SIM card

[mort1331]

We are coming in from Canada. Is there somewhere near the GCH to purchase local SIM cards for our phones so we can have data? Dont want to have to pay for roaming data while out of the country.

 

[Nonsuch]

Mobile hotspots specifically for international travel are another option.
I used GigSky (discount link) recently in Europe, and will use again in Asia.
Skyroam is another brand I considered.

 

[lozzypop]

Unless your visit is imminent, you can obtain US SIM cards in Canada. Roam Mobility is based in Vancouver and they sell SIM cards and talk/text/data plans for the US. I've used them for about three years (although no personal experience with data) and been pleased with the service. For about $25 - $30 CAD (SIM cards are between $10 - $15 I think?) I can get a week's worth of unlimited talk and text (Canada and US calls)

Roam Mobility SIM cards are available in London Drugs.

 

[mort1331]

not leaving till end of aug, just looking at the data for maxpass. Leave work and home at home..lol

 

[MommaBerd]

Mobile hotspots specifically for international travel are another option.
I used GigSky (discount link) recently in Europe, and will use again in Asia.
Skyroam is another brand I considered.

Hijacking for a moment - does this work in China??

 

[Nonsuch]

Hijacking for a moment - does this work in China??

The GigSky website shows support for China. I purchased it specifically for Shanghai and Tokyo, and will be using it in a couple weeks
This is a data-only service, so no phone or text (iMessage between Apple devices does work)

 

[MommaBerd]

The GigSky website shows support for China. I purchased it specifically for Shanghai and Tokyo, and will be using it in a couple weeks
This is a data-only service, so no phone or text (iMessage between Apple devices does work)

When is your trip? We leave 3/31 for Shanghai...would love to know your thoughts if there’s time between our trips...

 

[Disney_Alli]

We started out using Telaway.ca but switched to Roam on our last two trips. Both were excellent. If you travel to the US often ROAM is cheaper overall since you can reuse the SIM card. Otherwise we found the rates at Telaway slightly cheaper for a one-off trip.

 

[Mama Bear Me2]

Unless your visit is imminent, you can obtain US SIM cards in Canada. Roam Mobility is based in Vancouver and they sell SIM cards and talk/text/data plans for the US. I've used them for about three years (although no personal experience with data) and been pleased with the service. For about $25 - $30 CAD (SIM cards are between $10 - $15 I think?) I can get a week's worth of unlimited talk and text (Canada and US calls)

Roam Mobility SIM cards are available in London Drugs.

* Another vote for Roam Mobility. Used them and liked them.

* Another plus was that we were able to call home to Canada (no extra charge).

* Depending on length of stay you might want to look at the monthly option (this is what we chose to do since we had a long stay in the USA).

* You will need an unlocked phone but believe that companies are now required to unlock phones for free? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

* In addition to London Drugs, you can buy the Roam Mobility SIM cards at Staples. Also online via Roam Mobility website I believe?

* If you don't need the SIM card immediately, you can periodically check online (London Drugs, Staples and Roam Mobility) and see if there is a sale for the SIM card ... sometimes it goes on sale and you can save a couple of bucks off the SIM card

* If you plan on future USA trips, you can keep the SIM card active (and the phone number you were assigned) if you have an active plan for it Example: buy 1 day's worth of plan and set a future date and keep moving the future date forward until you're ready to use the plan. This way, if your next USA visit is not in the near future (eg. within 1 year's time) you can keep your SIM card (& assigned phone number) and won't need to pay for another SIM card on your next visit.

Have a great trip!

 

[inluvwithbuzz]

* Another vote for Roam Mobility. Used them and liked them.

* Another plus was that we were able to call home to Canada (no extra charge).

* Depending on length of stay you might want to look at the monthly option (this is what we chose to do since we had a long stay in the USA).

* You will need an unlocked phone but believe that companies are now required to unlock phones for free? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

* In addition to London Drugs, you can buy the Roam Mobility SIM cards at Staples. Also online via Roam Mobility website I believe?

* If you don't need the SIM card immediately, you can periodically check online (London Drugs, Staples and Roam Mobility) and see if there is a sale for the SIM card ... sometimes it goes on sale and you can save a couple of bucks off the SIM card

* If you plan on future USA trips, you can keep the SIM card active (and the phone number you were assigned) if you have an active plan for it Example: buy 1 day's worth of plan and set a future date and keep moving the future date forward until you're ready to use the plan. This way, if your next USA visit is not in the near future (eg. within 1 year's time) you can keep your SIM card (& assigned phone number) and won't need to pay for another SIM card on your next visit.

Have a great trip!

So I am with Telus Mobility. Do I need to have my phone unlocked first before I am able to use Roam Mobility? It sound like an awesome idea than paying $7 a day to use my plan in the USA.

 

[MaMudduck]

I'm in the same boat as the rest of you, but I leave for DLR in 10 days, and now I scrambling to decide how to get a prepaid SIM card. In the past I've just added a cheap talk & text from Rogers ($20) but they want $80 for 500mb & talk and text. NOT going to pay that.
I already have an unlocked phone(s) and 2 "hot spots" but I won't have a car to get to a store to buy one in the US. (Like in the old days,pre 2012 days, for WDW trips I'd just buy a prepaid phone or Sim in the US.) Any suggestion? Thanks.

 

[Mama Bear Me2]

So I am with Telus Mobility. Do I need to have my phone unlocked first before I am able to use Roam Mobility? It sound like an awesome idea than paying $7 a day to use my plan in the USA.

