Switching from Sprint to AT&T

I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling and I'd like to have a phone that will work in most of the places I go. This means switching from Sprint to AT&T for the GSM service. I think I'll buy the LG Trax because it has a camera, 3G capability, a USB port, and is quad-band. This opens up a few questions and I'm hoping you guys can help me figure this out.

1. AT&T's international roaming rates are very high, even with their "World Traveler" package. Would buying a SIM card in the countries I go to fix that problem?

2. I'm a little confused on how SIM cards work. Will I be using a SIM card while in the US? Do I need to sign up with AT&T or can I just always use whichever SIM card?

3. Should data work internationally the same way it does in the US?

4. Does anyone know if I can use the LG Trax to connect my laptop to the internet via USB?

5. Would I be better off with T-Mobile?

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1. Not a clue...sorry
2. Think of the Sim card as the "brain" of your at&t service. GSM phones can only work with their "brains" or sim cards inserted, so you will be using the SIM no matter where you are at. Your service is connected to your SIM not your phone.
3. Data yes, cost no. There are many factors here though, such as International roaming agreements and what frequencies you will be roaming on.
4. Yes
5. Your question is too broad, we would need to know more of what you need from a carrier. I prefer at&t over t-mobile because it works more places in the US, at&t has high speed data and a better selection of phones.

Thanks for your response xj911.

If I go to another country, can I just buy a prepaid SIM card there and make calls or use data until it is depleted? It sounds like that would take AT&T completely out of the loop and then I wouldn't be subject to their international rates.

In the above scenario, I wouldn't be able to receive calls to my US phone number though right? Is there a way to temporarily forward my calls to my prepaid SIM card's number?

What advantages does T-Mobile have over AT&T?

1. yes you can buy a prepaid sim, but you have to have an unlocked phone or get the unlock code from at&t. (good luck with that)

2. Yes you can recieve calls to your U.S. #. Yes you can forward your calls:

Immediate Call Forwarding: Dial *21* plus the 10-digit number to which your calls should be forwarded and #. Press Send.

Busy Call Forwarding: Dial *67* plus the 10-digit number to which your calls should be forwarded and #. Press Send.

Call Forwarding No Reply: Dial *61* plus the 10-digit number to which your calls should be forwarded and #. Press Send.

Call Forwarding Not Reachable: Dial *62* plus the 10-digit number to which your calls should be forwarded and #. Press Send.

T-mobile advantages:
1. More minutes for the money
2. Better Customer service
3. Better pricing for data plans
4. MyFaves - Call any 5(?) people for free

at&t advantages:
1. works more places
2. high speed data in certain areas
3. better phone selection/more choices
4. huge mobile to mobile network
5. corporate discounts with certain companies

Are you saying I could receive calls to my US number when traveling in another country with that country's SIM card?

If I forward my US phone number to an international phone number via the technique you outlined above, would I be charged international rates every time I receive a call?

How would voicemail work? If I don't pick up the forwarded-to line, would my AT&T voicemail take over?

Originally Posted by ggking7

I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling and I'd like to have a phone that will work in most of the places I go. This means switching from Sprint to AT&T for the GSM service. I think I'll buy the LG Trax because it has a camera, 3G capability, a USB port, and is quad-band. This opens up a few questions and I'm hoping you guys can help me figure this out.

1. AT&T's international roaming rates are very high, even with their "World Traveler" package. Would buying a SIM card in the countries I go to fix that problem?

You can do that, but you have to unlock the phone first. Be a customer for
90 days and you can get the unlock code from AT&T. Or you can buy an
unlocked phone and use it.

2. I'm a little confused on how SIM cards work. Will I be using a SIM card while in the US? Do I need to sign up with AT&T or can I just always use whichever SIM card?

If you go to AT&T you will sign a contract with them, and you will use their
sim, where ever you go. Unless you get the phone unlocked and then you can use whatever sim you want. And yes, you will be using the sim in the U.S.

3. Should data work internationally the same way it does in the US?

Yes, no, maybe. It depends on what country you are in and the plan you are on. For most phones you pay through the nose for data internationally. Some plans, for some phones, will allow you a flat rate. But even that is pricey.
And you will not be able to get 3g in many countries, but it is on a frequency that the trax does not have.

4. Does anyone know if I can use the LG Trax to connect my laptop to the internet via USB?
If you can get the drivers, most likely.

5. Would I be better off with T-Mobile?

Currently, lower data speeds, and less coverage. There is a reason that the
cost less than AT&T