The Simple Mobile is a good value SIM card that includes 30 days mobile service in the USA.
The Simple Mobile USA SIM card is an all-inclusive SIM card that includes your first 30 days service in the USA including:
- Unlimited incoming calls in the USA
- Unlimited calls to US landline and US mobile phones
- Unlimited international text messages
- 4GB data access at up to 4G LTE speed (unlimited data at 64kbps after you have used your 4GB high-speed data allowance)
Your SIM card is activated for you so it is ready to use as soon as you arrive in the USA
We will activate your Simple Mobile USA SIM card for you so it is ready to use as soon as you arrive in the USA. As long as your phone is unlocked and compatible with the US mobile network it will work as soon as you arrive in the USA with your first 30 days mobile service already paid for.
Please note: your US mobile number will be sent to you by text message as soon as you arrive in the USA. It is not possible to find out your US mobile number prior to arrive in the USA with this SIM card. If you need to know your US mobile number prior to travelling to the USA you will need to buy an AT&T USA SIM card.
Will my phone work in the USA?
You need to ensure that your phjone is unlocked and compatible with the 1900MHz 3G band. The old 2G network was switched off in late 2014 so it is not enough to have a phone that supports the 1900MHz 2G GSM network and just because a phone is advertised as being quad-band is not guarantee that it will work in the USA. All Apple iPhones sold in Australia will work with the Simple Mobile USA SIM card.
You will get faster data access on the 4G LTE network if your phone also supports LTE band 4 and expanded coverage if it also supports LTE band 12. Very few phones sold in Australia will support LTE band 12, but most newer phones (including the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus) will support LTE band 4 which has coverage in most US cities.
Nationwide US coverage
Simple Mobile use the T-Mobile USA network, which covers 96% of the US population. You will need a phone that supports the 1900MHz 3G band to access the network and most cities have 4G LTE data coverage (on LTE band 4).
T-Mobile's network has improved a lot in the past few years although there is still some room for improvement. Coverage is brilliant in Florida, the mid-Atlantic states and most big cities throughout the USA (including the excellent coverage on the West coast including California, Oregon, Seattle and Las Vegas), although there are some dead spots in rural areas, particularly in the more sparsely-populated states such as Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming and Alaska.
T-Mobile fill this gap by partnering with other networks to offer coverage in rural areas where T-Mobile don't own their own network. As a Simple Mobile customer on the 4GB Nationwide plan you get free access to T-Mobile's partner network. Note: data access is not available when roaming on a partner network.
Topping up your credit
It is easy to top up your credit online at ding.com or recharge.com. However your first month of service is already paid for so you only need to top up if you're planning on using your service beyond the initial 30-day period.