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+--- Thread: Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? (/showthread.php?tid=141507)
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Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? - Chakravartin - 09-14-2012
I've applied for an official unlock on my AT&T iPhone 4 and intend to put it on a pre-pay plan for my mom when I switch to an iPhone 5 in October or November.
'Anyone got any experiences with pre-pay SIMs? Any recommendations for a particular cellular provider? Any problems with data plans/speeds/hidden costs?
TIA!!
Re: Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? - Tofer - 09-14-2012
No direct experience here, but keep in mind you probably won't have visual voicemail if you're not on one of the big three networks (I'm pretty sure it is an AT&T / Verizon / Sprint thing). Also, even though I like T-Mobile, the 3G speeds are more like 2.5G, from what I hear.
-Tofer
Re: Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? - Chris Y - 09-14-2012
I do. My iPhone is also AT&T unlocked, but it doesn't need to be on any AT&T MVNO. I'm on Airvoice, mostly because I don't need much data (data is 33c/MB, which is fairly expensive, but calls are only 4c/min and texts are 2c/min). I'm mostly on WIFI so if I do need data it's only to check/send an email or look up an address. I can keep my monthly costs to around $10/month.
If you use more data, Straighttalk also uses AT&T's network (and doesn't need to be unlocked) and for $45 you get unlimited talk and text and 2GB of data.
Other options are H2O Wireless (also an AT&T MVNO) and T-mobile.
Re: Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? - mrbigstuff - 09-14-2012
I've been wondering the same thing.
also curious if I can use a prepaid card for data along with phone...?
Re: Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? - rgG - 09-15-2012
I would recommend either StraightTalk or H2O. You do not have to unlock your iPhone to use it on either of these. Both are AT&T MNVOS. MMS will required some work, if that matters to you, but pics through iMessage work fine. As said, no visual voicemail. My daughter has had her iPhone, not unlocked or jailbroken, on H2O for over a year. Both ST and H2O have different plans, so you can just pick the one that fits your needs for amounts of minutes, texts, and data.
Re: Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? - btfc - 09-15-2012
"$45 you get unlimited talk and text and 2GB of data."
Throttled after 2 gigs.
Re: Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? - deckeda - 09-15-2012
Anyone know if these phones on AT&T MNVOs would work on the AT&T Microcell? I'd guess not, only because it's not a branded "AT&T" phone at that point?
So, no Visual Voicemail, and MMS doesn't "work" except from another iMessage user ... anything else to be aware of?
Re: Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? - rgG - 09-15-2012
deckeda wrote:
Anyone know if these phones on AT&T MNVOs would work on the AT&T Microcell? I'd guess not, only because it's not a branded "AT&T" phone at that point?
So, no Visual Voicemail, and MMS doesn't "work" except from another iMessage user ... anything else to be aware of?
Not sure about the microcell, but you can get MMS to work, if you jailbreak and do some tweaking. You can probably get Thanatos answer about the microcell thing over at the StraghtTalk forum at HoFo. Those people are all over all things related to the iPhone and ST.
Re: Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? - deckeda - 09-15-2012
I'll check it, thanks Rhon.
Re: Anyone using a prepaid SIM on an unlocked GSM iPhone? - silvarios - 09-15-2012
Tofer wrote:
No direct experience here, but keep in mind you probably won't have visual voicemail if you're not on one of the big three networks (I'm pretty sure it is an AT&T / Verizon / Sprint thing). Also, even though I like T-Mobile, the 3G speeds are more like 2.5G, from what I hear.
-Tofer
If you have a proper T-Mobile compatible phone and good coverage, the speeds are fast, definitely faster than the other carriers' 3G. With an iPhone, you'll only get EDGE speeds, for the time being anyway.