Contents 1 AT&T 1.1 Default data rate 1.2 Data feature packs 1.3 Availability 1.4 SIM sizes 1.5 used Frequencies 1.6 Tethering 1.7 iPhone specific information 2 T-Mobile 2.1 Monthly4G (No Annual Contract) 2.2 Pay Per Day 2.3 Web DayPass (No longer available) 2.4 Availability 2.5 Speed 2.6 used Frequencies 2.7 Tethering 2.8 iPhone 3 Virgin Mobile 3.1 Data rate 3.2 Availability 3.3 Tethering 4 SIMPLE Mobile 4.1 Plans 4.2 Only Data 4.3 Data with Voice 4.4 Availability 4.5 SIM sizes 4.6 Tethering 4.7 Frequency 4.8 Cellular Data 5 Red Pocket Mobile 5.1 Data rate 5.2 Availability 5.3 SIM sizes 5.4 Tethering 6 Straight Talk 6.1 NOTE: As of August 2012 Straight Talk SIMs are not a stock item in many WalMart stores (call ahead to check) and despite what the payment form indicates, the Straight Talk site does not accept purchases with non-US credit cards. You can get around this by buying your SIM from walmart.com and paying via a PayPal account linked to your non-US credit card. 6.2 Data rate (August 2012) 6.3 Availability 6.4 SIM sizes 6.5 Tethering 7 H2O Wireless 7.1 Data rate (Sept 2012) 7.2 Frequency 7.3 Availability 7.4 Tethering 8 Truphone 8.1 Rates 9 Travelers Mobile 10 Ready SIM 10.1 Prepaid, Anonymous, Disposable SIMs 10.2 Plans/Products 10.3 ReadySIM offers  10.4 §  7 Days Talk & Text with 500MB data for $25.00 10.5 §  14 Days Talk & Text with 1GB of data for $35.00 10.6 §  30 Days Talk & Text with 2GB of data for $55.00 10.7 There are also 3, 7, 14, and 30 day SIM cards available with Unlimited Talk & Text, and no data.  10.8 Availability' 10.9 Can be purchased on the website: www.readysim.com as well as on Amazon 10.10 There are also a range of retail locations and independent dealers selling the SIMs, usually for the same price as the corporate MSRP. 10.11 Speed' 10.12 4G & 3G speeds require your phone to support AWS UMTS (1700/2100 Mhz), otherwise you will only get 2.5G EDGE (requires 1900 MHz GSM PCS supported phone). Many high-end Nokia phones like the N8 and N9 support AWS, as do international flagship models from other manufacturers such as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus / Google Nexus 4. No Apple devices support AWS. Got great 3G (HSDPA) speeds on an European Samsung Google Galaxy Nexus (late 2011 model). 10.13 SIM sizes 10.14 Used Frequencies' 10.15 §  2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE): 850 and 1900 MHz 10.16 §  3G (UMTS/HSPA): 1700 and 1900 MHz 10.17 §  4G (LTE): 1900 MHz 10.18 Tethering' 10.19 §  Yes 10.20 Devices 10.21 Devices must be GSM unlocked and have an open SIM slot.

AT&TEdit

Default data rateEdit

• $0.01 per 5 KB

More information

Data feature packsEdit

DATA feature packs are for monthly based prepaid plans. AT&T stopped providing DATA feature packs for daily based prepaid plans according to their web. [note: I have used DATA feature with 10c/min plan and 2USD/day daily plan. It seems this is no longer available to daily plan users.]

Prices updated as at 18 April 2012 (AT&T announces new GoPhone data packages):

• $5.00 / 50 MB (was 10 MB)
• $15.00/ 200 MB (was 100 MB)
• $25.00/ 1 GB (was 500 MB)

You can start by purchasing the 100mb package, and if you renew with the 10mb package within 30 days you can keep your leftover bandwidth.You cannot renew using this method more than three times. After the third time, you must order the 100 MB package to retain your leftover bandwidth. AT&T PayAsYouGO Dataplan does not work for Blackberry in the US. More information [note: I had GoPhone plan with the 15 usd/100mb option. Maybe that link is outdated]

When refilling your account, different denominations have different expirations:

• $10 - $15: 30 days
• $25 - $50: 90 days
• $100: 365 days

If you only use your account sparingly, be aware that if you don't top up within 60 days after expiration, the entire account will be terminated automatically (and your SIM will be unusable) ...

