Using mobile in USA

System

Just use the wifi at your hotel and other places like Starbucks.

Google Hangouts Dialler gives free calls to US numbers via wifi.

Use Whatsapp, Viber or Skype to keep in touch - Viber/Skype can be topped up for normal calls, if needed too.

Google maps can cache the area (before you leave or with there via wifi) and will work reasonably well without mobile data.

If you have the 4G note II, then it will probably just use the 3G 850 band - (AT&T 3G). 2G is being switched off and 4G are non-US frequencies.

dctrekkie

Thanks for all the replies, sorry it's taken a few days to respond.

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

Three is very expensive for calls to the USA, so beware of using "feel at home" for any calls to US numbers while roaming there, it's no different to ringing the US when in the UK.

That's what I thought, so rules out Three mobile. He only really needs it for US calls, he's unlikely to need to call home.

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

For mapping, I use Maps.me it's a mapping app which allows you to download free maps for pretty much everywhere and use them "off line". Some maps are incredibly detailed, showing individual trees and the outline of properties and their pools, etc. The level of detail varies from country to country. You can download just the area you need too, so no GB downloads unless you want the whole of the USA. It also has a basic navigation function too, but it's no Tom Tom.

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Google maps can cache the area (before you leave or with there via wifi) and will work reasonably well without mobile data.

I'll look into these, he's used Google Maps before. but Map.me might be better for navigating on foot.

Tony5101 wrote: »

Assuming that your Brother has data to use, such as by using 3, (either contract or PAYG) or even just jumping onto wifi hotspots, tell him to look into Talkatone. I've got a talkatone account, it can be verified by email, so you don't need a US number for validation.
You get a US number assigned to you, and calls made via the app to any US number are free. Incoming calls to you are free too.
I got my account for exactly the same reasons that your brother would use it for, and it has worked flawlessly.
I have friends in the US too, that I can now sit and chat to for however long I want from my home wifi. They can call me without charges..total win-win.

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Google Hangouts Dialler gives free calls to US numbers via wifi.

redux wrote: »

One option for US bound calls is sign up for Google Voice and use it with Hangouts dialler via data. Don't use the GV ap itself, as this is for with a local SIM and ((I believe) dials out to an access number.

Edit: I forgot to say, GV may need a US number to help confirm the account. Free incoming number in some areas near New York from Callcentric.

I'll look into these too, depends how complicated it is as he's a bit of a technophobe. Hopefully I'd be able to set one or other up for him before he goes though.

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Just use the wifi at your hotel and other places like Starbucks.

Use Whatsapp, Viber or Skype to keep in touch - Viber/Skype can be topped up for normal calls, if needed too.

He already has Whatsapp, so he'll probably use that if he wants to contact anyone back home.

redux wrote: »

Maybe it depends how long the visit is for, a few days or a few months.

Sorry, I should have said. He's only going for a holiday, either one or two weeks.

redux wrote: »

Or look at local SIM cards for bundles of calls and data, and maybe VoIP for any UK bound calls.

This sounds like the best option, get a local sim for calls & occasional data, but mostly rely on Wi-Fi. Are there any particularly good PAYG sims/bundles available in the US (other than toggle mobile mentioned above)?

briesmith

A couple of things.

I have a Windows 10 phone - a Lumia 930 - which automatically turns Data Roaming on every time it is switched off and then back on. Arriving in Washington I turned my phone on as we got into the terminal building and got a text from Tesco Mobile saying I'd used up all my credit before we cleared passport control. I hadn't used the phone, I simply switched it on and put it back in my pocket, but countless app software providers sent stuff to it completely and pretty much instantly absorbing my data limit. If you have a Windows phone, you must tell Tesco Mobile to prohibit data roaming before you leave the UK. You cannot do it reliably from the phone itself.

My wife has an iPhone and only turns data roaming on when she needs to book an Uber taxi. The few minutes she did this in Washington DC on Monday used up her £50 data instantly. This was due, again, to automatic software updates arriving in her phone so if you have to risk turning data roaming on you must turn off auto software updates.

What I would like to know is what the charges would be if I bought a pay as you go SIM in the US, put my UK Tesco Mobile SIM in a phone I left at home in the UK with the number forwarded to the US SIM number. What would traffic - calls, texts, MSM etc - to my UK number cost me and the caller?

System

briesmith wrote: »

What I would like to know is what the charges would be if I bought a pay as you go SIM in the US, put my UK Tesco Mobile SIM in a phone I left at home in the UK with the number forwarded to the US SIM number. What would traffic - calls, texts, MSM etc - to my UK number cost me and the caller?

MSM? Mainstream media?

The callers to the Tesco number would have normal charges.

Text forwarding doesn't work, you'd pay your standard rate to call the USA for incoming calls plus possibly incoming call charges on the USA sim too!

Not cheap x

jules99-2

I must look into this for my next trip in a couple of weeks.
Last trip I inadvertently used mobile data, 25Mb = £175 with Utility Warehouse.
I probably ignored their texts thinking it might be a £1 per Mb and was surprised. On checking the tariffs are hidden away so basically you cant find them, certainly they are not in the tariffs section!!

briesmith

No, finger trouble, MMS (I would have thought you might have guessed that seeing as you consider yourself authoritative enough to answer my query? )

SuperAllyB

Our family have just booked a fortnight's holiday in Orlando.

We are with PlusNet mobile and there rates for US don't seem very competitive.
One daughter is a typical modern teenager who gets anxiety issues if without 3g signal, or phone charge drops below 50%.

All our phones are SIM free - 2xMotoG5, iPhone 5S and iPhone7.

Thinking of getting PAYG Feel at Home sims from 3, but wondered if we would be better getting a SIM out there - just looking for advice on where to start looking.

Frozen_up_north

If you just want to call each other, or keep in touch with friends back in the UK, a Three PAYG will be fine. Calling USA numbers will cost only 3p/min too.

For some bizarre reason, contract customers are ripped off big style on Three when making international calls, PAYG is far cheaper! On contract, USA calls are 56.2p/min, or 3p/min on PAYG

System

Why not just use wi-fi for calls and messages?
There is free wi-fi practically everywhere in Orlando.

SuperAllyB

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Why not just use wi-fi for calls and messages?
There is free wi-fi practically everywhere in Orlando.

That's what I was hoping. Never been before so didn't want to be caught out