Telephone question for a helpful American

**Bobcock** · 14-02-2013, 01:35 PM

I'm off to the states for a family holiday over Songkran.

Is there such a thing as a prepaid SIM in the US?

I asked a mate who didn't think there was but also admitted he wasn't the best person to ask.

I want to get off the plane, buty a SIM for a couple of weeks useage and then dump it on departure.

Possible or has Homeland security put paid to such freedoms?

**Necron99** · 14-02-2013, 01:37 PM

Prepaid Cell Phones : Cell Phones - Walmart.com

**FlyFree** · 14-02-2013, 01:43 PM

Gee Necron, it must've taken ages for you to find that info.

For those that don't trust Google, try DuckDuckGo

**pseudolus** · 14-02-2013, 01:53 PM

I never found one when I was there a couple of years ago but never looked that hard. It seems you need to subscribe to them and all that jazz.

Found these two though which might be useful

USA SIM card

Best official USA sim cards, including free worldwide delivery! | prepaid sim cards delivered to your doorstep

**Bobcock** · 14-02-2013, 01:55 PM

It was quick, but I'm not sure why I would want to buy a phone when I have several at my disposal already. It certainly didn't answer the question as I suspect they are registered when bought.

So I reitterate the original question and hope someone who knows the answer may respond.

**misskit** · 14-02-2013, 02:05 PM

I've never seen a SIM card for sale in America without a phone. You might find one at a T-Mobile or AT&T kiosk. Cheap mobile phones can be had at a Radio Shack or Walmart with a SIM easily enough.

**Nokturnal** · 14-02-2013, 02:19 PM

Try boost mobile, that or 7-11 has 15$ throw away phones.

**stevefarang** · 14-02-2013, 02:19 PM

I use a T-mobile ToGo Sim card. It's a little pricey (25 cents/min), if you plan on using your phone a lot. But I don't. It's strictly for emergencies or texting the wife back in the LOS. I don't think I've had many problems with coverage either.
It should fit the bill.

Steve

**palexxxx** · 14-02-2013, 05:31 PM

I don't know about 'Merica, but in Australia you can buy pre-paid sim cards but as soon as you put them in your phone and activate them, the phone gets locked to that provider (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone etc.) They then charge you $100 to unlock it again. It's cheaper to just buy a cheap phone which come with a sim card and they even include a few sheckels of credit.

**pseudolus** · 14-02-2013, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by pseudolus

I never found one when I was there a couple of years ago but never looked that hard. It seems you need to subscribe to them and all that jazz.

Found these two though which might be useful

USA SIM card

Best official USA sim cards, including free worldwide delivery! | prepaid sim cards delivered to your doorstep

Originally Posted by Bobcock

It was quick, but I'm not sure why I would want to buy a phone when I have several at my disposal already. It certainly didn't answer the question as I suspect they are registered when bought.

So I reitterate the original question and hope someone who knows the answer may respond.

You will see I posted two links where they will send you the pay as you go sim to your house.

**Necron99** · 14-02-2013, 05:46 PM

Looks like you dont have to register phones in the US yet, but even if you did, big deal.
29.95 for a prepaid phone, when you're on your way to the airport, put $20 credit on it and give it to a homeless person.

If you don't want to be a nice guy, walmart will sell you a sim also.

http://www.walmart.com/search/search...h_constraint=0

**SEA Traveler** · 14-02-2013, 06:04 PM

Bobcock: about 3 years ago when in the States, I got the wife and I both TaracFones @ WALMART. The phones them selves cost like $20 each and there is minimal time on them and then you can buy the prepaid phone cards for specific amounts of time. If you buy the 60 min cards, when you add the time to the phone, they usually double the time as a promotion. Also, inside the phone box there are coupons that give a code that will allow for the doubling of the time when you purchase and add the time. It's only a one time time doubling but it's a bonus. I (we) use the phones for 2 months and then when ever we return back to the States, we take the phones with us and use them again. The time has usually expired and sometimes the TracFone customer service needs to be called to activate the phone (free) but for us, it was and is a sure way of doing things and having comms when we arrive back in the States. The cost of the time is not inexpensive so it pays to use the doubling coupons. Also, don't forget, in the States, they minus your time even on incoming calls. So they get you coming and going.

**aging one** · 14-02-2013, 06:06 PM

^ thanks for that big time mate. that by far is the easiest way I have seen to get around the US phone monopolies. thanks from me.

**robuzo** · 14-02-2013, 06:24 PM

I switch out DTAC and (US) ATT Pay-As-You-Go sim cards in my LG phone when I travel. The only country I know where it is impossible to buy just a SIM is Japan. ATT Pay-As-You-Go works with smart phones that allow the SIM to be switched, and for $60/month you get unlimited calls/text/Web access, and for another $10 you get 250 minutes international calling time, including to Thailand. ATT kiosks are ubiquitous.

**AntRobertson** · 14-02-2013, 06:40 PM

If the sim route is no go and buying a temporary or disposable phone isn't your thing then the other option is International roaming. They actually offer some pretty reasonably priced packages these days.

**Lorenzo** · 14-02-2013, 09:55 PM

JFK Airport: There is an ATT booth as you exit customs and baggage collection. It is right in the waiting for arriving passenger area. About $50 for the month with data. I don't recall what terminal this was, but the guy I was waiting for flew China Air or Air China so it is that terminal.

**BobR** · 15-02-2013, 05:54 AM

The cell phones that work in Thailand do not even get a signal in the USA, must be a completely different frequency.
Those prepaid phones at Walmart sell for about $15-20 (500 Baht).

**Lorenzo** · 15-02-2013, 11:53 PM

^ US has two systems, AT&T type and Verison type (CDMA?)

Thai phones work with AT&T systems GSM based. The guy I know had a Samsung smartphone and it worked here. Also on his second trip he purchased a SIM card online and activated it from my home computer.

If you do not need data hard to beat the Walmart phone price.

**Troy** · 16-02-2013, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by Bobcock

It was quick, but I'm not sure why I would want to buy a phone when I have several at my disposal already.

Long time since I was in the States...but I think you are still better off with one of their phones unless you have dual band. Coverage depends on where you are going, so I would check it out on the internet first.

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