I recently bought one from simcorner, for an upcomming two week trip to the states $60 for a few gig of 4g data and unlimited calls and texts back to aus... have yet to use it but perhaps worth a look?
Forgot to confirm, this was for a 5s and from what I have read it is quite hard to get a local pre paid sim card (could be wrong) so didn't want that hassle.
Thanks Archer, will have a look at them. Yeah I've found getting a prepaid nano sim with AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon impossible. It seems weird they don't do it.
From what I can see, simcorner offers unlimited talk, text and data for $50 (using T-Mobile). Looks good to me! A few years ago when I had a 3GS I could purchase a regular sim through T-Mobile directly for the same package.
When I was there last (November), T-Mobile would give you unlimited calls/texts + 200MB data per day for $3/day. I was only there for a week and a half, so it ended up being something like $40 all up (i think there was a $5-10 fee for the SIM itself). Not sure if they still do this, it wasn't advertised but if you ask someone in one of their stores they should know about it.
Alternatively, if you are on Vodafone here I know they do $5/day roaming, which gives you full access to your plan overseas. Telstra and Optus have similar schemes, but they aren't a good value.
Hey tabs, getting a US prepaid SIM can seem daunting and/or expensive but it's actually pretty easy & can be great value for money!
- AT&T GoPhone works on iPhones - it's unsupported & there's a few tidbits but it's great value, requires no ID & it nearly works out of the box - it's my preferred option personally. For $60/mth you get unlimited calls/texts across North America, 2.5GB of 3G data & personal hotspot enabled. As much as the Yanks complain, they have actually very good reception. You can buy a pre-cut GoPhone SIM on Amazon or eBay, and you can get it shipped to Oz/to your hotel before you leave. You can activate the SIM on the AT&T site, and recharge at a Walmart/Walgreens, or with an CC via phone/internet (Aussie CCs work). When activating, use an IMEI from an old phone (not the iPhone) & you won't have any activation troubles. Change your APN on your iPhone and you're all set!
- T-Mobile also has prepaid SIMs that work with the 5S (similar activation/APN process as AT&T) - $80/mth for unlimited calls/texts & data (5GB of personal hotspot). Be wary, though, that T-Mo's 3G isn't supported on the 5S' bands, and some 5S models don't have their 4G bands - you'll get a very slow EDGE connection when you're not in their (quite limited) 4G network/don't have a compatible band and it will make you pull your hair out!
- FYI you can't get hooked up with Verizon, Sprint, or any of their subsidaries (as they use SIM-less CDMA)
- Those "roaming SIMs" are atrotious in their value (100MB for $50 gets you nowhere) - highly don't recommend them unless you're only going to be States-side for a couple of days.
- Don't go to local phone shops to get your SIMs - they almost always tell you the wrong information or activate it wrong!
+ 1 for AT&T option. I wa;lked into the store, the staff in store configured everything and I walked out with a functioning phone able to receive data and call / text. Really great reception (I went to some real sh**holes and still had reception).
T-Mobile carries the iPhone 5S, so they should be able to provide you with the nano SIM. The $3/day was just their off-contract rate, I don't believe the pricing would change depending on what kind of phone you had.
I was using a Nokia Lumia, which has a MicroSIM, and they charged me $10 for the SIM. I don't think the $3/day would change, but it is possible they would charge you more than $10 for the SIM itself.
I bought a T mobile pre paid via TravelGear here in Oz, worked without any problems in both Hawaii and mainland. I think it cost $80 for the month, but had unlimited data.
AT&T Have a $60/month (+tax) sim card which WILL work on an iPhone 5s and they will ensure it works instore. They DO support 4G devices on prepaid now. Unlimited calls, texts and 2.5gb of 4G data. You can then add on 250minutes of calls to landlines in australia for $5.
T-Mobile have a smiliar plan however it is slightly cheaper and includes tax at $50.
T-Mobile's coverage inside buildings is not as good as AT&T however.
Verizon and Sprint you cannot use as they are CDMA networks.
Have just returned from a month road tripping in the USA, and used a T-Mobile sim purchased from SimCorner for my iPhone 5S. Worked fine in the cities using mostly 4G, with unlimited free calls back to OZ and within the US. Outside of the cities however the coverage is very limited.
For my iPad I went to a local AT&T store and purchased a sim with 3GB of data for 30 days for $US30. They set it up and it worked magnificently everywhere we travelled (we covered 15 states and 12,000 kms). The coverage was unbelievable along the Interstates and highways.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
Prepaid USA sim for iPhone 5S.
tabs
tabs
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 09 May 2013
Total posts 46
Prepaid USA sim for iPhone 5S. Do they exist?
tabs
tabs
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 09 May 2013
Total posts 46
Will be there for 3 weeks. Ideally a data only sim, am fine to use Viber for calls.
Do the US carriers do pre-paid nano sims? The rates for data with things like roamingsim.com.au and gosim.com aren't that great.
Archer
Archer
Member since 17 Feb 2014
Total posts 6
I recently bought one from simcorner, for an upcomming two week trip to the states $60 for a few gig of 4g data and unlimited calls and texts back to aus... have yet to use it but perhaps worth a look?
