SIM card for US - mainly data & text?

jllwton

I know the subject of SIM cards for travelling to the US has come up a few times, but few of them cover data usage.

We're going to Florida for a two week holiday, and most communication with home will probably be via text and Facebook rather than voice. I expect there will be plenty of free wi-fi hotspots, which I will use, but don't want to be reliant on them.

After the two week holiday I'm unlikely to ever use the SIM again, so also don't want to spend too much purchasing it.

Any suggestions? Thank yoooo

Dirk_Gently_2

I found one from T-Mobile USA that did exactly what I wanted - I had to buy it in a T-Mobile shop though. I bought 1MB but I think it was also available as 500GB.

Make sure your phone is not locked to a network, though, or it won't work.

malkie76

Talk to your UK provider about bundles. I recently used Orange/EEs roaming bundle at £6 a day, and you only get charged on days you use the internet.

jllwton

Thanks, both. The phone is an unlocked iPhone 5 (O2 are now unlocking them even when they're on contract )

Dirk, I've looked at getting a US SIM card, but it would make it expensive for people back home to phone and text me.

Bob_the_Saver

jllwton wrote: »

Thanks, both. The phone is an unlocked iPhone 5 (O2 are now unlocking them even when they're on contract )

Dirk, I've looked at getting a US SIM card, but it would make it expensive for people back home to phone and text me.

Togglemobile for free incoming calls for you in US and callers call your normal UK number, no cheap internet though.

benjus

You can set up a UK landline number that forwards calls to your US SIM card number from sites like sipgate.co.uk and localphone.com . Then you either just tell people here to call those landline numbers, or set up your UK mobile to forward all calls to that number.

Doshwaster

What happened to the days when people went on holiday to get away from family and friends and the only communication you had was a postcard which arrived 2 weeks after you got home?

I travel a lot but never bother with local SIMs. In fact I tend to keep my mobile turned off and only check it once or twice a day for any urgent texts. Free Wi-Fi is available everywhere if you really need to post pictures on Facebook. You could also use Skype on your mobile to call home.

Amba_Gambla

www.h2owirelessnow.com/

I bought an H2O wireless sim card when I was there last year (and will buy one again this year).

Take a look at the offers they have, but even for 2 weeks, it might be cheaper than other options.

eg: For $50 you get unlimited mins, unlimited text, 500mb internet
PLUS - unlimited mins to UK landlines, $20 credit for UK mobiles calls

You can buy the sims from the USA via ebay.com before you go for about $1 +$6.50 postage. If you have an iPhone, make sure you buy the right sim (micro/nano).

If you do have an iPhone, DO NOT buy an AT&T sim (GoPhone) - I bought and paid out for service credit, but when I tried to apply it to my account, was told that they don't support iPhones, and they refused to refund the cash I'd spend on sim and credit.

jllwton

Thank you all for your replies

mchale

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/pay-by-the-day-cell-phone-plans

Amba_Gambla

Amba_Gambla wrote: »

You can buy the sims from the USA via ebay.com before you go for about $1 +$6.50 postage.

With careful searching I managed to find them as low at $1 + $3.95 postage, but then ended up finding (and buying) on eBay.co.uk at £3 delivered.