Mobile data in the USA?

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Discussion

Matt..

Original Poster:

3,586 posts

188 months

Monday 25th August 2014
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Got a friend who is off to the US in a couple of days and is asking about mobile data for their iPhone. What's the best option at the moment?


Thanks

toohuge

3,430 posts

215 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
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Is the iPhone unlocked? If so, a local sim card would be the best option.

toohuge

3,430 posts

215 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
Is the iPhone unlocked? If so, a local sim card would be the best option.

ViperDave

5,520 posts

252 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
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A Three sim and "feel at home", on PAYG £5 top up gets 150mb free data then you can get another 500mb with that £5 if need be or spend it on other call/txt/data packages. Just remember feel at home applies to package allowances not the basic 1p,2p,3p PAYG rate, and its not much good for calling domestic US if that's what you want, although it probably wont bankrupt you (something like 16.4p/min).

I just cant fathom if the crap data speed i get in the US is a limitation of my ancient (by phone standards) HTC Desire HD or the roaming agreements.




Edited by ViperDave on Tuesday 26th August 04:12

Chucklehead

2,729 posts

207 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
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IIRC you need to have had the SIM live and in use for 30 days before you go so probably not an option

Matt..

Original Poster:

3,586 posts

188 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
I've just advised going to a tmobile store to get a sim, or looking in walmart (or similar!) for one. Seems that's still a good option.


Thanks

boxst

3,699 posts

144 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
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Putting another SIM in your iPhone messes things like WhatsApp, iMessage etc.. up.

Buy a cheap phone (like this: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/virgin-mobile-lg-optim... ) and then buy unlimited calls/texts/data.

You can then use the phone as a hotspot to tether the iPhone as well as just use the phone on its own. The Optimus f3 is a decent android phone.

If you do want to go down the SIM route, T-Mobile are a little more expensive but there are shops everywhere and they are helpful. Cost will be $10 for the SIM and then your plan (I bought a $80/30 days unlimited everything). I tethered it and used 20gb of data so it really does appear to be unlimited.

ViperDave

5,520 posts

252 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
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Chucklehead said:
IIRC you need to have had the SIM live and in use for 30 days before you go so probably not an option
If that's in ref to three feel at home, then it only applied to pay monthly contract sims, PAYG you only need the sim, register, some credit and a package of data, voice etc.

At least for me that was true, First sim top up was 9th may, went to the US on the 15th may and all worked fine using the free data allowance from my initial top up, the only problem is the speed sometimes but i think that is probably my phone as i only ever get E or G signals.

Hedgeman

661 posts

230 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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I'm travelling in the US at the moment on the west coast - think I'm paying £20 for 200MB of data which lasts for 7 days, and pretty sure it was the same price in New York a few months ago. That's with EE. Wifi is reasonably prevalent, but I'll probably still burn 500MB in a week. There are probably cheaper ways of doing it, but I appreciate the convenience of keeping my own SIM/number and carrying just one device.

Gary.

S 8 GRN

1,179 posts

242 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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ViperDave said:
A Three sim and "feel at home", on PAYG £5 top up gets 150mb free data then you can get another 500mb with that £5 if need be or spend it on other call/txt/data packages. Just remember feel at home applies to package allowances not the basic 1p,2p,3p PAYG rate, and its not much good for calling domestic US if that's what you want, although it probably wont bankrupt you (something like 16.4p/min).

I just cant fathom if the crap data speed i get in the US is a limitation of my ancient (by phone standards) HTC Desire HD or the roaming agreements.




Edited by ViperDave on Tuesday 26th August 04:12
I used this service - £15 for unlimited data and no 30 day wait period. O2 unlocked my iphone for free. Other than coverage issues which are the same as at home it worked a treat - would highly recommend.

Output Flange

16,793 posts

210 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
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Vodka world traveller is £5/day to use your home package.

BertieWooster

3,229 posts

163 months

Friday 29th August 2014
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Matt.. said:
I've just advised going to a tmobile store to get a sim, or looking in walmart (or similar!) for one. Seems that's still a good option.

Thanks
I'd recommend T-Mobile as well. IMHO their pre-paid plans seem to offer the best value compared to the likes of AT&T and Verizon. Last time I was in the USA I paid $30 for unlimited data (with the first 3 or 4GB at 4G speed), unlimited texts and 100 minutes of calls. They also do a pay by the day option where for $3 you get unlimited texting, calling and data each day.