Archer
Archer
Member since 17 Feb 2014
Total posts 6
Forgot to confirm, this was for a 5s and from what I have read it is quite hard to get a local pre paid sim card (could be wrong) so didn't want that hassle.
tabs
tabs
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 09 May 2013
Total posts 46
Thanks Archer, will have a look at them. Yeah I've found getting a prepaid nano sim with AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon impossible. It seems weird they don't do it.
From what I can see, simcorner offers unlimited talk, text and data for $50 (using T-Mobile). Looks good to me! A few years ago when I had a 3GS I could purchase a regular sim through T-Mobile directly for the same package.
RealKid
RealKid
Member since 20 May 2014
Total posts 91
Depends how long you are going for.
When I was there last (November), T-Mobile would give you unlimited calls/texts + 200MB data per day for $3/day. I was only there for a week and a half, so it ended up being something like $40 all up (i think there was a $5-10 fee for the SIM itself). Not sure if they still do this, it wasn't advertised but if you ask someone in one of their stores they should know about it.
Alternatively, if you are on Vodafone here I know they do $5/day roaming, which gives you full access to your plan overseas. Telstra and Optus have similar schemes, but they aren't a good value.
tabs
tabs
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 09 May 2013
Total posts 46
Was that available for the iPhone 5S though? A nano sim.
I'll be there for 22 days so the cornersim is still looking like the most effective option.
Am on a contract with Telstra. Their $160/600mb data is crazy.
mr_pb
mr_pb
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 01 Oct 2013
Total posts 31
Hey tabs, getting a US prepaid SIM can seem daunting and/or expensive but it's actually pretty easy & can be great value for money!
- AT&T GoPhone works on iPhones - it's unsupported & there's a few tidbits but it's great value, requires no ID & it nearly works out of the box - it's my preferred option personally. For $60/mth you get unlimited calls/texts across North America, 2.5GB of 3G data & personal hotspot enabled. As much as the Yanks complain, they have actually very good reception. You can buy a pre-cut GoPhone SIM on Amazon or eBay, and you can get it shipped to Oz/to your hotel before you leave. You can activate the SIM on the AT&T site, and recharge at a Walmart/Walgreens, or with an CC via phone/internet (Aussie CCs work). When activating, use an IMEI from an old phone (not the iPhone) & you won't have any activation troubles. Change your APN on your iPhone and you're all set!
- T-Mobile also has prepaid SIMs that work with the 5S (similar activation/APN process as AT&T) - $80/mth for unlimited calls/texts & data (5GB of personal hotspot). Be wary, though, that T-Mo's 3G isn't supported on the 5S' bands, and some 5S models don't have their 4G bands - you'll get a very slow EDGE connection when you're not in their (quite limited) 4G network/don't have a compatible band and it will make you pull your hair out!
- FYI you can't get hooked up with Verizon, Sprint, or any of their subsidaries (as they use SIM-less CDMA)
- Those "roaming SIMs" are atrotious in their value (100MB for $50 gets you nowhere) - highly don't recommend them unless you're only going to be States-side for a couple of days.
- Don't go to local phone shops to get your SIMs - they almost always tell you the wrong information or activate it wrong!
KG
KG
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 May 2011
Total posts 249
+ 1 for AT&T option. I wa;lked into the store, the staff in store configured everything and I walked out with a functioning phone able to receive data and call / text. Really great reception (I went to some real sh**holes and still had reception).
RealKid
RealKid
Member since 20 May 2014
Total posts 91
T-Mobile carries the iPhone 5S, so they should be able to provide you with the nano SIM. The $3/day was just their off-contract rate, I don't believe the pricing would change depending on what kind of phone you had.
I was using a Nokia Lumia, which has a MicroSIM, and they charged me $10 for the SIM. I don't think the $3/day would change, but it is possible they would charge you more than $10 for the SIM itself.
colinsteven5353
colinsteven5353
Member since 11 Jan 2012
Total posts 2
I bought a T mobile pre paid via TravelGear here in Oz, worked without any problems in both Hawaii and mainland. I think it cost $80 for the month, but had unlimited data.
woganfan
woganfan
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 13 Sep 2011
Total posts 72
Avoid AT+T at all costs is my view, I had one of their sims, no data and poor coverage. T-Mobile I think is the best and their staff a lot better.
pab2025
pab2025
Member since 25 Jun 2012
Total posts 131
AT&T Have a $60/month (+tax) sim card which WILL work on an iPhone 5s and they will ensure it works instore. They DO support 4G devices on prepaid now. Unlimited calls, texts and 2.5gb of 4G data. You can then add on 250minutes of calls to landlines in australia for $5.
T-Mobile have a smiliar plan however it is slightly cheaper and includes tax at $50.
T-Mobile's coverage inside buildings is not as good as AT&T however.
Verizon and Sprint you cannot use as they are CDMA networks.
trevorrose
trevorrose
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Jan 2014
Total posts 21
Just an update to this thread.
Have just returned from a month road tripping in the USA, and used a T-Mobile sim purchased from SimCorner for my iPhone 5S. Worked fine in the cities using mostly 4G, with unlimited free calls back to OZ and within the US. Outside of the cities however the coverage is very limited.
For my iPad I went to a local AT&T store and purchased a sim with 3GB of data for 30 days for $US30. They set it up and it worked magnificently everywhere we travelled (we covered 15 states and 12,000 kms). The coverage was unbelievable along the Interstates and highways.