Develop Bugs

Best USA network (pay as you go) to use with BA

Hi
I currently live in the UK, but am emigrating to Massachusetts (New Bedford) soon.
I upgraded my O2 XDA II, to an O2 XDA II S primarily for the quad band, and to give a greater network choice when I get to the USA.
Being new to the states (no credit history etc) I will go PAYG to avoid the huge deposits they want from someone with no credit history.
Can anyone suggest a good network both price and customer satisfaction? Are Virgin any good in the USA - I see they use the Sprint PCS network - They certainly are cheap in the uK!
Also if I did upgrade again to a HTC Universal / XDA Exec, what networks in the USA have good network coverage using just the tri band (900/1800/1900?) as apposed to the quad band (850/900/1800/1900).
Cheers for any help or advice!

Dude, how did you get the visa? I went to California for 9 months as part of my degree, all I'm trying to do now is get back after I finish this year!
As for Virgin, no dice on that. Virgin/Sprint use CDMA (not GSM which is what SIM cards are designed for).
I've not heard of the deposits you're talking about, all I knew is you needed a social security number (which I didn't have), but I guess you know more about that than me. T-Mobile let couples talk for free, so if you are going over to live with a girlfriend or something, that might be ideal, but you both need a T-Mobile contract :roll:
I was on ATT Wireless (now Cingular) GoPhone when I was there. It's PAYG, but lets you pay automagically when you run out of cash or the month is up, so it's like a contract but you don't need the credit check. Or you can just do normal top-ups. The rates aren't exactly stellar, but it's a safe bet. Cingular reception was never great for me (had to walk to a very specific window in my house if I wanted to make calls), but in the US you live with the fact the whole country isn't covered.
Cingular should also let you do a SIM only deal at their stores (not online) which saves you 80 bucks buying a phone you won't use.
Don't have any dealings with Verizon, they are bad people. Metro PCS seem to have a good plan (40 bucks each month, all you can talk) but I don't know if that's on CDMA or if that needs a credit check as well.
Don't forget to unlock your phone before you leave!
And how *did* you get that visa?
Chris

Hey, send me a PM as I am moving from UK to Boston, MA with my job in October too! I'll be working in Framingham but I'll live in Boston.
Anyway, I think your best bet is Cingular or T-Mobile as you'll want the same data services as you have here in the UK. e.g. Verizon uses CDMA (not GSM)
As for Visas, I'm working on that now. A company will need to sponsor you. The US government grants 65,000 H-1B visas annually and this is currently oversubscribed. A new allotment of 65,000 visas comes in on October 1st when the new congressional year begins. So if you apply now you won't get one before October 1st which is what I'm aiming at. If you have a masters degree or similar the US make an extra 20,000 visas available to these persons. (that category is not currently oversubscribed).
To get one for October 1st would mean the sponsoring company would need to pay a $1,000 premium which pushes the descision process to within 3 business weeks and get the application off ASAP, like last week. (not done mine yet...)

Lewisham said:
And how *did* you get that visa?
Chris
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was an extremely long and hard process (not entirely for me), but I will be getting a fabled GREEN CARD in the next month or two, as being a spouse I get the same visa.
My wife is a nurse - a skill they are in dire need of (like every other country around the world). She was sponsored by a nursing agency, revised for 6 months then had to fly to Atlanta to take NCLEX which is the American nursing license. We are currently awaiting Packet 4, the final interview at the London embassy, all the other stages complete. I have got to have a big pile of injections to on Friday, MMR etc which I can't prove I have had over here <OUCH>
It's been a long process, quite often stressful with loads of running around and calling people to find out if they have done there job properly!
The only otherways to get a Greencard straight away, invest $1 million dollars in a business, or marry an American........... Otherwise you just get temporary Visas (H-1B etc) where they can kick you out of the country at any time! Not good if you buy a house etc.... But you can try to get a Green card once in position of having a visa, but it's a slow process, usually 6 - 8 years!
Good luck though, with determination you can do it!
Saldous, I will PM you.....

