recommendations for FL/USA | cheap int'l calling and data required

[inquisitor]

Hello world,

We are four people travelling to Miami in December, where we would like to call each other, call Germany and have some mobile internet access for eMail.
Any recommendations?

We do have GSM1900 and some GSM850/1900 capable handsets. Which operators do actually use GSM850 in Florida?

Thank you,

Inquisitor

[Bossman]

Get AT&T. The phones lacking 850 may not work well though (in some areas they will not work at all). Calls to other AT&T phones are free. It also has data. You should be able to get your sims on ebay. There are several threads here that discuss the details.

[inquisitor]

Thank you. However since AT&T have dropped their unlimited data plan there are only two very expenisve medianet options left (1MB for $4.99 and 5 MB for $9.99), so AT&T GoPhone is a no-go for data.
Also international calling (e.g. Germany for $ 1.49-1.66/min) is a real rip-off. Don't you have any discount-MVNO over there?

[Bossman]

AFAIK, AT&T is the only one that offers data. Tuyo mobile is an MVNO that has excellent international rates for calls. They use tmobile's network so your phones lacking the 850 band should work well since tmobiel is primarily a 1900 ONLY carrier.

For example tuyo's rates to Germany mobiles and landlines is $0.26 and $0.02 respectively, plus airtime charge of $0.10. However, their sims are not as "all over the place" as tmobile's or AT&T's. There are a few sellers on ebay though. You can also get them at Exxon-Mobil gas stations. Check their website for other locations.

http://tuyo.com/rates/intrates.aspx?...loc=&slocid=49

Originally Posted by inquisitor

Thank you. However since AT&T have dropped their unlimited data plan there are only two very expenisve medianet options left (1MB for $4.99 and 5 MB for $9.99), so AT&T GoPhone is a no-go for data.
Also international calling (e.g. Germany for $ 1.49-1.66/min) is a real rip-off. Don't you have any discount-MVNO over there?

[inquisitor]

Thanks, Bossman. Tuyo sounds great. For data I will use United Mobile, who charge € 0.99/MB in the US.

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by inquisitor

Thank you. ...
Also international calling (e.g. Germany for $ 1.49-1.66/min) is a real rip-off. Don't you have any discount-MVNO over there?

Use a calling card and you pay the US rate + the calling card rate per minute. Should beat the $ 1.49-1.66 DIRECT charges. TRUE, it is a hassle to dial the card number, pin and then finally your destination. Some calling cards allow you to set up PINLESS dialing... MOBIVOX, Onesuite, Enjoyprepaid are US based and all allow it.

Best travels,

Stan

[inquisitor]

Thanks Stan. But isn't Tuyo also cheaper for domestic calls? I think they charge $ .10 while AT&T demands $ .25. And the same prices apply for incoming calls, don't they?

[Bossman]

Not only that, international text is also $0.10 with tuyo/tmobile. AT&T is at least double that.

http://tuyo.com/rates/default.aspx?lang=en

Originally Posted by inquisitor

Thanks Stan. But isn't Tuyo also cheaper for domestic calls? I think they charge $ .10 while AT&T demands $ .25. And the same prices apply for incoming calls, don't they?

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by inquisitor

Thanks Stan. But isn't Tuyo also cheaper for domestic calls? I think they charge $ .10 while AT&T demands $ .25. And the same prices apply for incoming calls, don't they?

Sorry if my reply was confusing. I was not indicating a preference for either ATT or TUYO. I was only suggesting that you or your group use a calling card INSTEAD of dialing directly to Germany or other overseas locations. I offered several reasonable calling card services. Germany has some decent calling cards with US access numbers.

Yes, incoming are charged against prepaid balances as are TOLL FREE CALLS ( 800, 877, 866, etc).

Stan

[VladS]

If I'm not mistaken, AT&T GoPhone unlimited internet is still available until the middle of November and can be activated for 3 months in advance via customer service. In other words, you should be able to get unlimited data in December by activating for two months in November (2x $19.99).

As for international long distance on AT&T GoPhone, it is $0.39/minute. Here's the full rate table: http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/po...ance-rates.jsp

While in the US I use StanaCard for International toll bypass. Rather than being your typical calling card provider, they give you 10 US based DIDs you can map to the numbers you would like to call overseas.