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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
It looks to me like I'm going to be money ahead to pay full retail on the Tilt 2 next month.
I'm on Media Net ($15.00 / month). If you buy on-contract, AT&T is going to force you on to a $30.00 / month data plan, so that's an extra $180.00 a year.
By my math, if I keep the phone longer than 13 months, I'm better off paying full retail of $499.00 for it and staying on Media Net.
Thoughts ?
The AT&T news keeps on a'comin' this weekend. After getting an idea of when the HTC Touch Pro 2 (aka Tilt 2) may be released, and then seeing it show up in inventory, the Boy Genius Report now says it has pricing information for it, as well as a couple of other anticiapted phones. Let's do this the easy way:
* Tilt 2: $299 after contract and $50 rebate; $499 retail.
* Touch Diamond 2: Codenamed the Warhawk and already seen at the FCC, will be known as the Pure and will go for $199 after contract and $40 rebate. Retails for $349.
I'm thinking about this too. Apparently though it doesn't matter if you buy it on or off contract. The new policy is if you get a new Smartphone (AT&T branded, however you do) after September 6, they can and "will" change you to the appropriate data plan. I don't know if they will actually enforce it for people who buy them off eBay and off contract.
What I am really surprised about is the Diamond 2 is only $350 off contract! That is dirt cheap! They go for around $500 on eBay!
petard said:
I'm thinking about this too. Apparently though it doesn't matter if you buy it on or off contract. The new policy is if you get a new Smartphone (AT&T branded, however you do) after September 6, they can and "will" change you to the appropriate data plan. I don't know if they will actually enforce it for people who buy them off eBay and off contract.
What I am really surprised about is the Diamond 2 is only $350 off contract! That is dirt cheap! They go for around $500 on eBay!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The announcement about enforcing smart phone data plans was for people who didn't already have a smart phone I believe.
I'm hopeful I'll be able to keep my contract as is and get the 2 year price but no rebate. I'll be ordering through premiere though, so its usually more lax about the contract stuff.
petard said:
I don't know if they will actually enforce it for people who buy them off eBay and off contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see how they could unless they are going to do some IMEA enforcement, and they never have before.
I guess ebay is going to be the way to go.
there are different ways to do this:
1- if you are able to, buy from premier. they dont ask you to change any data plan or anything
2- if you are unable to, buy it with contract, add the data plan. go home, put ur sim in your old phone (or any non-smartphone), call at&t and tell them you want to switch phones, and re-add the $15 medianet plan.
theres no point to buy it off contract if you can buy it w/contract
petard said:
I'm thinking about this too. Apparently though it doesn't matter if you buy it on or off contract. The new policy is if you get a new Smartphone (AT&T branded, however you do) after September 6, they can and "will" change you to the appropriate data plan. I don't know if they will actually enforce it for people who buy them off eBay and off contract.
What I am really surprised about is the Diamond 2 is only $350 off contract! That is dirt cheap! They go for around $500 on eBay!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where can I read this new policy ?
Does someone have a link to it ?
Thanks
RacerX10 said:
It looks to me like I'm going to be money ahead to pay full retail on the Tilt 2 next month.
I'm on Media Net ($15.00 / month). If you buy on-contract, AT&T is going to force you on to a $30.00 / month data plan, so that's an extra $180.00 a year.
By my math, if I keep the phone longer than 13 months, I'm better off paying full retail of $499.00 for it and staying on Media Net.
Thoughts ?
The AT&T news keeps on a'comin' this weekend. After getting an idea of when the HTC Touch Pro 2 (aka Tilt 2) may be released, and then seeing it show up in inventory, the Boy Genius Report now says it has pricing information for it, as well as a couple of other anticiapted phones. Let's do this the easy way:
* Tilt 2: $299 after contract and $50 rebate; $499 retail.
* Touch Diamond 2: Codenamed the Warhawk and already seen at the FCC, will be known as the Pure and will go for $199 after contract and $40 rebate. Retails for $349.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well AT&T has lost so much money with the iPhone that they had to make it back somehow. Good luck with AT&T. I hope they work out better for you than they did for me.
I think the particulars on this one are what's going to matter. I could purchase it on my wife's number .. she's got no data plan at all. I wonder if ATT is going to force you on a data plan if you don't currently have one now (and don't want one)
Again, worst case scenario I can pick one up on ebay and avoid their new policy but it would be nice to know for sure what the policy is.
