Going to the US for a few weeks - cheap prepaid SIM card?

You will need either AT&T or T-Mobile. AT&T has better coverage, but if you plan on not venturing far from the city then T-Mobile will do.

T-Mobile does not have much on their website about prepaid data charges. All I see is unlimited data and text messaging for $1/day on Sidekicks. I don't know if a Sidekick data plan will work on an iPhone.

 

I don't know what type of data deals MVNOs like Tracfone and others have, AT&T and T-Mobile are the only major GSM players and T-Mobile doesn't offer data on it's true prepaid plan (T-Mobile ToGo).

AT&T GoPhone Pay As You Go plan is another true prepaid plan which offers data as previous posters have indicated. However AT&T has extremely limited roaming available with it's PAYG service. Their normal coverage map (the one you refered to as "voice") includes a lot of roaming coverage, which is practically non-existent on PAYG accounts. So what you see on on the PAYG coverage map is the true footprint of the AT&T network.

 

You should be able to get it in an AT&T store. Now, if you walk in and talk to the wrong salesman they may want to try and sell you a new phone (that you don't need). If you go in and specifically ask to activate your phone as a prepaid go phone, you should be setup properly. If they don't do that go to another store. There are lots of dealers in urban areas.

-Jay

 

Recently Tmobile shut down Iphone users on the Sidekick data plan, so that is a no go.

Since you already have a phone, you might want to consider the prepaid plans that has been discussed here or go with a postpaid plan without signing any contract as long as you don't buy any subsided phone with the plan. Buy getting a postpaid plan and activating it on your own plan, you will go from month to month, but they might required you to put down a deposit and do a credit check.

Since you won't be staying in the U.S. for too long, you might want to consider some Craigslist seller like this one for your cell phone needs. Never try them before, but they tend to pop up once in awhile when I do my search on Craigslist. Just try to contact one of these seller within your area you will be staying at if you are interested.

 

TrackFone and Net10 would be out as you can only use their handsets with their own proprietary firmware.

 

The bottom line is that what you are asking for is not easily available in the US. It is even harder if you are looking for data only. I have not tried in a couple of years, but you are right; getting a sim only card from a local store is not easy or possible.

the GO phones are an option; but you get a phone and the card. Most times they are so cheap that the phone is free. But roaming is limited, more limited, than post pay.

You may get a better deal from your own carrier, for roaming in the states, and maybe get a data package. Most likely they will roam on ATT and Tmobile, increasing your coverage. An iphone or not, data roaming is expensive. Better if you had a 3g, then free wifi is possible.

Have you googled for sims for the USA? Many people do the same for europe. I found this one source, that I cannot vouch for, but it looks like the sell SIMS for the USA for $19 that roam on ATT and Tmobile and Rogers (Canada); also data plans for $2.50/Mb.

SIMple Calling USA SIM Card

SIM Cards for United States

http://www.telestial.com/data.php

I'm sure there might be others; try searching the web and forget about going to a local store in the states...we're not too friendly here about that stuff.

P.S. The ATT go phone data plan is cheaper ( 0.01cent per kb), but I read this in the fine print of the terms and conditions:

" For new GoPhone customers, once the device and SIM are activated SIM cannot be used with any other device for a set period of time. "

This all may have to do with Homeland security (anti terrorism ) laws, idk. You may wish to inquire further. (Upon further reading, this limit may only apply to the $50 credit offered with a new Go plan + phone. If true, then you are Okay). No clue what the set period of time is.

P.P.S. : I read some year old posts that only the 3G worked with ATT PAYG GO card; 2G had to be jailbroken. Don't know if this is still true.

 

I think that data package is only available with the 'pick your plan' monthly Go phone plan ($40 a month, auto charged to CC). That still may work, but if you have no US address, it may not. You might try the free chat on the web to double check. That data plan is not offered for the Simple plan, which you can pick up in almost any retail store besides ATT. The data rates are pay as you go, 0.01 Cent per kiloB.

 

Of course that is NOT cheaper than $2.5/MB, Anyhow, $50 for 20 MB might be enough for 2 weeks of data. Depends upon what you wish to do.

