Prepaid US Cell Plans for Canadian travellers with Smartphones

[Phils]

From Wikipedia:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TracFone_Wireless

Thanks. I had a feeling it couldn't be as simple as that.

In general, I need to pay more attention to Wikipedia.

[psyko514]

Thanks. I had a feeling it couldn't be as simple as that.

In general, I need to pay more attention to Wikipedia.

With most carriers, it should be that simple. It seems that TracFone is "special".

[Ubershopper]

I received an AT&T 3G SIM card and am doing some testing. I was reading online for how to activate while still in Canada and found links to the pages in the AT&T post above. However, the concensus was that you cannot add money or add a data package until you get a network connection, because they text you a new PIN which you need to use to log into your AT&T account online. By trial and error, I stumbled on a solution! AT&T apparantly still has a roaming agreement with Rogers! Go to your network settings, do a manual search and as long as your are somewhere that there is Rogers, it will be listed. Select it and you will get a Roaming connection!! Immediately thereafter, you will get text messages including the PIN that you need!!

With that, you can log into your AT&T account and add funds, pick options, etc!

*** AT&T page updated with info.

[Deal4US]

Need some help please.
I have a roger unlock BB 9780, going down to Miami and southern Carib. for 14 days, don't really care if i get email or data.
I just need to call back to Canada from Miami, San Juan, and US Virgin Island, and maybe making some local call in Miami.
which SIM card and plan should i get
Thanks!!

[erikaem]

Data can really eat up a lot of $. Best to turn off roaming cellular data and just look for a Starbucks or McDonalds, as well as your hotel room for anything data related. I learned the hard way.

[TheLamma]

Hey, so thank you so much for this thread.

In February we' heading down to San Antonio, and I would love to have data on my phone, plus access to talk and text without roaming fees would be lovely, albeit with a different number. I noticed several people post about the T-Mobile 2 or 3 dollar pay per day plan, and those look pretty sweet. So I really have two questions here...

My first question is that I was wondering if, since the pay per day plan is unlimited, am I allowed to tether, or is that the exception? I'd love to be able to hook up my iPad and my siblings' iPods.

The second is if anyone has a better plan to suggest. We will be gone about two weeks, one week in one location with hotel and wifi, so data isn't necessary, while the other week is traveling to and from, where wifi would be lovely. Would the pay per day plan be best?

Thanks!

[psyko514]

Hey, so thank you so much for this thread.

In February we' heading down to San Antonio, and I would love to have data on my phone, plus access to talk and text without roaming fees would be lovely, albeit with a different number. I noticed several people post about the T-Mobile 2 or 3 dollar pay per day plan, and those look pretty sweet. So I really have two questions here...

My first question is that I was wondering if, since the pay per day plan is unlimited, am I allowed to tether, or is that the exception? I'd love to be able to hook up my iPad and my siblings' iPods.

The second is if anyone has a better plan to suggest. We will be gone about two weeks, one week in one location with hotel and wifi, so data isn't necessary, while the other week is traveling to and from, where wifi would be lovely. Would the pay per day plan be best?

Thanks!

Yes, you can tether. I had no problem tethering my phone to my TouchPad and to an iPhone.

T-Mobile's pay-per-day plan also offers a $1 a day plan with unlimited text & calls for 10 cents a minute. You can change your pay-per-day plan online at any time. So while you're at the hotel, you can use the $1 plan and then switch to the $2 or $3 plan before you leave.

Also note that you only get charged if you use the plan. So if you're on the $1 plan and don't receive/make any calls or texts during the day, there's no charge.

[Diamond_Ace]

How is 'roaming' defined in the US? Is it like Canada where when you are out of your local calling area, ie. I have Toronto number but am in North Bay, and someone calls, I get dinged with roaming?

With this nationwide calling plans, can I make and accept calls from anyone as long as I'm in US? Or is it nationwide calling from my local zone?

[Ubershopper]

Hey, so thank you so much for this thread.

Your welcome!

Yes, you can tether. I had no problem tethering my phone to my TouchPad and to an iPhone.

T-Mobile's pay-per-day plan also offers a $1 a day plan with unlimited text & calls for 10 cents a minute. You can change your pay-per-day plan online at any time. So while you're at the hotel, you can use the $1 plan and then switch to the $2 or $3 plan before you leave.

This sounds like good advice for your situation.

Also note that you only get charged if you use the plan. So if you're on the $1 plan and don't receive/make any calls or texts during the day, there's no charge.

