USA SIM cards for Iphone/ipad

[uk mouse lover]

Hi again Just trying to get some advice on simcards for my phone

I have seen many comments on the web about getting a pay as you go sim card for the usa BUT I can see that its looking very costy as im looking for about 1gb of data (for the Disney aps) i wont be calling anyone and texts will only be like 1 a day back to the uk.

I would like to know what the Orlando people use IE at&t and tmobile and what they are paying.

I surprised that Disney have not installed full park wirles internet yet tbh

I know that this has been talked about so many times but most the time is about calls and like i say it will be data>
I know i will be getting free internet at the Swan & Dolphin but the parks would be nice

Thanks AJ

 

[Elise79]

Unfortunately there are no cheap options any more since AT&T changed their tariffs.

With AT&T you are looking at $25 for the monthly plan which you have to add to be able to get the data then another $25 for the 1GB of data.

T-Mobile offer a daily plan which is $3 a day for unlimited data.

We used to just pay the $25 for the data then a few cents for calls & texts.

 

[uk mouse lover]

Thanks For that looks like the $3 a day is going to have to be done. Do we have to do anything do you know or is it a case of get the simcard top it up put it in and activate the card or do we have to activate the $3 internet aswell?

AJ

 

[flortlebap]

Thats actually not bad value. It would cost me about £250 to use my phone in the US like I do here, lol. I'm interested in getting a sim for the Lines app

 

[Elise79]

I don't know about T-mobile as we have always used AT&T - I am still looking into it at the moment and deciding whether to switch.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Let us all know what you decide please...and once you've been, how it performed

 

[RJMC]

anyone used www.dataroam.co.uk ?

they offer prepaid data sim cards for USA. Read about them in a PC magazine

 

[dixonsontour]

DH did the T mobile deal last week. We went into a T mobile shop - he was very pleased with it. Will ask him to post some info for you.

 

[dixonsontour]

DH says you need a fully unlocked phone. You can buy the T mobile sim card from the T mobile shop (we used the one nr the Florida mall - were in 10 mins and very straightforward)

It cost $10 to activate it which they did instore. They also checked that the APN on the phone was correct. You can top up instore and set your price plan instore.

There are $2 and $3 a day plans with unlimited data. The cheaper one is all at 2g speeds. The $3 has about 200mb at upto 4g speeds and the remainder at 2g. The $3 plan also includes unlimited calls and texts in the US.

DH used an android phone and you could download a T mobile app to manage the account.

DH dropped it to just PAYG as we were leaving Florida. We were told the sim would remain active for 90 days without use. It does work in the UK and DH will make a call to see if it keeps it alive for when we go again in October.

One other tip as you will have a US number is you can register for google voice which means you can use it to call home for 2cents per minute to a UK landline or 10 cents per minute to a UK mobile.

 

[dixonsontour]

DH syas the T mobile sim wont work in an iPad.

DH has an android phone - full size sim card. You will need to check if you can get a micro sim card for your iPhone on the deal, or cut the sim card to fit (as DH did to try in the iPad)

It didn't work in my iPhone as it is locked to T mobile uk.

 

[uk mouse lover]

Really good info coming in from you all!! i am looking at geting the Tmobile sim while in the uk (ebay) as we dont drive and the only time we go out of Disney is in the 2nd wk and to Universal.

I have about 5 or so Disney line and tips that I am looking forward to use in the parks.

Thanks
AJ

 

[CAROLINE4]

We just got back two weeks ago and this was a major problem for us! I didn't even know where to start with it as my phone was not unlocked and the villa we had rented had stated Internet access but it was from the club house not the villa! anyway we went to mc Donald's a couple of times to Skype family in uk but blizzard beach has free wifi so we did our banking etc there x it was the only park with Internet access as we tried them all x

 

[2Tiggies]

Who is your service provider in the UK? I was looking the other night and noticed that Orange allows you to pre purchase roaming data bundles (Europe or worldwide) and it looks like a lot less hassle and money than trying to sort out a different sim. They had a daily, weekly and monthly rate and if you don't use it apparently there is no charge. Not too sure how it works though. I didn't feel their info was fully complete and decided not to bother crossing my fingers for someone fluent in English to take my enquiry if I rang them.

 

[dixonsontour]

The T mobile sim thing was hassle free for DH as he knew exactly what he needed to do (I on the other hand don't even understand half of what he put in the post above)

There is a thread on the dibb at the moment about people being charged
£100s for usage so if you are intending to use a phone do get sorted before you go.

 

[Disneymad]

I posted this (or this if you have multiple devices you want to connect to the internet) the other day but will post again as I think this is probably the best long term solution to data roaming. That is to say, if you're going to be making multiple trips in the future then it's worth the initial outlay.

