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viewfly · 03-15-2005, 9:37 AM

I 'googled' around a bit on this question. Is Tmobile the only USA carrier that offers pre paid GSM SIM cards for foreigners visiting our country?

I don't mean pre paid phone cards, but the kind of 3month duration SIM, local phone number with some minutes that one might buy in Europe while visiting and pop into your GSM phone.

I couldn't find anything for Cingular, except the Go phone or KIC, which is not the same.

This question came to me for a friend visiting the US.

ShoresGuy · 03-15-2005, 10:55 AM

Nope, KIC and GoPhone are the only prepaid options for Cingular. I think T-Mobile is a lot more flexible with prepaid roaming outside your T-Mobile home market than Cingular was when I first used KIC Prepaid from CA two years ago. It wouldn't let me roam anywhere outside CA so if your friend plans on traveling, get T-Mobile. Cingular might have changed their KIC roaming now to allow roaming nationwide but as I haven't been back to the US for almost 2 years, I honestly don't know what the current deal is.

However, there are several new options for prepaid SIMs which allow you to roam freely, these are called international SIMs. Your friend might want to look into this:

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html

riiing seems to get the best vote.

http://www.riiing.com/index.php?p=7

Andy · 03-15-2005, 12:55 PM

Shoresguy, do you/or anyone you knwo have any experience with riing mobil? I'm thinking about tyring it out. What have you heard about it?

ShoresGuy · 03-15-2005, 1:08 PM

Check the links in this thread

:

http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/sh...ad.php?p=62432

Andy · 03-15-2005, 1:17 PM

yup- I did already

Thanks!

viewfly · 03-15-2005, 4:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

Nope, KIC and GoPhone are the only prepaid options for Cingular. I think T-Mobile is a lot more flexible with prepaid roaming outside your T-Mobile home market than Cingular was when I first used KIC Prepaid from CA two years ago. It wouldn't let me roam anywhere outside CA so if your friend plans on traveling, get T-Mobile. Cingular might have changed their KIC roaming now to allow roaming nationwide but as I haven't been back to the US for almost 2 years, I honestly don't know what the current deal is.

However, there are several new options for prepaid SIMs which allow you to roam freely, these are called international SIMs. Your friend might want to look into this:

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html

riiing seems to get the best vote.

http://www.riiing.com/index.php?p=7

Thanks, it seems from your link that Cingular offers GSM via KIC, Go phone, 7 eleven, and tracfone. Good site.

ShoresGuy · 03-16-2005, 7:25 AM

You're welcome Andy. viewfly, you're right, I should have mentioned 7-11 :p.

03-15-2005, 9:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
viewfly Mobile Advisor Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,907 Phone(s): iPhone 3G (2), Nokia 6131, 6230b, Moto RAZR V3 Provider(s): AT&T GSM and it's predecessors since 1995 Devices: HS700, NuviGPS,Ipod Thanks: 7 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts	Can a foreigner get a local SIM? I 'googled' around a bit on this question. Is Tmobile the only USA carrier that offers pre paid GSM SIM cards for foreigners visiting our country? I don't mean pre paid phone cards, but the kind of 3month duration SIM, local phone number with some minutes that one might buy in Europe while visiting and pop into your GSM phone. I couldn't find anything for Cingular, except the Go phone or KIC, which is not the same. This question came to me for a friend visiting the US.

03-15-2005, 10:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
ShoresGuy Euer WA Experte in Europa Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 94065,US/Köln, Germany Posts: 6,569 Phone(s): HTC/T-Mobile MDA II PPC, Motorola E770V Provider(s): E-Plus (BASE 12 month flatrate)/Vodafone Germany Devices: T-Mobile MDA II - GSM 900/1800/1900 w/WM 2003 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 419	Re: Can a foreigner get a local SIM? Nope, KIC and GoPhone are the only prepaid options for Cingular. I think T-Mobile is a lot more flexible with prepaid roaming outside your T-Mobile home market than Cingular was when I first used KIC Prepaid from CA two years ago. It wouldn't let me roam anywhere outside CA so if your friend plans on traveling, get T-Mobile. Cingular might have changed their KIC roaming now to allow roaming nationwide but as I haven't been back to the US for almost 2 years, I honestly don't know what the current deal is. However, there are several new options for prepaid SIMs which allow you to roam freely, these are called international SIMs. Your friend might want to look into this: http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html riiing seems to get the best vote. http://www.riiing.com/index.php?p=7 __________________ Visiting Europe?Ask me: http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/international-wireless-forum-including-canada-mexico/ http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/international-wireless-forum-including-canada-mexico/8351-europe-sim-info-helpful-links.html Nokia Reset Codes: http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/nokia/7973-nokia-series-40-60-80-reset.html Originally from: Redwood City, CA Living in: Cologne, Germany

03-15-2005, 12:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: May 2003 Location: Campione, Italy Posts: 10,285 Phone(s): HTC 6900 Touch, Motorola RAZR V3i Provider(s): VZW, Vodafone D2, Solomo, Swisscom Mobile Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Images: 130	Re: Can a foreigner get a local SIM? Shoresguy, do you/or anyone you knwo have any experience with riing mobil? I'm thinking about tyring it out. What have you heard about it?

03-15-2005, 1:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
ShoresGuy Euer WA Experte in Europa Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 94065,US/Köln, Germany Posts: 6,569 Phone(s): HTC/T-Mobile MDA II PPC, Motorola E770V Provider(s): E-Plus (BASE 12 month flatrate)/Vodafone Germany Devices: T-Mobile MDA II - GSM 900/1800/1900 w/WM 2003 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 419	Re: Can a foreigner get a local SIM? Check the links in this thread : http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/sh...ad.php?p=62432 __________________ Visiting Europe?Ask me: http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/forumdisplay.php?f=10 http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/showthread.php?t=8351 Nokia Reset Codes: http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/showthread.php?t=7973 Originally from: Redwood City, CA Living in: Cologne, Germany

03-15-2005, 1:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: May 2003 Location: Campione, Italy Posts: 10,285 Phone(s): HTC 6900 Touch, Motorola RAZR V3i Provider(s): VZW, Vodafone D2, Solomo, Swisscom Mobile Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Images: 130	Re: Can a foreigner get a local SIM? yup- I did already Thanks!

03-16-2005, 7:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
ShoresGuy Euer WA Experte in Europa Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 94065,US/Köln, Germany Posts: 6,569 Phone(s): HTC/T-Mobile MDA II PPC, Motorola E770V Provider(s): E-Plus (BASE 12 month flatrate)/Vodafone Germany Devices: T-Mobile MDA II - GSM 900/1800/1900 w/WM 2003 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 419	Re: Can a foreigner get a local SIM? You're welcome Andy. viewfly, you're right, I should have mentioned 7-11 :p.

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