O2 sims for PAX

LewieP's Mummy

Me and LewieP are on O2, but it will cost us lots to use our phones when we're at PAX, cos they have UK sim cards, so we'll be charged phoning abroad rates (at least that's what O2 UK say) even though we'll be in the same building as each other most of the time. Does anyone know where, in Seattle, I'll be able to buy 2 pay as you go sims and credit on O2, just for while we're in Seattle?
Thank you!

Jimmy King

We don't have O2 here in the states. We also don't really do the pay as you go sim thing here. I've never seen them for sale, but I also haven't looked. What might work for you, though, is to pick up some cheap ass pre-paid phones - tracfone, virgin mobile, etc. once you get here.

Ryadic

Here's what a google search brought up. Not sure how much this helps, but it looks like what you're looking for.

Lewisham

You'll need to unlock the phones, then go to a GSM carrier shop in the US (AT&T or T-Mobile) and ask them to sell you a PAYG SIM card.

TBH, I'm not really sure it's worth the bother, but that's what you'd have to do.

AngelHedgie

Lewisham wrote: »

You'll need to unlock the phones, then go to a GSM carrier shop in the US (AT&T or T-Mobile) and ask them to sell you a PAYG SIM card.

TBH, I'm not really sure it's worth the bother, but that's what you'd have to do.

You also need to make sure your phones have at least tri-band (if not quad-band) support, as US GSM frequencies are somewhat different from ones used in other parts of the world.

Edit: There's an AT&T corporate store in the lower level of one of the malls near the convention center.

Lewisham

AngelHedgie wrote: »

Lewisham wrote: »

You'll need to unlock the phones, then go to a GSM carrier shop in the US (AT&T or T-Mobile) and ask them to sell you a PAYG SIM card.

TBH, I'm not really sure it's worth the bother, but that's what you'd have to do.

You also need to make sure your phones have at least tri-band (if not quad-band) support, as US GSM frequencies are somewhat different from ones used in other parts of the world.

Edit: There's an AT&T corporate store in the lower level of one of the malls near the convention center.

I forgot they still make dual-band only phones.

Yes, you'll need to do that too.

Like I said... probably more trouble than it's worth.

LewieP's Mummy

We've both got quad band, maybe I'll just get a couple of cheap pre-pay bricks, and give them away when we leave. Thanks, guys.

Ryadic

What are you wanting them for? To talk to people while at PAX?

LewieP's Mummy

To get hold of LewieP, so that when (not if) I lose him, I can find him again!

Nakatomi2010

LewiePs Mummy wrote: »

To get hold of LewieP, so that when (not if) I lose him, I can find him again!

Could use this

liquidlogan

Walkietalkies instead of phones? I'm sure you could still use those even in the UK.

turpentyine

I am pretty sure your two choices are either Tmobile or ATT they are the only major gsm carriers in US.
Tmobile supports triband phones but ATT requires quad band.
I am pretty sure both of those carriers can sell u a pay as you go sim.
From my experience Tmobile has a shittier reception but is cheaper.

LewieP's Mummy

Nakatomi2010 wrote: »

LewiePs Mummy wrote: »

To get hold of LewieP, so that when (not if) I lose him, I can find him again!

Could use this

I laughed sooooooooooooooo much.
Tempting, but he's way bigger than me, so I'd just get dragged around wherever he wanted to go!D:

Willeth

Phone O2. I'm on PAYG with them too, and I remember they offered me discounted rates/free stuff a while ago when I went abroad. Your phone will default to the carrier with the best signal when you're in the US, so no need to buy a US SIM, although it will work out cheaper if you do buy one.

AngelHedgie

liquidlogan wrote: »

Walkietalkies instead of phones? I'm sure you could still use those even in the UK.

I wouldn't do that, as there's no assurance that they would operate on the FRS bands here.

turpentyine

Willeth wrote: »

Phone O2. I'm on PAYG with them too, and I remember they offered me discounted rates/free stuff a while ago when I went abroad. Your phone will default to the carrier with the best signal when you're in the US, so no need to buy a US SIM, although it will work out cheaper if you do buy one.

Wouldnt it charge a crazy rate per minute? When I went to europe my phone did the same thing but then my home carrier (att) would charge like 5 dollars a minute. So i just bought a local pay as you go sim.

Akilae729

Honestly, I would just go to a radio shack and pick up two AT&T go phones your first day in the states.

I pretty sure for $30 you'll get a basic phone, and $10 worth of airtime. I also think that calls within AT&T also do not use your minutes, so you can probably talk to each other for free.

Was easier in my opinion than figuring out just buying sims and what not.

You could also do the same with TMobile and with Virgin Mobile. Just ask them which one would be cheapest for what you want. But i don't think either of you will pay over $30

mts

just go for the handhelds, they are cheap and the range on them is pretty good nowadays, if you guys will be in the same relative area it will be better than phones if you are only trying to get a hol dof each other

Willeth

turpentyine wrote: »

Willeth wrote: »

Phone O2. I'm on PAYG with them too, and I remember they offered me discounted rates/free stuff a while ago when I went abroad. Your phone will default to the carrier with the best signal when you're in the US, so no need to buy a US SIM, although it will work out cheaper if you do buy one.

Wouldnt it charge a crazy rate per minute? When I went to europe my phone did the same thing but then my home carrier (att) would charge like 5 dollars a minute. So i just bought a local pay as you go sim.

Yeah, but the point is that they have special rates. It still probably will be cheaper to re-buy, but it's an option.

ASimPerson

Akilae729 wrote: »

Honestly, I would just go to a radio shack and pick up two AT&T go phones your first day in the states.

I pretty sure for $30 you'll get a basic phone, and $10 worth of airtime. I also think that calls within AT&T also do not use your minutes, so you can probably talk to each other for free.

Was easier in my opinion than figuring out just buying sims and what not.

You could also do the same with TMobile and with Virgin Mobile. Just ask them which one would be cheapest for what you want. But i don't think either of you will pay over $30

This is your best bet here. Tons of retail outlets carry what are essentially disposable phones, and getting a carrier to just sell you a SIM card will be tough. I have T-Mobile pay-as-you-go for my regular use and I don't have any complaints, myself.

To use your current phones, you probably need to get your current phones unlocked, and your carrier may nor may not be willing to do this, or may charge a fee. To my knowledge, carriers here don't really sell SIM cards without a phone, so you may as well get a cheap phone anyway.

This also has the added benefit of giving you an US number, so if anyone state-side needs to call you while at PAX they don't have to pay international rates.

LewieP's Mummy

So, consensus is:
Buy cheap phones when we get to America. I thought that might end up being the best option - I'll either give them away at the end of PAX, or keep them for next year.
Thanks everyone!

cmsamo

I've used my O2 paygo phone in Canada (defaulted to Rogers) and the US (defauled to t-mobile) and text messages were running me 50p each.

If you lose Lewie, just send him a text

PS - to top up your credit, you can use teh interwebs, it works great.

Nakatomi2010

LewiePs Mummy wrote: »

So, consensus is:
Buy cheap phones when we get to America. I thought that might end up being the best option - I'll either give them away at the end of PAX, or keep them for next year.
Thanks everyone!

Could always have a strange and/or embarrassing moment with one and sell it...