Phone use in States

CyberGhost · 13-01-2020 2:14am

Not sure whether this was already mentioned or not, but I read on Amazon that those 3 UK sims are restricted to 13GB of fair usage policy per month for roaming data. Just in case you were considering purchasing a 24GB one. It's better to get two 12GB sims.

theguzman · 13-01-2020 2:34am

CyberGhost wrote: »

Not sure whether this was already mentioned or not, but I read on Amazon that those 3 UK sims are restricted to 13GB of fair usage policy per month for roaming data. Just in case you were considering purchasing a 24GB one. It's better to get two 12GB sims.

Correct, I was getting 12GB which was loads for my 10 day stay, however just disable data and use hotel wifi or airbnb etc and use data only when heading out. I had no problems whatsoever with 3 UK roaming in Los Angeles.

A T-Mobile sim would have cost more than double that and my experience of T-Mobile in New York before in 2018 was average slowish 3G and absolute woeful signals indoors in shopping malls etc. Even in a small store I was losing signal and T-Mobile in New York for me were absolutely brutal despite the high price I paid. I could almost survive without it but as an avid Uber user I need data now whenever I am in Uber territory.

scallion.eater · 29-01-2020 2:49am

Three Mobile 4GB data Pay As You Go SIM https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P9V8Z83/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JqomEbBZA6F1Y

Will this do the job for data in the states? I know it only lasts 30 days but that's fine for me and 4GB would be plenty.

dodzy · 29-01-2020 7:57am

scallion.eater wrote: »

Three Mobile 4GB data Pay As You Go SIM https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P9V8Z83/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JqomEbBZA6F1Y

Will this do the job for data in the states? I know it only lasts 30 days but that's fine for me and 4GB would be plenty.

Yes, as long as you’re not expecting blistering speeds, it will be fine. Pretty much as cheap an option as you’re likely to get if the 4gb the bill.

scallion.eater · 29-01-2020 10:08am

dodzy wrote: »

Yes, as long as you’re not expecting blistering speeds, it will be fine. Pretty much as cheap an option as you’re likely to get if the 4gb the bill.

Thank you.

Doodah7 · 29-01-2020 10:44am

CyberGhost wrote: »

Not sure whether this was already mentioned or not, but I read on Amazon that those 3 UK sims are restricted to 13GB of fair usage policy per month for roaming data. Just in case you were considering purchasing a 24GB one. It's better to get two 12GB sims.

For the 24GB one, it is 12GB A MONTH. It lasts for two years so you should get a couple of trips out of it if you travel regularly.

brokenbad · 16-10-2023 11:59am

Travelling to New York next weekend. What's the best option for roaming charges? I am an eir mobile customer and only plan to use mobile data sparingly (or when wifi is not available)

Nigel Fairservice · 16-10-2023 12:07pm

Get an esim from somewhere like airalo if your phone is esim capable.

djdunny · 16-10-2023 12:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121244871#Comment_121244871

A few people have mentioned on another thread about GoMoWorld - I think it's an eSim option. I just checked it there and they off 15GB for 19.99 euro.

Alternatively, if youre looking for a physical sim. Ive previously purchased a 3 UK sim from Amazon, Three Uk offers Roaming in US as part of their package - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Mobile-30GB-data-pay/dp/B098F13K56?ref_=ast_sto_dp

brokenbad · 16-10-2023 12:25pm

Just saw this on the eir website - has anyone ever used this add-on?

Nigel Fairservice · 16-10-2023 12:45pm

Seems very expensive for 1GB of data.

arrianalexander · 16-10-2023 12:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121244929#Comment_121244929

@djdunny do you know how far in advance you can buy these , going next June but on offer at mo.

brokenbad · 16-10-2023 1:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121245096#Comment_121245096

That's what i was thinking - you wouldn't be long using up 1GB with apps running in the background.

sioda · 16-10-2023 1:18pm

I've used a number of the 3 Sims over the years and they work well. I usually buy them about 2 months in advance. Also you can reuse them and re top them up online. Just don't mix them up with old ones in a pocket of your bag 😭

1gb at that price is daylight robbery tbh.

