Mobile In Us With Prepaid Sim - Page 2

DRNewcomb · 11-07-2006, 13:31

One thing to keep in mind is that even though the major netowrks now have "nationwide" footprints, because of the way that wireless licenses are awarded in the US, the carriers still rely on domestic roaming to augment their coverage. You will find areas where both T-Mobile and Cingular roam on carriers like Western Wireless, NPI, Elkhorn, High Plains, etc. to fill out their coverage. This is mostly in very rural areas. But unless the small carrier is tightly integrated (shares the switch) with the larger carrier, prepaids will probably not roam. The US carriers have not worked very hard on prepaid roaming, even domestic roaming.

tommyna · 11-07-2006, 13:43

Hi... I was out off of my office, so I can see your replies only now...
Thanks to everybody!

Only ..maybe a stupid question.. do you think I can't use my actual mobile in West Coast? I have a Nokia 6680 or a Samsung SGH-D500..
Many thx in advance!!!

CIAOOOOOOOOOO

Bossman · 11-07-2006, 13:49

As has been posted above, as long as your phone has the 1900 band, which both of your phones do have, you will be fine. Tmobile payg uses the 1900 band exclusively. So, IMHO that will be the better choice. Of course, your phones have to be unlocked. Now, if you were asking about roaming, you have to check with your carrier if they have roaming agreements with any of the carriers here.

MATHA531 · 16-07-2006, 05:52

In almost all the big cities of the USA, you will be fine with t mobile and 1900 coverage only....I've driven from the Bay Area through the LA area down to the Mexican border and had no trouble with my tri band (900/1800/1900) phone and have not needed 850...I've driven from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and no problem...my t mobile phone even works (although you're not supposed to use it near the gambling places) in many of the casinos of Las Vegas. It should not be a big problem.

DRNewcomb · 26-07-2006, 00:52

I'd like to add that T-Mobile has recently instituted domestic prepaid roaming on at least some markets of Cingular and SunCom. Same price as T-Mobile's native coverage. This has greatly improved their prepaid map. This is great for me because I have an ancient regional T-Mobile postpaid plan, which I dare not change because I'll lose the grandfathered international roaming feature. When out of my region, I forward my postpaid to my prepaid.

	(#11)
DRNewcomb (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Professionist Posts: 1,465 Join Date: 27 Feb 2004 Location: Mississippi, USA Country:	11-07-2006, 13:31 One thing to keep in mind is that even though the major netowrks now have "nationwide" footprints, because of the way that wireless licenses are awarded in the US, the carriers still rely on domestic roaming to augment their coverage. You will find areas where both T-Mobile and Cingular roam on carriers like Western Wireless, NPI, Elkhorn, High Plains, etc. to fill out their coverage. This is mostly in very rural areas. But unless the small carrier is tightly integrated (shares the switch) with the larger carrier, prepaids will probably not roam. The US carriers have not worked very hard on prepaid roaming, even domestic roaming.

	(#12)
tommyna (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 2 Join Date: 07 Jul 2006	11-07-2006, 13:43 Hi... I was out off of my office, so I can see your replies only now... Thanks to everybody! Only ..maybe a stupid question.. do you think I can't use my actual mobile in West Coast? I have a Nokia 6680 or a Samsung SGH-D500.. Many thx in advance!!! CIAOOOOOOOOOO

	(#13)
Bossman (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Professionist Posts: 1,257 Join Date: 22 Apr 2005 Location: Chicago Country:	11-07-2006, 13:49 As has been posted above, as long as your phone has the 1900 band, which both of your phones do have, you will be fine. Tmobile payg uses the 1900 band exclusively. So, IMHO that will be the better choice. Of course, your phones have to be unlocked. Now, if you were asking about roaming, you have to check with your carrier if they have roaming agreements with any of the carriers here. Phones: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2, Samsung Galaxy A50, ASUS zenfone 3, Sim cards: AT&T (Contract), 3 UK, Piranha Mobile

	(#14)
MATHA531 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 869 Join Date: 15 Oct 2004 Country:	16-07-2006, 05:52 In almost all the big cities of the USA, you will be fine with t mobile and 1900 coverage only....I've driven from the Bay Area through the LA area down to the Mexican border and had no trouble with my tri band (900/1800/1900) phone and have not needed 850...I've driven from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and no problem...my t mobile phone even works (although you're not supposed to use it near the gambling places) in many of the casinos of Las Vegas. It should not be a big problem.

	(#15)
DRNewcomb (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Professionist Posts: 1,465 Join Date: 27 Feb 2004 Location: Mississippi, USA Country:	26-07-2006, 00:52 I'd like to add that T-Mobile has recently instituted domestic prepaid roaming on at least some markets of Cingular and SunCom. Same price as T-Mobile's native coverage. This has greatly improved their prepaid map. This is great for me because I have an ancient regional T-Mobile postpaid plan, which I dare not change because I'll lose the grandfathered international roaming feature. When out of my region, I forward my postpaid to my prepaid.