1) Unlocked Phone Required: Yes ... you need to have your phone "unlocked" in order to use the SIM card from Roam Mobility.

Check link below (2nd paragraph of article):

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/crtc-wireless-code-cellphone-1.4161711

Quoted from Article: As of Dec. 1, cellphone customers can ask their provider to unlock their phones free of charge, the CRTC announced Thursday. At the same time, it said, all newly purchased mobile devices must be provided to customers unlocked.

My comment: Therefore, you can get your phone unlocked for FREE.


2) Roam Mobility FAQ: check out the following link and you can look up answers re: using Roam Mobility (see PRE-PURCHASE tab, HOW-TO-GUIDES tab, PRODUCT DETAILS tab, SHIPPING & ORDERING tab).

https://support.roammobility.com/hc/en-us

Again, if you are going on a long trip check out the "monthly" option instead of the "daily" option ... it was more economical for us to buy the "monthly" option instead of the "daily" because of the number of days we were in the USA.

Also ... should mention that the SIM Cards and Plans are payable in "Canadian" currency (NOT USD) whereas buying a SIM in the USA, you will be paying in USD.


3) My Suggestions:

* Get your phone unlocked for free if it's not already unlocked

* Buy your Roam Mobility SIM card in person (eg. London Drugs, Staples)

* If you prefer, you can also order your Roam Mobility SIM online via the Roam Mobility website

* Choose your plan and pay online for your plan via the Roam Mobility website. I waited until a few days before my trip and paid for my plan and then set a FUTURE date for when I wanted the SIM to be activated

* REMEMBER to take your Roam Mobility SIM card with you as you will need to switch out your current SIM with the Roam Mobility SIM ... would be awful to go through all the trouble above and then forget to take your SIM card with you!!


Good luck!

 

[Mama Bear Me2]

I'm in the same boat as the rest of you, but I leave for DLR in 10 days, and now I scrambling to decide how to get a prepaid SIM card. In the past I've just added a cheap talk & text from Rogers ($20) but they want $80 for 500mb & talk and text. NOT going to pay that.
I already have an unlocked phone(s) and 2 "hot spots" but I won't have a car to get to a store to buy one in the US. (Like in the old days,pre 2012 days, for WDW trips I'd just buy a prepaid phone or Sim in the US.) Any suggestion? Thanks.

If you are not leaving for 10 days AND your phone is already "unlocked" you should have time to buy a Roam Mobility SIM "in person" at a store (eg. London Drugs, Staples) and then purchase a plan "online" and set a "future" activation date.

Reminders: bring your Roam Mobility SIM card with you as you need to switch out your current SIM for the Roam Mobility SIM

Note: if you go with Roam Mobility, you are paying in Canadian dollars. If you buy in the USA, I'm assuming you'd be paying USD.

Good luck!

 

[Mama Bear Me2]

To Everyone considering Roam Mobility ... make sure your read through the FAQ section as the FAQ can help answer a lot of your questions.

https://support.roammobility.com/hc/en-us


Here are some things that I considered when I looked at Roam Mobility:

* Make sure your device is compatible with Roam Mobility's network

https://support.roammobility.com/hc...hat-devices-are-compatible-with-your-network-


* Print off copies of the HOW-TO-GUIDES "before" you leave on the trip this way you will have the guides handy when you switch over to the Roam Mobility SIM:

https://support.roammobility.com/hc/en-us/categories/201873023-How-To-Guides


* Of "special" note is how to set your APN settings (don't know what this is but I had to set it when I switched the SIM):

https://support.roammobility.com/hc/en-us/articles/215803723-APN-settings-for-cellular-data-and-MMS

Good luck!

 

[MaMudduck]

If you are not leaving for 10 days AND your phone is already "unlocked" you should have time to buy a Roam Mobility SIM "in person" at a store (eg. London Drugs, Staples) and then purchase a plan "online" and set a "future" activation date.

Reminders: bring your Roam Mobility SIM card with you as you need to switch out your current SIM for the Roam Mobility SIM

Note: if you go with Roam Mobility, you are paying in Canadian dollars. If you buy in the USA, I'm assuming you'd be paying USD.

Good luck!

I'll check it out tomorrow at Staples, no London Drugs anywhere with my area. ( I'm in Central Ontario) Thanks

 

[kyrkea333]

Mama bear 2 covered it all! I used ROAM mobility on my last trip in January, and it worked wonderfully. I used the $4.95 / day plan, and I didn't even come close to using up all my data. They give you the entire amount of data upfront that you've paid for, so you don't need to worry about allotting it day by day. Highly recommend them!

 

[MaMudduck]

Went to Staples and got my Roam Sim chip today, feeling less pressured and ready to go in 8 days!

 

[Albort]

Hijacking for a moment - does this work in China??

if your only in China, i suggest buying a China sim card on ebay. I bought a 1GB for like $20. didnt use much but still used it for a 10 day trip through China.
i purchased a China Unicom one.

OP: i know Tmobile has $30 plans for 3 weeks. Thats the only one i know that works with out of towners but i gave a tmobile one to a friend of mine whom had really bad service at Disneyland. I ended up turning my att phone into a hotspot for her to get online. ATT is the way to go. (yes, over verizon)

 

[MommaBerd]

if your only in China, i suggest buying a China sim card on ebay. I bought a 1GB for like $20. didnt use much but still used it for a 10 day trip through China.
i purchased a China Unicom one.

Thanks! I am a little nervous about buying off eBay. I’m glad to know it was a positive/successful purchase.