I never noticed this thread before
First of all welcome to the state - I live in MA too - live in Salem, work in Boston.
There are several GSM pay-as-you-go options:
Carriers:
T-mobile with PAYG: http://www.t-mobile.com/prepaid/rates.asp
Cingular with GoPhone: http://www.cingular.com/myaccount/prepaid
MVNO:
1. Oxygen
2. Locus Wireless GSM
3. CallPlus Wireless GSM
4. POP
http://www.icallplus.com/2html/wireless.html?PHPSESSID=ccb69a994a490423b31b019f4a272adb
5. 7-eleven prepaid: www.7eleven.com (you have to buy a phone, but you can just use the SIM and resell the phone on ebay )
GSM you cannot use:
1. Net10 (www.net10.com)
2. TracFone (www.tracfone.co)
While the two above are GSM prepaid services and do have SIM cards, the SIM serial is tied to an IMEI of a phone with custom firmware. I have not been able to use my TracFone SIM in any "standard" GSM phone
Also for more info on pay as you go worldwide: www.prepaidgsm.net
and/or www.howardforums.com (in the prepaid forum there is a sticky).
BTW: CDMA carriers do use SIM cards (they call them RUIMs). CDMA Carriers in North america, japan and korea don't use SIMs, but there are phones coming out with RUIM capability hopefully all CDMA systems in the future will feature SIM cards

Switzerland PAYT SIM

Hi,
I'm off to Switzerland shortly on holiday and would really like to take my Desire and use my internet based applications (Endomondo, Picassa etc).
I'm currently with T-Mob who state that data transfer using their SIM cost £7.50 per MB, which I seriously do not want to risk.
Can anyone recommend a cheap (ish) Swiss based SIM card that has a competitive data rate. I've tried Swisscom, Sunrise and Orange, but they are either too expensive (one was 0.10CHF per 20KB!!!) or it doesn't state the cost.
I've noticed there is a Migros shop nearby who sell SIM but they also don't state the data rates.
My fall back plan is to disable data on the phone and let GPS record everything but then only upload when I find a free wifi zone.
Leaving on Sunday so would ideally like to find the answer beforehand.
Really appreciate any help / advice

I can recommend
- Sunrise Prepaid SIM Card
- Sunrise surf
www1.sunrise.ch/Angebot/Sunrise-go-dayflat-pul3bAqFI.obkAAAEkYZFQzDCg-Sunrise-Residential-Site-WFS-de_CH-CHF.html
You will pay 20CHF first and this is directly your prepaid money you can use. For the "Sunrise surf" option you pay 7.50CHF/Month and you have 250MB included.
Best ist if you go to a sunrise shop (Zürich Airport or somewhere else maps.sunrise.ch/shopfinder.php?lang=de&objID=Address&val1=8000&val2=&val3=&val4=) and tell them you want those two things and they will arrange that.
have fun in Switzerland,
Dave

JBristowUK said:
I'm currently with T-Mob who state that data transfer using their SIM cost £7.50 per MB, which I seriously do not want to risk.
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This is incorrect. Since you are on T-Mob UK, you can just get one of their Euro Internet Boosters (see here). According to the FAQ, it is valid in Switzerland.
It's probably more expensive than a local PAYG solution (£10 for 50mb), but it is much better than £7.50 per MB. I'd suggest that you keep mobile internet turned off though unless you actively want to use it to keep the usage down.
Regards
Dave

These are both really useful thanks. I may leave the data off until I can find a sunrise shop. If there isn't one local I'll opt for the T-Mob £10 solution. I've just spoken to them and apparently the phone will prompt me to purchase either of the 3 packages. Makes it quite simple and certainly cheaper than my current charges.
Thank again.

