Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » mobile phone for us trip
| mobile phone for us trip [message #218264] |
Wed, 14 August 2013 04:41  |
cadelec
Messages: 303
Registered: September 2011
Location: Brisbane Australia
Karma: 1
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just noticed robs post on a t mobile with unlimited minutes, this got me thinking about what to do for our phone service when we come over for a month from OZ. we will mainly need to ring back home to Australia but will need also to phone in the states any suggestions on companies etc.
Trevor
Brisbane Australia
Siesta Koala 76 Edgemont (old Bobby Moores)
71 Cadillac Eldo Convert
58 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Project
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| Re: [GMCnet] mobile phone for us trip [message #218311 is a reply to message #218277] |
Wed, 14 August 2013 12:29  |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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For just general usage in the U.S., cheapest option is a pre-paid TracFone. Buy it at Wal-Mart. Buy a set amount of minutes and register it. If you do the registration on line, opposed to using the phone, you can bypass all the personal data, and just activate the phone. The number can be tracked, but it will not be tied to an individual, so you can avoid some privacy issues, if that is of any interest to you.
I do not know about calls outside the U.S. and Canada, or the costs involved. May be this information is posted on their web site
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] mobile phone for us trip [message #218317 is a reply to message #218311] |
Wed, 14 August 2013 13:11 |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
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| tphipps wrote on Wed, 14 August 2013 12:29 |
For just general usage in the U.S., cheapest option is a pre-paid TracFone. Buy it at Wal-Mart. Buy a set amount of minutes and register it. If you do the registration on line, opposed to using the phone, you can bypass all the personal data, and just activate the phone. The number can be tracked, but it will not be tied to an individual, so you can avoid some privacy issues, if that is of any interest to you.
I do not know about calls outside the U.S. and Canada, or the costs involved. May be this information is posted on their web site
Tom, MS II
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Net10 minutes are cheaper. I believe Tracfone runs on Verizon's network and Net10 runs on AT&T. Both Net10 and Tracfone are owned by a South American phone company, so you get someone with a thick spanish accent when you call customer service. I never failed to get good service, just had to be patient while they step you through their checklist.
I have had both. Both work. Tracfone works out to be cheaper if you don't use many minutes. If you use more than 30 minutes per month, Net10 works out to be cheaper than Tracfone. If you use more than 300 minutes per month, a contract plan with AT&T or Verizon would probably cost less than pay as you go. I won't subscribe to a service that doesn't use AT&T or Verizon infrastructure for phone service (data is another discussion). IMHO, any other carrier does not have adequate coverage when travelling (too many deadspots/dropped calls and "no network" issues). Imagine being in a dead vehicle on the side of the interstate and not able to call for help. A law enforcment officer will probably come by sometime in the next 4 hours.
Any cell phone plan (contract or pay as you go) will have extortion per minute rates calling out of the U.S., unless you have something like Vonage and their cell phone extension.
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| Re: [GMCnet] mobile phone for us trip [message #218331 is a reply to message #218317] |
Wed, 14 August 2013 15:03 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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TracFone and Net10 are both owned by Mexican telephone giant, Carlos ( nuts, cannot remember last name), the richest man in Mexico, and probably all of Latin American.
Slightly different plans, running on different networks. This is the company that has the contract for the Obama phones, in case it matters.
I like my TracFone, I control the minutes. If I need to call for long periods of time, I use Skype. Which is another option to get to Australia with phone calls, provided the other person has a Skype account. I wish they had a true smart phone, but I'll live with what I now have for awhile.
Tom
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
[Updated on: Wed, 14 August 2013 15:05] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] mobile phone for us trip [message #218349 is a reply to message #218337] |
Wed, 14 August 2013 17:00 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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I have found that the only phone carrier that has the overall coverage for
USA is Verizon.
I hate carrying two phones, but our Sprint/Nextel does not do the job.
On Wed, Aug 14, 2013 at 1:26 PM, Bruce Hislop <bruce@perthcomm.com> wrote:
>
> Rob,
> To clarify, I was meaning that as a US citizen you have built up a credit
> history over the years in the USA. For postpaid cell phone plans the Cell
> Carrier wants to be assured you will pay your bill every month. For
> postpaid plans they will check your credit score and if its not good or
> non-existent (foreigner) they may ask for a deposit. Or they will put a
> hold on funds on your credit card.