AvailabilityEdit

• AT&T SIMs can be purchased in their own shops. If you go to a mall kiosk, they will attempt to charge you for the SIM. Instead, go to a brick and mortar AT&T store (Store locator) where they will give you the SIM for free without a topup (this was done at 2 different AT&T stores November 2012). Do not tell them that you have an iPhone. Nokia Lumia 900 uses a micro sim if you have to give a model name.
• If you would like to get it sorted before you depart you can purchase AT&T PAYG SIMs online from mobipassport.com.  They include instructions to help you through the activation process, add credit and enable data plans (even for iPhone).  
• An alternative are sites like ebay where you can buy the SIM cards even abroad. Topping up can be done on sites like pinzoo.com or callingmart.com
• To keep the SIM active for 12 months, you are only required to top up with a single $100 topup card (you cannot from what's online, top up with multiples of anything less than $100.

SIM sizesEdit

• Mini, Micro and Nano SIMs exist.

used FrequenciesEdit

• 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE): 850 and 1900 MHz
• 3G (UMTS/HSPA): 850 and 1900 MHz
• 4G (LTE): 700 and 1700/2100 MHz(AWS)

TetheringEdit

Will work on a GoPhone SIM provided you have purchased the data plan.

iPhone specific informationEdit

• The AT&T sales reps can be reluctant to sell you a pay as you go plan if you have an iPhone. Say that you come from another country (like Italy, Belgium, Canada) where iPhones are sold factory unlocked. That argument usually works. AT&T reps will sell you a SIM for an unlocked iPhone but will not guarantee that you can use it with a data plan -- don't be daunted though; they either don't know or won't tell you how to change the APN.
• Once you have the SIM you need to set up your iPhone properly:
  • Create a custom APN on a Mac/PC computer using Apple's (free) iPhone Configuration Utility, as described here.
  • Or, if you have wifi access you can download a pre-prepared APN directly to your iPhone by visiting Craig Whitmore's excellent iPhone APN Changer site in the phone's web browser. Choose: Custom APN > Carrier = US - AT & T > Create Profile, then install it.
• More instructions for the AT&T GoPhone:

Activiating your GoPhone before arriving to the USA

You can activate your phone using this link (when asked for your phone's IMEI, you can simply enter "111111111111111" = 15 times "1").

After the activation process, you are given the option to charge your GoPhone account using a credit card. Please note that you can use this option also with a non-USA credit card, even though it only let you choose "USA" as the country. Simply enter any address in the USA (such as your hotel's address).

When you are asked for the billing address ZIP code, I entered my REAL (non-USA) ZIP code, and when asked for last 4 digits of SSN (Social Security Number), I entered "1234". This worked successfully for me, and my account was charged.

However, I could NOT choose the data plan I wanted to:

AT&T GoPhone does not work while on roaming outside USA (except in Canada and Mexico).

In order to set your data plan on the web site, you need to log-in using phone number and PIN code. A temporary PIN code is given to you when you activate your phone, but when you try to log-in to your account, it sends you a SMS with a new PIN code, and it asks you to enter it. Because you are not in the USA, and your phone doesn't work in roaming, you don't receive the new PIN code, and you can't use it.

To resolve this, I called AT&T number: +1-800-331-0500 (maybe also +1-800-901-9878), and after entering my GoPhone number, I asked for "More Options" and then for "Customer Care".

When a person answered me, I explained my issue (being out of the USA, and don't have the PIN code). I asked them to add the data plan to my account. In order to make sure it is really me, they asked when was the last time I charged my account and what was the amount. After I told it to them, they added the data plan to my account.

