Slight Off Topic: PAYG T-Mobile on iPhone

[TheOriginalKi]

I will be spending two weeks in the USA (I'm from Northern Ireland, UK) and it would be really good if I could get my iPhone up and running over there for calls and text (I'll use WiFi for data).

I have been having a really confusing time on the T-Mobile.com site and I may have it wrong but I was looking at this:

T-Mobile® Prepaid SIM Card Activation Kit + $30 Refill Card and that would cost a total of $36.99. (do I have to pay tax on top of that?) That would give me calls at 19¢/min. How much would texts cost? I can't seem to find that on the T-Mobile site.

Is that what I'm looking for?

Any help would be great!

 

[awadeee]

Which iPhone do you have? Are you unlocked?

P.S. If you're going to text it's probably something like .60 a text.

 

[KFujiwara]

The phone will have to be unlocked but I'm sure you're aware of that. Generally you will pay tax on the cards rather than on the service itself. $30 will get you about 160 minutes of talk time and 90 days of service. In regards to texting, it's $.05 to receive and $.10 to send when using the pay-per-minute plans. Any other information can be found here:
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/prepaid.aspx
Under the menu on the top of the screen is a header and information bar with 3 steps. Under step two is a section for prepaid plans. Click the "See Prepaid Plans" for the rest of the info on the services offered through them. Hopefully this helps.

 

[TheOriginalKi]

Which iPhone do you have? Are you unlocked?

P.S. If you're going to text it's probably something like .60 a text.

I have an iPhone 4 and it will only cost me £15 to have it unlocked by my carrier so that's not a problem.

The phone will have to be unlocked but I'm sure you're aware of that. Generally you will pay tax on the cards rather than on the service itself. $30 will get you about 160 minutes of talk time and 90 days of service. In regards to texting, it's $.05 to receive and $.10 to send when using the pay-per-minute plans. Any other information can be found here:
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/prepaid.aspx
Under the menu on the top of the screen is a header and information bar with 3 steps. Under step two is a section for prepaid plans. Click the "See Prepaid Plans" for the rest of the info on the services offered through them. Hopefully this helps.

That's great and just the info I was after!

I still can't get over having to PAY to recieve texts etc. Will incoming calls come out of my minutes too? In the UK we don't pay to recieve any thing at all, even if we take our phones/sim cards aboard!

 

[KFujiwara]

Unfortunately, incoming calls will deplete your minutes as well.

 

[Applejuiced]

I have an iPhone 4 and it will only cost me £15 to have it unlocked by my carrier so that's not a problem.



That's great and just the info I was after!

I still can't get over having to PAY to recieve texts etc. Will incoming calls come out of my minutes too? In the UK we don't pay to recieve any thing at all, even if we take our phones/sim cards aboard!

Yes, both incoming calls and texts are charged.
Dont make much sense but that's how its always been in the US.
Both the caller and receiver get charged for the same minute or text for example.
BS.

 

[TheOriginalKi]

Yes, both incoming calls and texts are charged.
Dont make much sense but that's how its always been in the US.
Both the caller and receiver get charged for the same minute or text for example.
BS.

Cool thanks.

I've just called up Three UK and handed over £15 for an official unlock.

 

[awadeee]

I've just called up Three UK and handed over £15 for an official unlock.

Oh how we envy you.

 

[sou1 so1di3r]

Cool thanks.

I've just called up Three UK and handed over £15 for an official unlock.

Wow wish I could do this.....