Cheapest way of making calls in the States

Ekim · 30 Jan 2007 at 15:59

I'm going to the States in March with my Mum and my brother. We all have mobile phones but obviously if we take them across and use them to call each other if we get split up then it going to cost us a bomb!

Is it possible to buy PAYG sim cards in the US that we can put in our phones and use to contact each other as and when? If so who is the cheapest provider?

iCraig · 30 Jan 2007 at 16:28

Are you taking a laptop?

If so, grab a mic and use Skype.

Killa_ken · 30 Jan 2007 at 16:29

I Use skype to call everywhere, cell phones suck here you have to pay to receive and make calls :eek:

iCraig · 30 Jan 2007 at 16:30

Correct me if I'm wrong but if two people have Skype on their smartphones, can they talk to each other for free.*

*Cost of using WAP or GPRS or whatever taken into account.

Killa_ken · 30 Jan 2007 at 16:32

iCraig said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but if two people have Skype on their smartphones, can they talk to each other for free.*

*Cost of using WAP or GPRS or whatever taken into account.

yup my dad does it from his all the time

but you have to pay for GPRS but most blackerrys etc have it included unlimited in the package

Tomsk · 30 Jan 2007 at 16:47

I don't think Skype is an option here.

You can get PAYG cards in the UK that will work in the USA (and elsewhere) but there expensive.

If you're just going to be using the mobiles in emergencies you might as well just get your current SIM card enabled for roaming. A few £'s extra on your phone bill is worth it for the convenience and peace of mind.

Ekim · 30 Jan 2007 at 16:56

Skype isn't really an option.

This is going to be needed when we decide to split up and do our own thing so we can easily arrange to meet up again. Probably will make at least one call a day.

If we all got something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CINGULAR-US-U...ryZ27330QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Would that work? I'd imagine they are probably cheaper to buy in the US too!

Killa_ken · 30 Jan 2007 at 17:04

Ekim said:
Skype isn't really an option.

This is going to be needed when we decide to split up and do our own thing so we can easily arrange to meet up again. Probably will make at least one call a day.

If we all got something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CINGULAR-US-U...ryZ27330QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Would that work? I'd imagine they are probably cheaper to buy in the US too!

Virgin Mobile do a pre-pay one here for $15 i believe, they also make disposable ones

Vixen · 30 Jan 2007 at 17:06

I was in Canada with my mum over the summer, and we just used our mobiles to keep in touch with each other. So long as you don't go crazy with them, it shouldn't cost much - send texts instead of making calls, try to have a pre-arranged meeting place so you're just passing on a time, etc.