They are supposedly going to do IMEI checking for all phones. They already do with the iPhone.
I can go all the way through checkout until I confirm my order on Premier and it doesn't ask me to switch data plans. If you have access to it, use it.
petard said:
They are supposedly going to do IMEI checking for all phones. They already do with the iPhone.
I can go all the way through checkout until I confirm my order on Premier and it doesn't ask me to switch data plans. If you have access to it, use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Premier isn't an option for me, but thanks for the info.
I am just learning about Premier, what is it or how do you get to be premier?
Thresher said:
I am just learning about Premier, what is it or how do you get to be premier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Premier is AT&T's service for corporate/business customers. For instance my employer has an 'employee' discount on plans, handsets, accessories, activation etc for personal accounts, though I've never noticed a price difference on phones. Usually just cheaper plans and better customer service.
petard said:
They are supposedly going to do IMEI checking for all phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a little skeptical on this one. I've been hearing this for years and it hasn't happened yet.
RacerX10 said:
It looks to me like I'm going to be money ahead to pay full retail on the Tilt 2 next month.
I'm on Media Net ($15.00 / month). If you buy on-contract, AT&T is going to force you on to a $30.00 / month data plan, so that's an extra $180.00 a year.
By my math, if I keep the phone longer than 13 months, I'm better off paying full retail of $499.00 for it and staying on Media Net.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I bought my Tilt (1) they had me increase my plan too, but the guy told me that I dont have to keep it at the higher plan. He told me to wait 45 days, then call AT&T and switch it back down to the lesser plan. Worked just fine... Granted that was 2 years ago, so who knows if they changed their stance on that kind of thing...
AT&T Off Contract
My TP is about to die and I want to replace it. I prefer to get off contract and right now I have two concerns:
1. 3G speeds. Can I get it with a AU phone like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-HTC-TOUCH-P...ones?hash=item27ab9cfc19&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Will this phone really work at 3G speeds on ATT?
2. I'm also interested in WinMo 6.5 like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/HTC-TOUCH-PRO-2...ones?hash=item27abab1dc0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Does anyone on this site offer a ROM service?
Thx.
James
It only has UMTS850, not UMTS1900. That means it will work on some of AT&Ts 3G network but not all of it. Either the listed lied or didn't know that you need UMTS1900 to FULLY support AT&Ts 3G network. Just wait a bit, AT&Ts version will be out in less than a month. You can buy it retail for $500 off contract and probably less on eBay after it comes out.
petard said:
They are supposedly going to do IMEI checking for all phones. They already do with the iPhone.
I can go all the way through checkout until I confirm my order on Premier and it doesn't ask me to switch data plans. If you have access to it, use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RacerX10 said:
I'm a little skeptical on this one. I've been hearing this for years and it hasn't happened yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A guy on brighthand was just doing a little juggling between an old iPhone and his current Nokia smartphone. He actually has a $30 smartphone data plan, but the point of his post was that after he undid a little iPhone issue, got his old 3G plan back up and running and put his sim back in his nokia, he immediately got a text informing him of his need for a smartphone data plan, and that one would be added for him if he failed to add it. They aren't ONLY checking the iPhone anymore.
They're definitely tightening things down. I doubt it is anywhere near airtight yet, but I'd be hesitant about using last year's workarounds.
jamesmuir said:
My TP is about to die and I want to replace it. I prefer to get off contract and right now I have two concerns:
1. 3G speeds. Can I get it with a AU phone like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-HTC-TOUCH-P...ones?hash=item27ab9cfc19&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Will this phone really work at 3G speeds on ATT?
2. I'm also interested in WinMo 6.5 like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/HTC-TOUCH-PRO-2...ones?hash=item27abab1dc0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Does anyone on this site offer a ROM service?
Thx.
James
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
petard said:
It only has UMTS850, not UMTS1900. That means it will work on some of AT&Ts 3G network but not all of it. Either the listed lied or didn't know that you need UMTS1900 to FULLY support AT&Ts 3G network. Just wait a bit, AT&Ts version will be out in less than a month. You can buy it retail for $500 off contract and probably less on eBay after it comes out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have this phone and it does only have 850 for 3g. For me it works just great because the area I live in has 850 for 90% of ATT 3g. You don't have to have the 1900 band to get "full" 3g it works on one or the other. But if your area doesn't use the 850 band then you won't get 3g. I agree, with the phone from ATT coming in one month it would be better to wait because you will save about $300.00 off retail.