JBristowUK said:
I've just spoken to them and apparently the phone will prompt me to purchase either of the 3 packages.
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Click to collapse
I can confirm that it does work. When I went to France a couple of months ago, I was unable to get email etc on the phone until I'd opened up a web browser and "bought" a Euro Booster.
Regards,
Dave

[Q] Data plans in the US

I will be touring the US this summer and i'd like to find out which US carrier offers a decent data plan so i could roam the country using google maps & navigation. i would need around 1 or 2 GB dataplan for a month time.
I don't want to buy another phone or make two-year contracts. Anyone knows which carrier i should turn to ? I will traveling in the north east (NY-Mass-Maine-Vermont)
many thanks

The US isn't like Europe when it comes to things like this. You generally can't just go buy a SIM card to use for a short period of time, at least not if you want a data connection. You can get a cheap prepaid phone from AT&T or T-Mobile, remove the SIM card and put it in your phone, but unless things have changed recently, you'll be paying quite a bit for data, depending on how much you use. AT&T and T-Mobile are going to be your only two options when it comes to prepaid GSM here.
AT&T is in the process of buying out T-Mobile right now as well, so probably by the time you are here, you might only have the AT&T option anyway.

AT&T has a prepaid SIM for $2/day (only on days you use it) unlimited talk and text with a data add-on option of 100mb/month for $20. I have one but switch off background data and use wifi whenever I can. I don't know if you can purchase additional 100mb data blocks within the same month. Check out https://www.paygonline.com/websc/index.jsp
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

AT&t ask for a sim. with a line under no contract, since you will not need equipment. Get a number unlimited minutes and unlimited web and text is 90$ a month and less if you need less.
Go to a corporate owned store and walk out with an activated sim for free. Call 611 and tweak your plan with a Rep.
Now the important part is never tell them you are using a smart phone. Tell them its made in Antarctica or something. If they need an imei make one up, as no company has a list other than their branded equipment.
Also if your staying a while message me and route customer relations for a 25$ credit a month for 3 mos. Its simple. Like butter.
Happy trails.
Need to know if a8181, a8182, or a8183. Or specific umts frq. You are using for 3g speeds. Ex. A8183 is 850mhz and 2100 MHz umts.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

thank you for the info, i'll try it out
cheers

Traveling Abroad

What is the best way to travel abroad with the GNEX? I'm currently on AT&T with an unlocked GNEX and plan on going to France in the next few months. Would it be better to setup international roaming with AT&T or find a prepaid sim from a French cell provider? In my situation, having a solid data connection>voice minutes.
Would the gnex automatically setup the correct APN's for a particular carrier or would they have to be manually entered? Also, since this is a "pentaband" device, wouldn't I be rocking a 3G connection?
A couple of years ago when I visited Israel, I setup international roaming with AT&T which worked flawlessly with my iPhone 3GS, albeit only Edge speeds. What sucked is coming home to an $800 cell bill..lol.

Local SIM > international roaming. The fees are outrageous on roaming. Its even better if all you care about is data. You can get good cheap options with data-only SIMs.

Go with local sim unless you absolutely have to keep your US number in use while you're there.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

romaing agreements arent usually too bad for calls and texts for 'normal usage' - they tend to be next to useless for any sort of data usage.
I am from the UK and get a pitiful 25mb a day when i travel to europe, so data services are usually switched off until i check my email etc or find decent wifi.
So if you are going to need a lot of data usage probably a prepaid local sim is the way to go.
I dont know about france (most of my travel is to italy) but always get your sims from the official stores - not the independent ones (i have waited 3 days for sims to be activated).
you should also be able to just stick the sim in and be good to go.

Thanks for the replies!

