I'm also looking for options for phones to take to Wikimania. So far the best option I've heard is to take my iPhone and simply go into a T-Mobile/AT&T shop and have them set it up for me with a new MicroSim. I guess there are shops in JFK that let you buy prepaid mobiles too?
JF
On 17 Jun 2012, at 08:35, James Hare wrote:
It ultimately depends on where you're going. Some parts of the country are absolutely hopeless for wireless coverage. Pretty much every city, though, has some kind of wireless coverage, as do most minor towns outside the cities.
James
On Sat, Jun 16, 2012 at 8:28 PM, Birgitte_sb@yahoo.com wrote:
Looking at Net10 a little more.
#1 You must have an unlocked GSM phone for the SIM card only option.
#2 Be sure you check the coverage map against your plans as Nevada coverage is spotty outside of Reno and Vegas. No "Nationwide" coverage is actually 100% in the US. I don't know if that is the normal expectation elsewhere or not. Some places just don't have cell service at any price, some only have one carrier with any cell towers in the area. But if you are sticking to major cities, you *should* find anything labeled "Nationwide" as suitable.
http://www.net10sim.com/coverage.php
BirgitteSB
On Jun 16, 2012, at 7:10 PM, Birgitte_sb@yahoo.com wrote:
I am not local to DC, but in the US. The only true "no contract" Nationwide "pay as you go" option I am aware of is NetZero. Virgin used to have a pay as you go option, but it is now only maintained for grandfathered devices. Net10 does sell SIM cards alone. I use them for voice and text, but not data. The only issue I have had is intermittently not receiving texts from two contacts with Android phone with T-Mobile as their carrier. The texts I do receive from these contacts always state they are "picture texts" when they are really just text. I don't know if this problem is on Net10's end or my contact's end, but such things at the wrong moment can turn into a big deal. I otherwise am happy with Net10 and there are not many no contract options here. You might want to use them, but tell everyone that you will confirm all texts while you are traveling, and if they don't get a confirmation then they should assume you never received the text.
There may other local only options in DC (or East Coast regional options), but you will likely need someone with Nationwide coverage for your whole trip. It is possible, but unlikely, some carrier covers DC and Nevada/CA, without being a Nationwide carrier. There have been some odd mergers.
BirgitteSB
On Jun 16, 2012, at 4:13 PM, Itzik Edri itzik@infra.co.il wrote:
Hi,
I looking for recommendations for SIM cards to use during Wikimania & to Nevada & California area (I'm staying a month).
Until now, the best that I found is AT&T Pay As You Go plans - need to purchase a cheap device (didn't found option just to purchase sim card) for about 25$, monthly plan will cost another 25$ and Data plan for 25$ (1GB, and I'm sure I'll need a much more :). What make the story quite expensive.
Any others option that the local guys can recommend?
Thanks, Itzik _______________________________________________ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
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