Choosing the best prepaid SIM for your smartphone in the USA
So you’re making a trip to the ol’ US of A and you want to use your fancy mobile phone to Instagram your first BBQ Cheeseburger while you’re out and about. You’ll be able to do that more cheaply and perhaps more quickly with this guide. I’ll go through all of the sensible options in the US market for travellers and walk through some specifics of each choice.
There are four big mobile phone providers in the US – AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. Sprint and Verizon use CDMA networks, not GSM. That is to say, they don’t use SIM cards, so you won’t be able to use your unlocked GSM phone.
There are essentially two mobile networks available for GSM users who are traveling then, AT&T and T-Mobile. Both have a prepaid offering (Pay As You Go) offering, which begs the question: AT&T or T-Mobile?
The answer may very well be "neither…"
Coverage
AT&T
AT&T is the incumbent carrier in the US. As such, they have the larger network of the two providers. That network operates on 850/1900Mhz bands, so any old quad-band phone should pick it up just fine. When it comes to data, AT&T has upgraded their 3G data networks to HSPA+ speeds in urban areas and you’ll find EDGE outside of the cities. Sometimes AT&T’s network gets congested in densely populated areas and data speeds slow down significantly.
(via http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/#?type=gophone&opt=payg)
T-Mobile
T-Mobile is the underdog carrier. Their pricing is a little more aggressive and you’ll find their deals a little more appealing. The network doesn’t provide nearly as much coverage as AT&T, especially in rural areas.
If you have a smartphone and want 3G service, you won’t be able to get it with T-Mobile. They require the use of the 1700Mhz band for upstream data that international quad-band phones don’t have. Only T-Mobile branded pentaband phones can use their 3G. The good news is that by the end of the year T-Mobile plans to reframe their network to allow international phones to use a 2100Mhz band for 3G HSPA+ (they like to call it 4G).
(via http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-coverage)
StraightTalk
StraightTalk is an up and coming reseller of both AT&T & T-Mobile’s networks, so you’ll actually get the best coverage since the phone roams on both carriers. When on AT&T you’ll be using 850/1900 bands with full 3G service where available and if AT&T isn’t around, you’ll pop over to T-Mobile’s EDGE network. As stated before, 3G on T-Mobiles network will eventually become available by the end of the year for quadband phone users.
(via http://www.straighttalksim.com/coverage.php)
Pricing
AT&T
The specifics of calling rate plans change so often that I won’t post every detail here, but I’ll try to cover the basics as they stand today.
AT&T has three types of ‘Calling Plans’ for prepaid phones: Month, Day and Minute. If you have a SmartPhone and want to use data, you’re required to purchase the ‘Month’ Calling Plans. As I write this they are:
| Calling Rate Plan | Minutes | Texts |
| $25/Month | 250 | Unlimited |
| $50/Month | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Once you have a calling plan selected, you then select a ‘Feature Package’. These buckets-o-data expire at the end of 30 days.
| Data Rate Plan | Amount of Data |
| $5/Month | 50MB |
| $15/Month | 200MB |
| $25/Month | 1GB |
Your total rate is then Calling Plan + Feature Package. Unlimited calling + 1GB of data will cost you $75/mo. If you’re staying longer than a month you’ll need to make sure you have credit available in your account when the calling plan and feature package renew. Just dial 611 and pay by card or go to the website here.
Full list of pricing and details is found here.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile also has three types of Calling Plans: Monthly, Day and Minute. If you have a smartphone and want to use data you’ll need either the daily or monthly plans. Since international phones can’t take advantage of the T-Mobile 3G Bands (which they like to call 4G), I’ll only be taking a look at the plans that make sense for international travelers.
| Rate Plan | Minutes | Texts | Data |
| $2/Day | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| $30/Month | 100 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| $50/Month | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
T-Mobile has many other SmartPhone plans, but they would only make sense if you could receive 3G speeds. Once T-Mobile reframes their network to allow 3G for quad-band phones, other prepaid plans may start to be useful. To refill your account dial *233 or visit the website here.
Full list of pricing and details is found here.
StraightTalk
Straight Talk has only one calling plan that works well for travellers. Note that unlimited data means up to 100MB a day and/or 2GB a month.
| Rate Plan | Minutes | Texts | Data |
| $45/Month | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited* |
Setup
Like anywhere else in the world, the easiest way to get started to walk in a store and purchase a SIM card. You’ll need a passport or US ID card to buy it. It’s best to arm yourself with the latest information from AT&T or T-Mobile’s site before walking in, as the salesmen usually don’t understand their prepaid offering very well.
It’s a little more difficult to get things setup with StraightTalk as retail outlets are limited. You can find them in participating Wal-Marts. Hey, at least you can check “Visit Wal-Mart” off your bucket list. The list for the locations that have StraightTalk SIM cards is here. Otherwise you’ll need to order it online for $15 at the order page here.
