Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Gianlupo on August 05, 2012, 11:59:17 AM
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Hello guys!
This coming week I'll fly to US and stay 10 days in New York and Washington. Since I'd like to use my smartphone and doing so with an Italian SIM card would be a bloodshed for my wallet, I was wondering if you can give me some advice on what carrier/plan is the best to use. Of course I'd like to use a prepaid plan, given that I'll need it only for 10 days, and I think that I'll use it mostly for Internet browsing in 3G (I have an LG Optimus 2x), so I'm basically looking for a good data plan, phone calls and texting are secondary.
BTW, is it easy to buy a prepaid in US? I mean in Italy you have to provide ID, personal info and the SIM usually is activated after a couple of days, how does in work in the States?
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There is only one provider that has unlimited data, which Is sprint. All other carriers no longer have it and are capped between 2-5GBs of data.
I have verizon myself and never seem to have any outages, but I can't comment on the others.
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There is only one provider that has unlimited data, which Is sprint. All other carriers no longer have it and are capped between 2-5GBs of data.
I have verizon myself and never seem to have any outages, but I can't comment on the others.
I have Verizon and unlimited data..
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Gianlupo, NET10 offers an unlimited plan but you will have to buy the phone. The way I read the fine print is you have to activate it with in 25 days of purchase
it will give you service for 30 days, and you can reactivate the phone within 1 year of the date of purchase if you do travel back to the US. It is an on-line deal so you will have to have the phone shipped to your motel or where ever you are staying.
You do not need any kind of ID here in the states. All you need is money. Activation takes only a few minuets. Do read the fine print carefully, I may have missed something.
This link to NET10 is for the N.Y N.Y. zip code 10013.
http://www.net10-store.com/bpdirect/net10/Start.do?action=view&market=GSM5SPR&zip=10013&AID=&VID=&VC=&SAHCID=&COM=&locale=en&siteType=TR&gotoPhonelist=true
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Hello guys!
This coming week I'll fly to US and stay 10 days in New York and Washington. Since I'd like to use my smartphone and doing so with an Italian SIM card would be a bloodshed for my wallet, I was wondering if you can give me some advice on what carrier/plan is the best to use. Of course I'd like to use a prepaid plan, given that I'll need it only for 10 days, and I think that I'll use it mostly for Internet browsing in 3G (I have an LG Optimus 2x), so I'm basically looking for a good data plan, phone calls and texting are secondary.
BTW, is it easy to buy a prepaid in US? I mean in Italy you have to provide ID, personal info and the SIM usually is activated after a couple of days, how does in work in the States?
I haven't read anything here but I will say, your avatar rival's Spikes! :O
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Hit up a Walmart and pick up a go phone . You can put as many minutes and data as you want . Cheapest way to go ..
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That Go-Phone looks like a pretty good deal. Buy a phone for $50 bucks or so, and a $50 card for unlimited service.
I may get one of those myself..
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Thanks for the help, guys!
You're confirming what I feared: the best bet is probably to buy a phone, something I'd rather avoid...
You do not need any kind of ID here in the states. All you need is money. Activation takes only a few minuets. Do read the fine print carefully, I may have missed something.
Good to know!
I haven't read anything here but I will say, your avatar rival's Spikes! :O
Lol, too bad I don't post much any more, right? ;)
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Thanks for the help, guys!
You're confirming what I feared: the best bet is probably to buy a phone, something I'd rather avoid...
Good to know!
Lol, too bad I don't post much any more, right? ;)
You and spikes should have a thread...just you two :old:and your avatars....k thx :O
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You might be able to get a simcard for T-Mobile and use their prepaid plan and use your current phone.
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You guys are missing the point...
1. He is from Europe where everyone OWNS their un-locked GSM phone...Initial purchase cost is higher, but monthly costs are generally lower in Europe than the U.S. Most users are free to change providers at any time...just put a new SIM card in the phone and go. In the U.S. we are used to free or low cost phones due to the phones being locked-in to a single carrier; and we pay higher montly billing charges which include fees to pay for that "free" locked-to-a-single-provider phone.
2. He just wants to get a Pre-Paid SIM card to plug into his phone for a short period of use.
3. Most of the phones he could buy in the U.S. would be useless to him in Europe, as they are locked to U.S. carriers. A waste of money to buy another phone.
Gianlupo,
I don't know which provider you use in Europe, but when I used to travel overseas for Temporary Military Duty assignments, I would bring along an un-locked GSM phone, and find a Pre-Paid vendor where I was going to be working. In Germany I would generally use T-Mobile as this carrier also offers service in the U.S.
Here's a link to T-Mobile Pre-Paid. http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit (http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit)
The starter kit includes a SIM card and a few Pre-Paid starter minutes. Buy some additional minutes from the same vendor.
