Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards
Nope, I really meant that some unlocked devices will work fine on T-Mobile's voice network but T-Mobile is blocking the data service on them. I have one such device, the Huawei S7, a 7 Android phone/tablet. When it first came out a little over a year ago people were using it on T-Mobile's data network, then one day a few months later it just quit working. For a time T-Mobile was also blocking data on jailbroken/unlocked iPhones (I have one of those, too), but then thought better of it and reversed that policy. I think the same may hold true for ATT, but it's prices are outrageous anyway. I'm not up to date on this topic, I just wanted to warn international visitors that swapping out SIM cards may not work as smoothly here as it does, say, in Europe where I've had really good experiences. I've pretty much given up on ATT and T-Mobile for prepaid data in the US. I was able to get a good deal on a Virgin Mobile MiFi hotspot and that's what I use when I'm travelling for more than a couple of days and wifi is not readily available. But that's probably not a cost-effective solution for short-term international visitors here. Mike -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Cary Gordon Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 9:07 PM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards I think that Some devices they don't sell are blocked from using the prepaid data service. would mean that those phones are locked by definition. Cary On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 6:31 PM, Kyle Banerjee baner...@uoregon.edu wrote: On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 1:50 PM, KREYCHE, MICHAEL mkrey...@kent.edu wrote: I meant phone purchased from T-Mobile. Some devices they don't sell are blocked from using the prepaid data service. Meaning an unlocked phone can be used for calls but not data? Weird. You should be able to use data on a properly unlocked phone. If you couldn't do that, you'd think that the people who root their phones and drop in a new ROM wouldn't be able to use service. I love TMO, but I wouldn't just go for the cheapest service. Check the frequencies that your phone handles and of the carrier you plan to use. Edge speeds really suck, particularly if you're tethering, and it's worth dropping a bit more coin for something that actually works. kyle -- Cary Gordon The Cherry Hill Company http://chillco.com
Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards
I think that Some devices they don't sell are blocked from using the prepaid data service. would mean that those phones are locked by definition. Cary On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 6:31 PM, Kyle Banerjee baner...@uoregon.edu wrote: On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 1:50 PM, KREYCHE, MICHAEL mkrey...@kent.edu wrote: I meant phone purchased from T-Mobile. Some devices they don't sell are blocked from using the prepaid data service. Meaning an unlocked phone can be used for calls but not data? Weird. You should be able to use data on a properly unlocked phone. If you couldn't do that, you'd think that the people who root their phones and drop in a new ROM wouldn't be able to use service. I love TMO, but I wouldn't just go for the cheapest service. Check the frequencies that your phone handles and of the carrier you plan to use. Edge speeds really suck, particularly if you're tethering, and it's worth dropping a bit more coin for something that actually works. kyle -- Cary Gordon The Cherry Hill Company http://chillco.com
Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards
On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 1:50 PM, KREYCHE, MICHAEL mkrey...@kent.edu wrote: I meant phone purchased from T-Mobile. Some devices they don't sell are blocked from using the prepaid data service. Meaning an unlocked phone can be used for calls but not data? Weird. You should be able to use data on a properly unlocked phone. If you couldn't do that, you'd think that the people who root their phones and drop in a new ROM wouldn't be able to use service. I love TMO, but I wouldn't just go for the cheapest service. Check the frequencies that your phone handles and of the carrier you plan to use. Edge speeds really suck, particularly if you're tethering, and it's worth dropping a bit more coin for something that actually works. kyle
Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards
On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 5:45 AM, Kåre Fiedler Christiansen k...@statsbiblioteket.dk wrote: We're a bunch of Danes visiting the Code4Lib conference in Seattle. But the prospect of a full week being offline on my trusted Android phone is scary. And the price of international data roaming is simply scary. So I was wondering if any US carriers are selling data-enabled SIM cards, at a price that would be reasonable for a week's usage, and which are also available for visiting tourists? Yes, several of them do, and for GSM your options are ATT and T-Mobile. Your best option is probably a prepaid SIM card which is refillable, but I can't speak to their rates offhand. Mark
Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards
This is the best non-contract data plan I have seen so far. 5GB for $30 on T-mobile http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-30-Wireless-Airtime-Card/15443357 A SIM card should be around $7 On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 4:45 AM, Kåre Fiedler Christiansen k...@statsbiblioteket.dk wrote: Hi all, Sorry for being semi-off-topic, but obviously you're the right bunch of people to know this... We're a bunch of Danes visiting the Code4Lib conference in Seattle. But the prospect of a full week being offline on my trusted Android phone is scary. And the price of international data roaming is simply scary. So I was wondering if any US carriers are selling data-enabled SIM cards, at a price that would be reasonable for a week's usage, and which are also available for visiting tourists? Any input welcome. Thanks. Best, Kåre
Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards
