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Thread ID: 116344	2011-02-28 03:19:00	Cell Phone to use in USA	Marnie (4574)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1181981	2011-02-28 03:19:00	We will be in America in a few months time and we both have 2G cell phones. They are quite adequate for our use here and I would really rather not pay the 3G price as they are in New Zealand. I spoke with someone who suggested the best way around it would probably be to buy a cheap prepaid phone over there and use that, their prices are apparently far cheaper than here. Has anyone here done that? Or how else did you manage the situation? Thanks, Marnie	Marnie (4574)
1181982	2011-02-28 04:35:00	I use a TracFon and it's simple. Not necessarily cheap - but at least you don't have a contract and monthly payments. You can buy 'air-time' cards in WalMart, Sears and all the big stores, and even some smaller stores (7-Eleven, One-Spot, Arco AM/PM, etc). I prefer the physically bigger phones, but they have some super slim versions for either free or around $10.00 including 30 minutes of air time when you buy them. They pretty much use all the main carriers and dead spots are fewer than having just one service - as there are places where Verizon or GT/E don't cover nor do they cover each other - but TracFon can usually find a tower somewhere. Depends on where you travel, but there are vast areas that are uninhabited and you'll be out of range for anything less than a dedicated satellite up-link I'm afraid. Don't forget that Google-Phone works well here too - a lot better than the paid-for services like Magic Jack and the other so-called cheaper services --- which aren't. BTW: my cell bill is less than #10.00/month as I hate phones but keep one for emergencies. Just remember that driving and using a phone here - even texting is illegal at the same time. What's your itinerary? I'll B-N-B you for a bit if you like. Google 92539 in the US and see if we are on your path.	SurferJoe46 (51)
1181983	2011-03-01 01:07:00	Thanks for that, Joe. I've passed your information on to a friend over there and asked if he could make enquiries and possibly make a purchase, so we could have at least one US workable phone when we arrive. On his own admission he didn't even know you could buy pre-pay cell phones there. We are going to San Francisco where our friends from Nevada will meet us (they know SF well) and we will drive out to the Napa Valley where we are staying for a several days. We will be doing some quality control around the wineries. After Napa my husband and I are taking a tour to Seattle, then flying back to SF and home again. I'm not sure of your region, so may not be able to call in for a vegemite sandwich or hot scones and say 'G'day. :) I'll definitely give you a wave. Cheers, Marnie	Marnie (4574)
1181984	2011-03-01 04:40:00	Ewww - you are several hundred klicks and about 10 hours at freeway speeds to the north of me when you get to San Francisco, and much further away (22+ hours) in Seattle. Unfortunately you'll miss my baked lasagna if you don't come by and perhaps not get my normal going away present of a case of Cherry KoolAid. Here's a link that you might be able to see about TracFone - (I guess I spelled it badly last time) ::: http://offers.tracfone.com/	SurferJoe46 (51)
1181985	2011-03-06 03:07:00	I'll take a rain check on the lasagne, Joe. I will also buy a bottle of cherry koolaid and toast you while I am there. Thanks for your help, I'm pretty sure the problem has been solved (fingers crossed). After emails, which included a copy of your post, our friend asked his son, who clarified it for him. No need for smoke signals after all !!	Marnie (4574)
1181986	2011-03-06 03:27:00	OK --- fine! No lasagna for you then! All those who don't eat their lasagna, don't get no ice cream either! BTW: KoolAid comes in packages - dry - just add water and as much sugar as your teeth will stand. Like my dad said: 'Something's gotta kill ya, and it might as well be fun'.	SurferJoe46 (51)
1181987	2011-03-10 12:07:00	When I went in Dec/Jan, I just got a prepaid SIM from T-Mobile and it worked pretty well. There's a range of plans from $10-$70 with a mix of voice/text/data available.	beeswax34 (63)
1181988	2011-03-10 18:08:00	Like SJ I too use TracFon. When I get to the States, I go to the local Walmart. For US$20 I buy a prepay with double minutes (US$10 for one without double minutes), then buy a 60 minutes for another US$20. That gives me 160 minutes total (local national and international calls). Sweet! International calls work like calling cards but I can live with that and it's so cheap. See www.walmart.com (Even though they say 'not sold in store' for the US$20 phone they've always had them whenever I looked)	porkster (6331)
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