Data service with pre-paid card?

[Lars Lowinski]

Hi all,

maybe this question has already been brought up, but I am asking myself if there´s a way to get a good internet data service with any pre-paid cell phone card? I´ve been told that it is impossible for non-U.S. citizens (or at least, anybody without a residential address over there) to get a plan which would include voice and data.

It would be a nice addition to the (luckily ever increasing) wifi-hotspots out in the Plains for us coming from across the pond .

Thanks,

Lars Lowinski

 

[John Erwin]

Hi all,

maybe this question has already been brought up, but I am asking myself if there´s a way to get a good internet data service with any pre-paid cell phone card? I´ve been told that it is impossible for non-U.S. citizens (or at least, anybody without a residential address over there) to get a plan which would include voice and data.

It would be a nice addition to the (luckily ever increasing) wifi-hotspots out in the Plains for us coming from across the pond .

Hi Lars,

Not sure if this is what you had in mind but you can check them out:

http://www.cellhire.com/content/data.htm

They rent Data Cards with unlimited data (daily charge for renting only).

As far as getting a US Sim card for pre-paid GSM service I think you will find some severe limitations on what you can do with the service based on past experience.

Good luck!

 

[Lars Lowinski]

Hi Lars,

Not sure if this is what you had in mind but you can check them out:

http://www.cellhire.com/content/data.htm

They rent Data Cards with unlimited data (daily charge for renting only).

As far as getting a US Sim card for pre-paid GSM service I think you will find some severe limitations on what you can do with the service based on past experience.

Good luck!

Hi John,

thanks for the link. It sounds not too bad but the rent seems rather expensive. $ 14.99 per day, that would make about $ 310 for the whole time we´ll be there. It´s also interesting to note that the daily rates for the US card are much higher than for the international cards, even though it´s mostly GPRS service in the U.S. according to their data coverage information. I´ve got a UMTS card for Germany and the download speed is ok, but GPRS could be annoying for satpics, radar data and stuff...I´ll think about it anyways if there are no other options.

Regards,
Lars

 

[cedwards]

It´s also interesting to note that the daily rates for the US card are much higher than for the international cards, even though it´s mostly GPRS service in the U.S.

WOW! look at why.
$15.00 per Mb for international rate plan. OUCH!

 

[Lars Lowinski]

WOW! look at why.
$15.00 per Mb for international rate plan. OUCH!

Hi,

I agree, this is even worse . I´ve found a provider here in Germany (Cellion) which gives you a US sim-card without activation fee or something like that and it has pretty cheap rates for US domestic and international calls. Unfortunately, there´s no data service with it...

Lars

 

[JF Massicotte]

Anyone has a coverage map for the Plains? This looks like an alternative for on the road data for our trip in early May.

Thank you.

 

[John Erwin]

Anyone has a coverage map for the Plains? This looks like an alternative for on the road data for our trip in early May.
.

They don't seem to have a coverage map on their site; however they no doubt operate via agreements with regular providers so it would simply be a matter of finding out who their data partner is. You would likely need to drop them an e-mail to find out.

 

[JF Massicotte]

I received an answer. Here is their coverage map, I consider it to be excellent coverage of the Plains.