My friend is visiting the United States in a few days and hasn’t figured out where she can buy a valid phone number. She will only stay there for a week or two (business-related trip) and she needs it mostly for receiving calls and WhatsApp (so it must be compatible with WhatsApp verification).
She doesn’t really intend to call anyone or use it at all; but she simply wants to be accessible to people, including new friends to whom she may not feel comfortable sharing her private phone number.
Do you have any suggestions?
9 comments
(Just tagging this as I wanted to ask the same thing).
I did look at some on Amazon, but no idea which ones are any good, they were pre paid cards though. I don’t think they provided a new phone number, but good for not getting hit with international fees.
She can buy what we call a “burner”. It’s a pre-paid phone that requires no contract or ID or anything other than cash. Unlimited talk and text cost about $30 for 30 days worth and the phones themselves range from around $30 up to several hundred or more depending on what you want. This will give her a US phone number that she can sync with her WhatsApp and receive calls. They are available at places like Walmart, some grocery stores and at mobile service provider stores.
Gas station phones, also known as burners or drug dealer phones. Cheap and prepaid.
I just pay the international roaming fee for my carrier when I travel. If your friend has that option just do that.
Otherwise you can walk into many Walmarts, gas stations and convenience stores and buy a cheap phone and top it up with minutes and data via cards or a 1800 number
Pre-paid SIM card from a convenience store is probably your best bet. If no phone, or the phone doesn’t work on the US cell towers, they should have pre-paid phones that come with the SIM card as well. Most of the time you can get them at the stores, and usually can get them at the airport as well (usually overpriced like most airport purchases)
Red pocket is her friend
Burner phones might not have great data plans. But they will usually have WiFi.
Google Fi.
Send your friend to a Walmart with $50-$75 and get them to buy the cheapest disposable phone they have. They should be able to find an old school flip phone or blackberry equivalent if not a couple different kinds of super cheap smart phones. They come with a real number and have a monthly cost (usually between $30-$50)