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I'm in Florida on a trip from Canada. The Orlando airport doesn't have a single SIM card provider. Travel forums seem to validate this. If you can't have cellu
by fudged71 10y ago
I'm in Florida on a trip from Canada. The Orlando airport doesn't have a single SIM card provider. Travel forums seem to validate this.
If you can't have cellular communication when you land... just WTF?! Backwards country.
- JohnTHaller 10y agoMost US phones are either locked to a single provider or only have full radio support for a single provider. Most US customers don't even know what a SIM is. So, shops like that are completely uncommon here. Unlike Europe where everything just works, we have 4 separate major mobile networks (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint) that use separate and incompatible technology. "Competition" beat out standardization here and we all suffer for it. Depending on where you are from and what kind of phone you have, there's a good chance your phone wouldn't even work here with a SIM anyway. You'll want to find the nearest AT&T or T-Mobile store as those are the two networks that support semi-standard 3G. Note that they both use unique radio networks so you'll need to check what bands your phone supports and what bands each provider supports in a given area for compatibility. Yes, it really is this stupid here.
- sjwright 10y agoTravel tip: If you're in London Heathrow airport, there are vending machines that sell a ready-to-go pre-activated pre-paid all-sizes SIM card from Three, for £20. It gives you 30 days of near-unlimited roaming to 19 countries including in the USA where it uses AT&T and T-Mobile. The only catch is tethering is not allowed. Oh, and you won't have a local phone number. But if you really want a local phone, your best bet is to pick up a hilariously cheap disposable phone from a retail store.
- noobermin 10y ago>T-Mobile If you're from the US and you have T-Mobile you get free roaming almost everywhere...at 2G. I ended up buying a datapass which gives you LTE if possible at 50 usd...for 500 MB for two weeks. I ended up using it all, but hey, even when that was gone, I could still connect albeit slowly. Last week, I used it across London, Singapore, and Seoul. It was a god-send without having to buy a new SIM...yes, it used my old number, from what I understand. EDIT: The free 2G is real...no extra fees. It's free data (out of your usual plan) and texts, but I think it's a couple of cents for calls, as if I give a shit about that.
- ajmurmann 10y agoI think the issue regarding different bands is generally overstated. Most phones are sold globally and I've never had an issue with German phones in the US or an US phone anywhere abroad.
- rdtsc 10y agoAt least my T-Mobile worked in Canada including data and all. My co-workers were surprised by it threatening I'd get a huge bill at the end of the month (which didn't happen).
- ajmurmann 10y agoIn Japan you can order them online to be delivered to your hotel on arrival and it comes with English instructions.