Is the need for an "International" SIM Card ending?

[Grampa]

Originally Posted by petkow

You shouldn't really have too many problems preconfiguring some profiles into your device before your trip. There are plenty of sites that list carrier APN settings. One of them is: Carrier APN Settings - ModMyi - Wiki

So you're saying these devices allow you to enter profiles for several carriers? I see that the site you referenced has APNs for TIM, Wind, and Vodafone in Italy. Since it is a 3 branded device, it probably has 3 already in it. That would cover me for any provider I might want to use. I contacted the vendor, and he also thought it wouldn't be a problem.

I'm not sure, but I believe I should also be able to use it with AT&T back here in the states -- it supports 850, 900, 1800, 1900, and 2100MHz -- but their rates are pretty bad. The DataConnect Pass is $15/day (100MB), $30/week (300MB), or $50/month (1GB).

[Grampa]

Originally Posted by Grampa

I'm not sure, but I believe I should also be able to use it with AT&T back here in the states -- it supports 850, 900, 1800, 1900, and 2100MHz -- but their rates are pretty bad. The DataConnect Pass is $15/day (100MB), $30/week (300MB), or $50/month (1GB).

Just a little follow-up on this sub-topic. I bought the Huawei E585 MiFi modem, and it appears to work as advertised. To test it out in the USA, I signed on to a T-Mobile plan that is $40 per month for 5GB of data. I did not consider the overpriced AT&T plans. Unfortunately, T-Mobile operates most of its 3G network on a 1700MHz band, which the device does not support. So I'm using it on 2G, and I won't be reaching 5GB any time soon. The good news is that the T-Mobile plan is pro-rated, so that if I suspend service after a week, I pay $10. It is not a prepaid service; they will send out regular bills. But I should be able to stop it and start it at will.

When I get to Italy, I will probably get a 1GB data add-on from TIM for 15 euros. Although VoIP is certainly a possibility there, most of the calling we expect to do will be between my wife and me when we get separated. For that, VoIP over the iPhone is not an option, since only one of us will be carrying the MiFi. So we will bring along a couple of GSM phones and get Italian SIM cards when we arrive. I still have credit on my "international" SIM card, but I can't see having my wife call an Estonian cell phone to tell me where she is, and that she just found a great bargain in a shop.