Once your SIM card is inserted and phone in hand, your data connection may very well not work. Sometimes you’ll need to configure the APN settings to jump on the data network. You’ll find these settings somewhere buried under mobile network on your smartphone. Here are the settings for each provider:
AT&T
| Name | ATT |
| APN | wap.cingular |
| Proxy | <Not Set> |
| Username | <Not Set> |
| Password | <Not Set> |
| Server | <Not Set> |
| MMSC | http://mmsc.cingular.com |
| MMS Proxy | wireless.cingular.com |
| MMS Port | 80 |
| MMS Protocol | 2.0 |
| MCC | 310 |
| MNC | 410 |
| Authentication Type | <Not Set> |
| APN Type | <Not Set> |
T-Mobile
| Name | T-Mobile |
| APN | epc.tmobile.com |
| Proxy | <Not Set> |
| Username | <Not Set> |
| Password | <Not Set> |
| Server | <Not Set> |
| MMSC: | http://mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc |
| MMS proxy | <Not Set> |
| MMS port | <Not Set> |
| MMS protocol | 2.0 |
| MCC | 310 |
| <MNC | 260 |
| Authentication type | <Not Set> |
| APN type | <Not Set> |
StraightTalk
| Name | Straight talk |
| APN | att.mvno |
| Proxy | <Not Set> |
| Username | <Not Set> |
| Password | <Not Set> |
| Server | <Not Set> |
| MMSC: | http://mmsc.cingular.com |
| MMS proxy | 66.209.11.33 |
| MMS port | 80 |
| MMS protocol | <Not Set> |
| MCC | 310 |
| MNC | 410 |
| Authentication type | <Not Set> |
| APN type | <Not Set> |
Conclusion
With three carriers, it doesn’t take too long to figure out what to get. AT&T is more expensive, but provides 3G speeds right now and more coverage than T-Mobile. T-Mobile is cheaper, but has less coverage in rural areas and only can provide 2G speeds until they reframe the network (Spring 2013).
StraightTalk has the best coverage because it uses both networks and also provides the most bang for the buck if you use your phone a lot with its unlimited plan. The problem with StraightTalk is that it’s harder to find a retail outlet that has the SIM cards available for purchase, but you can order it online if need be.
Those looking for something on the cheap or only staying in the US for less than 3 weeks may want to consider T-Mobile – especially if you’re OK with 2G speeds until spring 2013. If you want the greatest coverage and usage, get StraightTalk.
AT&T really comes out the loser in my findings, but if you can’t get your hands on a StraightTalk SIM card, it’s not a terrible option. You can find an AT&T store virtually everywhere.
Image via Flickr/mroach
Nice article Anthony! When I went to the USA I had so much trouble getting a microsim for my iphone. Were any of these sims that you covered a microsim or were they all a normal sized one?
Also would they all work just fine if you chopped them up to fit into the micro size?
All three providers should have microSIMs on hand, perhaps you were there with the whole microSIM thing was starting out. You can cut the SIM cards down to size Here.
Doh, link didn’t come through, here you go: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/how-to-create-your-own-micro-sim-card-using-a-chef-knife-and-som/
I soooo needed this article a few weeks ago. I went back to the states for a week and needed to set up a phone. I ended up spending more than 2 hours in walmart on the phone with AT&T to try to get a SIM card to work in my phone. Way too much expense and hassle for the week, I should have gone straight to T-mobile. Sigh. I’ll know for next time.
Sorry that I couldn’t help out earlier!
Anthony,
Thanks for a much needed post, with great detail. Most travelers which SIMS to get while outside the US, but we forget that there are prepaid plans out there for US use.
Just wanted to add a couple of things. Many unlocked, Nokias (Dustin & Dave will laugh here, ask them why) actually have pentaband 3G (running Nokia Belle OS, like N8, E6, E7, 701, 700, etc.), so they will work on both ATT and TMobile 3G bands, without having to get a Tmobile branded phone. Even an older classic the N900 also has the 1700 band. One can check Nokia specs here: http://www.gsmarena.com.
Also, Tmobile does have a $15/mo bare bones unlimited text plan + $.10/min voice, no data. Good for someone who primarily texts.
Again, nice job on the post, adn even though I’m from the states, I haven’t checked out StraightTalk. Now I will next time I’m back!
Thanks!!
Thanks for Nokia tip Jack. Be sure to check out the site of each of the provide when you’re back, they frequently make small changes to the plans/pricing.
Hi, this is great info! I am a US citizen living in NZ but go home every year for a month. I’m looking for a SIM card to pop in my unlocked phone to use while in the US each year. Do you know if my StraightTalk number would stay valid from year to year, or would the number change after I let the pre-pay run out after the 30 days was up each year? It says ‘keep your number’ on the website but also says that you need to refill every 30 days to extend your Service End Date. Not sure what that means. Thanks in advance!
For those that are wondering, the answer is that no, the StraightTalk SIM doesn’t stay valid for a year. TMobile has a plan where you spend $100 and get upgraded to Gold Status and THAT allows you to keep your number for a year. I’ll be going with that. Now, to find a phone…
That was very useful Anthony! Thanks a bunch.
I have a unlocked Samsung Galaxy S2 and 4G did not work at Philadelphia… after I activated my T-Mobile SIM the store manager told me that it wont work unless it is a T-Mobile handset! I couldn’t agree with him, but had to downgrade to $2 per day (2G) plan after registering online. Just felt it would be good to share.
Cheers!
Hi Vikram,
Your experience is expected. T-Mobile uses a different band (1700Mhz) for their 3G(or 4G if you must) service as outlined above. You’ll need ATT or StraightTalk to get the faster speed for now.