You should be able to find a vendor in any Major U.S. International Airport, but an off-Airport vendor will probably be cheaper.
Best of Luck!
CptA
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I have Verizon and unlimited data..
Ya and you had it before they discontinued the offer, therefore you were grandfathered in like everyone else... But u only have it if ur running a 4gb phone, otherwise your throttled down
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Ya and you had it before they discontinued the offer, therefore you were grandfathered in like everyone else... But u only have it if ur running a 4gb phone, otherwise your throttled down
t-mobile. i just looked at my plan......all unlimited.
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You could pick up an unlimited StraightTalk phone Gian, $45 and its truly unlimited - not the fastest speed however. You can also add some money to make international calls (separate bit on the website). I pay $45 per month, and every 3 months put $20 on my international calling to phone my mother. Not the cheapest, probably not the best, but I've never been anywhere I cant get signal, and where I live, at&t, Tmobile etc users cannot say the same.
More than likely different in NY mind, being it has many more people than where I live. :D
Wurz (whatever happens, enjoy the trip my friend, I miss you slapping me around in the MA's lol......seriously)
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t-mobile. i just looked at my plan......all unlimited.
but your missing the point. There is no unlimited data available to him except from sprint. They are the only carrier that has it.
Verizon- grandfathered in all unlimited people, with 4GB phones, your unlimited, with 3GB, you are throttle on your data if you in top 5% of data usage and/or in very congested area. However, if you leave the congested area, you will be un throttled.
AT&T-Throttle on usage for entire remainder of month after 3GB with 3GB phone and 5GB with 4GB phones. Over those limits, oi are not charged extra, but you will be effectively be put at the bottom of the queue and will only receive the data if its available.
T-Mobile-Same as AT&T, only it's 2GB if on the Plus program and 5g on the premium program.
As I said, sprints the ONLY carrier which you can get an unlimited data plan for your phone, smart phone only.
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T-Mobile because you can use buy a simcard, put it in your phone and put however much cash you want on it.
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Ya and you had it before they discontinued the offer, therefore you were grandfathered in like everyone else... But u only have it if ur running a 4gb phone, otherwise your throttled down
And he will loose it as soon as he upgrades
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How about a trac phone? http://www.tracfone.com/
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Hello guys!
This coming week I'll fly to US and stay 10 days in New York and Washington. Since I'd like to use my smartphone and doing so with an Italian SIM card would be a bloodshed for my wallet, I was wondering if you can give me some advice on what carrier/plan is the best to use. Of course I'd like to use a prepaid plan, given that I'll need it only for 10 days, and I think that I'll use it mostly for Internet browsing in 3G (I have an LG Optimus 2x), so I'm basically looking for a good data plan, phone calls and texting are secondary.
BTW, is it easy to buy a prepaid in US? I mean in Italy you have to provide ID, personal info and the SIM usually is activated after a couple of days, how does in work in the States?
If you want to use your Optimus 2 in New York and Washington mostly for browsing but with texting and calling, you are going to want to look at ATT prepaid.
Why? because if you want to use your phone for data mostly you are going to want 3G speeds. ATT has a plan that can be selected at $3/day for unlimited use. If you dont use your phone at all for the day, you do not get charged. If you do, it costs $3.00 and you have unlimited data, texting, and calls for the rest of that day. What I would do is buy the cheapest ATT GoPhone (thats the brand) and activate it at the previously mentioned plan. You could get just a sim card but those are hard to find by themselves, and if you do it can likely cost more than buying it with a phone. You can get a phone for $14.99 or possibly as low as $9.99 depending on where you go. These phones are available almost anywhere from gas stations to electronics retailers, Walmart etc. You will not have aproblem finding one.
Then shove the simcard into your Optimus 2 and you're good to go.
To get a bit technical, this is why you want ATT. Your phone is capable of running HSPA 14.4 Data in the GSM 850 and 1900 mhz bands. This alligns with ATT's spectrum and data network to allow you to receive 3G data speeds.
Essentally someone can argue forever about what is best, but the above written WILL WORK for what you have described in terms of primarily Data phone to be used temporarily, and at a reasonable price.
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And he will loose it as soon as he upgrades
It depends. I read that Verizon would try to switch you to a new plan if you tried to use any rebate on a new phone, but if you didn't use any rebate, you could keep it.
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What phone do you have in Italy?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S3, and I know if you have it unlocked or the International version, you can replace the SIM card to work in the US or EU.
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Depending on what you need it for Skype.com has a few money saving options. It is popular with service engineers that travel outside their country. It is even possible to set your own skype number to mimic your cell phone's caller id number.
