Aussie phones in the USA

[Tara2004]

I was just wondering if anyone has used their IPhones in the USA? I wanted to take mine and use the iPad off it to have Internet coverage at disney.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Tara - It does come down to what you want to use it for. For me, I'm normally just after voice and text between family and friends. I will utilise the hotel internet services or DH's access if we are travelling for work.

I normally buy prepaid SIM card/phone in the US. It is better than paying International Roaming fees. Plus most of our family are on the same network so our calls to them are tariff free.
I don't normally bother with internet access off the phone because we normally travel when DH is working. He brings his laptop and we usually access the internet through the PC and broadband/WiFi through the hotels.

For internet service access, you can get a Wireless Broadband card equivalent in the US. Some of the others here have purchased these and used them so they will probably post at some stage.

There are also those that have taken their iPhones across and used them in the US.

 

[Busy Busy]

My DH used his Iphone when we were there in 2009 - but it was with a SIM card that he ordered and had sent to the Paradise Pier Hotel where we were staying.

It was great because we mainly used it for Twitter - it was so easy to snap a picture and then tweet it straight away. We used the phone the same way in England too - but I don't know if it had a different SIM card again.

This time he has ordered the SIM card from some place in Melbourne (I will ask him where later), and this way we have it as soon as we get off the plane (last time it took a few days to get to the hotel). Not sure about internet with it though - I'll ask him that too!

 

[bondgirl]

Ohhh, i really want to know this stuff as well.
We were in a Telstra Store on the weekend and the guy said not to use data roaming while in the US as the cost is ridiculous. He said to put my iPhone Sim in a normal prepaid phone(or my old phone) so I can still use my own phone number over there and to buy a sim over there with data for my iPhone and also purchase one for the ipad while over there as well. (My gooness, I write long sentences)
Not sure where to do this though.
Our first hotel has free Wifi but our Disney resort doesn't. Gggrr.
We are walking distance to Macca's though as we're staying at All Star Movies Might get a bit Chunky by the end of the trip if we eat a Big Mac every day though

 

[kylieh]

The cost of data roaming for Australian sims in the US is really really bad. It's one of the major compliant drivers to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman - I work in the industry. Best bet would be to grab a pre-paid sim from your destination that includes a data plan. I know though they are not easy to come by.

Watch your phone call cost as well when traveling. It costs to receive as well as make calls.

 

[Travel Mum]

Best bet would be to grab a pre-paid sim from your destination that includes a data plan.

Does anyone know if we could buy one of these on arrival at Orlando International Airport (MCO) ?

 

[kylieh]

I was going to ask the same - or for Dallas airport.

 

[kylieh]

Started Googling - just found this - http://www.travelgear.com.au/p/TMOBILEUSA/T-Mobile+USA+prepaid+mobile+phone+SIM+card+with+USD$30+credit I'll check it out a little more, or has anyone used this before?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Does anyone know if we could buy one of these on arrival at Orlando International Airport (MCO) ?

There are a couple of 'shops' at MCO that sell prepaid SIMS. I looked into them when I was in the airport in October last year. They have them in the main terminal and also out at the various terminals. It's pretty much the same electronic chain in the airport.

If Shushh stops by, she may know for sure. I think I originally did the scouting for her. I don't know if she ended up buying them there or over the internet in the end.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Started Googling - just found this - http://www.travelgear.com.au/p/TMOBILEUSA/T-Mobile+USA+prepaid+mobile+phone+SIM+card+with+USD$30+credit I'll check it out a little more, or has anyone used this before?

I think my first prepaid in the US was with TMobile. It has relatively good mobile coverage. I'm not sure but I think TMobile was taken over by AT&T??? I know one of them got swallowed up by AT&T.

I tend to stick with AT&T Go Mobile prepaid these days. Most of my family and DH's family are on AT&T. Our on-net calls are free.

Verizon is the other major carrier over there.

 

[PrincessInOz]

If you do look at the Go Mobile prepaid, I think from memory you have two options - one is a $1 flagfall per day and the other is the $2 flagfall. I think both options will give you free calls on-net. With the $1 flagfall, you pay for the SMS. With the $2 flagfall, your SMS calls are also free on-net.

If you spend a lot of time texting, the $2 flagfall is the way to go.

 

[Jade+3]

Silly question, but if your phone is locked to a network, will a prepaid sim work?

 

[Franrose]

That was my question too Jade+3! Not that I have any idea whether my phone is locked or not (but given that I'm with Telstra and they seem to know how to charge the earth... I'll bet it is).

If it is, I wonder if buying one of those unlocked smartphones from Woolies could be a good idea (starting to get expensive though).

 

[kylieh]

Silly question, but if your phone is locked to a network, will a prepaid sim work?

That was my question too Jade+3! Not that I have any idea whether my phone is locked or not (but given that I'm with Telstra and they seem to know how to charge the earth... I'll bet it is).

If it is, I wonder if buying one of those unlocked smartphones from Woolies could be a good idea (starting to get expensive though).

No, your phone won't work even on prepaid phones, though to have the phone unlocked there is normally a minimum spend. I believe with both Telstra and Optus it's around the $80 mark or the equivalent pre paid recharge. If you're on contract depending on how far you are into the contract you can have the network locking removed sometimes at no charge, or if you're at the start of the contract a lot more $$$.

 

[battymum]

"http://www.tracfone-orders.com/bpdirect/tracfone/PhoneDetails.do?action=view&productVariantExtensionId=6958303"

Has anyone used Tracfone?
I was thinking of having a couple of these delivered to our room. We just need something to keep in touch with each other in the parks and NYC.

My DD16 just got an Iphone for her birthday - did I tell you she was a cliche, (although not boy crazy ) but in 16 days she managed to send 2200 text messages Luckily she has an infinite plan - but I told her she is definitely not brining it to the USA.

Those data charges are not just expensive - people have been stung with bills in the thousands without even realising they were using data.

But she wants to know can she use it without the sim as an Ipod only.

 

[marvel]

Most carriers will unlock your iphone for free but be sure to do this well in advance. You will need to connect it to itunes and insert a different Sim Card just to get the phone unlocked with a code you a given. That is what happened to me. I am thinkig that target or wallmart would be good options to pick US sims. There are sims you can buy here but i thought they were too expensive.

 

[Jade+3]

Thanks for the clarification kylieh. I have also been looking at tracfones.

 

[shushh]

There were definitely "shops" that sold mobile type products as well as a bestbuy vending machine at MCO. However, because I was specifically looking for the virgin mobile to go cards for credit to use with my dongle, I didn't pay close attention to what else was in the vending machine! Sorry...but I think there were prepaid sims around.

 

[ame]

"http://www.tracfone-orders.com/bpdirect/tracfone/PhoneDetails.do?action=view&productVariantExtensionId=6958303"



But she wants to know can she use it without the sim as an Ipod only.

We use US bought gophones between us.

I take my iphone and leave it in airplane mode. I use it as an ipod and camera and turn wifi on when I want to use it. So it stays in airplane mode the entire time and never looks for a network. I also don't have international roaming on the phone so that it couldn't connect anyway.

 

[Jade+3]

ame, do you just use the wifi when you can connect for free? I am so hopeless when it comes to technology.