Comments on: Best Plan for SIM Unlocked iPhone in the USA

By: Jeff Utecht

Jeff Utecht — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:01:31 +0000

Thanks for the update! That is great news if it works.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:46:28 +0000

I’m heading to the US soon, and just saw that as of this week, Straight Talk is offering a $45/month bring-your-own-sim option at http://www.straighttalksim.com.

$45 covers unlimited talk + text + data.

And since Straight Talk is an MVNO of ATT and T-mobile, user can choose ATT and get a micro-sim as well.

iPhones are supported and wireless prepaid service works like it does in any OTHER country. Use it when you want. Stop when you want.

This will make those trip to the US easier.

By: Anny

Anny — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:55:19 +0000

A few notes about this idea… I did this with my i-phone – unlocked, from australia – when I was visiting for 3 months late 2010. AT&T put me on a post-paid plan, no contract, for $85 a month, but charged me $500 deposit (which I got back 2 months after I ended the plan). That plan included data. The $60/month prepaid had no data.

By: Anny

Anny — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:50:59 +0000

Sorry Jeff, you’re wrong. There is a $36 activation fee (once off) for each extra number on the family plan, as well as the $10 per month charge for the extra line and $25 per month for the data plan.

I did this on my daughter’s account, great idea, but we were a bit stunned that in fact for one month it cost a total of $71. Of course if you go on past one month you don’t pay the activation fee again, so it’s a much better deal for longer periods.

By: Neri

Neri — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 19:06:09 +0000

You read my mind with your investigation…good job…congratulations from Queretaro Mexico

By: 2010 in Review

2010 in Review — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:22:41 +0000

[...] 8. Best plan for SIM unlocked iPhone in the US [...]

By: Janice

Janice — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:15:19 +0000

I feel like an idiot! It seems so simple and yet my summer last year was the same as yours. My parents both live in the US while I love in Hong Kong and they have AT&T!!
Many thanks, it will make our trip back for these next few weeks over the holidays much better

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 05:53:56 +0000

Update: worked flawlessly!

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:35:31 +0000

Hi Jeff Thanks for the post it has help a great deal.

I was able to get signed up on a friends plan just like you said.

$26 activation fee and a $10/mo to keep the phone # active. then $25 for 2gb of data for a month. no obligations ( other than $10/mo for the #.

great thing is I didn’t need to be with them I just sent my friend the IMEI # and it was done. So all I need to do is pop in the Sim and off I go.

By: Jeff Utecht

Jeff Utecht — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:02:42 +0000

If you plan to have the iPhone after you leave the States then I would go with an unlocked iPhone from outside the US. AT&T offers many different plans and not all of them do you have to sign a two year contract. You can do month to month for $60 pre-paid or you can get on a post paid plan for a year. Because you already own the phone you actually have more options.

So I’d buy an unlocked iPhone from outside the US and then when you get there go to the AT&T store closest to you and see what plan fits your needs. Also you can check T-Mobile…I’m not sure what their post paid plans are like.