Yep your phone will set itself up for the new provider once you insert the new simcard. Failing that you could always ask someone in the shop for the manual settings just in case.
In any case you'd be getting a full 3g or h/h+ service on your GN just like I do in the UK.
Rik.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

I use TMoUS. I always just roam. Its a pain to send everyone I would need to a new number. I just eat the cost as part of my trip budget.
Sent from my GSM Galaxy Nexus on TMoUS using Tapatalk

I've been out of the country pretty much the entire time I got my Galaxy Nexus, I've been roaming on Swisscom and using WiFi. I'm going to Paris in a few days and I don't expect to have WiFi so I'm going to get a prepaid data SIM. That's what I did when I went to London earlier this year. I texted over Google voice used Whatsapp, twitter Facebook because I knew I wouldn't have WiFi most of the time. You can also tether to other devices such as a tablet or laptop.

If you do decide to pick up a local SIM card, you will need to bring (as a minimum) your passport to prove to the local government that you aren't hoarding SIM cards and selling them to third world country terrorist organizations. Some places won't even accept cash, and will require a credit card when a non-EU citizen is buying a SIM Card.
...and most of the place you go to buy a simple SIM card are NOT the places you are gonna want to leave your credit card number with. Shop wisely (i.e. T-Mo, Vodaphone, Citrus, etc chain stores...) and keep an eye on your credit card statements.
Check with AT&T as well about switching to an international plan for the length of your duration. They were willing to switch my wife's plan when we moved to Germany, but the rates weren't all that attractive. In the end, we simply just bought a new SIM card as you suggested, as the data limits imposed by AT&T USA in Europe were ridiculously (250M / month).
One more piece of advice, do not expect to "leech" onto open WiFi hotspots with the same frequency as the USA. There is a heightened sense of internet paranoia (in Germany at least) and VERY FEW people leave their WiFi networks open. If you DO happen to find an open WiFi is usually because there is a third party proxy involved in getting a valid IP address.
Good luck and have fun!

Best bet is to use an old dumb phone, setup roaming and put your AT&T sim in there. Then you'll at least receive urgent calls. Then pick up a local Pay as you go sim, and use it in your nexus for data. I personally keep an unlocked nokia 6100 handy, as its small and has great battery life on standby and talk time.
Don't worry too much about all this passport, terrorist business, its NOTHING at all like that. Just walk into any big carrier's store over there and they'll sell you a sim no problem at all. No passport, credit card, or ID needed. If you try and buy 10 or 50 or something they might impose a limit. Its got ZERO to do with terrorists or third world countries, and more to do with GSM gateways where people route minutes using VOIP and GSM boxes. If you only buy 1 or 2 sim cards they won't ask you anything.
There's a few countries in the east and africa where they insist on ID, and that's due to them being used on the black market for crime. I think its fairly obvious france isn't one of those countries lol.
I travel a lot for work, so I know first hand.
EDIT: Yeah you'll get full 3G, and since its a GSM nexus you'll get HSPA+ too. Roaming data is usually over £1 or $1 a mb, so don't even bother. A local sim will probably give you unlimited (possibly capped at 3gb) for a 10 or 20 EURO topup. (haven't checked rates recently).
If you do travel a lot and only need data, you can also pick up a world sim (there's loads of them so check thoroughly), and for a £50 credit per month (about $75) you get unlimited data in most countries.

Europe is great for prepaid sim cards with decent rates for calls and really good prices for data especially if its only for a short while on vacation. Just bring your phone into one of the many cell shops and they will be more than happy to program the new SIM and also add whatever money you want on the card. Too easy. I have separate SIM cards for Germany, Italy and The Netherlands.

While most European countries have a very simple process to get a data enabled SIM, it is almost impossible in France. I tried 5-6 shops during my vacation few months ago with no luck. Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Belgium, Germany were all a breeze (most airports and train stations sold data enabled SIMs for around 10 euros)

Get a local SIM card or use xcomglobal for a MiFi.
I am in Europe often and either way works great.
Skickat från min ASUS Eee Pad TF101

Overseas right now, picked up AT&T international traveller feature and only using WiFi for data with a local backup SIM handy for trips. Just not worth the inconvenience to use two phones personally.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Android app for calls internationally?