 

Forget my advice here on the web pointer above. It's $2.5/Mb for UK, Greece and some other countries; $15 per Mb for the US for data, so $0.015 per kb. Does work with iPhone, as they explained on their pages though. ATT Go, Simple plan is only slightly better, but still very expensive.

When I roam overseas with ATT, I buy 20 Mb for $24.99. That will last me a week of checking emails. Overage is $0.005 per kb

What does your local carrier charge for international data roaming. We all here would be curious. This question comes up from time to time when friends visit the US.


Travel Tips | Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular
Consider Purchasing an International Data Package: If you are traveling outside the U.S., purchasing a Data Global Plan will significantly reduce the cost of using data abroad.
To add an international data package call 1-800-331-0500.
$24.99/month: 20 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 20 MB of usage within over 90 countries
$59.99/month: 50 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 50 MB of usage within over 90 countries
$119.99/month: 100 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 100 MB of usage within over 90 countries
$199.99/month: 200 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 200 MB of usage within over 90 countries
20 MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $0.005/KB within the over 90 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $0.0195/KB.
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.

 

As you can see, there's no simple solution. The easiest one, however, might be to inquire of your present provider to see what options they offer. But chances are, the cost will be high.

However, if it's just a short visit, you may want to consider buying a Net10 phone. For $30, you get a decent handset that comes with 300 minutes upon activation.

If you need more, you can purchase them almost anywhere at the rate of 10 cents a minute.

Here's the link for the website.

 

Viewfly,

according to the GoPhone PAYG feature availability you can have 100MB for $20 on PAYG as well (no restrictions are listed, so the simple plan must be included as well).

 

This morning I actually tried to build a package with the Simple Plan, and could not add the 100Mb. Later I found an ATT page that stated the 100 mb was only available for the 'pick your plan' Go Phone.

I'll find it again later. But feel free to prove me wrong.

Nope I'm wrong, well at least ATT' s web site says two different things.

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-ph...?wtSlotClick=1-00291Q-0-2&WT.svl=calltoaction

Says that it is available (except for the unexplained ** where the simple plan is ruled out, I think)

But then I found this page http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-ph...ce=ICB401113a0n4700&WT.mc_id=ICB401113a0n4700

Where it only gives 100 mB for pick your plan.

Data 100 MB for GoPhone Pick Your Plan
Connect to the mobile web, search, email, apps and more...

View Details
You need a compatible plan and phone to get this feature.
See compatible: Phones and Plans

Pick Your Plan $39.99
Pick Your Plan $49.99

Hopefully you are right...most likely

 

I wasn't trying to prove you wrong — nobody can keep up with the way AT&T changes things around, not even AT&T. The latest seems to be a $60 unlimited talk feature for PAYG (different from $3/day one) that is available in select markets and not a whiff of it on AT&T website. So I'll just try to throw and idea about the second link — it seems to not list any single GoPhone PAYG feature because it concentrates on recurring charges which is not how PAYG operates. I wouldn't read too much into it.

 

I know that you weren't. On the second link, towards to bottom it gives several monthly add on features for the Go Phone - but they are monthly features: data, messages, etc.

I think there is a misprint on the first link. I think the ** probably was meant to go next to the Data Plans. Something is not eligible for the 25C per minute plan ( the lowest Pay as You Go or 'simple plan').

But it's not clear. The OP should do a web chat with ATT to find out. But as I said his/her local carrier may give OK deals while roaming.

 

Not trying to prove anyone right or wrong.

This appears to clearly state that the 100 Mb for $19.99 on PAYG is an available feature package.

PS: Ofcourse double checking is always a good idea.

 

Good

Yes, the second link lists several Go Phone features — but all for PYP, nothing for PAYG or else my eyesight is failing me . The ** I believe is for the N&W package which is indeed not available with the simple plan (requires $1/day M2M plan).

 

If your iPhone is unlocked then why not try using an international SIM card while you are travelling - I use them so that I can stay in contact with people back home as well, some of them have data packages, and it is all prepaid.
check out Buzzroam - Cheap International Roaming SIM Card for Cell or Mobile phone calls while travelling - I have used them before and the data charges in the US are $0.56 per 100Kb on Cingular Wireless