Atlantic Dawn · 16-10-2023 1:23pm

I've used the Three sim a couple of times, it's data only but I used it in a dual sim phone so had the WhatsApp on my main number to use the data on the Three sim if I need to make a call. I don't believe there's a validity period to activate it (within reason), I've used them 6-12 months after purchase.

Nigel Fairservice · 16-10-2023 1:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121245233#Comment_121245233

Very true, 1 GB would be gone before you know it. I think use Google Maps the most when I'm abroad and that's very data heavy so I like a good data allowance.

Airalo esims are good if your phone can take one. Very straightforward to set up as well. There's instruction videos on their website too.

If you are looking for a physical sim card I have used the below without any problems.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09X3V2443/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

sioda · 16-10-2023 2:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121245298#Comment_121245298

For data saving in maps download the maps you need before you leave. Won't give you love traffic but will get out away from being lost 😁

brokenbad · 16-10-2023 3:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121245298#Comment_121245298

Just checked my phone settings (Samsung A53) and its does not support eSim 😣

brokenbad · 16-10-2023 3:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121245298#Comment_121245298

Pity i hadn't posted this question last week - would have ordered one of those. Flying out on Sat morning so the chance of it being here by Friday are slim

leex · 16-10-2023 3:43pm

I was in New York in June and purchased 2 x Airalo e-sims. The first worked fine in an IPhone 13. I had difficulty getting mine to work in a Samsung Galaxy S22+. Some apps including Google Maps didnt work with it. I purchased a GoMoWorld Esim shortly afterwards and it worked perfectly. Airalo support eventually refunded me the price of my esim.

rhinosaurious · 17-10-2023 12:41am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121244871#Comment_121244871

I recommend GoMoWorld! They’re owned by eir so it has some sort of trust I suppose. I used it in Turkey and it was working flawlessly, you can find a good data package on the app!

3DataModem · 17-10-2023 8:56am

I've used Airalo a huge amount in Japan, Singapore, Australia, US... works flawlessly for me (iPhones only).

I have heard above that some Samsung's have esim switching issues, the iPhone makes it very easy to enable the esim for cellular data roaming only.

I've tried other apps, but Airalo is the only one I've found more-or-less flawless for me. And pretty cheap too.

brokenbad · 17-10-2023 9:06am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121248195#Comment_121248195

Unfortunately my Samsung A53 is not compatible with eSims....😫

cena · 17-10-2023 2:52pm

How fast would you go through 15 gb using GoMoWorld, I am in the States for 4 days next month using google maps for driving

brokenbad · 17-10-2023 3:36pm

Another option may be to buy a Prepaid SIM over in the US in one of the Phone Provider Stores (T-Mobile or AT&T)

The only stipulation is that the phone needs to be unlocked.

IrishHomer · 17-10-2023 5:20pm

You probably would be required to provide a us address and a us social security number

Nigel Fairservice · 17-10-2023 5:31pm

My missus was with me in Chicago this year and she didn't get a sim card before going over. We looked in some of the phone shops over there (AT&T etc) and the plans were mad money. There didn't seem to be anything like Gomo or Three over there. You couldn't get sims for a week, they were all monthly plans. The cheapest plan was 50 dollars for the month plus all the providers were charging between 50 to 70 dollars activation fees on top of everything so it was very uneconomical for a trip lasting a few days. She ended up just tethering off mine for a few days.

in2dark · 17-10-2023 9:03pm

Bought this and worked like a charm!

Trip to SF in February

https://amzn.eu/d/0Hb2oBU

Art_Vandalay · 17-10-2023 9:18pm

some airports have vending machines for sim cards with data plans loaded on them around $40-$50 USD. You can also go to Walmart and buy a sim and add data plans, minimum was $35 USD on straight talk. All they needed was email address and name. No ID required

BArra · 18-10-2023 7:48am

see here for an esim with discount, worked flawless for me in the US

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058242259/airalo-e-sim-for-data-when-travelling-non-eu

mfceiling · 18-10-2023 8:00am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121250376#Comment_121250376

I did this last year in San Francisco. Just bought a PAYG SIM (my phone is unlocked).

