How does your phone plans/SIM work?

8 comments

1. Yes, we call those “pay-as-you-go” or “prepaid” devices. You can definitely do it but you will probably burn through the money really quickly if you’re sending standard text messages overseas – if you’re using a non-SMS app like Signal then you’d probably be fine, or if you’re texting over wi-fi.

2. There are several “tiers” of telco plans in the US.

   The ones that most people think of are the major brands, that have ability for international travel and service for individual SIM cards and devices. Think AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. These carriers usually are the most expensive, but also have plans that can potentially support international travel and they usually have the widest option for supported devices that you can buy in tandem with your plan.

   Next are the US budget carriers. They are actually often subsidiaries of the major carriers, but they tend to restrict device and SIM card functionality to North America and the Mexico market (in most cases). Cricket, owned by AT&T, is a good example. These carriers tend to have a more limited option for physical phones, but they still tend to have decent stuff… you just may not be able to get a brand new release.

   Finally, there are Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) which essentially aggregate and use excess capacity from other cellular networks. Some of the budget carriers are actually also MVNOs. They can offer the lowest prices, but they are prone to traffic congestion and traffic spikes on networks, so if speed of service is a concern, this might not be a great option. Cricket, Consumer Wireless, and Mint Mobile are examples of MVNOs in the US.

   So if you need a phone to use *just* while you are in the US, and are willing to use messaging apps to contact family overseas rather than calls or SMS, I would probably avoid the top-tier carrier brands for a temporary phone.

   Pay-as-you-go options are still a thing. I had Virgin Mobile for about a decade before switching to Cricket, and I did pay-as-you-go. Most carriers are actively trying to minimize those options though, now, since subscription is much more profitable.

3. Your best bet is to just cough up whatever international plan your current phone allows.

   You can get a cheap prepaid phone here that you can top up with minutes and data. They’re widely available at Wal-Mart, gas stations,vetc…

4. I use Google Fi, which is Google’s MVNO plan. It gives unlimited domestic calls and texts for 20$ a month(plus a couple bucks of tax), plus 10$/GB for data. Since I rarely go off Wifi, it ultimately costs me something like 30$ a month. Texting internationally is free(to the vast majority of the world including NZ). Calling costs either 2 or 10 cents a minute to NZ. I use this plan specifically because it’s useful for contacting international numbers(and for traveling abroad, since the international roaming terms are the same anywhere I go)

5. If you’re going to be any place rural, I highly recommend going with Verizon’s prepaid plan or a provider using Verizon’s network. I went from AT&T to Verizon a few months ago (mainly because I found out in the long-term Verizon is cheaper) and I definitely get coverage in places where I didn’t before. Verizon themselves also supports WiFi calling, which is great if you’re someplace where the regular phone signal is spotty.

   The plans are month-to-month with charges for international on top. Verizon’s prepaid is pricier than most (in the short-term; the longer you’re with them, the more discounts they give), but has the international you can add on top.

6. so you can get prepaid SIMs in the US, but you’re not going to want to do that for international texts.

   I would recommend, either get an international plan, in New Zealand that allows you to keep your NZ phone number and texts and stuff in the US. I’ve been in Germany for 5 years, and I still use my American t-mobile’s international plan. Works great. I get (very slow) data, unlimited SMS, and 25c a minute for calls.

   You could also get an international plan in the US, that will basically allow you to do the same thing.

   What might be a better option is to get a normal phone plan in the US, and then use an internet-based messenger like WhatsApp (or I use Signal, because I don’t like Facebook).

7. Last time my spouse and I went to the US, we got an eSIM with Airalo ([www.airalo.com](https://www.airalo.com)). If you have a compatible phone, you can buy one online and load it with a QR code (there is no physical SIM, it’s all electronic). It was something like $10 for a few gigabytes.

   I’m pretty sure it’s data only — but if you’re using an online messenger (WhatsApp etc) — it should be grand.

   Shameless self-promotion time: if you use referral code “SEAN3746” you’ll get a few bob off (and I’ll get a few dollars in credit).

8. Yeah you can grab a cheapie for this evidently same as you are used to.