Comms query

[khaosworks]

Just to get this nagging question out of the way:

Any idea where I can get one of those pay-as-you-go SIM cards for my mobile phone when I touch down in San Diego?

Comments

[shikyrie.livejournal.com]

what's the make? I'm sure there's probably a wireless store somewhere in the area that you can pick one up at. other option is gophone. downside is you'd have to pay for the phone and a card to activate minutes on it, but walmart has them rather cheap at $15 for the phone, and cards at various increments. I ordered mine online though, because I could get better ringtones with a refurb at a lower price.

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

I just need the SIM card, since I want to keep using my Nokia N95 8GB. So, yeah, location of a wireless store somewhere would be good.

[shikyrie.livejournal.com]

is it verizon, at&t??

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

Ah, there might be some misconception. I don't live in the US, so my phone isn't on a US provider. Thus, it doesn't matter what provider I get (save for price wise) for the US SIM card; I'll just swap out the one I have.

[shikyrie.livejournal.com]

ok.. here's the scoop. (since you're a nice guy, I called AT&T)

You can purchase a Sim card at any AT&T wireless store, and use it in your phone. The number to customer care (to locate the nearest store to where you will be) is 1-800-331-0500, and they should be able to direct you to the nearest store, where they will be able to set you up with a PaYG account. the fee is usually .10/minute for calls, and $1/day that you actually use the phone. Hope this helps.

[shikyrie.livejournal.com]

btw, any idea where I could get a "can you hear the pipes.." ringtone for mine? :)

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

Uh, I dunno. Just edit the mp3 and use it as a ringtone? My phone supports that capability...

[shikyrie.livejournal.com]

I'll have to try that. just download it from like your site to my phone?

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

[filceolaire.livejournal.com]

When we visited the US PAYG sims were theoretically available but no one actually had any. The ATT website does not feature PAYG sims but you can get a refurb with a PAYG package for $10.

We ended up buying PAYG phones in Walmart and swopping the SIMs into our phones. This worked fine for us - the phones may be locked to the SIM but the SIMs were not locked to only work with that phone. YMMV

[manywaters.livejournal.com]

There's a AT&T store on the bottom level of Horton Plaza, unless things have changed.

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

I've seen vending machines (!) in airports offering phones for short-term use. I've never looked closely, but I believe they also had SIM cards.