Thai iPhone to use in USA for 2 weeks...best service?

[lgking]

I just check with AIS Thailand and they want 2400 THB for me to use my phone for 5 days in the USA. That seems way too expensive.

Can I pick up a local SIM card at SFO when I arrive for a better price?

Anybody have experience with this?

Thanks

[mtls2005]

Many prepaid plans are 30 days, and you may not be able to find a shop exactly at the airport (SFO) upon arrival. You should be able to find a place to buy a SIM nearby.

I assume you don't need to receive calls on your AIS number?

Do you need data? Just voice/text?

You could get a SIM/30 day plan from StraightTalk or Simple, or some other MVNO.

You could get a T-Mobile SIM, activate it, add some money, subscribe to to the Pay as You Go plan, so $3/month (only 30 minutes of calling) plus $5/day (or $10/week) for data. Or $40/30 days unlimited.

SIMs are $3.99 - $$10, make sure you get one with an Activation Kit.

https://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/sim-card

https://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/pay-as-you-go

https://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-monthly-plans?icid=WMM_PD_SMPLYPRPD1_E9AXFSI2GIF3753

Edited July 24, 2016 by mtls2005

[lgking]

Thanks!!!

[MJCM]

Before you go, check if the phone you are going to take to the USA is SIM locked, if so a USA sim will not work.

[mtls2005]

Before you go, check if the phone you are going to take to the USA is SIM locked, if so a USA sim will not work.

Based on the fact that it is being used here on AIS, I am certain that it is unlocked.

[islandguy]

Check if AT&T has better coverage where you will be. Similar plans available, again, not at airport. If you want to have a phone still on with Thai sim (and receive SMSs free) and use it for WiFi you can turn off data roaming entirely by pressing *129*1#

Turn back on with *129*2#

[MJCM]

<snip>

Based on the fact that it is being used here on AIS, I am certain that it is unlocked.

No idea where the OP bought his phone as he doesn't state that, so maybe he bought it from AIS. Or are you saying that AIS doesn't SIM Lock their Phones ?

[mtls2005]

AT&T might be an option, it really depends on the exact model/version of the iPhone.

https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/gophone-plans.html

https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

StraightTalk is an MVNO for both AT&T and T-Mobile; you have to choose one at purchase.

I think that T-Mobile is a bit easier to deal with - better customer service and easy to manage on-line, and that you will likely have 2G, 3G and LTE coverage with them, T-Mobile got a lot of AT&T's spectrum after the failed merger as compensation.

AIS does SIM-lock some of their own brand (Lava) of phones, but not iPhones. Again, if the phone is working today on AIS it is NOT sim-locked and it will work with another SIM, in the U.S. or elsewhere.

[MJCM]

<snip>

AIS does SIM-lock some of their own brand (Lava) of phones, but not iPhones. Again, if the phone is working today on AIS it is NOT sim-locked and it will work with another SIM, in the U.S. or elsewhere.

Thanks, I didn't know that they didn't SIM lock their iPhones.

[dddave]

There is a lot of free WiFi available in the US (excepting high end hotels ) I found it cheaper to buy a $10 Trakphone with a $20 30 day top-up for calls and used my smartphone only when WiFi was available.

When I was shopping for a short term plan, I found most carriers wanted a 90 day initial commitment. Trakphone is one of the few selling 30 day cards.

[kbelyeu]

I paid 69 bucks at an ATT shop for a sim with unlimited Internet and they included 100 minutes of international calling to Thailand using +66.

Kurt

[mtls2005]

When I was shopping for a short term plan, I found most carriers wanted a 90 day initial commitment.

There are dozens of MVNO's - offering service on every provider, along with T-Mo and AT&T, all of which offer BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), and PAYG plans which require absolutely no commitment.

U.S. MVNOs

You can get a calling card for international calling with low rates to Thailand, but I've been using LINE for voice calls lately as it is easy, simple, free and the quality far surpasses any other options. Obviously both parties need the app.

I seem to need to use a VPN to get to these sites...no clue why.

Straight Talk

Simple Mobile

I continue to use T-Mobile; I still have access to the $3/day unlimited voice, text and data plan (this plan is no longer available to new customers) - for which I only pay when I visit the U.S. - and this works well for my requirements: short, frequent visits. I add $10 every 90 days to maintain expiry.

An exact recommendation is difficult owing to location, coverage and usage requirements. But I still recommend T-Mobile, and a 30 day plan with unlimited voice, text and 3 GB of mobile data for stays of 1 week or more.

Buying a SIM near SFO

Edited July 24, 2016 by mtls2005

[wpcoe]

Would a daily talk+text+data plan from RoamMobility work for you? Time permitting, you can have the SIM sent to you in Thailand, then log on to activate it and specify when you want it to start. I used a monthly plan for two months earlier this year and was quite satisfied with RoamMobility. It was helpful for me to know my new phone number before I started my trip so I could advise folks. I arranged to have the plan activated about an hour before my scheduled time of landing in SFO, so it was already active when I landed.

(At the today's exchange rate, the CA$4.95/day plan would be US$3.76/day.)

[mtls2005]

As near as I can tell, Roam Mobility (a Canadian company) is a T-Mobile MVNO; reviews seem mixed.

[wpcoe]

Yes, I believe it was using the T-Mo network and Roam Mobility is a Canadian company. Are those bad things?

I thought a plan at <US$4/day with 7GB data for two weeks, with the SIM delivered to Thailand to be activated at a date/time you specify, and having the phone number in advance were good things. But, maybe not?

[islandguy]

Check if AT&T has better coverage where you will be. Similar plans available, again, not at airport. If you want to have a phone still on with Thai sim (and receive SMSs free) and use it for WiFi you can turn off data roaming entirely by pressing *129*1#

Turn back on with *129*2#

This is forAIS

[mtls2005]

All three providers here offer USSD codes to close and open mobile data.

Personally I might not rely on those, choosing to simply disable mobile data in the device.

In Android (6.0.1), Settings, Wireless & networks, Data usage, toggle Cellular data off, or on.

[mtls2005]

Just stumbled across this 3-week "tourist" package.

https://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-international-tourist-plan?icid=WMM_PD_Q216TRSTPL_05RK4SWSO755015

Seems like a good deal?

[mtls2005]

FWIW, you can buy a T-Mobile SIM, have it sent to you here in Thailand, activate it here, choose a number (from a pool in your desired area code/local exchange), add money, subscribe to a plan, have it ready for when you land. You can provide the chosen number to others prior to your trip.

I recommend this Starter Kit,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LPPHHFK/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

widely available on eBay or Amazon.

I keep a few on hand here for friends, neighbors, colleagues who may have trips to the U.S.

List of MVNOs and the networks they utilize.

https://bestmvno.com/mvno-list/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_mobile_virtual_network_operators

Edited July 26, 2016 by mtls2005

[BKKdreaming]

When are you arriving ?

Best Buy and Walmart will have prepaid sims , Simple Mobile (Tmobile) has a 30day sim, 4GB data , unlimited USA calls and text for $40

I am sure there are others ,

I have used the simple mobile sim and it works good

[mtls2005]

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=SIM

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/mobile-phone-accessories/sim-cards/pcmcat265100050014.c?id=pcmcat265100050014

You can use the store locator feature to find the nearest store.