Can I buy a sim card for prepaid internet for the USA from Germany?
I am currently planning a 3 month trip to the USA (Pittsburgh, PA). As I have never been in the US and only rarely abroad and I was never alone abroad before I really want to make sure that I have internet access when I arrive. I have heard that many coffee shops have internet, but I don't want to rely on that. I would like to make sure that I have mobile internet.
To avoid unwanted high costs I want a prepaid solution just like simyo.de in Germany.
If I could use that simcard to make phone calls that would be nice, but internet is more important to me.
I have seen How to access the internet during a road trip in the USA?. However, as I am going to Pittsburgh I think I will have service.
I have seen AT/T, but one the one hand I'm not sure if they ship their simcard to Germany and I saw
Data (att.com/dataplans): If usage exceeds your monthly data allowance, you will automatically be charged overage for additional data provided.
When I use simyo, I get about 500MB of highspeed internet and afterwards free internet which is incredible slow, but I don't costs I don't want. Is there something similar in the US?
Best Answer
Your best bet is to visit an AT&T Shop or a T-Mobile Shop upon arrival. These are the two providers that actually sell SIM cards, as far as I know. The US cell phone providers focus on selling cell phones with a SIM-card-in-software that they tie to the phone. It is less common for AT&T to sell a SIM card, but you might have luck there. T-Mobile shops sell SIM cards regularly.
Note that getting a SIM card is a bit easier than in Germany, as you don't actually need ID when buying a pre-paid SIM card - just bring some cash to the shop, tell them what pay-as-you-go plan you want, and 10 minutes later things work. I only tried T-Mobile for that in the past. Available plans are hidden somewhat on the web page: http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans
Having some experience with both the US Cell Phone "system" and the German one, please be prepared to pay more for Internet on the cell phone than you would in Germany.
Note that some airports have "tech gadget" vending machines. If you tranfer in Philadelphia or Newark, you should find one. As it is not legally required to provide your ID for registering a phone/SIM card, you might have luck finding a SIM card (or a cheap phone with internet) there.
Pictures about "Can I buy a sim card for prepaid internet for the USA from Germany?"
Can you buy a SIM card from another country?
(In wireless industry jargon, these are called prepaid international SIM cards.) Even better, some overseas carriers let you order a SIM card ahead of time so you can get it before your trip or have it delivered to your hotel.Can a foreigner get a SIM card in USA?
Make sure your phone is unlocked, before buying a sim card in the USA. Foreign sim cards only work in unlocked phones. If you are not sure about this ask your provider in your home country before your trip.Can prepaid SIM card be used internationally?
Local prepaid sim cards are often pretty cheap and come with big value data bundles. Most countries and operators have special tourist sim cards. But where local prepaid sim cards stop working, international sim cards continue to roam! With a sim card designed with overseas travel in mind, you'll always be set to go.Which SIM card can be used internationally?
People looking for the all-round ol' reliable, OneSim is the go-to choice of travel SIM cards. For those who want the best data SIM card they can use overseas, that choice is KeepGo.Buying a Sim Card in the USA in 2022 🇺🇸
More answers regarding can I buy a sim card for prepaid internet for the USA from Germany?
Answer 2
If you have a friend in the US, you can order a SIM card on the internet and have it shipped to their house.
Alternatively, you could try ordering one from Amazon, such as this one, and see if they'll ship internationally. I recommend using Ptel (Platinum Telecom), which runs on the T-Mobile network and has the cheapest rates for internet data that I've found.
Answer 3
Another poster here introduced me to Simporium, which offers information about and purchase of prepaid SIM cards for many countries, including the USA. They have two USA prepaid SIMs available, one on AT&T for $50-$60, one on UltraMobile (with worse coverage) from just $19. They will ship to Germany for $7, but it takes two weeks:
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Liza Summer, Andrea Piacquadio, Anete Lusina, Karolina Grabowska