Prepaid SIM for iPhone?

[suklee]

My wife's traveling to Oregon (Portland) & California (SF, LA) for 2 weeks in July and would like to get a SIM card for use with her 3GS. The phone is already unlocked so I assume any SIM card would work.

We're not really familiar with US telcos... AT&T, T-Mobile? Do they have prepaid "pay as you go" type SIM cards that might work?

Friend also sent us this, but not sure if it's legit: http://www.mrsimcard.com/iphone.html

Don't really *need* data, but if it's not expensive wouldn't mind it of course.

Would appreciate your recommendations. Thanks!

 

[suklee]

She went to AT&T and got a "GO" plan of some sort ($25 for 250 min + $25 for 500mb of data) ... it says 3G at the top but when she went into Safari it says

Could not activate cellular data network: You are not subscribed to a cellular data service.

AT&T guy said the plan is probably not compatible with an iPhone? Does she need to change some other settings on the iPhone?

Edit: Just did some Googling - should she be trying this site with the SIM inserted? http://www.unlockit.co.nz/ Found from this link: http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=60216

I now have a better solution:

Find an open wireless access point.
Browse to http://www.unlockit.co.nz/ from the iphone.
Select "Use Custom" and pick "US - AT&T" from the scroll list.
Install the new APN.
Turn off 3G.
Turn flight mode on and then off.
Data works.

You can uninstall the APN later if you desire. This solution also works for people on the GoPhone prepaid data plan who don't want to convert to a contract.

Edit2: I think this is indeed the way, will get her to try it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdXjNAT0muI

 

[ViRGE]

I'm not sure about unofficial hacks, but officially the AT&T rep is correct: AT&T does not service the iPhone through their GoPhone service (they want everyone on a 2 year contract). So hopefully the hack listed will work, as AT&T will not help you.

 

[suklee]

Thanks Virge. She got a refund for the $25 data plan so she has to go back to the store to pick it up again. Let's hope the unlockit hack works!

 

[onlyCOpunk]

That should work. It's what I did the last time I was in the States. She can use other carriers, but the iPhone is only compatible with ATT as far as 3G data goes.