Please note that this is efective immediately, and is for 30 days, so you would like to do that as close to your trip as possible.

IPAD specific plan

4G/LTE specific plans are available if setup directly from the ipad. However they need a US credit card. The way around this is to go into any supermarket or BestBuy and buy a VISA giftcard with $30 loaded. You can then use this to signup. $30 gives you 3gb for 30 days. Use your hotel address when asked for an address, but make sure the email address you give is valid.

T-MobileEdit

Prepaid data only SIM

New worry-free No Annual Contract prepaid data SIMs as of June 1st 2012:

• 300MB 1 week for $15
• 1.5GB 1 month for $25
• 3.5GB 1 month for $35

These plans have no talk and no text. They don't even have an assigned number. Speed is 3G and T-Mobile 4G (HSPA+)

Monthly4G (No Annual Contract)Edit

• $70 / month - Unlimited voice / text / data (No Data Caps at 4G speed)
• $60 / month - Unlimited voice / text / data (first 2.5GB at 4G speed, then service is slowed to 2G)
• $50 / month - Unlimited voice / text / data (first 500MB at 4G speed, then service is slowed to 2G)

T-Mobile Monthly4G plans

Pay Per DayEdit

A pre-pay SIM, available in stores. Only pay for the days you use. Unlimited talk / text / web

• $2 / 24 hours (2G Speeds)
• $3 / 24 hours (first 200MB at 4G Speed)

T-Mobile Pay By The Day plans

Web DayPass (No longer available)Edit

AvailabilityEdit

Can be purchased in store, no ID needed. SIM costs $10 (comes with ~$3 credit).

Some stores charge $30 for the SIM so be careful. Apparently, the stores just charge whatever they feel like.

You can also purchase the SIM online from T-mobile for $10:

Accounts can be terminated at any time at a T-Mobile store, by phone via My T-Mobile or online chat support with a T-Mobile consultant.

You should sign upfor your My T-Mobile account whilst in the US because the password is sent via SMS which is not accessible when roaming outside of T-Mobile coverage. Store locator

SpeedEdit

4G & 3G speeds require your phone to support AWS UMTS (1700/2100 Mhz), otherwise you will only get 2.5G EDGE (requires 1900 MHz GSM PCS supported phone). Many high-end Nokia phones like the N8 and N9 support AWS, as do international flagship models from other manufacturers such as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus / Google Nexus 4. No Apple devices support AWS. Got great 3G (HSDPA) speeds on an European Samsung Google Galaxy Nexus (late 2011 model).

1900 MHZ supported 3G areas (means that your iPhone will work in these cites)

These are HSPA+ 21 networks, not the HSPA+ 42 T-Mobile's native network supports

T-Mobile's 49 UMTS 1900 cities cover 142 million people, and the network is still growing. Here's the list as of March 15, 2013.

1.       Ann Arbor, MI

2.       Atlanta, GA

3.       Austin, TX

4.       Baltimore, MD

5.       Boston, MA

6.       Cambridge, MA

7.       Chicago, IL

8.       Dallas, TX

9.       Denver, CO

10.   Detroit, MI

11.   Fort Lauderdale, FL

12.   Fort Worth, TX

13.   Fresno, CA

14.   Houston, TX

15.   Kansas City, KS/MO

16.   Las Vegas, NV

17.   Los Angeles, CA

18.   Miami, FL

19.   Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

20.   Modesto, CA

21.   Napa, CA

22.   New York, NY

23.   Newark, NJ

24.   Oakland, CA

25.   Orlando, FL

26.   Philadelphia, PA

27.   Phoenix, AZ

28.   Providence, RI

29.   Reno, NV

30.   Richmond, VA

31.   Sacramento, CA

32.   Salinas, CA

33.   San Antonio, TX

34.   San Diego, CA

35.   San Francisco, CA

36.   San Jose, CA

37.   Santa Ana, CA

38.   Santa Cruz, CA

39.   Santa Rosa, CA

40.   Seattle, WA

41.   Springfield, MA

42.   St. Cloud, MN

43.   Stockton, CA

44.   Tampa, FL

45.   Tucson, AZ

46.   Vallejo, CA

47.   Virginia Beach, VA

48.   Warren, MI

49.   Washington, DC

SIM sizes

• Mini SIMs exist. Micro SIM are supported by T-Mobile US.