My phone is unlocked and I have flashed Miri's v2.0 ROM, all works great and it is much faster than stock ROM. Once you get the ATT phone just HSPL and flash away the ATT bloat ROM.
I will be going to England, France, Germany this month. I want to get some SIM cards for the different carriers that correspond to those countries. Can anyone offer some advice? Do I need to pre-order the sim cards now, or can I just wait until I get there. Which cell phone companies have the best coverage in those areas? I will be mainly staying near London, Paris, and Hanover in northern Germany. I tried emailing someone earlier that had posted this same question, but he never responded.
For the uk, check out giffgaff. Pay 30 days at a time, no contract, 250mins, unlimited texts and unlimited net for £10.
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
I used Virgin Mobil while in France. I stopped into an electronics store and bought a pre-paid SIM card for about 20 Euros. I don't recall minutes or data, that was 3yrs ago, but no need to pre-order. I think Orange offers similar deals.
Vodafone if U want buy only one sim for all EU countries whit passport option and mobile data benefit shipped also in any airport VODAFONE POINT.
Inviato dal mio Galaxy Nexus
Hi and Greets von Germany,
Little Info:
You can go to every Carrier (all have acceptable coverage, all okay in Towns (Internet and Calls), some better in the Countryside).
Easiest way:
Go to the carrier shops, most of them give simple prepaidcards for 1€-5€, they will activate them in the shop. you will need to load some cash to them (usual 15€).
Cheaper Way:
Go to a Discounter (eg ALDI, LIDL, Penny and many more). All have thier own Prepaidcards with cheaper Rates. Activate (over Internet) and talk
At ALDI you pay 12,99 for StarterSet including SIMCard with 10€ balance, Activation at internetcafe takes 1 minute. 9ct for Minute/SMS.
Internet Flatrate 2,99 (150MB UMTS, slowdown afterwards)
Internet Flatrate 6,99 (500MB UMTS, slowdown afterwards)
Any Questions left?
Hi All,
I plan to visit US with my HTC ONE X, EU/international version.
I have 2 questions:
- can i use this phone on t-mobile's netwrok with 3G? (phone incompatible with 4g/lte)
- can i buy only a sim card and pick a prepaid plan?
I checked on t-mobile's website about plans and 30 USD for 100minutes talk + unlimited text + 4gb sounds fair enough for me, but as I see I have to buy a phone to use it. I only need a simcard if i can use my phone with 3G in the US.
Tks for your help.
I'll be in NY/PA.
Tks
Yes 3G is live for the HOX in USA on T-Mobile, I own one here in the Detroit metro area. New York was probably one of the first to get the reframing
Sent from my EndeavorU using Tapatalk 2
Well if you detour to Kansas City, we also have the refarmed spectrum.
Thank you.
Now i need to have an answer for my 2nd question.
Can I buy only simcard with prepaid plan?
There is a welcome pack with micro sim at 29,90 incl 30 USD free voucher but only for iphone 4/4s...this would work with my htc but I'm not familiar how can i buy prepaid stuff in US, here in EU you can buy a sim card for 3 USD and select a plan and pay 10-100 USD and that's it....
Hi,
I'm heading to Spain next month with my unlocked GSM GNex and was wondering if anyone had any advice about providers over there. I would like to buy a SIM and a prepaid data/text/voice plan. Ideally it would be something without any monthly minimum that I could hold onto while back in the States and bring with me whenever I go back to Spain (which would be only a couple times a year). A pay-as-you-go with no expiration date or monthly minimums, I guess.
On a side/related note:
Last summer (before I owned a GNex) I was in Madrid and bought a bare-bones phone with a prepaid voice/text plan from Orange. However, since I haven't put money on the phone in more than six months, the number has disappeared (per the terms of service). Shouldn't I be able to repurpose that SIM with a new plan and pop it into my GNex? I have asked that question over at the Orange forums, so I hope to get the info direct from the source. But I figured I would ask here as well.
Thanks in advance for any tips!