I am going to Israel and need a app that can provide me with a International number (obviously using the web -- sorta like google voice but i need to accept phone calls also and the whole thing needs to be thru the web as any calls i make would be considered roaming ) obviously I'd like something that is cheap and would also allow for txt messages.
I dont know why it would matter but I have a verizon plan. I'll be using WIFI mostly but will be purchasing the 100 mb international plan
Thank You

Shalom man u should go into any cellstore there buy a unlimited orange gsm card for internet then get skype international and ur in business mamish like 25 the whole thing unlimit u can't go wrong..good luck dude lshana habo biyrshlyim.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

worldpants said:
Shalom man u should go into any cellstore there buy a unlimited orange gsm card for internet then get skype international and ur in business mamish like 25 the whole thing unlimit u can't go wrong..good luck dude lshana habo biyrshlyim.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He has a Verizon (CDMA) phone. He can't simply pop in a standard SIM.

galaxy nexus - in israel
patruns said:
He has a Verizon (CDMA) phone. He can't simply pop in a standard SIM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so what would you recommend to get the galaxy nexus to work in israel?
or should i just rent another cell phone?
and if so, go with one of the many places that rent phones (amigo?) or rent one at a store once there?
thanks

kingsfan33 said:
so what would you recommend to get the galaxy nexus to work in israel?
or should i just rent another cell phone?
and if so, go with one of the many places that rent phones (amigo?) or rent one at a store once there?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would just buy a cheap unlocked gsm phone here in the states and buy a sim card once I get to my destination. I would imagine international roaming is quite pricey, both for data and voice, and its cheaper and less complex to just switch to a gsm phone for the duration of the stay.

mendezj666 said:
I would just buy a cheap unlocked gsm phone here in the states and buy a sim card once I get to my destination. I would imagine international roaming is quite pricey, both for data and voice, and its cheaper and less complex to just switch to a gsm phone for the duration of the stay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any recommendation for a place to pickup a sim in israel?
thx

kingsfan33 said:
any recommendation for a place to pickup a sim in israel?
thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, the Minister of Communications really shook up the market here, and now there are like 5 new cell companies, and all are offering unlimited Calls, SMS and data (3GB) for 99 NIS a month (~$25) and the Sim cards usually cost a one-time fee of 40 NIS, no contracts, you can disconnect any time you want without fees by law here.
I just moved over to Golan Telecom, which are great, but you can only receive a sim card by ordering one off the Internet, and it takes about 4 days to arrive.
If you don't want to, or can't, go with Rami Levy (yup, the supermarket chain). I was very happy with them before I moved to golan telecom, and they now also offer an unlimited plan, with 1GB data plan, for 88 NIS a month, and the sim card costs the same, but you can pick it up in-store.
And as far as bringing the Gnex here, I'm pretty sure you can't use a CDMA phone here yet... I'll post the frequencies doc here when I find it and you can figure out if your phone will work here and on what provider.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

-Psycho- said:
Honestly, the Minister of Communications really shook up the market here, and now there are like 5 new cell companies, and all are offering unlimited Calls, SMS and data (3GB) for 99 NIS a month (~$25) and the Sim cards usually cost a one-time fee of 40 NIS, no contracts, you can disconnect any time you want without fees by law here.
I just moved over to Golan Telecom, which are great, but you can only receive a sim card by ordering one off the Internet, and it takes about 4 days to arrive.
If you don't want to, or can't, go with Rami Levy (yup, the supermarket chain). I was very happy with them before I moved to golan telecom, and they now also offer an unlimited plan, with 1GB data plan, for 88 NIS a month, and the sim card costs the same, but you can pick it up in-store.
And as far as bringing the Gnex here, I'm pretty sure you can't use a CDMA phone here yet... I'll post the frequencies doc here when I find it and you can figure out if your phone will work here and on what provider.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Thx a lot, lots of useful info...
If i google israel sim card there is so much out there
Can you recommend a site to get the sim youre referring to?
Thx again