used FrequenciesEdit

• 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE): 850 and 1900 MHz
• 3G (UMTS/HSPA): 1700 and 1900 MHz
• 4G (LTE): 1700 MHz

TetheringEdit

• Yes.

iPhoneEdit

• T-Mobile 3G is not compatible with iPhones in a majority of the USA. T-Mobile has stated that they will officially support the iPhone some time in 2013. Current speculation points to an April-May timeframe. As of February 2013, 3G reception compatible with iPhone devices has been expanded into a majority of major US cities. A complete list of 3G reception sightings can be found at www.airportal.de

Virgin MobileEdit

Broadband2Go (No Annual Contract)

Data rateEdit

• 200 MB 3G / Unlimited WIMAX - $5/day
• 2 GB 3G / Unlimited WIMAX - $35/month
• 5 GB 3G / Unlimited WIMAX - $55/month

You must buy one of the devices (MiFi or USB Stick). Must buy a WiMax capable device to get unlimited WiMax

NOTE: Virgin Mobile reserves the right, without notice, to temporarily limit throughput speeds when WiMax usage passes 10GB.

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband/broadband2go.html

AvailabilityEdit

• Store Locator

TetheringEdit

• No SIM cards, CDMA.

SIMPLE MobileEdit

T-Mobile MVNO

PlansEdit

Only DataEdit

• $25/30 days: 750 MB at 4G speeds
• $45/30 days: 2 GB at 4G speeds

Data with VoiceEdit

• $40/30 days: Unlimited nationwide talk, text, 3G data
• $50/30 days: Unlimited nationwide talk, text, 4G data

As of 20120202, Simple Mobile states that the data with voice plans have no restrictions in data usage, they will not throttle or cut off usage after a certain mount of data transferred. However, people have reported otherwise.

More information

AvailabilityEdit

• SIMPLE Mobile SIMs can be purchased for $13 in their own shops or online.

Store locator

Note: So far name and address are not required to buy a SIM card or top off cards.

SIM sizesEdit

Both Mini and Micro are available.

TetheringEdit

Not supported.

FrequencyEdit

Simple Mobile shared the same cell network as T-Mobile. All unlocked T-Mobile phones should work fine with Simple Mobile.

• 850 MHz
• 1900 MHz
• 1700 MHz
• 1900 MHz

Warning : Iphones (v4 included) will only operate at 2G but not 3G or 4G as they dnot not support the 1700Mhz or 1900MHz simple mobile network (which is actually the T-Mobile network), more information

Cellular DataEdit

• APN: simple
• Username: blank
• Password: blank
• MMS#SAPN: simple
• Username: blank
• Password: blank
• MMSC: http://smpl.mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc
• MMS Proxy: 216.155.165.50:8080
• MMS Message Size: 1048576
• MMS UA Prof URL:http://www.apple.com/mms/uaprof.rdf
• iPhone 4S Deals

More information --> go to 'Phone programming'

Red Pocket MobileEdit

AT&T MVNO

Data rateEdit

• $54.99 - unlimited talk/text/mms with 1GB of mobile web

AvailabilityEdit

• http://goredpocket.com/
• Amazon - SIM is 68 cents on amazon vs $10 on their website

SIM sizesEdit

• unknown

TetheringEdit

• unknown.

