Mobile phone while visting California
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mobile phone while visting California
We will be visting California next July, (staying for 3 weeks) what would be the best option/company for using a mobile phones 2 x iPhone 4s unlocked and 1 x HTC phone looking for prepaid sim cards for iphones, want to be able to ring Australia.( What won't cost lot ) @!@
And looking a company that does wireless network for iPad 2
And looking a company that does wireless network for iPad 2
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If your phones are GSM, then the best iphone provider would be AT&T and the best regular phone providers would be AT&T or TMobile. Iphones here are offered by three companies: AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon, but Verizon and Sprint don't use GSM.
In the past, it's often more expensive here to buy a SIM card than to buy a brand-new pay-as-you-go phone. I know that's not the case elsewhere in the world.
However, I notice that AT&T Wireless now lists a SIM for $5.95, which in the U.S. is a real bargain ... I had to pay $25 for one a few years ago when I had a phone mishap. So perhaps you'll do better than I originally thought. But AT&T doesn't list a micro-SIM on their web site. They do seem to be cheaper now, and I can even see a few offered on Amazon.com, so I'm actually hopeful on this. Not sure who sells the micro SIM for the iphone.
You can definitely buy a regular SIM for your HTC phone if it's a GSM phone. I don't have much experience with Verizon or Sprint, which are our two CDMA carriers.
In the past, it's often more expensive here to buy a SIM card than to buy a brand-new pay-as-you-go phone. I know that's not the case elsewhere in the world.
However, I notice that AT&T Wireless now lists a SIM for $5.95, which in the U.S. is a real bargain ... I had to pay $25 for one a few years ago when I had a phone mishap. So perhaps you'll do better than I originally thought. But AT&T doesn't list a micro-SIM on their web site. They do seem to be cheaper now, and I can even see a few offered on Amazon.com, so I'm actually hopeful on this. Not sure who sells the micro SIM for the iphone.
You can definitely buy a regular SIM for your HTC phone if it's a GSM phone. I don't have much experience with Verizon or Sprint, which are our two CDMA carriers.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,896
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One last thought: I used to have a special international phone plan when my brother lived overseas. I don't anymore. I just buy an International phone card from Costco and dial the 800 number and punch in the codes. I don't know what the price per minute is for any of the options above. You may want to add a card to it. I would assume you could then dial the 800-number to access the long distance number.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A caution, I used a prepaid phone but it would only work a specific network so it was not useable in the town I was staying in. I could have phoned the company and had my base location shanged but that is no use at all if you are on the road and in a different location all the time.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh, and depending on the phone, even though it was from the same privider company (Tracfone), it may not work on the network of the area you are in. Their system is crazy. A phone should work in any area on any network. They show these wonderful maps of coverage areas but they are meaningless.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's interesting. I've never heard of this problem in my life (of a cell phone working only locally). If anyone buys a prepaid phone from one of the big companies (Tmobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint), it should work anywhere the company has service. Service areas do differ, and I know that AT&T in particular has spotty service in some places, but this is a new one for me. Stick with the big companies, which sell phones at Walmart and you'll be fine.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,265
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think Tracfone sells both CDMA and GSM Phones, the CDMA's will work on Sprint or Verizon Networks, and the others on AT&T, & TMobile, so it definitely is possible that Tracfone coverage map shows full coverage, but your particular phone would only work on one of the networks (which might not have had coverage where you were at the time).
Other prepaid MVNO networks:
Boost Mobile & Virgin Mobile-use Sprint Network.
Walmart Family Network uses T Mobile
Metro PCS and Cricket also have prepaid phones and use both their own CDMA network or share with Sprint in some areas.
Complete list of U.S. MVNO's:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...work_operators
For the OP: In our experience here in Southern California, Verizon and AT&T seem to have the best coverage (even in some of the more remote areas) so keep that in mind when purchasing a sim card or prepaid phone. We switched from Sprint 2 years ago, because there were just too many dead zones, so I would not recommend any operator that uses the Sprint network.
Other prepaid MVNO networks:
Boost Mobile & Virgin Mobile-use Sprint Network.
Walmart Family Network uses T Mobile
Metro PCS and Cricket also have prepaid phones and use both their own CDMA network or share with Sprint in some areas.
Complete list of U.S. MVNO's:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...work_operators
For the OP: In our experience here in Southern California, Verizon and AT&T seem to have the best coverage (even in some of the more remote areas) so keep that in mind when purchasing a sim card or prepaid phone. We switched from Sprint 2 years ago, because there were just too many dead zones, so I would not recommend any operator that uses the Sprint network.
#13
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tracfone is a prepaid phone and because of that it only works on the network that is in the area you name as your most frequent use. So you can pick any area code. But in my case the phone worked in Casa Grande but not in Coolidge. Coolidge required a different network. Totally ridiculous, I agree. The other prepaids required cards that were ridiculously expensive since most of the time, the phone was not used. My story was a warning to people not familiar with the system.
#16
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't necessarily agree with cdnnomad, either, but I think there must be more to the story. Mobile phones aren't restricted geographically in the U.S. simply because they are prepaid. They may be restricted if the OP bought a restricted, local plan. But Tracfone offers nationwide service, so this is perplexing.
As I said earlier, if the OP buys a prepaid plan from one of the 5 or 6 big nationwide providers (and keeping Tracfone out of the mix in case there's truth to cdnmomad's story, then he/she will be fine. Prepaid phones work just like regular phones, and they are pretty cheap and cost-effective for people spending a few weeks in the U.S. who want a local number.
As I said earlier, if the OP buys a prepaid plan from one of the 5 or 6 big nationwide providers (and keeping Tracfone out of the mix in case there's truth to cdnmomad's story, then he/she will be fine. Prepaid phones work just like regular phones, and they are pretty cheap and cost-effective for people spending a few weeks in the U.S. who want a local number.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Maggi
Australia & the Pacific
9
Dec 28th, 2013 04:11 PM