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I'm not sure anything in your post actually answers his question. To answer his question: Yes, there are many "SIM-only" (commonly called "prepaid" in the US)
by runjake 15y ago
I'm not sure anything in your post actually answers his question.
To answer his question: Yes, there are many "SIM-only" (commonly called "prepaid" in the US) options. AT&T has the GoPhone thing, and T-Mobile has a couple of different prepaid options.
You can get smartphone data with both AT&T and T-Mobile's prepaid. A contract-free iPhone (3GS/4/4S) on AT&T GoPhone is a pretty good deal right now. Using an iPhone on GoPhone doesn't require that it be unlocked, as it uses standard AT&T (micro-)SIMS.
The various CDMA carriers and the MVNOs operating off of it has similar deals, though they're not as cost-effective and there's a choice of no or expensive data options.
- ramLlama 15y agoWell, I did say "yes, you can" so technically I did answer his question. However, the implication is that by buying a SIM (which can also be postpaid. It is not strictly prepaid only) and a phone, you get the choice of phone and service. This may be true in Europe. It is certainly true in India, where people routinely swap SIM's. It is not true in the U.S. There is largely no benefit to buying service and a SIM separately. Yes, prepaid is cheaper, and I forgot about that. But if you look at an apples to apples comparison of plans, there is absolutely no reason to buy postpaid off-contract when you pay the same amount regardless.