Phone data whilst in USA - HELP!

[bouncybeth79]

Hi all

We are out here at the moment and juat learned that our dog is unwell - she is very elderly and I'm worried sick.

I don't have a phone contract so having to buy out of area plan to keep in touch - I've spent £45 in 2 days.

Can anyone recommended a short term contract or other means to be able to keep this cheap but effective?

[JoeA]

If you have a phone go somehwere with free wifi like McDonald’s and use WhatsApp to make a wifi call.

[Bad Pink Tink]

Go to a phone show or Walmart or Target or BestBuy and get a pay as you sim card

Another option is WhatsApp or Skype as long as you have Wifi access

[Dr.JumbaJookiba]

If you have an iphone or any other phone that will take an esim use Tmobile esim. I've got it and it's working great.

[bouncybeth79]

Thanks, I have been using WiFi where I can but its not as easy to get onto in the parks as I hoped - its very intermittent and does not hold - will try and grab a pay as you go sim this morning

[JoeA]

Wifi technology isn’t very good at what’s known as a handoff; from one box to another basically. It should hold up better if you find a place with a strong signal then stop as opposed to keeping moving, though appreciate you will want to be on the move.

[Pupbelly]

Or buy a cheap 'burner phone' with a cheap Pay as you go international contract. you will be able to run your normal phone via Wifi as well as keep the USA phone for calls etc.
Unless you have a fancy dual sim phone which save that faff!

[FAcup14]

Sorry to hijack the thread.

I had planned on buying/getting a pay as you go sim while I was out there. Then putting that in a spare phone or 4G dongle. Sharing the WiFi, everyone connecting to it, connecting that to a battery pack. Then basically leaving that in a backpack.

I'm just wondering if buying the sim can be done before going out there.

[Dr.JumbaJookiba]

Originally Posted by FAcup14

Sorry to hijack the thread.

I had planned on buying/getting a pay as you go sim while I was out there. Then putting that in a spare phone or 4G dongle. Sharing the WiFi, everyone connecting to it, connecting that to a battery pack. Then basically leaving that in a backpack.

I'm just wondering if buying the sim can be done before going out there.

See more...

Sims can be bought from eBay or Amazon but read the plan details carefully some don’t support hotspot setup.

[pjc]

Uk phones don't work on some networks. Att and tmoblie are good. We used to get ATT sim and use it between us all for data and WIFI calls from 2007. That's before three came along. And I don't think you can use a data only sim in a phone.