please help

[Sanja]

first of all, I'm not from USA. I'd like to know which cell company should I choose if I'm going to Miami (Florida) and want to bye a prepaid card?
thanks a lot

p.s. sorry for my English

[PCSuser]

Originally Posted by Sanja first of all, I'm not from USA. I'd like to know which cell company should I choose if I'm going to Miami (Florida) and want to bye a prepaid card? thanks a lot p.s. sorry for my English

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!

Welcome to Florida!
Welcome to the US of A.
Welcome to Wireless Advisor.

As, I have used T-Mobile, at&t, and Sprint down in south Florida. I would have to say since you are from Serbia, you probably want a SIM card (which would put you on GSM).

The two GSM providers are T-Mobile and at&t. Out of the two, T-Mobile has the lowest calling rates, and very good coverage in south Florida. Not sure where you plan to call out to, but their US rates range from .18 (?) to .10 depending on the card you purchase. $100 card gives you the .10/min, and 365 days (1 year) until it expires.

Also, if you plan to call Serbia, I would look into buying a prepaid international LD card from Sprint, at&t, Wal-Mart, or one of the like - since calling into a prepaid international card, then calling out is much much less expensive than calling directly out from your cell phone.

Hope you enjoy your visit here. Let us know how you like it in America, and what phone you picked up.

As far as actual phone, T-MobileToGo sells a Phone/SIM/Activation kit for 29.99 to 39.99 (depends upon market) at Target - so that might be something to look into.

To let you know ALL denominations are in USD form.

[Sanja]

Actually, the only thing which is important for me is to find prepaid sim card (because I'll be there 3 months) and to have coverage because I won't make phone calls. I am planning to send text messages and to receive calls (all my friends can call me from skype because the rates are low).
All these cell companies offer only locked phones?

[PCSuser]

Originally Posted by Sanja Actually, the only thing which is important for me is to find prepaid sim card (because I'll be there 3 months) and to have coverage because I won't make phone calls. I am planning to send text messages and to receive calls (all my friends can call me from skype because the rates are low). All these cell companies offer only locked phones?

Yes, all american GSM providers have their phones locked to their SIM card - but you can get the phone unlocked.

Now if you have a quad-band world phone, with 1900 (at the least) and 850 (would be good), you can use that phone over here with T-Mobile or Cingular - provided its unlocked from your provider.

[Fire14]

I agree with PCSuser, if you have a Quad Band GSM phone already & it's unlocked then bring that & go with a T-Mobile pre-paid SIM, especially if you plan on doing all SMS vs calling, since you can get the SideKick plan for SMS.

[Sanja]

well, my cell phone isn't working on 850, just on 1900mhz...is that enough?
well, sidekick is not really interesting for me because I'm going to sent text messages to Sebia, and these rates are not international.
it's very confusing for me that I'll have to pay for incoming messages..and the price for outgoing sms is $0.35

Originally Posted by Fire14 I agree with PCSuser, if you have a Quad Band GSM phone already & it's unlocked then bring that & go with a T-Mobile pre-paid SIM, especially if you plan on doing all SMS vs calling, since you can get the SideKick plan for SMS.

Fire14, I'm not positive, but AFAIK the SideKick plan is only available to TMobile customers that either have a SK, or plan to purchase one from them. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Originally Posted by Sanja well, my cell phone isn't working on 850, just on 1900mhz...is that enough?

Yes, 1900 will work just fine for TMobile service, as that is what they primarily use. However in order to take advantage of their roaming partners you will need a handset that will give you 850 coverage as well.

I would look into at&t's Go Phone services also, due to the fact that they now offer "Test Messaging" packages that you can add on to either one of their two prepaid services: (you will need a hand set that offers 850 coverage).

Pay As You Go (PAYG) : Get Started - AT&T, formerly Cingular Wireless, ....... Feature Packages | AT&T .

Pick Your Plan (PYP) : Get Started - AT&T, formerly Cingular Wireless, ....Text Message Packages | AT&T.

You can check at&t's coverage out in the area that you will be staying at by putting the address in here: AT&T Coverage Viewer

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess Fire14, I'm not positive, but AFAIK the SideKick plan is only available to TMobile customers that either have a SK, or plan to purchase one from them. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong on this.

They don't verify that you actually have Sidekick, just that the IMEI you give them is a Sidekick IMEI. Plenty of people called to switch after "buying" a Sidekick on eBay. I don't know if T-Mobile has started enforcing the rule beyond IMEI verification.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess Fire14, I'm not positive, but AFAIK the SideKick plan is only available to TMobile customers that either have a SK, or plan to purchase one from them. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong on this.

I don't know if they actually worry about this & as dmar stated they can just use an IMEI # to sign up with it.

I was just coming up with a possible solution for the OP for the short period of time here.

Sidekick® rates Get unlimited e-mail, Web browsing, domestic instant messaging, and domestic text messaging for $1 per day, and spend only $0.15 per minute for nationwide calls.

Originally Posted by Fire14 I don't know if they actually worry about this & as dmar stated they can just use an IMEI # to sign up with it. I was just coming up with a possible solution for the OP for the short period of time here.

While I agree with you on it being a good solution, there is still the question of the OP being able to obtain a SK IMEI number first in order to receive the SK plan. That may not be an easy thing to get, unless you purchased a SK just for the plan, and later return the SK, but keep the SIM card.
I'm going to call up TMobile today and see what they say when I ask about signing up on a SK plan using my Motorola V360.

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess While I agree with you on it being a good solution, there is still the question of the OP being able to obtain a SK IMEI number first in order to receive the SK plan. That may not be an easy thing to get, unless you purchased a SK just for the plan, and later return the SK, but keep the SIM card. I'm going to call up TMobile today and see what they say when I ask about signing up on a SK plan using my Motorola V360.

Was easy enough

Originally Posted by dmapr Was easy enough

Thanks dmapr. Now all I have to do is obtain a SK IMEI number, and I'll have WAP on my TMobile To Go line again.
Hopefully TMobile won't cut off anyones service if they found out. Although reading some of the posts from HOFO members, it doesn't appear to be a problem so far.

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess Thanks dmapr. Now all I have to do is obtain a SK IMEI number, and I'll have WAP on my TMobile To Go line again. Hopefully TMobile won't cut off anyones service if they found out. Although reading some of the posts from HOFO members, it doesn't appear to be a problem so far.

Please write back whether you're able to use WAP — I was never sure about that part.

Originally Posted by dmapr Please write back whether you're able to use WAP — I was never sure about that part.

The SK plan states that "free real Web browsing" is included, so I am just assuming that it will work. I'll post back if I'm able to set it up. First I have to find a SK IMEI number.

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess The SK plan states that "free real Web browsing" is included, so I am just assuming that it will work. I'll post back if I'm able to set it up. First I have to find a SK IMEI number.

The reason I'm curious is that SK uses a lot of proprietary protocols and I'm not sure whether it does real WAP or goes through some Danger servers. IMEI was available in the first link returned by that Google search I posted earlier

Originally Posted by dmapr The reason I'm curious is that SK uses a lot of proprietary protocols and I'm not sure whether it does real WAP or goes through some Danger servers. IMEI was available in the first link returned by that Google search I posted earlier

dampr you were right.There no need for me to try this now. I got the answer to this today when I came across this thread. HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - To Go on Sidekick 3 ( see post # 6 &7.)

[dmapr]

Originally Posted by MobilePrincess dampr you were right.There no need for me to try this now. I got the answer to this today when I came across this thread. HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - To Go on Sidekick 3 ( see post # 6 &7.)

Thanks! That's what I was afraid of.