Ask Slashdot: A Cheap US Cellphone Plan With an Unlocked Phone? 288
metrix007 writes "I am a recent immigrant to the U.S. I am used to going to countries and paying a small amount, say, $30, for a simcard and using it with my unlocked phone. I can't seem to do that in the U.S., where the only options seem to be to buy a phone and buy minutes as I need them such as with Tracfone, or a contract where I pay an amount per month to pay off a phone and a certain amount of minutes. I have a Google Nexus One, which is better than any phone offered on the basic plans from all the cell providers. Is there any way I can use it as a cell phone in the U.S. for about $30-$50/month? It seems a shame to waste it and have to pay for a lesser phone."
*crickets chirping* (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:t-mobile (Score:3, Insightful)
I guess the second largest city in my state with 540,000 people is the "boondocks" as tmobile is utter crap here.
Re:t-mobile (Score:4, Insightful)
No kidding... My wife just got T-Mobile last weekend for her unlocked cell phone. As we live in the boondocks of midtown west Manhattan, it's pretty much useless... There's no signal in our apartment or many other places around.
In fact, the guy at the T-Mobile store in the boondocks, across 14th Street from Union Square didn't get a signal in the store after we paid for it. I joked about what a great sign that was, but he said it was probably because it wasn't fully activated yet. Turns out it was probably just bad service from them.
Re:t-mobile (Score:2, Insightful)
Elitism: it takes many forms.
Re:t-mobile (Score:4, Insightful)
I bet that he is referring to metro area, and you are looking at population inside city limits.
500,000 is smallish for a metro area, but big for a US city.