If your phone has wifi most US airports, coffee houses, fast food restaurants, shopping malls, etc. have free wireless service, but using the free wifi exposes your phone to possible hackers. Or better yet, try a 3g/4g wireless mifi hotspot device like Virgin Mobile. The price is around $50-100 at Walmart for the hardware and $30-40 for one month of unlimited service. This may allow you to continue using your phone as-is with the benefit of not having to monkey around with a new phone.
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Once again, guys, thanks for all of your inputs!
You guys are missing the point...
1. He is from Europe where everyone OWNS their un-locked GSM phone...Initial purchase cost is higher, but monthly costs are generally lower in Europe than the U.S. Most users are free to change providers at any time...just put a new SIM card in the phone and go. In the U.S. we are used to free or low cost phones due to the phones being locked-in to a single carrier; and we pay higher montly billing charges which include fees to pay for that "free" locked-to-a-single-provider phone.
2. He just wants to get a Pre-Paid SIM card to plug into his phone for a short period of use.
3. Most of the phones he could buy in the U.S. would be useless to him in Europe, as they are locked to U.S. carriers. A waste of money to buy another phone.
This sums it up just right, maybe I wasn't much clear; yep, in Europe we're used to low fees and buying unlocked phones... for what I saw, fees in US are pretty higher than we're used to.
T-Mobile because you can use buy a simcard, put it in your phone and put however much cash you want on it.
To get a bit technical, this is why you want ATT. Your phone is capable of running HSPA 14.4 Data in the GSM 850 and 1900 mhz bands. This alligns with ATT's spectrum and data network to allow you to receive 3G data speeds.
Essentally someone can argue forever about what is best, but the above written WILL WORK for what you have described in terms of primarily Data phone to be used temporarily, and at a reasonable price.
Unfortunately T-mobile won't work for me 'cause, as Mk84 pointed out, my phone works on different frequencies than the one used by T-mobile (in fact, T-mobile had LG manifacture a specific version of the Optimus 2x, called G2x in US, working on the 1700 MHz band for data)
What phone do you have in Italy?
LG Optimus 2x, quad-band Android smartphone working on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz band.
<snip> What I would do is buy the cheapest ATT GoPhone (thats the brand) and activate it at the previously mentioned plan. <snip>
Then shove the simcard into your Optimus 2 and you're good to go.
For what I see on AT&T and other carriers websites, it seems not every plan can be activated for smartphone (you have to buy the more expensive ones, of course!), I assume if I buy phone and activate one of those plans, it won't work when I plug the SIM into my phone, am I right?
OT Wurz, Rap, good to see you guys again! :) I'd like to come back to AH, but when I checked out the game again, in March, it was so alike to when I left... there's need for change (or at least for me to take a loooong break!). See you soon! /OT
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LG Optimus 2x, quad-band Android smartphone working on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz band.
I would try contacting one of the providers in the US and see if they have a SIM card available for your phone.
OT Wurz, Rap, good to see you guys again! :) I'd like to come back to AH, but when I checked out the game again, in March, it was so alike to when I left... there's need for change (or at least for me to take a loooong break!). See you soon! /OT
I haven't played AH in a while either, same issue. I have however started playing World of Tanks because my time is limited and I can do a couple quick battles in there.
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The real problem you are going to have is that in the U.S.
- we do not have an "Ah" button
So all of your calls will not connect, there is no sim card that is currently sold in the U.S. that will alleviate this problem.
The only solution you would have is to eliminate the tendency to use your pinky finger in the manner you are currently using. For instance: instead of dialing:
1-ah 5-ah 5-ah 5 (pause) 5-ah 5-ah 5 (pause) 5-ah 5-ah 5-ah 5
you will need to hit the numbers only
:)
NwBie
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The real problem you are going to have is that in the U.S.
- we do not have an "Ah" button
So all of your calls will not connect, there is no sim card that is currently sold in the U.S. that will alleviate this problem.
The only solution you would have is to eliminate the tendency to use your pinky finger in the manner you are currently using. For instance: instead of dialing:
1-ah 5-ah 5-ah 5 (pause) 5-ah 5-ah 5 (pause) 5-ah 5-ah 5-ah 5
you will need to hit the numbers only
:)
NwBie
:furious I'm Italian, not French!
:D
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:furious I'm Italian, not French!
:D
:)
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:furious I'm Italian, not French!
:D
:rofl
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Give a call when you are in town. Can take a trip over the city
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIhhxoska8s&feature=youtube_gdata_player (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIhhxoska8s&feature=youtube_gdata_player)
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OK,
here is the deal...
Don't use an AT&T sim card in a Euro phone. Although AT&T is GSM it operates on different frequencies and requires your phone to have different radios (Some phones have radios that work with both the Euro and US frequency bands). Consider T-Mobile, as they run on the same frequencies in both Europe and USA.