Need help choosing a provider

[ruhrpotts-proud]

Hey Guys,
I'm going to spend a semester abroad in California in the upcoming Fall Semester.
For sure, I'll take my iPhone with me! ;-)

Now I'm searching for a cheap provider and I'm hoping for some insider tips from you.
ATT and TMobile are quite expensive in my opinion. Virgin seems to be ok, but they told me, that they are using a different network (my iPhone 4S is GSM).

I don't need a lot of included minutes or SMS. What's important to me is mobile data.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jpyc7]

You may want to consider data hotspot offerings separately from voice/text. If you're in California for just a semester, there's just no way you can/should sign a 2-year contract.

So that would seem to leave you with the pre-paid options, including Virgin Mobile. Unfortunately, they are not GSM. They do offer the Virgin MiFi which is for data. I have no idea if it is any good and I'm sure all the other carriers also offer similar products.

Of course, if you have the Google Voice or Skype, you may be able to avoid any voice plan through the carrier. You may have to go with a paid account with Skype if you want fellow students to be able to call you by telephone number (and vice versa).

 

[G51989]

Honestly. If its just one semester. Get a Pre Paid Phone, like a Straight Talk plan.

45 a month for unlimited data and texting. I don't think they offer the iPhone. But I did see a couple of basic smart phones being sold for under 150 dollars. I think I saw a nokia running symbian for 80. You could pick up one of those and the data plan.

They offer low end smart phones between 100-150 dollars, old Samsung Galaxy's. Some decent Nokias, no iPhones, but some low end android and Symbian phones.

It would save you a ton of money compared to getting a 2 year contract and having to cancel it.

 

[ruhrpotts-proud]

Thanks for your answers.

What I hoped for is a prepaid provider where you can book data, text and voice options month by month. In Germany, there are some cheap Pre-paid carrier which offer 200MB of data, 100 minutes and 100 messages for $13 / month or a complete voice, message and internet flat for $25.
If this is not the case I'll probably go the way with the cheap smart phone, sell my 4S and get the new iPhone when I'm back.

Please let me know if somebody has another hint regarding cheap provider!

 

[G51989]

Thanks for your answers.

What I hoped for is a prepaid provider where you can book data, text and voice options month by month. In Germany, there are some cheap Pre-paid carrier which offer 200MB of data, 100 minutes and 100 messages for $13 / month or a complete voice, message and internet flat for $25.
If this is not the case I'll probably go the way with the cheap smart phone, sell my 4S and get the new iPhone when I'm back.

Please let me know if somebody has another hint regarding cheap provider!

http://www.straighttalk.com/

Find the Zip code of the area you'll be staying in. You can buy these phones/plans at Wal Mart. Or you can have it shipped to your location.

45 Dollars a month for unlimited texting, minutes and data.

They offer decent low end Andriod Phones and some decent Nokia's. I think they have early Galaxies.

They also offer a ton of cheap dumb phones.

 

[ruhrpotts-proud]

Thanks for your answer! Sounds like the best offer I've heard of yet.

 

[dougeb]

Thanks for your answer! Sounds like the best offer I've heard of yet.

I just researched a USA GSM T-Mobile plan for my nephew visiting soon from Germany.
100 minutes, unlimited data & text = $30
1500 minutes or texts, 30MB data = $30

 

[ruhrpotts-proud]

Hey dougeb,

Thanks for your answer!

The first one sounds really good. After looking again at the T-Mobile website I've found the offer, too. Don't know why I haven't seen this one earlier...

Thank you so much for your help guys, really appreciate it!