- 07-30-2008, 03:39 PM #1Newbie
- Posts
- 4
I am visiting USA from UK for 3 weeks from mid-August. We will be in rented accommodation, so there won't be a land-line to use for calls within USA that I will want to make. And I REALLY don't want to pay the massive roaming rates which go from USA via UK and back to USA.
From my researches it looks impossible to buy an inexpensive cell- phone when I arrive, and pay for calls as I go along. From what I can see all US companies have a monthly charge and also long contracts. Is that correct or is there some way around this problem (apart from actually using a public phone )
If so, this may be one of the very few technology things we actually do better in England!
Thank you for your help.
Jinny
› See More: UK visitor -- help please
- 07-30-2008, 06:14 PM #2Newbie
- Posts
- 1
Re: UK visitor -- help please
Dont worry there are prepaid phones which you can buy from almost any store like Target, Walmart or wireless stores as well.
- 07-31-2008, 04:35 AM #3Newbie
- Posts
- 4
Re: UK visitor -- help please
Thanks RockeTalk. I've done a bit more research and find that I can also get a USA SIM, as long as my phone is unlocked and compatible, eg from "SIMple Calling".
I have my old phone, an LG U300, which seems to have the correct GSM specs. It is GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900. I can unlock it.
Which would you do? Go for the pre-paid Target/Walmart option, or the USA SIM, ( possibly risky re compatability), which seems to have good calling rates too.
Thanks again,
Jinny
- 07-31-2008, 08:09 AM #4Newbie
- Posts
- 4
Re: UK visitor -- help please
It looks like i would be safest buying a pre-paid phone. I've had a look and they seem really inexpensive. I will be mostly using it around Putney, Vt. Zip 15346. On a different forum talking about coverage specifically, (cellphonecoverage.com) it seems US Cellular and Unicel are best. But I can't see any of their prepaid phones for sale. Walmart propose Virgin from the search for coverage on their site.
Can anyone advise what network phone I should buy?
Thanks
Jinny
- 08-01-2008, 01:03 AM #5
Re: UK visitor -- help please
100% do it this way.
Things to do:
1. Unlock your phone
2. When you get to the states sign a monthly contract so you can make your calls
3. bring a phone or 2 from UK to the states so you make a few hundred $
- 08-01-2008, 04:08 AM #6Newbie
- Posts
- 4
Re: UK visitor -- help please
Nice plan, CellPlanMan! But I don't think I really want to get into the phone export business.
I will certainly explore the monthly plan option. I still don't know who to go with --US Cellular, Unicel, Virgin ?? I guess I should ask a Putney resident. what actually works up there....
- 08-01-2008, 07:42 AM #7
Re: UK visitor -- help please
typically (in canada @ least) if your going on a pre-paid plan.. you get CID +VM for free, minutes are very expensive though.
The OP said that she expects to make a lot of calls.. and a monthly plan tends to be cheaper that way (why else do we sign contracts!). Shes paying for an extra week I know.. but Im thinking itll still end up to be cheaper.
eg: 25$ (i think there is SAF +911 in the states) for 200daytime, unlim after 7pm and call id is much better than 35cents/min or 1$ a day or unlim incoming calls (not sure what there is in the states
- 08-01-2008, 08:08 AM #8
Re: UK visitor -- help please
now you've got me confused..
In canada we have:
Prepaid, 1month contract, 1yr, 2yr, 3yr.
Monthly plans are still considered a contract.. because your locked in with them for the month :P.
Are your monthly plans and prepaid plans the same? or which one is better?
If they are the same, then prepaid would be better.. as you dont have to pay for that extra week.
By your msg im thinking that prepaid and monthly contracts are the same in the states?
And yes, I know OP is in states.. most people on this site are, BUT I still have knowledge.. and general info country to country cant change that much. I wont know the plans... and few things might change but I know the generic idea of how things should be done
- 08-01-2008, 08:20 AM #9
Re: UK visitor -- help please
Ok not Ellen, but allow me to staighten you out on US cell phones plans - AGAIN .
The monthly is not considered to be pre-paid, but the AT&T PYOP plans is, even though you pay for a month at a time, since you are not tied to a contract all you are doing is using the minutes for the month that you have already paid for.
Also AT&T has two types of pre-pay.
1. Pay as you Go - this is closest to your prepay. This is limited to only native AT&T, roaming.
2. Pick your Plan - this is the monthly plan.This allows some roaming but not as much as a regular plan. It also gives m2m, rollover etc.Last edited by charlyee; 08-01-2008 at 08:39 AM.
- 08-01-2008, 08:42 AM #10
- 08-01-2008, 10:03 AM #11
Re: UK visitor -- help please
knowledge is power.
I think theres some miscommunication though..
When you do pre-paid, do they do a credit check?
When you do monthly, do they do a credit check?
I think this is the equivalent to the CDN monthly contract.
This is a "monthly contract" because you cant just cancel the plan within 5days can you? your "locked" in for the full month.. therefore a contract no?
lmfao.. never claimed to be pro @ states stuff. Dont know anything really lol
Lets talk CDN providers... and i'll win hands down :P
- 08-01-2008, 10:22 AM #12
Re: UK visitor -- help please
You could say that, but there is no "canceling" involved. You pay for the month in advance whether you use the phone for 1 minute or your total allowed minutes. This is not much different than a regular prepay where you also have paid for the minute in advance irrespective of how many of it use.
Makes sense?
Similar Threads
- Games
- alt.cellular.verizon
- Samsung
- alt.cellular.verizon
- Nokia
Desnudar fotos
in General Cell Phone Forum