Mobile Phones

[zanzibar138]

We have our first trip to the US coming up in 5 weeks

I haven't been overseas since mobile phones took off, and BF hasn't been overseas at all!

I was wondering what everyone does to keep costs down on their mobile phones. I just want mine to contact by BF in an emergency (eg we get separated) and to keep my family back home updated via facebook.

We were thinking of getting American sim cards for while we're over there. Can you do that or do you need to be an American citizen or something to get them?

Any suggestions appreciated

 

[Sugarglider]

there are a number of options open to you including getting your phone provider to set your account for international roaming (which is free to do) and then as you say only use the phone in an emergency, or you could buy a calling card.
You say you are going to facebook - does that mean you'll have some kind of computing / internet connection? Cause you can make calls (both voice and video) via skype
You will need to have a US address to open a US mobile phone account and get a US phone number - I wouldn't bother.
I have heard of agencies at the airport who will rent the phones.
I would think that google would be your friend on finding options and costs.
I believe if you get the international roaming and are then judicious with your use you would be fine.

 

[Caroline NZ]

We bought prepaid sim cards when over there and we were able to use these to phone each other. They were US$1/day AT&T ones and you could phone other AT&T phones for the $1 rate per day.
And then we just used our international roaming NZ number for if we needed to phone home.

 

[zanzibar138]

Thanks for your replies. Where do you get the pre-paid SIMs from? And do they include data?

 

[Caroline NZ]

Hi, we got our cards from an AT&T store in Anaheim. The ones we got were just for calls on the AT & T network.

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

I am also wondering what to do. I have an iPhone and there are apps that I would like to use in the parks. Is there a pre-paid card that you can get with data plans that I can use with the iPhone.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Snickals]

I bought a TravelSim last time and all I can say is don't waste your money on them! The money went so quickly on them it was ridiculous, I couldn't send photo sms and half the text msgs people sent me never got through. After a short while I put my Aussie sim in and was able to text home (costs a little higher than home obviously) and was still able to get free facebook and twitter (phone was a telstra next g). And when I wanted to call home I just got a phone card from the resort and used it in my room (man behind counter gave me the tip it's cheaper to use phone cards in room than pay phone) which wasn't often, but I usually go a few calls out of the one card.

 

[zanzibar138]

Thanks for all the tips. I wonder if I can still get free facebook access in the US on my plan? Will have to check it out. Also will have to check out whether I'll have to unlock my phone if we're still planning to get prepaid SIMs over there... So much to do, so little time!

 

[battymum]

I bought a TravelSim last time and all I can say is don't waste your money on them! The money went so quickly on
them it was ridiculous, I couldn't send photo sms and half the text msgs people sent me never got through. After a short while I put my Aussie sim in and was able to text home (costs a little higher than home obviously) and was still able to get free facebook and twitter (phone was a telstra next g). And when I wanted to call home I just got a phone card from the resort and used it in my room (man behind counter gave me the tip it's cheaper to use phone cards in room than pay phone) which wasn't often, but I usually go a few calls out of the one card.

Snickals,

Was your facebook / twitter definitely free, I've heard data charges on international roaming can add up very quickly without you even knowing it.

 

[Snickals]

I used 0.facebook.com (doesn't have any photos, only text) and it was free. For twitter I used TRIBE and I am fairly sure it was free...I did try other sites and they got expensive. I have a Telstra Next G phone.

I also could only send photo sms with my regular sim in but could send regular texts with both the TravelSim and the regular but they were a little more expensive also than what I would pay at home.

 

[HappyFingers]

i have neither facebook nor twitter

im not interesting enough

 

[zanzibar138]

i have neither facebook nor twitter

im not interesting enough

IMHO anyone who goes to Disneyland/WDW is interesting enough to have a facebook account lol!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

We purchased phones from BigK (you can get them at Walmart as well) for $19 with 300 minutes on them. We rang the number on there to get international calling unblocked and we could then Call Australian landlines for about 5 cents a minute which came out of the 300 minutes that came with the phone.

It was great for transferring money to our debit visa card. We came home with 200 minutes left and we are taking the phone back with us this trip will just cost us a recharge.

This was much cheaper than changing our phones onto international roaming and if people from Australia called you don't both get charged.

 

[boueburn]

well there are mobile phone that accepts prepaid cards. Which can attain international calls.


Evelyn Sorenson,
International Call Rates
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