>
> They also do not want payment from a foreign bank cheque.
>
> My larger commercial/industrial clients kept "floater" phones for visiting
> Executives, Engineers etc for their use while working at the local facility.
>
> Just my experience over 25+ years in the cell phone business.
>
>
> --
> Bruce Hislop
> ON Canada
> 77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
> Hubler 1 ton front end
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
> My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
>
> _______________________________________________
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--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] mobile phone for us trip [message #218365 is a reply to message #218337] |
Wed, 14 August 2013 18:39 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Bruce,
As long as Trevor has a credit card he's good to go at T-Mobile.
The T-Mobile plan is a prepaid plan; you pay up front for each month.
You also need to have a few bucks extra in your account to cover calls to 411.
Regards,
Rob M.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Hislop
Rob,
To clarify, I was meaning that as a US citizen you have built up a credit history over the years in the USA. For postpaid cell
phone plans the Cell Carrier wants to be assured you will pay your bill every month. For postpaid plans they will check your credit
score and if its not good or non-existent (foreigner) they may ask for a deposit. Or they will put a hold on funds on your credit
card.
They also do not want payment from a foreign bank cheque.
My larger commercial/industrial clients kept "floater" phones for visiting Executives, Engineers etc for their use while working at
the local facility.
Just my experience over 25+ years in the cell phone business.
--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
Hubler 1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] mobile phone for us trip [message #218537 is a reply to message #218536] |
Fri, 16 August 2013 03:01 |
jturbo
Messages: 76
Registered: August 2013
Location: Socal
Karma: 1
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I work in the Telecom industry and do stuff for QCP.
Best Carrier over usa is Verizon for 3G
And it seems to work all over the USA.
ATT is crappy everywhere but it's GSM so it works in Canada and Mexico.
Sprint Just sucks
T-Mobile is sparse
Boost is not so good either
Trac phone and net 10 are not really carriers they buy bandwidth from Verizon and ATT depending on market.
Virgin Same as trac phone but on Sprints Back-end
Overall for Broadband I use Verizon Droid Phone with LTE hotspot and it works from LA to Orlando with some spots being 3g but never really without high speed internet the whole way.
1978 Royal 403
1977 Birchaven 455
1977 Kingsley 455
All under Upgrading and restoration
Rosemead California
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| Re: [GMCnet] mobile phone for us trip [message #218539 is a reply to message #218537] |
Fri, 16 August 2013 03:51 |
cadelec
Messages: 303
Registered: September 2011
Location: Brisbane Australia
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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need to buy a cheap throwaway phone if it is cdma based as australia runs on GSM.
i had forgotten i used a tracfone last time i was there. the restriction is we cannot call australian mobiles. as most of the people we want to ring do not have landlines this feature is a necessity.
Trevor
Brisbane Australia
Siesta Koala 76 Edgemont (old Bobby Moores)
71 Cadillac Eldo Convert
58 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Project
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| Re: [GMCnet] mobile phone for us trip [message #218562 is a reply to message #218536] |
Fri, 16 August 2013 08:51 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Trevor,
I just ran a Google search and found this model being sold in the USA: Motorola DEFY MB525 Black/White 3G 800MHz. Check and see if
the one you have is the same and since yours is unlocked all you need is the SIM. HOWEVER, when I went to Verizon and get a SIM
their system would not accept my Samsung S-II IMEI code; the sales guy reckoned that was because it was an Australian phone.
The iPhone 4 will work.
You can check and see what the rates are for a throw away phone when calling back to Australia, however, I'm guessing it AIN"T gonna
be cheap!
As I noted I have a SIM card from T-Mobile that I have been using for THREE YEARS and while the coverage isn't as good as Verizon or
AT&T I have never been in a situation where I haven't been able to call when I needed to.
T-Mobile plan I buy for my Samsung S-II for $50 provides:
Unlimited talk in the USA
Unlimited text in the USA
5 GB data per month
This plan does not cover calls to 411 Information which are charged on a per call basis so you need to have extra money in your
account. Ask the sales guy how much for a 411 call.