Straight TalkEdit

Walmart and TracFone Joint MVNO with both AT&T and T-mobile spectrum

NOTE: As of August 2012 Straight Talk SIMs are not a stock item in many WalMart stores (call ahead to check) and despite what the payment form indicates, the Straight Talk site does not accept purchases with non-US credit cards. You can get around this by buying your SIM from walmart.com and paying via a PayPal account linked to your non-US credit card. Edit

Data rate (August 2012)Edit

• $45 / month - unlimited talk/text/mms/mobile web
• $30 / month - unlimited talk/text/mms with 30MB of mobile web. (bring your own device plans AKA SIM card plans not eligible)

AvailabilityEdit

Both AT&T and T-mobile compatible SIMS are available for purchase. Unlocked GSM phones that work in the 850 and 1900 MHz bands also can be used.

• http://www.straighttalk.com/ShopSims

SIM sizesEdit

• Both micro and mini SIM available

TetheringEdit

• Not allowed

H2O WirelessEdit

AT&T MVNO

Data rate (Sept 2012)Edit

• Monthly Plans
  • $60 / month - unlimited talk/text/mms with 2GB of data
  • $50 / month - unlimited talk/text/mms with 500MB of data
• Daily Plans: $2 / day - unlimited talk/text without data/mms
• Minute Plans: $0.05 per minute/text; $0.10 per MMS; $0.30 per MB; minute expiration depends on what denomination you b uy

FrequencyEdit

GSM 850/1900

AvailabilityEdit

• https://www.h2owirelessnow.com
• Amazon ($0.67 vs $10 on H2O's website)
• Ebay

SIM sizes

• Both micro and mini SIM available

TetheringEdit

• yes

TruphoneEdit

T-Mobile MVNO

RatesEdit

• Calls to local landlines will be charged at: $0.15/min

• Calls to local mobiles will be charged at: $0.15/min

• Receiving a call will be charged at: $0.15/min

• Sending an SMS will be: $0.10/sms

• Receiving an SMS will be: FREE

• Data usage will be: $0.15/MB

SIM sizes

• Both micro and mini SIM available

Availability

Can be purchased on: http://www.truphone.com/en-US/Products/Tru-for-you/Buy-a-Tru-SIM-card/

Travelers MobileEdit

For travelers to the USA, and UK from Canada, Australia and USA

US Plans/Products

Travelers Mobile offers 9 plans for Travelers to the USA.  Pay as you Go plans are for 30, 90, 180 and 365 days with all Calling in the US and to Canada at $0.10 per min.  Data is $0.30 per MB. Unlimited plans are for 7, 15 or 30 days with data up to 2GB per 30 days.  

All Travelers Mobile plans are sold with all inclusive pricing.  This means Shipping, Tax, SIM and Activation is all included in the price you see.  Starting as low as $29.95 for 30 days Pay as you Go to 30 days unlimited calling and text plus 2GB data for $79.95 everything included. .  

UK Plans/Products

Travelers Mobile offers a simple plan for Travelers to the UK.  Pay as you Go plans with all Calling in the UK at 10p per min.  Data is 30p per MB. 

Like USA plans All Travelers Mobile plans are sold with all inclusive pricing.  This means Shipping, Tax, SIM and Activation is all included in the price you see.  Starting as low as $17.95 for 30 days Pay as you Go everything included. .  

Data Plans

Travelers Mobile sells dedicated USA based mobile hotspots with 5GB data for $49.95, hot spot is $109.95 and comes with 200MB of data pre loaded.  

World Tra​vel

Travelers Mobile sells world SIMs and world data SIMs with coverage in over 200 countries. 

Availability'

Can be purchased on the website[http:// www.travelersmobile.com www.travelersmobile.com] , or at authorized dealers across Canada and USA

Speed'

In The USA the same as AT&&T

SIM sizes

§  Standard, Micro SIM is available, Nano SIM cut for $5.00 extra fee.

Tethering'

§  Yes

Devices

Devices must be GSM unlocked and have an open SIM slot.

