need a mobile for usa hols

steveo3002

i really think id like a cheapie mobile incase i break down somewhere remote on my arizona vacation

can anyone tell me what the cheapest dregs of a pay as you go mobile with $5-10 credit will cost ?...nothing fancy just the bare basics

iltisman

I bought a T Mobile PAYG Nokia from Walmart for $39.

photome

steveo3002 wrote: »

i really think id like a cheapie mobile incase i break down somewhere remote on my arizona vacation

can anyone tell me what the cheapest dregs of a pay as you go mobile with $5-10 credit will cost ?...nothing fancy just the bare basics

Cant help with the mobile.

I have been to remote areas of Arizona without a mobile (maybe i should have had one)

My question is do mobiles work in remote areas, ie is there a signal.

I am 2 miles from Norwich centre and struggle to get a vodafone signal

Angua2

Steve -

Can I just say that you've something else that might be worth considering:
which networks have coverage.

If you've a postal code for, say, the airport, or a hotel or something in AZ, you can enter it in a coverage database or map or whatever.

Have a look at:
Consumer Reports (like Which? here)
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/resource-center/cell-phones-service/index.htm

Let's Talk http://www.letstalk.com/
or more specifically their page http://www.letstalk.com/product/findProducts.htm?pgId=101


I chose to go with Virgin, BUT I visit family in NY / New England area, so haven't a clue how good V is for AZ. Got the phone for under £20 and it came with some airtime credit ($15 i think).

Hope this helps.

PS: This page might help with zip codes:
http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/zip_codes/AZ.htm

steveo3002

good point on the coverage , i did wonder about it myself

i dont have a specific area im staying at, we plan to tour around and see things, i just figured £20 might be a god send incase of a breakdown

hammy_the_hammer

i got two virgin payg via american friends and got them for about $20 each +tax with $20 of credit on each.
they were fairly cheap for calling back to the uk and a standard rate for calling in the US .
i suspect that your problem will be coverage in areas off the beaten track .
virgin phones are available in wal-mart along with other ranges

shirlsky

If your current mobile phone is a tri-band then you won't need to buy a new phone. Just buy a SIM card whilst you are there or get one off eBay before you set off.

Happy_saver_4

If you have a T mobile "web'n'walk " contract in the UK with unlimited web surfing and emails + a monthly call allowance, will the contract be honoured in the USA?

I have messaged the T-mobile web site with this question, but I'm getting no response.

hammy_the_hammer

shirlsky wrote: »

If your current mobile phone is a tri-band then you won't need to buy a new phone. Just buy a SIM card whilst you are there or get one off eBay before you set off.

buying a sim card while you are there isn't that simple in my experience .so if going down that route i would probably use ebay.
i often think that these sorts of items would be good to 'lend' to other mse people even just to keep the validity going for the card/phone.

izzitme

We bought one of these when we were in Florida in June.

http://www.net10.com/home_page.jsp

It is 10 cents a minute for USA calls & 15 cents a minute for international (it takes up to a couple of days for them to enable the international bit!).

Hope this helps (& enjoy your trip).

M4RKM

Happy_saver wrote: »

If you have a T mobile "web'n'walk " contract in the UK with unlimited web surfing and emails + a monthly call allowance, will the contract be honoured in the USA?

I have messaged the T-mobile web site with this question, but I'm getting no response.

the only thing that is part of your bundle when you are roaming is picture messaging.. i think when i was in the states i've sent the most picture messages i ever have done!!! i used them like texts!!!