Using Mobile Phone USA

[GoAndAskDaddy]

DS15 due to travel to USA shortly I am trying to find the easiest/cheapest way to use his mobile when he is there. Does anybody please have any experience of buying a T-Mobile Sim here in the UK rather than when he gets there. TIA for any tips..

Depending on his service provider, he may be able to get a usa add on but check the phone is compatible with the USA, older ones aren't always though most newer ones are

If he has a newer iPhone model, get an eSIM. Download app, select package, activate eSIM. He can keep his normal number active at the same time so can still receive calls etc. They’re $20 or so for a month’s worth of data.

Thank you… That’s helpful. When you say download the app, do you mean the t mobile app?

I used an airalo esim in the US earlier this year and it worked well.

Who is he or you currently with?

don’t buy a new sim if you can avoid it. They are often exempt from good, existing deals. Mine is for existing customers before Oct 21

I've just used my existing 3 sim, phone and number for my £16 a month uk contract in the US. All Uk calls and texts and 12gb of data were covered completely free of charge

Thanks….he’s with Virgin & apparently they can’t convert him to an esim (according to the lady I just spoke to). Maybe he will have to go to a t mobile shop when he gets there & get a prepaid SIM card?

I am in America just now. I am with 3 but roaming no longer covers here. They are charging £5 a day to use here and we’re here for 3 weeks. I got a $10 AT&T sim in Target. You can then choose from a selection of pay monthly packages, which you also buy in Target. I got a $40 one with 15 GB of data. You don’t sign up to a contract or give any credit card details, I will cancel before leaving and put my own sim back in. Switching sims and loading the package was quite straightforward.

This might be too late for your son but might help someone else.
enjoy your trips - having breakfast and watching baby chipmunks

Is his phone locked to virgin or unlocked. If unlocked and is an iPhone you can get the esim from Airalo. It’s just an app you download and set up. I used a US one in Florida in march and then a Canada one last month. DH couldn’t get it on his android phone.

@Annamariefl 3 does still cover US roaming (I have been in the US for the past 2 months). However, it only applies to plans taken out before October 2021. There is no way I am going to upgrade any time soon and loose the benefits of feel at home roaming.

@Annamariefl I agree with PP and as my earlier post. 3 still covers US roaming if your contract is before Oct 21

you can use your existing SIM

My plan was updated so it would cost £5 per day to use 3 - the AT&T option is therefore better value for me and may be helpful information for others not on the older 3 plan