$2/Day Unlimited Talk, Text & 2G Web Question

[wackojacko]

Hi everyone,

I am a student from the Netherlands and I need three of these sim cards (I guess I can activate the 'pay by the day' plan online?). I tried to order it from the Netherlands, but it didn't work. So I need a local friend

Someone who want to help me by ordering two of these cards (http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/p...Activation-Kit ), activate them and send them to the Netherlands in an envelop? I'll pay 10 dollars in advance (using PayPal) to cover your costs and another $25 when I receive them.

Send me a PM when you want to help me. Thank you in advance.

[mbuugg]

You can try Amazon.

[pitflyer]

or eBay. Probably will end up costing about the same as you propose.

[lmcjipo]

Just remember when you order a sim card that you have to get the activation kit with it as well

Yes.

Make sure that you purchase the "correct" T-Mobile SIM card. A non-activated T-Mobile SIM card without the activation kit can't be used for prepaid except as a replacement SIM.

You can get a T-Mobile SIM card with activation kit or you can also get an already activated prepaid T-Mobile SIM card (with a phone number). If you trust the seller, I would probably go with the already activated prepaid T-Mobile SIM card since it is probably "closer" to getting Gold Rewards. This is what I did and I changed the phone number, PIN, etc. immediately after I received the T-Mobile SIM card (T-Mobile prepaid allows for the change of the phone number for free once every 6 months).

[wackojacko]

Thanks for this information. I tried amazon but they don't ship to the Netherlands :S and ebay is even more expensive. So if there is someone who want to help me/earn some money, please contact me

[cmstlist]

http://www.expansys-usa.com/t-mobile...inutes-219629/

Each SIM is $5, and total shipping to Europe for three is $20.95. Total price just over $35 which matches what you were willing to pay someone :-)

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[secretmachines]

hey everyone, just bumping this thread as I'm doing something similar... I'm in the UK and visiting the US shortly, and wanted to be able to access data on my handset (HTC Sensation XE, unlocked) while there (in Vegas).

a friend in the US has bought a couple of these for me and is mailing them over:
prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit

am i right in thinking that all i'll have to do is, when arriving in the US:
- put one of these sim cards in my phone
- logon to the website and activate it/register it (do i need to put in a US address?)
- put some credit on
- sign up for the $2/day tariff (as I won't be able to get 4G on the $3/day tariff?)

however from what was said previously, is the 2G speed slightly quicker on the $3 plan..?
i'm only there for a week, so don't mind signing up for the $3/day to squeeze out a slightly quicker speed

[cmstlist]

Actually if you have the European Sensation XE, I think it does have AWS HSPA. So you might want to try the $3 on your first day and see what kind of speeds you get.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using HowardForums

[dmarkson]

I tested out the $2/day plan earlier in the week. The data speeds are identical between the $2/day plan and the throttled $3/day plan after the daily 200MB.

$2/day plan data rates (per speedtest.net on a Galaxy Nexus global - these are max speeds based on several runs):
Tmo HSPA network: 121/36
Tmo EDGE network: 176/182
Last time I checked on the $3/plan, the fastest speed on the Tmo EDGE network was about 220kbps down

So if you are on the $2/day plan it is definitely better to be on the EDGE network.

FYI: With Tmo PAYG on $3/day, HSPA network I was getting 7855/3609 last night.

[secretmachines]

Actually if you have the European Sensation XE, I think it does have AWS HSPA. So you might want to try the $3 on your first day and see what kind of speeds you get.

ahh interesting... so given that, and dmarkson's post above, I may as well go for the $3/day rate...

there is a chance my handset may be compatible with 3g+, worst that can happen is that I get an EDGE signal at similar speeds to the $2/day rate?

and seeing as i'm only there for a week, $7 isn't too much of a hit to take

[dmarkson]

Right, worse that would happen is that you are stuck about 220kbs down.

If you are going to stream (music) at all then the $3/day plan is probably the way to go. The way the $2/day (and $3/day after hitting 200mb) throttling goes is that speed gets up to about 200kbps and then is throttled down to around 125-150kbps and then it creeps back up, rinse, repeat. That has to be really annoying if streaming (depending on caching, etc).

[secretmachines]

thank you
i'm really only going to use it for updating Facebook/Twitter, checking emails, maybe Google Maps... just the kind of general everyday use (but not streaming music/video, etc.)

my main reason for getting one of the sims, is so that I can use my phone every day, as I would in the UK... roaming charges on a UK contract to use abroad are super expensive.

i'm not really going to make any calls/texts, so having my UK number available isn't that important... what I'll do is take an old handset and put my UK sim in that, and leave it in the hotel safe, so i can check it for texts/missed calls

is the sim activation process straightforward... it's all done online?
at any point do i have to put in a postal address, i understand i'll need to put in the IMEi number?

[dmarkson]

I'm sure you know how cost goes for roaming, even if you don't answer. At least on a US SIM, if you are traveling internationally and the phone rings and goes to voice mail, you are charged roaming and international long distance.

The Tmo activation is straight forward. You do not need a real address.I believe people have used all 0s or all 1s for the IMEI number. I think I dug up an old phone IMEI the last time (and have used it several times). My last activation had an issue where it did not accept the activation kit serial number. I had to call to get it working. Hopefully it just works for you!

[cmstlist]

The T-Mobile online system allows you to enter an international address no problem. I think they accept international credit cards too, although Callingmart is cheaper.

You may have to wait until you're actually in the USA and in front of a computer before completing the activation. I was able to receive a verification code from Canada but I don't know if you can do the same from countries further afield on T-Mobile USA prepaid.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using HowardForums

[secretmachines]

thanks guys, that's really helpful!
i think i'll wait until i arrive in the US and activate the sim there, just in case of any issues.

it'll be nice to spend no more than $21 (7 x $3) and having an ample data allowance, rather than scores of $$ my UK provider charged me last time!