kingsfan33 said:
Thx a lot, lots of useful info...
If i google israel sim card there is so much out there
Can you recommend a site to get the sim youre referring to?
Thx again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, here it is - Golan Telecom
Oh, btw, forgot to mention, Golan Telecom also offers free international calls to 30 something countries (landlines), and to the USA and Canada for free also to cell phones (and the International numbers that aren't for free are for a ridiculously low price, you can look around at the site.
In any case other companies offer very similar deals as well, with free international calls, I can just tell you from my experience that it's pretty hassle free and the costumer service is good (in comparison to other companies where I've waited for over an hour on the phone, they usually answer right away, 3 mins tops).
No matter what company you choose, if you encounter trouble with the internet connection, some companies (like mine) require you set up the APNs manually. Highly recommend APN Israel app, just one click and your set.
Finally, as promised, here's the frequency list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtSH6N4JBcwrdGdEaXRwaU0zczRnS1dOTW1EQTNsZGc
Good luck!
PS. I am not an employee of Golan Telecom or anything of the sort, just a really happy customer. I can just as well recommend Rami Levy, and Orange, all of which I was happy with, but for my own needs Golan Telecom was best for me

Psycho has a lot of useful information in his post and you have a few options. Anytime I travel internationally, I buy a sim card on ebay and get it sent to me from the US. Then, depending if they allow it, activate it here in the US or wait until I arrive in the country Im going to. I always buy prepaid and most sim cards already have credit on them. This way will be more expensive than if you were to just buy the sim card when you are in the country you are visiting but I have found it worth the extra cost. Once activated in the US, I will already have my international number for my family/friends to call me and just give them that number before I leave. Its all a matter of preference and convenience so just have to find out what works for you. GL and wish I could provide more info specific to Israel.

mendezj666 said:
Psycho has a lot of useful information in his post and you have a few options. Anytime I travel internationally, I buy a sim card on ebay and get it sent to me from the US. Then, depending if they allow it, activate it here in the US or wait until I arrive in the country Im going to. I always buy prepaid and most sim cards already have credit on them. This way will be more expensive than if you were to just buy the sim card when you are in the country you are visiting but I have found it worth the extra cost. Once activated in the US, I will already have my international number for my family/friends to call me and just give them that number before I leave. Its all a matter of preference and convenience so just have to find out what works for you. GL and wish I could provide more info specific to Israel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was told that unless you have an Israeli ID/passport that you cannot just go into any super market and buy a sim card.
Of course the person telling me this was a company similar to talknsave that wants $7 a day per phone + $1 for US #. (for 2 phones it really adds up).
I am leaving this Sunday 9/23, so any help asap would be appreciated.
Thanks!
p.s. I did get the Galaxy Nexus International gsm version that is unlocked for this trip.

kingsfan33 said:
I was told that unless you have an Israeli ID/passport that you cannot just go into any super market and buy a sim card.
Of course the person telling me this was a company similar to talknsave that wants $7 a day per phone + $1 for US #. (for 2 phones it really adds up).
I am leaving this Sunday 9/23, so any help asap would be appreciated.
Thanks!
p.s. I did get the Galaxy Nexus International gsm version that is unlocked for this trip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just talked to my companies customer service, and you're right. I wasn't aware of that. You do need an Israeli ID number and address.
After discussing it with the rep, if you have someone in Israel who you can purchase the card just under his name and address, then you're good to go.
You won't be able to (at least with Golan Telecom, I'm assuming it's the same with all the companies) freeze the account completely for future use, but rather lower the bill to the basic 10 NIS (~$2.5) a month plan. But unless you're really traveling every couple of months you're better off just canceling the account and buying a new sim card next time you come for 40 NIS...

Thanks a lot lot!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app