Mobile Phone questions

[MichelinMan]

I have subscribed to the Touringplans website for our next trip, and would like to use the lines app that comes with it when in the parks.

So I have been looking at what phone to buy to use in the US (probably an Android phone) but I believe that using data services like this in the States costs a fortune (one of my staff ran up a £300 bill on her iPhone by downloading some 'free' apps when abroad recently!).

So I was thinking that I might buy a PAYG Android phone that is unlocked (HTC have a good one that is a good deal in Carphone Warehouse at the moment), then buy a PAYG simcard once I get to the states.

So my questions are:

Has anybody else done this?

What simcard would be best to buy, and where from (or can you buy one in advance)?

And has anybody else used the Lines app in the parks - if so, what was it like?

By the way, the touringplans site is really great for trip planning, especially during peak periods - I can really recommend it. After looking at the historical crowds, we are looking to change the dates we would be going (I was initially looking at the first 3 weeks of July, because the flights will be a touch cheaper before the English schools break up, but the crowds for those weeks are terrible - waiting a couple of weeks will mean better crowd levels, which to me is worth a bit more money).

 

[wickesy]

I've got an unlocked HTC Desire and I recently bought a TruSim for it. It costs £19.99, which includes £10 of credit and data costs are 20p per MB, which was the cheapest I could find anywhere.

 

[MichelinMan]

Never heard of Trusim before, but that is exactly what I am looking for - many thanks. I will be able to get it up and running before I go too, which is a bonus.

Just been out at lunchtime, and was looking at the Samsung Galaxy Ace - cheaper than the HTC Desire, and seems to do everything that can do.

 

[wickesy]

I hadn't heard of them either but I got the link from an article on MoneySavingExpert so I was pretty confident going with them.

 

[mw101]

across there now using an iphone with the lines app it works well and we can change our plans for which park to go to also you can see the wait times before travelling right across the park worth every penny! - I bought an AT&T sim card of fleabay and bought a data bundle over here $25 for 500Mb which lasts for a month - I can use skype in the parks to call home at 1.6p a minute or even free when i use skype to skype nice to show the folks back home disney with the video calling feature of skype.

 

[nipperlocko]

BIL bought the AT&T sim off ebay then bought $15 of talk and $25 of data (500MB) and both lasted our 3 weeks and didn`t run out, he used it on the samsung galaxy and used all the apps like waiting times succesfully, although you are in the hands of people submitting upto date times, after a ride he would input the wait time he had

 

[Elise79]

Buy an AT&T sim and then add a data bundle.

In May I used Lines, Twitter & Facebook on an Android and didn't go over my 100MB that cost me $15.

This time I am getting my iPhone4 unlocked as I an not an Android girl - I had real issues

 

[wickesy]

This time I am getting my iPhone4 unlocked as I an not an Android girl - I had real issues

What problems did you have Elise? I'll be taking my Android phone in a couple of weeks and would like to know what I'm letting myself in for.

 

[Elise79]

What problems did you have Elise? I'll be taking my Android phone in a couple of weeks and would like to know what I'm letting myself in for.

If you are used to Android you will be fine I had gone from using Blackberries and iPhones and just didn't get along with Android. Also the phone I took was slightly older and not a good as I was used to so it frustrated me especially as it didn't seem to like direct sunlight

 

[wickesy]

Great, thanks.