• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Exchange student, USA, need wireless carrier...

E

Evleos

Member
Hi!

I'm going to study in the US for six months and thus need an american cell phone service. I would like to use my Iphone 4 but most services are on two year contracts... Does anyone here know if there is a reasonable way for me to use my Iphone 4 on a proper service for six months?

🙂
 
http://osxdaily.com/2010/08/01/prepaid-iphone-setup-iphone-for-pay-as-you-go-plan/

Go Phone SIM card is the quickest way, you can also purchase a refurbished Nokia E71 from Straight Talk, trim the SIM card (or have someone on Craigslist.com trim it for you (you can do it with a good pair of sharp scissors and a fine tipped marker, using your old SIM card as a template as well, I've done it) after you've activated the E71 and use the month to month plan.

Cell plans in the US are fairly expensive, Straight Talk will cost you $45/month, the refurbished e71's are going for ~$75 with 1 the first month's worth of service.

http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpd...ction=view&productVariantExtensionId=11645607
 
At least in Canada, you can just buy a SIM/micro SIM card alone (for free) with a month to month plan to use with your iPhone. I'd imagine it's the same in the US, so you should check it out.
 
US cell plans are 2 year commitments only when you get them with a phone. As far as I know you can still sign up for a contract month to month if you bring your own phone. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

And be aware that assuming you're iphone 4 is GSM your only choice is AT&T. Verizon and sprint will not work, and T-mobile will only give you edge, not 3G. Maybe it's just me, but I was not aware of this CDMA weirdness when I moved over here..
 
Buy a refurb E71 from straightalk's website and use their plan of $45 monthly for unlimited everything, well just watch your data and keep it below 2gb. You can take the sim card and put it in an iphone.
 
obidamnkenobi said:
US cell plans are 2 year commitments only when you get them with a phone. As far as I know you can still sign up for a contract month to month if you bring your own phone. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...

That's only if you want to secure that low phone cost up front.

There is no requirement for a contract simply for the service. You can bring your own phone (obviously has to be compatible with the service), or you can even buy a new one at full retail price, and walk out without a contract or ETF to worry about.
Of course, that Galaxy Nexus goes from $300 to $650 (if bought at Verizon) if you don't want a contract, so for some people (who have no desire to jump around multiple carriers) a contract simply makes sense - you pay the same amount for two years of service one way or the other, if you know you will stay for two years or longer, why start things out paying over $600 up front if you can pay less than $300, with the contract being the only thing that changes?

I've bought phones online at retail and started using those on my carrier (Verizon), but that's only if a phone comes out that is too awesome and I can't get the subsidized price (because I'm on contract still).
 
Cell phone contracts are when you want help subsidizing the cost of your phone. I think any vendor will let you bring your own but they don't give you a break on service, except T-Mobile.
 
Depends on how much data you need and stuff.

Cheapest/best option is Straight Talk trick after buying the E71 from ST for $50. You can probably resell the phone AFTER you leave the US and discontinue your service.

Other options... ATT prepaid gophone, ATT postpaid regular (if you just get a SIM and no phone then no contract, but it is pricey), or other att prepaid providers like h2o wireless (throttled internet speeds).

Remember to keep your data use low, under 2gb or 100 mb a day if you are going to use prepaid.
 
ImDonly1 said:
Depends on how much data you need and stuff.

Cheapest/best option is Straight Talk trick after buying the E71 from ST for $50. You can probably resell the phone AFTER you leave the US and discontinue your service.

Other options... ATT prepaid gophone, ATT postpaid regular (if you just get a SIM and no phone then no contract, but it is pricey), or other att prepaid providers like h2o wireless (throttled internet speeds).

Remember to keep your data use low, under 2gb or 100 mb a day if you are going to use prepaid.
Click to expand...

AT&T go phones have the sim card locked to the phone it is activated with so you can't swap sim cards.
 
ew915 said:
AT&T go phones have the sim card locked to the phone it is activated with so you can't swap sim cards.
Click to expand...

You can buy a SIM separately and use any phone you want, lots of people use any phone they want on GoPhone. The SIMs that are bought in the phone kits though lock after 6 months AFAIK. You can just walk into a ATT store and receive a SIM. ATT also sells SIMs on their website for $5 for postpaid (I am not sure if there is a difference between prepaid and postpaid SIMs, I think you can use the same one), or you can get one on eBay for cheap.

If you get one from an ATT store, they might just give it to you for free if you let them activate the phone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top