It was something like €70 but that was unlimited data (we drove the coast for 3 weeks with Google maps on steady every day), calls and texts.

I know it's a bit more expensive but for convenience it couldn't be topped.

Batesout · 18-10-2023 8:51am

I have used the three data sim a few times and is brilliant for the USA

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Unlimited-data-Pay-You/dp/B08BWY2MJP/ref%3Dsr_1_3?crid=3D8AT6RJY9K37&keywords=three+unlimited+data+sim&qid=1697615402&sprefix=threesim+card+unlimited+data%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-3

Batesout · 18-10-2023 8:55am

Does anyone have cheap sim for Canada link . I don't have a esim phone

Simon201 · 18-10-2023 9:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121253063#Comment_121253063

I used a Three UK sim recently in Australia, it worked excellently with 4g in all but the most remote areas. But as I found out and others have said here roaming is limited to about 12gb so not really much point in paying for unlimited or anything more than 12gb. Probably better to get 2 10gb sims. Although I wasn't aware of the likes of Gomoword or Airalo until recently, would perhaps try them next time.

Chopper Dave · 18-10-2023 11:02am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121250178#Comment_121250178

I was in the States for 5 days last month and found GoMo World very easy to use including for Google Maps when driving. I used about 11GB in total so it was more than enough and it's quite easy to keep an eye on and to top up if necessary. Don't forget you can download local areas onto your Google Maps app in advance which might limit your data usage as well.

Lord Spence · 18-10-2023 11:12am

If your phone has an esim then Gomo World is great value, 1GB for €3.99 did me for a week as long as you use wifi where possible. Easy to see how much data you have left too with their app

brokenbad · 18-10-2023 11:22am

Would 1GB of data last 7 days just using Google Maps sporadically?

Charles Babbage · 18-10-2023 11:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121253746#Comment_121253746

If you download Google maps in advance or on hotel wifi then you don't need data at all for most purposes, live data just gives you live traffic and the like. So if you download the relevant maps, 1Gb should be fine.

It is always wise to download the relevant map when travelling, not least because out of town you might have no signal.

sioda · 18-10-2023 12:40pm

Stupid things to remember as well. Download any Spotify or YouTube you want and set it to offline mode. Also make sure you're app updates are set to WiFi only.

Again all mistakes I've made over the years.

podgeandrodge · 18-10-2023 12:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121244929#Comment_121244929

do the 3 UK sims have to be "activated" in the UK first or are they grand to use in the US immediately? (someone somewhere said something about this)

webpal · 18-10-2023 1:16pm

Disable Google photos too so that photos don’t upload over data

Batesout · 18-10-2023 1:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121254204#Comment_121254204

Activate before you go , they will give you a UK number

cena · 18-10-2023 2:42pm

Does anyone have a pic of the gomo world app on google? I don't see it

podgeandrodge · 18-10-2023 4:20pm

https://www.gomoworld.com/countries/united-states/

Link to app download on the page

cena · 18-10-2023 11:48pm

Gomo world not compatible with me phone. Any others I can use

Doodah7 · 19-10-2023 10:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121257182#Comment_121257182

You know what phone you have, does anybody else?

Try Airalo.

cena · 19-10-2023 12:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121258133#Comment_121258133

It is a redmi 10

griffdaddy · 19-10-2023 3:12pm

Download the mobimatter app and select where you're going, for how long and how much data you'll need. It'll show the best esim options with a link to buy. Most useful app I've used in a while.

podgeandrodge · 19-10-2023 4:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121258514#Comment_121258514

It's not Gomo World your problem is with. Your phone is not compatible with Esims. You'll have to get an IPhone, or Samsung, or Google Pixel (perhaps a few other models) if you want Esim. Otherwise get a physical sim card.

Only · 25-12-2023 10:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121254590#Comment_121254590

Do they have to be activated in the Uk or can they be activated in Ireland?

I got 2 of these a while ago for a trip this week and i have put one in my phone but I cant seem to get to to work ... can anyone help please?

Phone use in States

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