US pre-paid micro SIM for iPad

[wisniak]

Hi,

I'm traveling next month for 1wk to the US (mainly Florida) and am interested in the current alternatives.

Read something about Straight Talk, which I understand is an MVNO.
Also read that AT&T has cancelled the pre-paid options?

I need 3G GSM and good coverage.

Thanks.

[PhotoJim]

AT&T still has its iPad plan. You can activate and deactivate it on-device as long as you have AT&T service or WiFi connectivity.

A SIM will cost you $10 at an AT&T shop once you get to the US.

I understand that if you deactivate it, it will stop working after six months. I just keep mine alive all the time for simplicity, but I'm in the US 4-6 times a year.

[Stu]

Do you need a US credit card for this?

[wisniak]

PhotoJim,

Can I purchase the micro SIM say via eBay?

I've read that AT&T refuse to sell the SIM cards to non-US residents/citizens.

What do you mean about deactivation? Never heard of this. Unless you're referring to expiry of the card and non-renewal?

I emailed AT&T trying to ask some information but the guy who replied was from another unit and he said that the other guys don't have an email for this type of question. Strange.

Do you know whether there's an AT&T shop in JFK? I'll arrive from abroad and then transit to my destination in the US. So the shop needs to be after security.

Thank you.

[Bossman]

As long as you are in the US, any universally accepted credit card will do.

Originally Posted by Stu

Do you need a US credit card for this?

[Bossman]

Yes, you can buy it on ebay.

att micro sim card | eBay.

Never heard of them not wanting to sell to non-US residents. As long as it's on prepaid, I do not see any reason why they will do that.

Originally Posted by wisniak

PhotoJim,

Can I purchase the micro SIM say via eBay?

I've read that AT&T refuse to sell the SIM cards to non-US residents/citizens.

Thank you.

[wisniak]

Thank you, Bossman.

I assume that a SIM purchased from eBay will have zero credit?
So how do I go about purchasing a refill card while still abroad, or in JFK airport? (I'll be in transit from international arrivals to an internal flight, so I'll have a couple of hours wait time).

Further, how can I activate the SIM while still in the airport? I don't think there's free WIFI there?

Last, in the link you provided to eBay I see that there are several brand names, I assume they're MVNOs?

[PhotoJim]

AT&T will sell you a SIM, but they will not guarantee that you can use it.

To sign up for service on-device, you need an American credit card, or a prepaid credit card with a US address (easy to manage), or an American Express card (my Canadian AMEX card works). In theory if you can assign a US address to your credit card from home, that might work. (Some foreign banks have US credit cards for their clients - I have one - but I haven't checked to see if I can associate a US mailing address with it since I don't have such an address and AMEX is working fine for me.)

[wisniak]

Incredibly complex...
Throughout Europe (and some of the Far East countries I've visited) you just go into a shop, buy the SIM card, they photocopy your passport - and you're up and running within minutes...
The only exception is France, where there's more bureaucracy.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by wisniak

Incredibly complex...
Throughout Europe (and some of the Far East countries I've visited) you just go into a shop, buy the SIM card, they photocopy your passport - and you're up and running within minutes...
The only exception is France, where there's more bureaucracy.

If AT&T let you buy topup cards in stores for their iPad service, it would be easier, but it's not really intended nor set up for foreigners to use. Some, like me, find a way, but it is a bit of a quagmire to navigate.