For an extra $10 T-Mobile provides:
Unlimited talk to hard line phones in Australia
Unlimited text to cell phones in Australia
To call cell phones in Australia I have to pay so I don't do it
I have not tried to tether my laptop to my T-Mobile phone because I have a Verizon 4 LTE USB modem that I use to access the
Internet.
For Helen's iPhone 4s and iPad 1 we went to AT&T where she got a SIM and the cheapest plan per month for both items. This is the
first year we've done this and we reckon this will be really good, if we can't call on T-Mobile we've got AT&T as a backup.
Regards,
Rob M.
-----Original Message-----
From: Trevor Pordage
Currently in OZ we are with Kogan our phones are unlocked so we can put in a different sim
one phone is an iphone 4 other a motorola defy which i believe should work in the states
i do not need people to call me on my aussie neumber so really what we are looking for is a sim card that gives us the best rates
and service which will allow us to call back to australia when we need to.
we may be taking an ipad so a sim card with some data would be handy so we can tether the ipad to the iphone
Trevor
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: mobile phone for us trip [message #218583 is a reply to message #218264] |
Fri, 16 August 2013 10:24 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Tom Phipps mentioned Skype as an option, but said that only works if both parties have Skype (certainly easy enough to do for someone on either end of the "roaming phone conundrum").
But you can also buy pretty cheap minutes from Skype for calling any phone, anywhere. I bought Skype minutes for my home PC, so I can call from my PC using the far superior hands-free operation, and to get the far-better-than-cellular voice quality. It also prevents the receiving party from getting my phone number via caller ID, which comes in handy.
That said, I've never used Skype on my mobile phone, but wouldn't hesitate to try it if I had the same needs as the Aussies in the US.
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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| Re: mobile phone for us trip [message #218586 is a reply to message #218264] |
Fri, 16 August 2013 10:41 |
pzerkel
Messages: 212
Registered: September 2007
Location: Salisbury, IL
Karma: 0
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If I was only going to be in the US for a few months and wanted phone service with some data, I would look into the $45/month no-contract plan from Straight Talk through Wal-Mart.
Paul Zerkel
'78 Eleganza II
Salisbury IL (near Springfield)
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| Re: [GMCnet] mobile phone for us trip [message #218607 is a reply to message #218574] |
Fri, 16 August 2013 12:02 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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First time I visited Karnes County, TX, only my AT&T phone had signal. Last mionth, it had improved, verizon, tmobile, and Sprint all work there now. Probably due to the gas/oil boom going on.
--johnny
--------------------------------------------
On Fri, 8/16/13, Emery Stora <emerystora@mac.com> wrote:
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] mobile phone for us trip
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Date: Friday, August 16, 2013, 2:43 PM
John
For several years now my wife's phone is on Verizon and mine
is on AT&T. I had to have AT&T due to that
being the only carrier for my iPhone. That is changed
now and the iPhone is now available on many carriers.
We travel a lot. Having two different carriers was
actually great when we traveled. One or the other
always had a signal.
I have found in recent years though that my AT&T seems
to be available almost everywhere whereas my wife's Verizon
has found a few dead spots as we travel.
So I have to disagree that AT&T is crappy
everywhere. They have improved much especially in the
last two or three years.
Emery Stora
On Aug 16, 2013, at 2:01 AM, john wrote:
>
>
> I work in the Telecom industry and do stuff for QCP.
>
> Best Carrier over usa is Verizon for 3G
>
> And it seems to work all over the USA.
>
> ATT is crappy everywhere but it's GSM so it works in
Canada and Mexico.
>
>
> Sprint Just sucks
>
> T-Mobile is sparse
>
> Boost is not so good either
>
> Trac phone and net 10 are not really carriers they buy
bandwidth from Verizon and ATT depending on market.
>
> Virgin Same as trac phone but on Sprints Back-end
>
>
> Overall for Broadband I use Verizon Droid Phone with
LTE hotspot and it works from LA to Orlando with some spots
being 3g but never really without high speed internet the
whole way.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> 1978 Royal 403
> 1977 Birchaven 455
> 1977 Kingsley 455
>
> All under Upgrading and restoration
>
> Rosemead California
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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