Mobiles in the US

zolablue25

Hi
we are going to Florida in November with a large group of our family. It would be handy to be able to use mobiles (with local SIMs) to keep in touch as we go our seperate ways. Can any one tell me whether this is possible if my unlocked phone is not tri-band?

Cheers

jf2404

It needs to be a tri-band handset

balt

Virgin do a payg in the states, but you have to buy their phones, no sim card.
http://www.virginmobileusa.com/
They are however quite cheap the website shows from $39.99 although you cannot use them here, it may be your cheapest solution. I think they can be bought in Target stores which are all over the place with topups available the same as UK.

zolablue25

Thanks Balt. Do you know off-hand whether these virgin phones would be 'locked'?

Does anyone know of a good comparison site for the PAYG tariffs for all available US sims?

balt

Yes they are locked and don't have a sim card, the US is a bit strange for mobiles but I think Virgin would be the cheapest otherwise you need to buy a triband phone to use a US sim card.

zolablue25

Oh right, I think I get it now! Thanks. So obviously these phones are ONLY for virgin use. I'm sorry if I appear a bit slow.

Thinking about it, I think my wife's old (unlocked) V66 is triband so I could get a sim for that one? And get a cheap phone, as above, for the rest of the group. Are sims readily available?

balt

I think that's the problem unless it's changed recently sims are difficult because of the US system, perhaps someone can help here but you need a PCS sim as far as I know which is compatable with triband. I don't think there is a cheap way to do it so sorry zolablue25 that's about all I can help with I am sure someone else will come up with the goods!

walrusoflove

I, too, am off to the US soon and don't have a tri-band phone. Anyone know of the cheapest way I can get one, PAYG, either here or there, so I can stay in touch with the family?
Thanks.

budgetflyer

Take your pick
http://search.ebay.com/mobile-phone_Prepaid-Phones-Cards_W0QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfromZR10QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ3QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacatZ44925QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsascsZ2

boatman

I took a triband phone to florida a couple of years back and found it a bit hit and miss as to whether calls and especially text actually made it to the recipient. Can anyone enlighten me on this? Iwas led to believe that they have a different format or something?

zolablue25

Does anyone know of a website that can explain all of the differences for mobiles between dear old blighty and the US of A.

Thanks to all who respond to this forum, your help/opinions are always appreciated