topic Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards in Electronics

IPhone help please -- Sim cards

Lilysmom — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 21:25:36 GMT

I think I will make a trip to the Apple Store locally but wondered if anyone could give me any info here first.

I am Canadian and will be traveling to Maine/New Hampshire area soon. I have an unlocked iPhone 6+. This is my first smart phone. I will be in the U.S. For 4-5 days. I am aware that I can get a U.S. SIM card for my phone and replace the current one to avoid roaming charges, etc.

Can anyone tell me who has the best coverage. Who should I absolutely avoid? I am looking to use the phone, text a bit and have data. I am not a heavy user of any one of these features. Where should I go to buy the U.S. SIM card? Can I reuse it next trip or do I have to buy another one?

Newbie here. Any advice greatly appreciated. TIA. LM

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

birkin baby — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 22:25:21 GMT

I use AT&T.

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

Nuttmeg — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 23:32:52 GMT

I have Verizon. VZW has a larger network. It depends where you are traveling which network works best. It does depend which network your phone runs with GSM ( ATT) or CDMA(VZW). Please go to Apple and ask for help.

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

TootyJane — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 03:19:47 GMT

Verizon--but do as nutmeg3 posted. Visit Apple and you can always check out the websites of each carrier. HTH

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

glb613 — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 09:11:46 GMT

Why don't you get an international plan? That's what I do when I travel.

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

Lilysmom — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 11:36:33 GMT

Good morning all. Thanks for the feedback and info. Here is what I have learned. Verizon and AT&T are the biggest, most coverage, least dropped calls, zones, etc. Sprint lags behind the top 2 but is less expensive. T-Mobile ranks after these three and there are complaints about poor coverage and dropped calls.

I can buy a SIM card just about anywhere as was pointed out ... Best Buy, Walmart, Kiosks, etc. My phone can run with GSM or CDMA. I should pop my SIM card out before I cross the border and substitute a US one.

I chatted online with Apple and have an appointment at the Apple Store Monday.

I have to check what type of plan. Don't know what to do there yet. Some have recommended a look at straight talk. I don't think I need an international plan as I don't intend to travel beyond North America but will check that out also.

If you can think of anything else I should know, I would appreciate it. LM

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

jaxs mom — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 13:40:25 GMT

Seems like a lot of hassle for only a 4 day trip. I'd just switch to an international plan on my current carrier for that one month and be done with it.

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

Lilysmom — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 13:50:42 GMT

@JAXS mom wrote:
Seems like a lot of hassle for only a 4 day trip. I'd just switch to an international plan on my current carrier for that one month and be done with it.

@jaxs mom, I may do that. The kiosk for my carrier is next to the Apple Store. I'm investigating both options. A first time experience for me. Whatever is the least complicated I will choose. If I can reuse the SIM card, I may opt for that as I make 2-3 trips a year. If not, I may simply use my carrier. LM

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

enw5002 — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 21:45:23 GMT

I've traveled from the U.S. To Europe several times. Each time I tossed around the idea to either upgrade to an international plan for a month or pay per minute. Evaluate how much you'll be using your phone, especially since it's only a 4 day trip. We ended up paying per minute, since we only used our phones to call home to say we made it, a call in the middle of the trip, and one at the end of our trip. Each call was no more than 5 minutes. It was cheaper to pay per minute, rather than upgrading to an international plane for an entire month.

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

Lilysmom — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 23:25:42 GMT

@enw5002, good point. I think my data use would be higher than my phone use. Thanks for,the input. LM

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

Lilysmom — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:03:53 GMT

An update. I visited Apple and my carrier. Found out what to do to avoid roaming charges. The first time I visited my carrier, they weren't much help. This time, the woman I spoke to recommended roammobility. It is the carrier she uses on her US trips. I have seen this online. Very flexible plans for short or long trips so I think I am going to use this. Available at Staples and probably other places.

Thanks everyone for your help. LM

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

Lilysmom — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 21:34:27 GMT

Last update, bought the SIM card today and purchased a plan for my trip and chose dates of activation. All set to go! Thanks for your input. LM

Re: IPhone help please -- Sim cards

Lilysmom — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 15:47:17 GMT

Just a report on my trip. I bought a by the day package for three days. I had a temporary glitch which was quickly fixed by a call to the provider at Roam Mobility. I would definitely use this service again. Once you buy the SIM card, you can use it again and again. LM