US Cell Phone #

[hatty]

I was wondering if you guys might be able to give me some input. I live in Calgary, but i travel to the states fairly often throughout the year, and instead of always getting the roaming packages put on my cell phone plan (which end up costing a lot!) I though this time around, to just pick up a US cell phone, and number.

Anyone know what the best way to go about it is? Is pay as you go the best route? or setting up a minimal plan with a company?

Has anyone done this before here?

Thanks!

[Bonded]

Virgin Mobile is decent. It really depends on how much you use the phone during the States.

[Table 5]

I have both a US and Canadian phone as I travel back and forth quite a bit too. I just have an account on both sides of the border, and switch depending on where I am. I got the most bare-bones plan possible for the US. The only issue with this is that you probably need to have a US address/CC to have the American phone setup.

Otherwise, you're best bet is a Pay-as-you-go, that you would buy down there. I'm not sure if those phones include data though? When traveling, having internet access (that doesn't rape you in charges) to me is more important than the actual phone.

[Calgaryborn]

I use Verizon which has the best coverage in the west. If you want to be able to call back to Canada then you will have to buy a phone and a plan. A pay and talk will be restricted to within the USA.

My work use to take me across the border regularly and I needed to be able to phone across the border so I opted for the plan and use the phone on both sides of the border without roaming charges. I think 450 anytime minutes with 1000 evening and weekend cost me $60.00. I added 450 extra minutes for another $20.00 and a $5.00 text package.

I've got phone insurance and a $10.00 data package as well. I'm going to drop the data package because I don't travel across the border as much any more. Verizon's agreement with Telus doesn't cover data usage so it is expensive to surf the net with my phone in Canada.

[Tron_fdc]

I have an unlocked iphone that I use in the US and China when I travel. You can buy them from Apple stores in Canada, factory unlocked, that work with any compatible sim card.

T mobile offers a daily plan (that's what I use). $2 a day when you turn on your phone in the states, and that includes data (can't remember how much). I loaded my account up with $100 prepaid, so when I hit the US I pop in my t-mobile sim, and phone away. The only thing that sucks is that tmobile isn't compatible on 2,3 or 4G networks (data runs on the edge system). It's slow, but it works.

I haven't looked into phone compatability on the other networks, but when I last checked the other carriers (verizon, AT&T) couldn't activate iphone data on their networks. That might have changed recently though.

I was paying around $500 per trip to the US, and with an unlocked phone have knocked that down to about $50. The unlocked iphone is the best way to go I've found so far.

[Azure]

If you travel there extensively, make sure you go with a provider that has coverage in those areas. I know they all advertise having coverage all over, but I know for a fact that Verizon has spotty coverage in certain areas of the Pacific Northwest.

[hatty]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

I have an unlocked iphone that I use in the US and China when I travel. You can buy them from Apple stores in Canada, factory unlocked, that work with any compatible sim card.

T mobile offers a daily plan (that's what I use). $2 a day when you turn on your phone in the states, and that includes data (can't remember how much). I loaded my account up with $100 prepaid, so when I hit the US I pop in my t-mobile sim, and phone away. The only thing that sucks is that tmobile isn't compatible on 2,3 or 4G networks (data runs on the edge system). It's slow, but it works.

I haven't looked into phone compatability on the other networks, but when I last checked the other carriers (verizon, AT&T) couldn't activate iphone data on their networks. That might have changed recently though.

I was paying around $500 per trip to the US, and with an unlocked phone have knocked that down to about $50. The unlocked iphone is the best way to go I've found so far.

I have an unlocked galaxy nexus, how is their coverage? I was looking into picking up their $3/day plan. I may have read it wrong but it says that the first 2gb of data is 4G and the rest is 2G, though i may have read that wrong, i will confirm when i call and ask.

I don't have an american CC so getting an actual plan is a little hard, having a US address isn't hard, as my sister lives there and i can give her address.

[Jing]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

I have an unlocked iphone that I use in the US and China when I travel. You can buy them from Apple stores in Canada, factory unlocked, that work with any compatible sim card.

T mobile offers a daily plan (that's what I use). $2 a day when you turn on your phone in the states, and that includes data (can't remember how much). I loaded my account up with $100 prepaid, so when I hit the US I pop in my t-mobile sim, and phone away. The only thing that sucks is that tmobile isn't compatible on 2,3 or 4G networks (data runs on the edge system). It's slow, but it works.

I haven't looked into phone compatability on the other networks, but when I last checked the other carriers (verizon, AT&T) couldn't activate iphone data on their networks. That might have changed recently though.

I was paying around $500 per trip to the US, and with an unlocked phone have knocked that down to about $50. The unlocked iphone is the best way to go I've found so far.

I use the $2 plan with T mobile and it works well. Really easy to set up, just walk into a store and asked for a SIM card. The $2 plan has unlimited 2g data (edge). I believe the $3 plan has 200 mb of 3g data per day, and T mobile has been turning on 1900 mhz towers so that people with iPhones can use them.

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by hatty

I have an unlocked galaxy nexus, how is their coverage? I was looking into picking up their $3/day plan. I may have read it wrong but it says that the first 2gb of data is 4G and the rest is 2G, though i may have read that wrong, i will confirm when i call and ask.

I don't have an american CC so getting an actual plan is a little hard, having a US address isn't hard, as my sister lives there and i can give her address.

I'm not sure if you need the CC. I didn't have one but, I did have a friend who lives in the States.

[hatty]

Originally Posted by Jing

I use the $2 plan with T mobile and it works well. Really easy to set up, just walk into a store and asked for a SIM card. The $2 plan has unlimited 2g data (edge). I believe the $3 plan has 200 mb of 3g data per day, and T mobile has been turning on 1900 mhz towers so that people with iPhones can use them.

Do you know what that activation kit they try to send you is? or can i get all done in store. I called T-Mobile and they were like we will send you some activation kit but im not sure they will ship to me here.

I think i might have to get it done in a store in the states.

[seattleflamer]

Friend uses Roam Mobility when he is down here. Use your Canadian phone and swap out to a US Sim card that you prepay. You get talk, text and even data. Decent pricing and he swears by it, fwiw.



Link: http://www.roammobility.com/

[SeoulFire]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

Friend uses Roam Mobility when he is down here. Use your Canadian phone and swap out to a US Sim card that you prepay. You get talk, text and even data. Decent pricing and he swears by it, fwiw.



Link: http://www.roammobility.com/

That looks pretty awesome. I will probably give it a try next time I am down there.

[BCGirl]

My husbands Mom got a phone through Roam Mobility, and it locks into T-Mobile in the states. $50 for the phone and then when she goes to the states, she just calls them and 'buys' the number of days she wants for $3 a day. Unlimited call and text to US and Canada. Check Roam's webite, and see what they have as options that you need.

[Envitro]

If you have an unlocked phone and just need a SIM, look into h2o wireless (https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/)

Also, http://www.mrsimcard.com/ has a variety of options too.

[hatty]

I have done some more digging for those interested. The roam mobility does go onto the T-mobile network, they said you should be able to get 3G in data speeds, but the upside i found with them is that you only have to use the number once in the year for it to stay active.

With T-Mobile, the number expired after 90 days, unless you called to ask for it to be extended, I was just thinking it might work out better for those who aren't so frequent, all you have to do is have 1 day active, for you to retain your number.

I'm going to dig into the mrsimcard next and see what i find

[hatty]

Mr sim card, to me at least, seems more beneficial for international travel (So outside of US and Canada) because you get better plans for the US from roam mobility, or T-Mobile, but Mr Sim card is something to check out i think if you travelling over to London or europe and you want phone access