Need a SIM for Orlando? Or Barcelona, or Hannover ... ?
by Volker Weber
"Can I buy a local SIM to get around outrageous roaming charges?" I think I get asked this question prior to every major trade show or conference. The answer is here.
Comments
Das mit T-Mobile EvenMorePlus kann ich bestaetigen - hat letzten September in Palo Alto wunderbar funktioniert.
The section on TMobile seems inaccurate. Tmobile does not have unlimited plans. No daily plan either, no plans for 39.99.
10USD will give u a week's service capped at 100MB
30USD will give u a month capped at 300MB
50 USD will give u a month capped at 1GB
Thanks, Joel. Then $10 is all you need for smartphone use during Lotusphere.
Where do I get such a T-Mobile SIM for my Mifi router near Disneys's Beach Club Resort?
Okay,
so I went to TMobile, here is what I could get:
Pay as you go sim, the cost breakdown:
- one time activation fee: 10USD
- Minimum refill (30 Mins): 10 USD (not planning on using any of that)
-24 Hr Web Day pass: 1.49usd (per day)
Now the tricky part was activating the daypass. The service is designed for TMobile phones that are pre configured for the Network. These phones have an app/webshortcut called the TZone. The service agent I talked to was very confused because my phone doesn't have a TZone. She at one point was under the impression that my HTC Desire was not web capable. I was able to get her to patch me to a Tech Service guy who was quite helpful.
He had me change my settings, and create a specific APN, that enabled my phone to connect via the builtin browser to the TMobile's website, and I was able to get to the "My Account" pages, and to subscribe to the service.
Like it's always been the case for me. My European spec phone connects in the US using Edge not the faster 3G or HSDPA network like it does in Europe or the Middle East.
And TMobile's definition of unlimited really is 30 MB afterthat the network performance degrades even further.
But that's it, quite happy to have data while I'm here in the US.
Perfect, just in time for the Mobile World congress
And if the answer is not on that page, maybe you could find a solution over here.
Joel, Fouls you post the APN?
Oh, the type ahead recognition didn't work. Fouls means could ;-)
But we found it out. We could use the SIM with a android phone and a Huawei E5 with the "normal" apn eps.tmobile.com without any further settings.
Name: T-Mobile
APN:epc.tmobile.com
MMSC:http://mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc
MMS protocol:WAP 2.0
MMC:310
MNC:260
APN type:default,supl,mms
huh? why so complicated? I am using an HTC Desire as modem (Wifi Hotspot) with a T-Mobile Sim in it. Pay as you go as mentioned above ... but it was really simple.
1. Go to a T-Mobile Store (i went to the one on Sandlake Rd)
2. Buy Pay as you Go Sim for 10,64 $ (including taxes) with 3,34$ minutes included (good for 2 web passes)
3. put it in an HTC Desire and setup a new APN (wasn't configured automatically) wap.voicestream.com without user/password
4. go to http://wap.t-zones.com in browser and then myaccount and activate day pass
Finished.
As mentioned it's only 30 MB for 1,49$ and then it's really slow for the rest of the day ... but it's enough for checking mail/twitter/facebook the whole day ;-)
@Joel The T-Mobile section is _not_ inaccurate. They have just stopped advertising those plans.
I bought one of those last september and was very happy with it.
