AirVoice
 

In a store in my local downtown area, I saw a sign for AirVoice GSM service that seems to be offering unlimited voice and text. I'm guessing that it's new because of what I found on HowardForums: HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - Airvoice Unlimited GSM Official Rate Plans

Also there is a new website: AirVoiceUnlimited.com :: Unlimited Plans & Features

Is anyone on here familiar with this or other similar companies that use GSM in the US and happen to be have unlimited offers?

Check: http://www.h2owirelessunlimited.com and http://www.locustelecom.com

But AirVoice looks quite good for occasional visitors etc. as $15 for a weeks talking and texting within the US and unlimited incoming is not too bad at all! But how much does the SIM cost?

As an aside, on that Howard forums thread, I am surprised to see that MMS has only just been launched in the states...?? Can that be right?

Let me get this right. You buy the SIM from a Western Union agent? Do they say anywhere how much the SIMs cost? This might be good for tourists who are visiting the US for a week or two. You can pre-register with a dialthrough service for your outgoing international calls and buy the SIM, probably at the airport when you arrive.

Interesting that WU is getting back into the cellular business. They were one of the early cellular service providers in parts of the US. One of the first cell phones I ever saw had a WU logo.

Are there Western Union branches at most airports? Do I assume that the SIM also gets its incoming area code depending on which branch you pick it up at?

I read somewhere that the SIM does not allow international calls or SMS so at least for voice, a dialthrough sounds like a good idea. Pity about SMs. Would it therefore not recieve international SMS either?

Western Union used to be the main telegraph/telex company in the US. They had offices in every town. They were reformulated as a service to wire cash from person to person, particularly for emergencies. They now work almost entirely through agents, such as drug stores, groceries, ticket agents, pawn shops, etc. I would be very surprised if there were not at least one Western Union agent in every major airport in the US . A quick check shows at least four in the Atlanta airport. I would not know if they sold the SIM cards or not.

Since they seem to be offering a repackaged ATT service, my guess is that the SIMs will receive foreign SMS but are blocked from sending them because of the higher costs.

OK. I did some research and spoke with Jenny at AirVoice. AirVoice Wireless is a MVNO who has a contract with Western Union to sell top-ups for them. The Western Union agents may, or may not also sell AirVoice SIMs. To find an AirVoice dealer you need to call +1-888-944-2355. At this time there are no AirVoice Wireless dealers in major US airports. AirVoiceUnlimited is a new service and the website is a bit underdeveloped.

I recently obtained an AirVoice SIM with the intention of activating it for minimal pay-as-you-go service and using it when I'm in T-Mobile's dead zones. Does anyone know if there is a way to do an automatic $10 top-up every 90 days to keep it alive at minimum cost?

Auto Refill with AirVoice?
 

AirVoice has started the ability to do autorefill in the last 3 weeks or so.

They have 2 different $10 plans. One does $10 for 30 days [250 TALK OR 500 TEXT 30 DAYS]{which I have}.

The other is PAYGO $10 for 90 days. {which you want}

I have mine set to autorefill. I do not know if yours can be auto refilled.
Call them up. BEWARE: the day you set up autorefill it WILL autorefill that day. So hold off 80+ days to start it unless you want to add the money immediately. [They extended my expiration be 30 days after I got stung in this way, & made it sound like it is my fault the system works that way. I thought I was 'setting up' autorefill not having fill that day.]

I am going to call them now and make sure everything is working on my account now so not to be surprised.

Well I called CS and my auto renew is off acccording to them.
I guess I will sign up again when appropriate.

CS also said the 90 day PAYGO could be on auto renew.
Just remember and be careful when you start it.
Perhaps it can be set up at the very beginning for the first payment??

That would be good. It would be nice to have access to AT&T's coverage for ~$40/year. Thanks!

But AirVoice looks quite good for occasional visitors etc. as $15 for a weeks talking and texting within the US and unlimited incoming is not too bad at all! But how much does the SIM cost?

The AirVoice SIM is US$4.99 with free shipping (I assume within the US as the address it requests is US-centric). One could have the SIM sent to the first anticipated stop in the US.

https://www.airvoicewireless.com/SIMCards.aspx