New to the US and need some help

[Nath5]

Hi Everyone,

I have just moved to the US and am a bit overwlemed with all the different prepaid options so was hoping I could get some help here with what plan would be suitable for me.

I have an unlocked iphone 4 so was planning to use this device.
I am not a heavy user, so unlimeted talk is probably not neccesary.
Same with data, more of an occasional data user to check google maps, a few wesbites when out but not much data needed.
However international texts to Australia, Ireland, UK and Canada would be a neccesity.
International calls to the above places would be a bonus but not neccasary as I am happy to use Skype from home.

Can anyone suggest a plan that they think would be a good match for me.

Thanks heaps!

[gyropilot]

Assuming you have a GSM compatible iPhone which will operate on AT&T's network, then check out the plans offered by H2O Wireless. They offer unlimited incoming and outgoing domestic texts, and unlimited incoming international texts as part of their monthly prepaid plans. Outbound international texts can be added to any monthly plan with an optional $10 "feature card" and are deducted at the rate of $0.15 each.

Best regards,

John L.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[TheCellphoneGuy]

Hi Everyone,

I have just moved to the US and am a bit overwlemed with all the different prepaid options so was hoping I could get some help here with what plan would be suitable for me.

I have an unlocked iphone 4 so was planning to use this device.
I am not a heavy user, so unlimeted talk is probably not neccesary.
Same with data, more of an occasional data user to check google maps, a few wesbites when out but not much data needed.
However international texts to Australia, Ireland, UK and Canada would be a neccesity.
International calls to the above places would be a bonus but not neccasary as I am happy to use Skype from home.

Can anyone suggest a plan that they think would be a good match for me.

Thanks heaps!

Take a look at the AT&T Go Phone plan. It would cost you $25 a month for 250 minutes of talk, unlimited texting to both the USA and 100 countries (I'm pretty sure that it includes the countries that you're looking for).

This plan however does not include data, but it can be purchased separately for the following amounts:

$25 for 1GB
$15 for 200MB
$5 for 50MB

Here is the link:

http://www.att.com/shop/en/wireless/...paidplans.html

And here is how you would go about activating the iPhone:

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-iphone-a...-11069410.html

Edit: It appears all of your countries are on the unlimited texting list apart from the United Kingdom, so they would probably charge you the standard rate for that

Here is the list of these countries:

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/po...LogLevel=-9999

[8_8]

Look into Airvoice Wireless, H20 wireless, Red Pocket Mobile - those are probably the better iPhone options since they run on AT&T's network (AT&T is the only major gsm network service provider with the optimal bands the iPhone operates on). Major inconvenience is you will likely need to top-up online whenever you need to refill your phone with minutes/ data credits. Data rates are also a little expensive relative speaking.

Alternatively, T-mobile will work fine for voice but the iPhone will only work at 2G data speeds unless you are lucky enough to live in areas where T-mobile offer data network compatibility for 3G speeds. However the $30 rate plan with 100 min comes with 5GB of data for 30 days. The biggest benefit of T-mobile, besides reasonable data rates, is you will have several convenient retail options for topping-up like at Wal-Mart, 7-eleven convenient stores, various pharmacy chains (chemists) and the list is long - the top up cards are available everywhere including online. In my area you don't have retailers offering top-up cards for the first set of options I mentioned unless you go to kiosks at the mall or specialty stores in random locations.

For most of these options you may have to play with your setting in order to configure the appropriate data settings. The forum probably has that info.

Good luck. Where are you located - people on tHoFo can give you input based on location. Welcome to the US.

- note, most of the first options i mention above offer some included but limited number of minutes to make call abroad.

- the AT&T gophone option sounds pretty good given the $25 plan includes international texting. And like T-Mobile top-up cards are widely avail for AT&T. And you will be on ATT native network. I actually didn't know you could use their iPhones on their prepaid service.

[Nath5]

Thanks for the help, this is good advice.

Sorry if this seems like a silly question but do carriers here in the US charge for incoming calls? So say I am on a 100 minute plan, can those minutes be used up when I receive calls?

Also to answer the question from 8_8 I am located in LA.

[TheCellphoneGuy]

Thanks for the help, this is good advice.

Sorry if this seems like a silly question but do carriers here in the US charge for incoming calls? So say I am on a 100 minute plan, can those minutes be used up when I receive calls?

Also to answer the question from 8_8 I am located in LA.

Yeah, if you had 100 minutes, they could be used up just from receiving calls. The same applies when checking your voice mail.

[8_8]

I'm liking TheCellphoneGuy's gophone idea because its more minutes than the T-Mobile option and since you can add 1GB of data for $25 it might suit your needs, should work with average to light data usage. Unlimited domestic and international texting should be great for you. Based on convenience, AT&T's gophone prepaid cards are available everywhere and easy to get. They might even give you a sim card if you buy a kit with minutes. Can anyone confirm?

Less convenient but more bang for you buck, the Company below offers for $60 unlimited domestic minutes and texts and 2GB of data and they include $10 in international calling credit (min tariffs will vary based on location). I'm comparing this to gophone's $50 bundle which is: $25 for 250 minutes and unlimited domestic and international texts and $25 for 1 GB data.
- The bad is dealers will charge you upfront $10-25 bucks for the sim and,
- you will not have international texting without adding credits to your account,
- In addition, I don't see these sim cards offered everywhere conveniently unlike AT&T's gophone prepaid service. If you can already charge stuff online then try going online on ebay for the sim and the site below to top-up.

https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageC...ans&category=W

Enjoy SoCal (Southern California)

[mch]

According to the AT&T website, the $25 gophone plan does include texting to Ireland, Canada, Australia, but oddly enough, not the UK
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/po...LogLevel=-9999

[lisaco1]

Hi Everyone,

I have just moved to the US and am a bit overwlemed with all the different prepaid options so was hoping I could get some help here with what plan would be suitable for me.

I have an unlocked iphone 4 so was planning to use this device.
I am not a heavy user, so unlimeted talk is probably not neccesary.
Same with data, more of an occasional data user to check google maps, a few wesbites when out but not much data needed.
However international texts to Australia, Ireland, UK and Canada would be a neccesity.
International calls to the above places would be a bonus but not neccasary as I am happy to use Skype from home.

Can anyone suggest a plan that they think would be a good match for me.

Thanks heaps!

Welcome to the USA, matching plan for your IPHONE, if you don't care about speed, but do want reliability , that would be TMOBILE 30 dollars a month. Aka Walmart 30.. You can look it up in this forums..

[mch]

Welcome to the USA, matching plan for your IPHONE, if you don't care about speed, but do want reliability , that would be TMOBILE 30 dollars a month. Aka Walmart 30.. You can look it up in this forums..

The problem is the OP's requirement for international texting. T-mobile does have more expensive plans that can have international texting added.

[Nath5]

Hi Everyone,
I ended up getting an AT&T Gophone plan.
So far so good.
Thanks for all the help!