Psycho, are you sure about the received text messages? I just returned from the US. I had two phones with me; one on AT&T GoPhone $2/day plus High Speed data and one on T-Mo $2/day Unlimited. On the AT&T line, I can say 100% for sure that I only ever received the "Your account has been billed..." message after receiving/making a voice call or SENDING a text. I received several texts and was not billed until I initiated I responded. I think the T-mo was the same, but my wife was using that so I can't say I'm 100% sure.

[l69norm]

How is 'roaming' defined in the US? Is it like Canada where when you are out of your local calling area, ie. I have Toronto number but am in North Bay, and someone calls, I get dinged with roaming? With this nationwide calling plans, can I make and accept calls from anyone as long as I'm in US? Or is it nationwide calling from my local zone?

Think of it this way:
Neither AT&T or Tmobile own all the cell towers in thier national networks, whereas Rogers would own the majority of cell towers in it's canadian network. In the US, coverage in some areas is provided by other local/regional cellular companies. When you connect to a tower that belongs to another company, you are "roaming" onto that network. AT&T and Tmobile will have prearranged "roaming" agreements with these other companies for service.

For example, within the city of Denver you connect to native AT&T or Tmobile owned towers. When you drive out of Denver, you roam onto Viaero Wireless towers.

Most of the roaming agreements apply to "post paid" customers who are on monthy/contract plans. PAYG phones may have different roaming agreements. This is reflected in different coverage maps for PAYG vs post paid.

In general, within the US
AT&T PAYG does not roam and can only connect to native AT&T towers. You will have no coverage in some areas of the mid/west US.

TM PAYG voice roams onto partner networks, but PAYG data does not roam.

[peano]

Thanks to the OP and the other contributors for this informative thread.

I am really new to this and don't really understand tethering. If I buy a T Mobile phone, can I use it to hook my Windows laptop up to the internet?

I see Walmart is offering a T Mobile PAYG unlimited data/text with 100 min. voice for $30 a month. If I could use the phone with my laptop for internet, that would be golden.

[Diamond_Ace]

Think of it this way:
Neither AT&T or Tmobile own all the cell towers in thier national networks, whereas Rogers would own the majority of cell towers in it's canadian network. In the US, coverage in some areas is provided by other local/regional cellular companies. When you connect to a tower that belongs to another company, you are "roaming" onto that network. AT&T and Tmobile will have prearranged "roaming" agreements with these other companies for service.

For example, within the city of Denver you connect to native AT&T or Tmobile owned towers. When you drive out of Denver, you roam onto Viaero Wireless towers.

Most of the roaming agreements apply to "post paid" customers who are on monthy/contract plans. PAYG phones may have different roaming agreements. This is reflected in different coverage maps for PAYG vs post paid.

In general, within the US
AT&T PAYG does not roam and can only connect to native AT&T towers. You will have no coverage in some areas of the mid/west US.

TM PAYG voice roams onto partner networks, but PAYG data does not roam.

Thanks for the explanation. Do they all provide an option to disable roaming? I want to use SimpleMobiles unlimited plan but don't want any expected fees. I'd rather not be able to use in certain zones than be hit with unexpected fees.

[HeyKatie]

So the card that I ordered came in the mail yesterday. Once I activate it it's good forever right?

[TheLamma]

Yes, you can tether. I had no problem tethering my phone to my TouchPad and to an iPhone.

T-Mobile's pay-per-day plan also offers a $1 a day plan with unlimited text & calls for 10 cents a minute. You can change your pay-per-day plan online at any time. So while you're at the hotel, you can use the $1 plan and then switch to the $2 or $3 plan before you leave.

Also note that you only get charged if you use the plan. So if you're on the $1 plan and don't receive/make any calls or texts during the day, there's no charge.

Thanks psyko and Ubershopper. Sounds like some good advice, and that tethering will work for me. It just sounds like a good way to abuse the system for truly unlimited data (although I do realize your service slows down after 200mb, daily). I'll definitely look more into this. Appreciated!

Oh, and someone may have already asked this, so I apologize if it's redundant, but my Canadian number will be totally ignored while I'm using the American sim, right?

[l69norm]

Thanks for the explanation. Do they all provide an option to disable roaming? I want to use SimpleMobiles unlimited plan but don't want any expected fees. I'd rather not be able to use in certain zones than be hit with unexpected fees.

From the simple mobile coverage map, it doesn't look like they roam off native tmobile coverage. Usually, there's a setting in the phone to disable roaming or select home network only .