Temp cell phone for USA trip - cheap

[ouchgirl]

I was doing some research for my upcoming trip, I wanted to find some cheap USA sim cards. We all have unlocked cell phones. I was about to get the At&t gophone sims for $1-3 on ebay, and then add $10 for airtime, but I found out an even better deal...

The H2O wirelessnow, has a starter sim card, and if you go with the minute plan, it comes with $7 credit (50 minutes talk time) that is good for 120 days. You can get these on ebay for about $2-3 each. I ended up a lot of 10 since I needed a few sims, so came to $18.xx incl shipping. ($1.8/sim card)

I've read that once you've used up the credit, people just put in a new sim card. You get another new phone # though, but good for another 120 days. I figure if you don't need a permanent phone # in usa, just a temporary phone for a trip, and don't plan to use up that much airtime, $2 or $3 for 50minutes is pretty darn good. Hope this helps some people.

Oh yeah, you can also text. The rate is .10 for the 1st text of the day, then 0.05 afterwards.

Also, if you do get the sims from ebay, make sure they are the starter sims with the $7 credit, there are some that are blank/empty cards with no credit!

 

[Susan595]

interesting....... this brings to my question. I have a blackberry, I'm on the social plan, have unlimited twitter, texting, facebook blah blah blah. Soon as I go states side that's all null and void right? Is there something I can purchase so I can still use those features at all? Yes I know I need to call my provider which is Bell and see, just wondering if anyone knows here. I use my share picture feature a ton and I hate to be without it while I'm away, I don't even use a digital camera anymore just my camera phone it'll suck if I can't use it !

 

[tley]

interesting....... this brings to my question. I have a blackberry, I'm on the social plan, have unlimited twitter, texting, facebook blah blah blah. Soon as I go states side that's all null and void right? Is there something I can purchase so I can still use those features at all? Yes I know I need to call my provider which is Bell and see, just wondering if anyone knows here. I use my share picture feature a ton and I hate to be without it while I'm away, I don't even use a digital camera anymore just my camera phone it'll suck if I can't use it !

I don't know Bell's plans, but I'm assuming there is a US Add-on that you can buy...but if Rogers or Telus' add-ons are any indication, they won't get you much. You can still use your camera, even if your phone isn't connected to a cell tower...you just can't share the pics until you get online or back home. If you are venturing out to Orlando, the outlet shops have free wi-fi which may allow you to post them w/o incurring any data charges.

 

[SmilingGrump]

interesting....... this brings to my question. I have a blackberry, I'm on the social plan, have unlimited twitter, texting, facebook blah blah blah. Soon as I go states side that's all null and void right? Is there something I can purchase so I can still use those features at all? Yes I know I need to call my provider which is Bell and see, just wondering if anyone knows here. I use my share picture feature a ton and I hate to be without it while I'm away, I don't even use a digital camera anymore just my camera phone it'll suck if I can't use it !

All the data packages our Canadian providers offer are pretty limited. Be very careful with your data usage. Turn off Data Roaming and only turn it on if you really need it. There's many horror stories of $800 plus cell phone bills, most of which are because of data usage. Many apps regularly ping for updates, etc and these add up to HUGE amounts of data.

I also usually turn off 3G to preserve battery life.



Thanks for the tips ouchgirl! I'm going to have to look into this since it would be much cheaper then the the US plans offered by Rogers/Telus/Bell.

 

[Sue M]

I get a U.S voice and text plan from Telus when I'm in the states and trun off Data roaming. Data plans are hugely expensive. Only because when I stay at my mom's (empty) condo in Ft. Lauderdale there is no land line, not worth it for only a 2 -3 week stay a year.

Before we leave for WDW I get a phone card, and use that to call home from our WDW resort. So really, if I didn't have to rely on cell phone in Ft. Lauderdale, I'd just get the US text plan, and use a phone card at hotel.

I bought a T-Mobile internet stick for my laptop last trip. Doesn't work so well with Shaw web mail. I could recieve but not send, so I had to set up a G-Mail acct so I could send e mails.
Also reception was awful at POR, I had to bring a chair outside on the walkway to get reception, but when we moved to BC reception was great.

 

[Susan595]

I will go to the Bell store this week and figure it out, if I wanna text I would like to be able to do so, but ya I've also heard those horror stories of 800 dollar bills when they get home, my boss for example his daughter took their ipad and internet stick it was over 900 bux when they got the bill. YIKES !

 

[Kurby]

I don't know Bell's plans, but I'm assuming there is a US Add-on that you can buy...but if Rogers or Telus' add-ons are any indication, they won't get you much. You can still use your camera, even if your phone isn't connected to a cell tower...you just can't share the pics until you get online or back home. If you are venturing out to Orlando, the outlet shops have free wi-fi which may allow you to post them w/o incurring any data charges.

I'm with bell and there are as Many options as people I Toronto

The best option looks like getting their $10 per option. Voice data or text which drops the cost to 50 cents a text 1 per mg and I think it was 50 cents a minute

She told me if you don't take the roaming option thinking you'll just use free wifi you might come back with high charges if your phone slips off free and hits the tower

Soooooo I think I'll be looking at the trac phones when we go in November