US Prepaid SIM cards

**codwif** · 07-05-2012, 08:49 AM

Does any one have experience buying PPD SIM cards in the states? I'm heading that way and I am trying to find out how much they go for and if that includes data.

**jamesi** · 07-05-2012, 09:17 AM

I have been doing this from time to time for about 18 months. I went with AT&T and, at the time, got hooked into a $2 per day unlimited calls & texts plan, plus a $25 data plan which got me 500 MB. Now, to get any data for smartphones, you need to get hooked into a $25 or $50 monthly plan (can be non-recurring) plus the additional data. For the three days I was down there, I didn't find the value, but if I was going down for two weeks, I'd go with it.

T-Mobile has a pay-as-you-go plan that costs $3 a day with data included, but coverage is spotty depending on where you are going.

Verizon's plans are pricey ($80) for smartphone/data use.

**codwif** · 07-05-2012, 09:55 AM

That's cheap enough for me. We're only going down for about a week, but to have some data would be nice. It looks like T-Mobile will have great coverage where I'm going and at $3/day, that's perfect for the amount of time I'm down there.

**codwif** · 07-05-2012, 11:39 AM

I do have an unlocked phone, a samsung capitvate. I've been trying to figure out which bands they actually use in the area I'm going to. It proving to be a pain to find a map that actually shows that.

**codwif** · 07-05-2012, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by shushwap

Any phone that works with Wind or Mobilicity will work with Tmobile 3g data...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tmobile_usa

I've looked at that page, but it lists them as using pretty much every band. It just depends on which towers have been upgraded. If where I'm going has 1900mhz or 2100mhz I'm fine. If its 1700mhz, I'm stuck on edge. I'm starting to think an AT&T card would be a safer bet despite the extra cost.

**Hans_Moleman** · 07-05-2012, 06:33 PM

I'm going with AT&T, it's going to cost bloody $50 as in order to get data, you have to sign up for a $25 prepaid voice plan as well. T-Mobile voice works well just about anywhere in ND, but data is slim to nil, mostly limited to eastern ND, which should be fine with Winnipeggers unless if they go somewheres like Minot.

**codwif** · 07-05-2012, 07:40 PM

I'm heading toward Minneapolis for almost a week. And the main reason I want to get one is for the data. I guess maybe I should just unplug while on holidays this time!

**Derfel** · 07-05-2012, 09:50 PM

I'm heading to MN too at the end of the month - I might look into the T-Mobile option for the first week I'm there.

**WPGHTC** · 07-07-2012, 04:35 PM

Straight talk.
Unlimited everything for $45.

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**Felchy** · 07-07-2012, 11:46 PM

+1 for T-Mobile.

You may be able to pick up a sim on E-bay, I did. My Nexus S only worked on Edge for data but it was fine for my purposes. If you have a phone that's only capable of Edge speeds you can choose a plan that's only $2 per day for unlimited talk, text and data.

**Idzy** · 07-08-2012, 09:51 AM

I went to minneapolis in december, got 100mb and 100 mins or something like that for around $25 with AT&T on my nexus s stopped in grandforks to grab the sim. It kept us going for the 4 days we were down there and I still had some left when we got back.

**caanda45** · 07-10-2012, 11:56 PM

Guys check out O2 wireless. I bought the cards @ BB in the states. ( got it in the Grand Forks store and activated it online). I have only used them for voice and it was cheap. They do have data plans also. I bought a sim for $9.99 and then a $40.00 pre-paid card and got a $90.00 US voice balance, it was 0.6$ a text and 0.14$ a voice call to Canada, took me for ever to try and get rid of the balance...never did..lol. They had data but never really wanted it. Here is their website....https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageC...php?page=index

**Derfel** · 07-11-2012, 08:18 AM

It looks like T-mobile is a better deal than that for a short trip?

**Derfel** · 08-04-2012, 08:03 AM

FYI - I have been using a T-Mobile prepaid SIM this week in Minnesota... $10 for the card, which comes with $4 airtime. I signed up for the $2/day plan, which is unlimited voice, text and 2G data. It's worked really well. I also snuck in a Google Voice account, which then gives me unlimited free calls to Canada while I'm here too! Too bad I won't be able to switch over to my MTS number for GV when I get back...

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