Which phone company to use in USA?

McBeck · 07-24-12, 01:30 AM

I'm coming to the USA today and will bring a cell phone.

Which carrier is the best if you just want to buy some minutes and a sim card? Maybe also some data...1 gb or more.

mookiemookie · 07-24-12, 06:38 AM

I believe Virgin Mobile will do that for you. I know they offer prepaid disposable mobiles at various stores here in the States, but I don't see why they wouldn't just sell you the sim card.

kraznyi_oktjabr · 07-24-12, 06:52 AM

I thought USA didn't use SIM cards at all. They sell you phone with all services and you can't jump the boat for another operator without changing phone too.

the_tyrant · 07-24-12, 08:44 AM

It depends on your phone. I presume you have a GSM unlocked device? (maybe give us the model, so we can look up the bands)

I'm not American, so I might not have the best suggestion, but check out AT&T and T-Mobile, they are the GSM carriers.

Ok, so for at&t, the pricing is here: http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/pla...paidplans.html

Sailor Steve · 07-24-12, 08:50 AM

Net10. Ten cents per minute, no other fees, period. Phones as cheap as $20.
http://www.net10.com/

geetrue · 07-24-12, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Net10. Ten cents per minute, no other fees, period. Phones as cheap as $20.
http://www.net10.com/

I don't have a cell phone, but thinking of one. Do they charge you for incoming phone calls too or do you have to get one of those unlimted plans?

McBeck · 07-26-12, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealhead

T-mobile is good in larger urban areas out in rural areas it is weak ATT covers pretty much the entire country and you can get 3G nearly everywhere same with Verzion you can buy cheaper phones from them for $20.00 to $50.00 and will have coverage nearly everywhere I have ATT and if you call another ATT customer it is free any ATT number.

One of my co-workers had T-Mobile and it was pretty crappy only in an area like Miami or Tampa or Orlando did he have very good signal 30 minutes out of town nothing.That was 1 year ago doubt it has changed much since then.

ATTs pre pay is called Go Phone and Verzion has something just like it more less.You could buy a prepay phone and just take its sim card and put it in yours no problem.

Isn't it possible to buy the SIM card without a phone attached?

Gargamel · 07-26-12, 03:39 PM

I believe so. I think you can do it at AT&T stores. Lemme check.

Yes you can, but it won't let me link from AT&T .com. Stupid. Just do a search on AT&T for "sim card" under wireless products and you'll find the link.

les green01 · 07-27-12, 01:42 PM

i use straight talk phone is 35 dollars and for 50 dollars a month unlimit talk,text and internet or 30 dollars is 1000 mins,1000 text and dont remember what the internet ussage was for the 30 dollar plan

Stealhead · 07-27-12, 11:35 PM

Straight Talk is the pre pay that you can buy at Wal Mart.I looked at their maps if you are going to use a non Android phone they have fairly good coverage (they must buy space from ATT and Verzion) For an Android phone the coverage area is not that good.

You can buy just a sim card from them as well.

coverage:

http://www.straighttalk.com/Coverage

McBeck · 07-26-12, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gargamel

I believe so. I think you can do it at AT&T stores. Lemme check.

Yes you can, but it won't let me link from AT&T .com. Stupid. Just do a search on AT&T for "sim card" under wireless products and you'll find the link.

Cool, there's an at&t store not too far from here.

Sailor Steve · 07-26-12, 03:53 PM

I had AT&T once. Turned it back in before the month was up, so I got out from under the contract. I worked for Verizon, so I'll never use their service. I had T-Mobile for a long time, but I never travelled, and I heard the stories about service problems as well.

Net10 has no service issues, as they pay everyone to use their towers. They inaugurated the 10 cents plans that everyone is now using.

Stealhead · 07-26-12, 10:02 PM

I have friends and family members that worked for Verizon as well their customer service is very poor and their sales reps very often lie they love selling ISP connection speeds that they know for a fact that the customer can not get do to location. Friend of mine worked customer support for them and that was a very common customer complaint.I have also heard that Verizon techs have been caught sabotaging competing companies equipment.

07-24-12, 01:30 AM	#1
McBeck Admiral Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,027 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	Which phone company to use in USA? I'm coming to the USA today and will bring a cell phone. Which carrier is the best if you just want to buy some minutes and a sim card? Maybe also some data...1 gb or more. __________________ "I like subcommanders...they dont have time for bull**!" Proud member of the Subsim army of zombies Becks website

07-24-12, 06:38 AM	#2
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	I believe Virgin Mobile will do that for you. I know they offer prepaid disposable mobiles at various stores here in the States, but I don't see why they wouldn't just sell you the sim card. __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

07-24-12, 06:52 AM	#3
kraznyi_oktjabr Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Republiken Finland Posts: 1,803 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	I thought USA didn't use SIM cards at all. They sell you phone with all services and you can't jump the boat for another operator without changing phone too. __________________ You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic. - Dr. House

07-24-12, 08:44 AM	#4
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	It depends on your phone. I presume you have a GSM unlocked device? (maybe give us the model, so we can look up the bands) I'm not American, so I might not have the best suggestion, but check out AT&T and T-Mobile, they are the GSM carriers. Ok, so for at&t, the pricing is here: http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/pla...paidplans.html __________________ My own open source project on Sourceforge OTP.net KGB grade encryption for the rest of us

07-24-12, 08:50 AM	#5
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Net10. Ten cents per minute, no other fees, period. Phones as cheap as $20. http://www.net10.com/ __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-26-12, 03:39 PM	#8
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	I believe so. I think you can do it at AT&T stores. Lemme check. Yes you can, but it won't let me link from AT&T .com. Stupid. Just do a search on AT&T for "sim card" under wireless products and you'll find the link. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

07-27-12, 01:42 PM	#9
les green01 Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Freeman Missouri Posts: 1,784 Downloads: 1405 Uploads: 0	i use straight talk phone is 35 dollars and for 50 dollars a month unlimit talk,text and internet or 30 dollars is 1000 mins,1000 text and dont remember what the internet ussage was for the 30 dollar plan __________________ I'll tell you what bravery really is. Bravery is just determination to do a job that you know has to be done. Audie Murphy

07-27-12, 11:35 PM	#10
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Straight Talk is the pre pay that you can buy at Wal Mart.I looked at their maps if you are going to use a non Android phone they have fairly good coverage (they must buy space from ATT and Verzion) For an Android phone the coverage area is not that good. You can buy just a sim card from them as well. coverage: http://www.straighttalk.com/Coverage

07-26-12, 03:53 PM	#12
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I had AT&T once. Turned it back in before the month was up, so I got out from under the contract. I worked for Verizon, so I'll never use their service. I had T-Mobile for a long time, but I never travelled, and I heard the stories about service problems as well. Net10 has no service issues, as they pay everyone to use their towers. They inaugurated the 10 cents plans that everyone is now using. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-26-12, 10:02 PM	#13
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I have friends and family members that worked for Verizon as well their customer service is very poor and their sales reps very often lie they love selling ISP connection speeds that they know for a fact that the customer can not get do to location. Friend of mine worked customer support for them and that was a very common customer complaint.I have also heard that Verizon techs have been caught sabotaging competing companies equipment.