Ready SIM

Prepaid, Anonymous, Disposable SIMs

Ready SIM is ideal for people who want wireless service in the USA, but without committing to a lengthy contract, or are wary of sharing personal information. Now you don't have to give out your primary phone number when posting to Craigslist, social media, or dating sites. With Ready SIM, you have a temporary, disposable phone number to use at any time. It's also perfect for international travelers who want to avoid excessive roaming rates, and for corporate clients who need to provide an instant mobile solution for short-term projects and teams. 

Plans/Products

All ReadySIM products are auto-activating. When plugged in, a user can send an SMS with their ZIP code to the 7850 short code to recieve a local number, or wait 10 minutes to be assigned a generic US phone number without having to input any information.

ReadySIM offers 

§  7 Days Talk & Text with 500MB data for $25.00

§  14 Days Talk & Text with 1GB of data for $35.00

§  30 Days Talk & Text with 2GB of data for $55.00

There are also 3, 7, 14, and 30 day SIM cards available with Unlimited Talk & Text, and no data. 

Availability'

Can be purchased on the website: www.readysim.com as well as on Amazon

There are also a range of retail locations and independent dealers selling the SIMs, usually for the same price as the corporate MSRP.

Speed'

4G & 3G speeds require your phone to support AWS UMTS (1700/2100 Mhz), otherwise you will only get 2.5G EDGE (requires 1900 MHz GSM PCS supported phone). Many high-end Nokia phones like the N8 and N9 support AWS, as do international flagship models from other manufacturers such as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus / Google Nexus 4. No Apple devices support AWS. Got great 3G (HSDPA) speeds on an European Samsung Google Galaxy Nexus (late 2011 model).

SIM sizes

§  Currently is only available in standard 2FF size

§  Micro SIMs will be available as of March 2013.

§  Nano SIMs will be available as of April 2013

Used Frequencies'

§  2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE): 850 and 1900 MHz

§  3G (UMTS/HSPA): 1700 and 1900 MHz

§  4G (LTE): 1900 MHz

Tethering'

§  Yes

Devices

Devices must be GSM unlocked and have an open SIM slot.

Roam Mobility

A T-Mobile MVNO for travelers to the USA from Canada

Plans/Products

Roam Mobility is reloadable SIM. Pay only when you travel. All Plans are prepaid with Unlimited Talk and Text within the US, and in to Canada

§  1 Day Talk & Text with 100MB data for $3.95

§  3 Days Talk & Text with 300MB of data for $11.95

§  7 Days Talk & Text with 700MB of data for $27.95

§  14 Days Talk & Text with 1.4GB of data for $48.95

§  30 Days Talk & Text with 3GB of data for $89.95

Roam Mobility also offers Data Only plans.

§  500MB data for $29.95

§  1 GB of data for $39.95

§  2GB of data for $59.95

§  5GB of Data for $99.95

There are also 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 day SIM cards available with Unlimited Talk & Text, and no data. 

Availability'

Can be purchased on the website www.roammobility.com.

There are also a range of retail locations and independent dealers selling the SIMs, usually for the same price as the corporate MSRP.

Speed'

4G & 3G speeds require your phone to support AWS UMTS (1700/2100 Mhz), otherwise you will only get 2.5G EDGE (requires 1900 MHz GSM PCS supported phone). Many high-end Nokia phones like the N8 and N9 support AWS, as do international flagship models from other manufacturers such as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus / Google Nexus 4. No Apple devices support AWS. Got great 3G (HSDPA) speeds on an European Samsung Google Galaxy Nexus (late 2011 model).

SIM sizes

§  Micro SIM is available, comes with adapter for Standard SIM (2FF)

Used Frequencies'

§  2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE): 850 and 1900 MHz

§  3G (UMTS/HSPA): 1700 and 1900 MHz

§  4G (LTE): 1900 MHz

Tethering'

§  Yes

Devices

Devices must be GSM unlocked and have an open SIM slot.

Roam Mobility offers the Breeze Phone on its website. Breeze phone is a GSM Unlocked, Dual-SIM device.

Roam also sells a Liberty Mobile Hotspot for $129.95.

The Liberty Mobile Hotspot is compatible with Roam’s SIM.