Based on past experience with T-Mobile I would check this out before buying it. I'm not sure the data will work on a non-T-Mobile phone. And if it does work on your own phone you might only get EDGE speed. Mike -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Dhanushka Samarakoon Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 10:07 AM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards This is the best non-contract data plan I have seen so far. 5GB for $30 on T-mobile http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-30-Wireless-Airtime-Card/15443357 A SIM card should be around $7 On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 4:45 AM, Kåre Fiedler Christiansen k...@statsbiblioteket.dk wrote: Hi all, Sorry for being semi-off-topic, but obviously you're the right bunch of people to know this... We're a bunch of Danes visiting the Code4Lib conference in Seattle. But the prospect of a full week being offline on my trusted Android phone is scary. And the price of international data roaming is simply scary. So I was wondering if any US carriers are selling data-enabled SIM cards, at a price that would be reasonable for a week's usage, and which are also available for visiting tourists? Any input welcome. Thanks. Best, Kåre
Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards
You might try T-Mobile. Explain what you need to do and see what they can offer. I use prepaid talk minutes from them and they allow me to pay by the day when I need a data conection. Melanie Amy Hogue Manager of Online Resources Reports Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library 423-757-5114 From: Code for Libraries on behalf of Kåre Fiedler Christiansen Sent: Thu 12/8/2011 5:45 AM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards Hi all, Sorry for being semi-off-topic, but obviously you're the right bunch of people to know this... We're a bunch of Danes visiting the Code4Lib conference in Seattle. But the prospect of a full week being offline on my trusted Android phone is scary. And the price of international data roaming is simply scary. So I was wondering if any US carriers are selling data-enabled SIM cards, at a price that would be reasonable for a week's usage, and which are also available for visiting tourists? Any input welcome. Thanks. Best, Kåre
Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards
My phone is an unlocked Blackberry and it works with the T-Mobile SIM card set up for prepaid service. I do normally use EDGE with wi-fi however - even though my BB can use GSM. I'm not sure how I am connecting when I buy the daily data pass. If he puts a different SIM card in, wouldn't his phone technically be a T-Mobile phone? Melanie Amy Hogue Manager of Online Resources Reports Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library 423-757-5114 From: Code for Libraries on behalf of KREYCHE, MICHAEL Sent: Thu 12/8/2011 11:13 AM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards Based on past experience with T-Mobile I would check this out before buying it. I'm not sure the data will work on a non-T-Mobile phone. And if it does work on your own phone you might only get EDGE speed. Mike -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Dhanushka Samarakoon Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 10:07 AM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards This is the best non-contract data plan I have seen so far. 5GB for $30 on T-mobile http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-30-Wireless-Airtime-Card/15443357 A SIM card should be around $7 On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 4:45 AM, Kåre Fiedler Christiansen k...@statsbiblioteket.dk wrote: Hi all, Sorry for being semi-off-topic, but obviously you're the right bunch of people to know this... We're a bunch of Danes visiting the Code4Lib conference in Seattle. But the prospect of a full week being offline on my trusted Android phone is scary. And the price of international data roaming is simply scary. So I was wondering if any US carriers are selling data-enabled SIM cards, at a price that would be reasonable for a week's usage, and which are also available for visiting tourists? Any input welcome. Thanks. Best, Kåre
Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards
I meant phone purchased from T-Mobile. Some devices they don't sell are blocked from using the prepaid data service. Mike -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Hogue Melanie Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 1:33 PM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards My phone is an unlocked Blackberry and it works with the T-Mobile SIM card set up for prepaid service. I do normally use EDGE with wi-fi however - even though my BB can use GSM. I'm not sure how I am connecting when I buy the daily data pass. If he puts a different SIM card in, wouldn't his phone technically be a T-Mobile phone? Melanie Amy Hogue Manager of Online Resources Reports Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library 423-757-5114 From: Code for Libraries on behalf of KREYCHE, MICHAEL Sent: Thu 12/8/2011 11:13 AM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards Based on past experience with T-Mobile I would check this out before buying it. I'm not sure the data will work on a non-T-Mobile phone. And if it does work on your own phone you might only get EDGE speed. Mike -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Dhanushka Samarakoon Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 10:07 AM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Availability of data-enabled temporary SIM cards This is the best non-contract data plan I have seen so far. 5GB for $30 on T-mobile http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-30-Wireless-Airtime-Card/15443357 A SIM card should be around $7 On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 4:45 AM, Kåre Fiedler Christiansen k...@statsbiblioteket.dk wrote: Hi all, Sorry for being semi-off-topic, but obviously you're the right bunch of people to know this... We're a bunch of Danes visiting the Code4Lib conference in Seattle. But the prospect of a full week being offline on my trusted Android phone is scary. And the price of international data roaming is simply scary. So I was wondering if any US carriers are selling data-enabled SIM cards, at a price that would be reasonable for a week's usage, and which are also available for visiting tourists? Any input welcome. Thanks. Best, Kåre
