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Phone networks in US

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  • 07-11-2009 10:23pm
    #1
    mymipage
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20 ✭


    I'm going to America (San Francisco) for a year. I want to buy a phone with wifi, specifically for Skype (like the Nokia E63), and I'm just wondering what is the best option for me in terms of networks and plans over there?

    I know it's easy to go into a shop and ask when I'm there but I just like being prepared :) Any help is appeciated and sorry if this is in the wrong forum, Boards is WAY too big haha :)


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    #2
    sagat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 72 ✭✭sagat


    Verizon has the best coverage by far, shower of pricks though. The iPhone is exclusive to AT&T which has poxy 3G coverage especially in San Fran, haven't had any experiences with T-Mobile or Sprint.


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    #3
    sophie4187
    Registered Users Posts: 81 ✭✭sophie4187


    I have Verizon and it does offer the best coverage but doesn't have a good selection of phones. Sprint offers the same phones as AT&T, as well as T-Mobile but if you're looking for lower price/better phone/better coverage, I'd recommend AT&T!


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    #4
    mymipage
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20 ✭mymipage


    Excellent, thanks for the replies :) Is it better to go bill pay or pre-paid over there? Someone told me that even with Pre-Paid there is still a monthly fee of $50 or something like that. Is that true?


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    #5
    sophie4187
    Registered Users Posts: 81 ✭✭sophie4187


    well at&t has pay as you go and pick your plan.. so basically i'd say pick your plan (billing) would be the way to go.. that way, it's just one set fee each month with the texting and calling that you pick instead of you having to reload as you go. my brother works for at&t and said he'd definitely do billing..


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    #6
    artielange
    Closed Accounts Posts: 307 ✭✭artielange


    The pay as you go there is criminal minimum charge daily , charge for non-use it's a sham to rob poor people. Bill pay is the way to go. Verizon doesn't use sim cards so keep that in mind if you want to bring the phone home with you.


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    #7
    Tom Dunne
    Registered Users Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    artielange wrote: »
    Verizon doesn't use sim cards so keep that in mind if you want to bring the phone home with you.

    Verizon uses a different, incompatible system to most of Europe/Asia/Rest of the World. So Verizon phones are useless to you in Ireland.

    I think Sprint do also, but I can't be 100% certain.


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    #8
    spideog7
    Registered Users Posts: 1,230 ✭✭✭spideog7


    T-Mobile and AT&T are the only GSM networks, if you want to use the phone here too, then you have to go with one of those companies. Compared to Ireland though every company is robbery in the US, prepay is even worse, it's a disaster.


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    #9
    sophie4187
    Registered Users Posts: 81 ✭✭sophie4187


    spideog7 wrote: »
    T-Mobile and AT&T are the only GSM networks, if you want to use the phone here too, then you have to go with one of those companies. Compared to Ireland though every company is robbery in the US, prepay is even worse, it's a disaster.


    Agreed.


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    #10
    watna
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,367 ✭✭✭✭watna


    sophie4187 wrote: »
    Agreed.

    Definitely, Not being able to RECEIVE calls because you have no credit is ridiculous (well charging people for receiving calls in the first place is ridiculous).


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