Topic: American mobile networks - some advice pleasie weasie

[Plugabugz]

Is there a pay as you go sim card plan (any GSM network) that doesn't expire? Or expires after a longer period like 6 months?
 
I phoned T-Mobile USA about it (I'm with T-Mobile UK and thats why i thought of the USA one!) and they said theirs disconnects after 30days (which don't help me if im in america 2 or 3 times a year). I'm going to NYC in January and would like something that would remain active for longer periods.
 
Anyone have any advice?     

[nickmitch]

I think Virgin Mobile has a pay as you go plan.  I'm not 100% though.

[ShyGuy]

AT&T GoPhone doesn't expire for a year if you prepay $100

[MegaByte]

Not sim card-based, but you could try http://www.tracfone.com/

[Plugabugz]

I think Virgin Mobile has a pay as you go plan.  I'm not 100% though.

Virgin Mobile USA is CDMA (and based on Sprint) if Wiki is correct. So that won't help unfortunately. We only have GSM phones here.

AT&T GoPhone doesn't expire for a year if you prepay $100

That's sounds alright ish. Do you know if you have to pay to receive calls? We don't here, the idea is totally bonkers.

Not sim card-based, but you could try http://www.tracfone.com/

What does it do?

[MegaByte]

You get a really cheap phone (<$15) and then buy the minutes you need... there are GSM and CDMA versions (I'd recommend the latter for most places in the US).  It looks like at least with certain minutes packages, they'll keep your account for a year.

[Plugabugz]

I'd prefer to get a GSM variant, and just a sim card because i already have a workable phone to take with me to use.

I can't see anything that says i can though.

[ShyGuy]

I wanna hear more about your trip to our fine country.

[MegaByte]

Okay, forget Tracfone because of their phone locking... there are other alternatives out there though that should work with your phone, such as 7-11 Speak Out Wireless.  There's a list of other ones here you can check on http://www.mvnolist.com/

[Plugabugz]

I wanna hear more about your trip to our fine country.

This is the fifth time in the planned trilogy to come to NYC.

My next trip is to Atlantis. Atlanta

[ShyGuy]

You should try out the West Coast. It's awesome.

Also, what about Virgin prepaid phones? I think you have to make a payment every 90 days.

[Plugabugz]

Okay, forget Tracfone because of their phone locking... there are other alternatives out there though that should work with your phone, such as 7-11 Speak Out Wireless.  There's a list of other ones here you can check on http://www.mvnolist.com/

I just skimmed through that list and only a couple seemed to be roughly in the ballpark for useful. American mobile phone systems are confusing as hell. Pay to receive calls? AND TEXTS? Long distance calls? Activation fees? This was all abandoned a decade ago.

*head hurts*

You should try out the West Coast. It's awesome.

Also, what about Virgin prepaid phones? I think you have to make a payment every 90 days.

Atlantis is next. And Los Angeles is definitely on there too. It doesn't help that our holidays are usually dictated by the Virgin Atlantic route map

Virgin Mobile USA uses CDMA which doesn't help because we use GSM only here and my phone (that i'd use) wouldn't work.

[ShyGuy]

Europes POTS was sucktastic so y'all jumped on mobile faster than we did.

Check out Seattle. and Las Vegas.

[Stogi]

Boost mobile is probably your best bet.

[vudu]

OH HAY, WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO SEE THIS THREAD

Is there a pay as you go sim card plan (any GSM network) that doesn't expire? Or expires after a longer period like 6 months?
 
I phoned T-Mobile USA about it (I'm with T-Mobile UK and thats why i thought of the USA one!) and they said theirs disconnects after 30days (which don't help me if im in america 2 or 3 times a year).

This is true of the Pay by the Day plan, but what the shitty customer service rep forgot to tell you is that they also have a Pay as you Go plan.  Check it out here.

Once you become a "Gold Rewards" member (i.e. you load $100 onto your phone) you get 1 year of expiration on all refills.  So the first year will cost you $100 (like AT&T) but every year after that could cost you as little as $10.  It's probably the best option for someone like you.

[Plugabugz]

OH HAY, WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO SEE THIS THREAD

Is there a pay as you go sim card plan (any GSM network) that doesn't expire? Or expires after a longer period like 6 months?
 
I phoned T-Mobile USA about it (I'm with T-Mobile UK and thats why i thought of the USA one!) and they said theirs disconnects after 30days (which don't help me if im in america 2 or 3 times a year).

This is true of the Pay by the Day plan, but what the shitty customer service rep forgot to tell you is that they also have a Pay as you Go plan.  Check it out here.

Once you become a "Gold Rewards" member (i.e. you load $100 onto your phone) you get 1 year of expiration on all refills.  So the first year will cost you $100 (like AT&T) but every year after that could cost you as little as $10.  It's probably the best option for someone like you.

That's the second one to mention this $100 method. Here nearly numbers automatically expire after 180 days (and in some cases you just need to receive a call to keep it active). $100 = £60, so it may be the best option, especially if i intend to travel to Atlantis and LA later on in the year. Even if the idea of paying to receive calls freaks me out.