mobile are introducing limited 3G coverage towards the end of this year that will be compatible with most 3G phones.

secretmachines

NFH wrote: »

Yes.

Your understanding is correct. However, T-Mobile are introducing limited 3G coverage towards the end of this year that will be compatible with most 3G phones.

ahaa! it all starts to become clear, thank you

(edited, update below!)

so to make it as easy as possible for my friend, do I just need to ask them to go into a TMobile store, ask for a SIM card activation kit (99c) and apply the $2/day Unlimited Talk Text & 2G Web plan, and top it up with $30 credit... all in store?

just trying to think of the logistics of it, are they going to need to put the sim card in a handset while in store? that could cause problems..?

mrcamp

Yes, as NFH mentioned. Get the sim/activation kit or have your friend do it. Call the number on it to activate it and get your mobile number. This will take about 5 mins max. They will txt you your number instantly, and your are all set. Then go online to top up, add your data package, etc.

Edit - Well, they will not need to put the sim card in a phone to activate it. They do ask for the IMEI number of the phone, however. Any unlocked phone will do. Again, I have only done this via the phone. Doing it in the store may be a little different.

secretmachines wrote: »

thanks NFH
i think i'd go for the less hassle-free option and get one card, top it up with say, $20 and have that last for the week.

i'm a bit confused now, so do i just need one of those $0.99 activation sim cards, then get the $2/day Unlimited Talk Text & 2G Web plan applied to it?

i don't think there's any point getting the $3/day plan if my UK handset isn't compatible with the US 3G/4G signal?

secretmachines

mrcamp wrote: »

Yes, as NFH mentioned. Get the sim/activation kit or have your friend do it. Call the number on it to activate it and get your mobile number. This will take about 5 mins max. They will txt you your number instantly, and your are all set. Then go online to top up, add your data package, etc.

ahh that's brilliant, much simpler than I thought! i'll ask my friend if they can grab an activation sim card and mail it to me.

then when I arrive in the States, I can just activate the card myself and go online and apply the Unlimited $2 plan.

so i would order them myself, but i don't think US Tmobile mails to the UK

mrcamp

See my edited post above.

No. They will not mail the sim to the UK. You can have your friend int he US get the sim, activate it, etc. and then mail it to you.

secretmachines

mrcamp wrote: »

See my edited post above.

No. They will not mail the sim to the UK. You can have your friend int he US get the sim, activate it, etc. and then mail it to you.

sounds like the easiest thing to do is to ask my friend to order the 99c sim card online, take delivery, then just forward it onto me. I can then activate it when i arrive in the states?

mrcamp

I agree. Best to just do that.

secretmachines wrote: »

sounds like the easiest thing to do is to ask my friend to order the 99c sim card online, take delivery, then just forward it onto me. I can then activate it when i arrive in the states?