The usb ($50) is single access, the 2200 ($100) acts as a router so you can even connect multiple devices to it if needed.

I'm not sure about the usb version but I know for sure that the 2200 was available off the shelf at Walmart, as are the top up cards which cost $10 for 10 days & 100mb data, $20 for a month and 500mb of data and $50 for a month for unlimited data. I imagine for most people the 500mb is going to be enough (I use my mobile a lot at home and don't come close to using that a month) unless they're doing a lot of streaming or a bazillion pictures.

Obviously the nice thing about it is it's PAYG so once you're finished you can just stick it in the drawer and pull it out again next trip and has multiple plan options so is quite flexible to people's individual needs.

I believe it uses the Sprint network.

Note, not actually used this myself so can't vouch for it. I am thinking of getting it next trip though.

 

[uk mouse lover]

Who is your service provider in the UK? I was looking the other night and noticed that Orange allows you to pre purchase roaming data bundles (Europe or worldwide) and it looks like a lot less hassle and money than trying to sort out a different sim. They had a daily, weekly and monthly rate and if you don't use it apparently there is no charge. Not too sure how it works though. I didn't feel their info was fully complete and decided not to bother crossing my fingers for someone fluent in English to take my enquiry if I rang them.

I am with Orange Iin the UK so might give them a call, Just a bit woryed as a close mate went to spain with the prepaid roaming and come back to find that the prepaid roaming had not worked and was lft with a huge bill.. Took Orange a few month to get it sorted.

 

[uk mouse lover]

I posted this (or this if you have multiple devices you want to connect to the internet) the other day but will post again as I think this is probably the best long term solution to data roaming. That is to say, if you're going to be making multiple trips in the future then it's worth the initial outlay.

The usb ($50) is single access, the 2200 ($100) acts as a router so you can even connect multiple devices to it if needed.

I'm not sure about the usb version but I know for sure that the 2200 was available off the shelf at Walmart, as are the top up cards which cost $10 for 10 days & 100mb data, $20 for a month and 500mb of data and $50 for a month for unlimited data. I imagine for most people the 500mb is going to be enough (I use my mobile a lot at home and don't come close to using that a month) unless they're doing a lot of streaming or a bazillion pictures.

Obviously the nice thing about it is it's PAYG so once you're finished you can just stick it in the drawer and pull it out again next trip and has multiple plan options so is quite flexible to people's individual needs.

I believe it uses the Sprint network.

Note, not actually used this myself so can't vouch for it. I am thinking of getting it next trip though.

Sounds very good for people who just want the net when back at the room, i will only be using if for the ride maps and wait time round the parks (even with the amount of trips to DW i have been on I still look on the maps and google earth to find we have still missed a shop in world showcase or a photo spot in MK.

 

[Snow8882]

I am totally confused.

I have an iPhone (unlocked) with O2. I only envisage using it to call home to say "we're here", possibly the odd text, but I can see me using it a lot to access apps (especially Facebook!)

... is at the Magic Kingdom

I was going to have a look at sim cards/plans for data but the Tmobile and AT&T sites have soooo much info on them I don't really know where to start!

Can anyone help? What kind of plans are you opting for? What do I need to consider?

 

[uk mouse lover]

I am totally confused.

I have an iPhone (unlocked) with O2. I only envisage using it to call home to say "we're here", possibly the odd text, but I can see me using it a lot to access apps (especially Facebook!)

... is at the Magic Kingdom

I was going to have a look at sim cards/plans for data but the Tmobile and AT&T sites have soooo much info on them I don't really know where to start!

Can anyone help? What kind of plans are you opting for? What do I need to consider?

you can use you phone but will cost a lot in roaming (IE useing a uk simcard for calls texts and internet)

I have talked to a T mobile member of staff via the Tmobile USA site and been told that if you want to use the internet then the best bet is to get your phone unlocked (cost about £5) then get a USA Tmobile simcard (you can pic them up when over the usa at a Tmobile shop (one in the Florida Mall) or what im doing is getting one on-line via Amazon and activating it hear ready for when we go. then top it up (like normal you can top up using a debit card or over a counter.

You could ask pepole in the UK to install a app like Viber that you can use to call and text free but you need to have the net

 

[london75]

In the past I've had success on an iPhone with the AT&T Sims on the Go tariff.

I usually get a new SIM for around £4.50 on ebay, whoever has the cheapest unused sim really.

Then when there I go on the no daily charge 10c/min rate and add $25 for the 1GB data package.

So for around £20 total I can keep up on work emails, use apps and let the kids play games even if they require an internet connection which many do now.

Here's the AT&T Go Phone tariff summary page
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-ph...cell-phone-plans.jsp?wtSlotClick=1-007FTV-0-2