USA SIM cards, pay-as-you-go?

Hi again group )

Another question in readiness for our trip to California this year; what's
the best way to get a pay-as-you-go sim card to use there?
Here in the UK they almost give them away, but I don't seem to be able to
find any free or cheap ones for USA (ie. less than $49).
I have a tri-band 'phone, so just need a sim.
Any pointers?

Thanks,
Robin.

"surfer" wrote in message
...
Hi again group )

Another question in readiness for our trip to California this year; what's
the best way to get a pay-as-you-go sim card to use there?
Here in the UK they almost give them away, but I don't seem to be able to
find any free or cheap ones for USA (ie. less than $49).
I have a tri-band 'phone, so just need a sim.
Any pointers?

First of all, you really want a quad-band GSM phone, especially in
California where the 1900 Mhz service is not great. For California-only you
could get a Cingular prepaid card which will work only in California. Or a
T-Mobile card. As you have found, they are not cheap. You'll be okay with
GSM in the major cities. Hopefully you aren't going to any rural areas or to
Yosemite.

It's actually better to buy a prepaid CDMA phone from a TracFone reseller,
such as Target. There's a Target close to SFO (Tanforan mall), with a BART
stop at both the airport and at the shopping mall. You can sell the phone to
someone else visiting the U.S. at a later date.

You can also buy it on Amazon.com for $50. Then you have to buy airtime
(only comes with 10 minutes).

"surfer" wandered out of a yurt and
mumbled:

Another question in readiness for our trip to California this year; what's
the best way to get a pay-as-you-go sim card to use there?

Probably you don't want to do that. GSM is only now starting to have
good coverage in the US. Prepaid GSM also tends to be expensive
(possibly because of a lack of competition).

As someone else suggested you may want to buy a Tracfone. Their rates
are kind of high, but if you aren't a compulsive yakker then the
coverage is worth it. If you will be staying in the big cities and
along major highways then you can try Virgin Mobile, which is cheaper
per minute but has spotty coverage in the countryside.


--
SALMON DAY - The experience of spending an entire day swimming
upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.