Mobile phone switch over...
#16
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
I lost my phone, well found it 5 months later it was under the ast bit of snow to melt out.
Costco for a phone, next door to Walmart for a Family Plan, well just me on it and found it worked well for me where reception is poor and am always roaming.
Costco for a phone, next door to Walmart for a Family Plan, well just me on it and found it worked well for me where reception is poor and am always roaming.
#17
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
T-Mobile are doing an offer for a free phone ( various ok choices - can't beat free!) if you open a prepaid account and pay $100 onto the account. This is about 1.5 months worth of cell phone bills so not a huge upfront cost. I like t-mobile for new arrivals because it is really easy to set up. You don't even need a US bank account.
However, I note that metropcs are now doing some REALLY good deals now that they have been taken over by t-mobile and they prepaid. https://www.metropcs.com/metrobytmobile.html?icid=home main metrobytmobile
If you need a US phone number - then once you have arrived in the USA, you can open a gmail.com email address and get a local (to you) cell phone number through google voice. It's free to get the number and receive calls and you can download the app onto your phone.
However, I note that metropcs are now doing some REALLY good deals now that they have been taken over by t-mobile and they prepaid. https://www.metropcs.com/metrobytmobile.html?icid=home main metrobytmobile
If you need a US phone number - then once you have arrived in the USA, you can open a gmail.com email address and get a local (to you) cell phone number through google voice. It's free to get the number and receive calls and you can download the app onto your phone.
#18
Ongoing K1 Visa
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2017
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 105
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
Well I got my mobile phone sorted, Vodafone gave me an amazing 30 day trial before I left the UK, free calls and texts within the US and back to the UK for £22 a month on my UK number and contract, I took this out and cancelled it the day before it expired, I then went to T-Mobile with my now USC wife and she put me on her plan for $30 a month with free calls, texts and data. All in all it worked out OK
#19
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
I have mentioned this before, but you could use togglemobile and have a US and UK number on the same SIM. The rates are fairly good, and you get free incoming calls when in the US. However you need to setup the account while still in the UK. toggle mobile I am not sure if you would be able to port a togglemobile US number to another carrier.
#20
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
Hi folks, I depart to the States early next month and was wondering what is best to do regards my mobile phone. Obviously I will have to cancel my Vodafone contract and get my phone unlocked to be used abroad, what is the best course of action to begin with until I get settled in the US and can open up a contract with a provider, Pay as you go I assume would be OK to begin with? Any advice would be appreciated
Last edited by Rete; Nov 7th 2018 at 1:50 pm.
#21
KCMO
Joined: May 2018
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 169
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
Well I got my mobile phone sorted, Vodafone gave me an amazing 30 day trial before I left the UK, free calls and texts within the US and back to the UK for £22 a month on my UK number and contract, I took this out and cancelled it the day before it expired, I then went to T-Mobile with my now USC wife and she put me on her plan for $30 a month with free calls, texts and data. All in all it worked out OK
He already did!
#22
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
I like t-mobile due to the fact they have wifi calling. This means I can now get cell service at work through wifi. I am paying $15 a month (Mint mobile) for unlimited voice and text, but I only get 2 GB of data which I don't seem to use much due to using wifi hotspots.
#24
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
What tends to be the preference here - pay a large up front sum to cancel existing UK phone contract (have 12 months left to run on mine), or keep paying smaller monthly fees on the UK contract despite being in the US and not being able to use the UK phone?
#25
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
Sounds like a personal preference to me. I'd pay it off and get it over and done with. One less thing to think about going forward.
#26
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2017
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 455
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
I was able to unlock my handset and sell it on eBay after I moved, which helped recoup much of the money (iPhones hold their resale value really well).
#27
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 33
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
Does anyone have any experience with Google Fi?
#29
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2012
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 189
Re: Mobile phone switch over...
Yeah my other half has had Google Fi for 2 or 3 years for $20 a month unlimited calls and texts, and just pay for what data you use, which is usually almost nothing as she just connects to wifi most places. I recently joined onto her account for $15 a month, so we probably pay $40 a month for 2 phones with the little data we use outside of work/home.