Brief visit to US

alect · **Brief visit to US -** 16-09-2011, 02:03

My wife is visiting the US for approx 16 days in Sep/Oct.

We have unlocked HTC Desires in Australia.

I have looked and seems like the AT&T GoPhone pay as you go plans are the go - probably the $2 daily plan with a data package.

https://www.paygonline.com/websc/rat...ateplan_en.jsp

So can she walk into any AT&T store and sign up and get a SIM? She has a SSN if that's important.

Bossman · 16-09-2011, 11:31

Yes, she can walk into an AT&T store and get a sim no need for SSN or anything. Better yet, she can get a sim/cheap phone package at one of the many stores, walmart, kmart, radioshack, target, etc. Same thing with Tmobile. Also, tmobile has the $1.49/day unlimited data package.

Motel75 · 16-09-2011, 12:05

You should be able to get the SIMs at lots of places besides AT&T stores, such as Walmart and Target.

PhotoJim · 16-09-2011, 19:58

One thing to watch: if you buy the cheap phone + SIM package with AT&T, the SIM is locked to that phone for awhile (six months?). I understand you can activate them in a different phone but then it will be locked to that phone for the six months. (If the SIM gets locked to a phone, it simply won't work with any other phones until the lock expires.)

Telekom · 17-09-2011, 02:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motel75

You should be able to get the SIMs at lots of places besides AT&T stores, such as Walmart and Target.

I think you'll find in the US that it's not that simple to get just a SIM starter pack and that you'll most likely not be able to get one at Walmart or Target. If you want a starter pack you'll need to go to a corporate store. Walmart and Target do sell prepaid phones with starter kits in the package, but not just a starter pack by itself. It's not like Europe where you can go to any corner store and buy a starter pack.

rfranzq · 17-09-2011, 03:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motel75

You should be able to get the SIMs at lots of places besides AT&T stores, such as Walmart and Target.

As 'Telekom' says. You will NOT find SIM starter kits at non cell phone stores.

You might have to buy the cheapest phone to get a SIM at a Walmart or a Target type store. Best Buy might have SIMs available. But unless you are right next to one you have better things to do with your time.

rfranzq · 17-09-2011, 03:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by alect

My wife is visiting the US for approx 16 days in Sep/Oct.

We have unlocked HTC Desires in Australia.

I have looked and seems like the AT&T GoPhone pay as you go plans are the go - probably the $2 daily plan with a data package.

https://www.paygonline.com/websc/rat...ateplan_en.jsp

So can she walk into any AT&T store and sign up and get a SIM? She has a SSN if that's important.

Have you considered Tru? They have 'home' rates for US and Austrailia [and the UK] without a monthly charge [now] and can be kept alive for future use by using it every 90 days.

alect · 18-09-2011, 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfranzq

As 'Telekom' says. You will NOT find SIM starter kits at non cell phone stores.

You might have to buy the cheapest phone to get a SIM at a Walmart or a Target type store. Best Buy might have SIMs available. But unless you are right next to one you have better things to do with your time.

Thanks - seems the data plans are new - no $25 data plan for mobiles. Any reason an "iPad" data plan won't work for a smartphone (I don't understand data plans specific to devices????).

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-pho...nect-plans.jsp

PhotoJim · 18-09-2011, 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by alect

Thanks - seems the data plans are new - no $25 data plan for mobiles. Any reason an "iPad" data plan won't work for a smartphone (I don't understand data plans specific to devices????).

It might work in a smartphone, but it won't support voice calls. Don't think of it as an iPad plan, think of it as a plan for tablet devices that don't need voice access.

(I've not tried it in a phone - I can't right now since I'm in Canada - but Rogers' iPad plan doesn't work at all in phones so it wouldn't surprise me if AT&T's doesn't either.)

alect · 18-09-2011, 06:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

It might work in a smartphone, but it won't support voice calls. Don't think of it as an iPad plan, think of it as a plan for tablet devices that don't need voice access.

So what are the options for a data plan add on to a smart phone? I don't see a $25 pack ...... is 5gb for $60 the only option?

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	(#1 (permalink))
alect (Offline) Junior Member Amateur Member Posts: 19 Join Date: 08 May 2011 Country:	Brief visit to US - 16-09-2011, 02:03 My wife is visiting the US for approx 16 days in Sep/Oct. We have unlocked HTC Desires in Australia. I have looked and seems like the AT&T GoPhone pay as you go plans are the go - probably the $2 daily plan with a data package. https://www.paygonline.com/websc/rat...ateplan_en.jsp So can she walk into any AT&T store and sign up and get a SIM? She has a SSN if that's important.

	(#2 (permalink))
Bossman (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Guru Posts: 1,117 Join Date: 22 Apr 2005 Location: Chicago Country:	16-09-2011, 11:31 Yes, she can walk into an AT&T store and get a sim no need for SSN or anything. Better yet, she can get a sim/cheap phone package at one of the many stores, walmart, kmart, radioshack, target, etc. Same thing with Tmobile. Also, tmobile has the $1.49/day unlimited data package. Phones: Iphone4, HTC Inspire, Nokia E63, BB Curve 8310 Sim cards: AT&T (Contract), Tmobile USA, Virgin UK, TelnaMobile, Ekit

	(#3 (permalink))
Motel75 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 482 Join Date: 15 Jun 2006 Location: Berlin Country:	16-09-2011, 12:05 You should be able to get the SIMs at lots of places besides AT&T stores, such as Walmart and Target. Current DE: Solomo (0172), Lidl Mobile, Netzklub; PL: Heyah; UK: Giffgaff; US: T-Mobile (212, 931); IT: Vodafone Former DE: Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2, Blauworld, 01051mobile, Solomo, Vistream, Simyo, Congstar; PL: Era, Sami Swoi, Orange, POP, iPlus, Heyah, Carrefour Mova, Telepin Mobi, Play; UK: Vodafone, T-Mobile, Virgin; US: T-Mobile, AT&T CZ: Vodafone, Oskar; ES: Lebara; GR: Vodafone, Wind; TR: Turkcell

	(#4 (permalink))
PhotoJim (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 381 Join Date: 10 Dec 2006 Location: Regina, SK, CA Country:	16-09-2011, 19:58 One thing to watch: if you buy the cheap phone + SIM package with AT&T, the SIM is locked to that phone for awhile (six months?). I understand you can activate them in a different phone but then it will be locked to that phone for the six months. (If the SIM gets locked to a phone, it simply won't work with any other phones until the lock expires.) GSM: CA: SaskTel (postpaid voice/data,,postpaid data), Rogers (postpaid data); UK: Orange, 3; CH: Swisscom; AT: tele.ring; US: T-Mobile, AT&T, Red Pocket Mobile, Telestial Simple Calling; EE: AirBalticcard CDMA: US: PagePlus Hardware: iPhone 4, iPhone 3G, Nokia E63, Nokia Nuron, Novatel Ovation MC950D & MC998D data sticks, Huawei UG1691 data stick (3G AWS), Motorola RAZR V3, Sony-Ericsson K610i, Sony-Ericsson Z310i, Otech F1 (quad sim) (all unlocked)