Mobile in USA -Help please

Jon_01

I'm off there in a couple of weeks. I got 2 of these for my wife and I.
You can get them from Tmobile stores over there and most drugstores sell payg sims and phones, some as low as $30.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T-MOBILE-PREPAID-PAY-AS-YOU-GO-SIM-3-34-AIRTIME-PRE-ACTIVATED-Use-Iphone-2-3-/171003739641?pt=SIM_Cards&hash=item27d09dfdf9

Herongull

If you could be sure she could keep data switched off the whole time, she could instant message using Whatsapp and call you using viber whenever she had WiFi.

But if data accidentally gets switched on her phone or her phone is stolen, the bills are likely to a £thousand minimum. A thief could run up £10,000 worth of calls/data within a few hours.

Leave the uk sim at home and use a local one, as others have said.

Gloomendoom

And bear in mind that with a local sim you usually pay for incoming as well as outgoing texts and calls.

macman

Does she really need web access via 3G while she 's there? She can just hook up to local wi-fi when required.
I agree with Herongull. Block mobile data roaming unless you want a mega-bill on her return. And she'll probably get more out of her trip if her head isn't stuck in a smartphone updating Facebook.

NFH

Try Lycamobile - $0.06/MB, much cheaper than £8/MB.

19lottie82

Being able to buy just a sim in the USA isn't as common as you might think. I couldn't track one down when I was in Orlando, although you can buy cheap ish PAYG phones from Walmart, which come with a sim.

If I was going again, I'd definitely source a suitable sim online that I could pop in my (unlocked) smart phone and use when I was over there.

Chickabiddybex

Yeah I second getting a US sim! When I was there it cost me 80p a minute just to receive a call!

NFH

19lottie82 wrote: »

Being able to buy just a sim in the USA isn't as common as you might think. I couldn't track one down when I was in Orlando, although you can buy cheap ish PAYG phones from Walmart, which come with a sim.

Lycamobile US is very new (this month) and according to their store locator, there are plenty of locations.

mrcamp

Like others said - Her best option is a local sim. She can just walk into walmart, radioshack, bestbuys, etc. and get a sim+cheapphone from tmobile, AT&T for about $30 or so. If she has a smartphone that's unlocked, then she can just walk into a tmobile or AT&T store and purchase a sim only. Calling a USA mobile from the UK is dirt cheap.

For data, she can sign up for a data package or use one of the many free WiFi around.

harryst

Just coming in at end, I am currently in USA and now in week 8.
I am using my smartphone.
I switch off my roaming data.
I use Skype + an £15 subscription for all phone call to any mobile or landline any were, still have £4 left, need Wi-Fi connection to do this also get voice and video for free over internet to other who are on line.
Every were and I mean every were have free Wi-Fi.
If you want to spend a lot of time on phone stay at home.
Tip. switch phone to airplane mode at night then you don't get any silly calls of texts etc while a sleep.