Why are U.S. Prepaid GSM SIM Cards so Limited and so Expensive?

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

Virgin Mobile <http://www.virginmobileusa.com/>
After you buy the phone,

FROM THE WEBSITE:

Start talking each day at 25 cents a minute. After 10 minutes the rate drops
to 10 cents a minute.

Local and long distance calls to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
Virgin Islands all cost the same.

There is absolutely no activation fee!

Taxes and services, like call waiting and caller ID, are included in that tiny
per-minute airtime rate.

Voicemail is included in your service, so when you check your messages from
your cell phone, you only pay for airtime.

Text Messaging
Cost:
$0.10 per sent message
No cost to receive messages

(International Calling available at higher rates)


In <3bab8835.0307090916.16f189a9@posting.google.com > on 9 Jul 2003 10:16:11
-0700, sfbacellexpert@hotmail.com (self-proclaimed sfbacellexpert) wrote:

>Why are U.S. Prepaid GSM SIM Cards so Limited and so Expensive?
>
>-AT&T does not sell prepaid GSM cards at all, and rumors are
> that their upcoming "prepaid" GSM will have a hefty monthly
> fee.
>
>-Cingular sells SIM cards for the western region only and they
> don't work Nationwide, but at least the price is relatively
> reasonable at $45 including a $30 airtime credit
> "http://cellularoutlet.com/pacwirprepdi.html"
>
>-T-Mobile charges $100 for a prepaid card with 125 minutes of
> airtime, but at least it works across the country.
>
>Isn't there a big market for reasonably priced prepaid
>SIM cards for visitors from other GSM countries? Or
>are they afraid of losing hefty international roaming
>fees or that U.S. customers will take advantage of
>this service?
>
>In Taiwan I can walk into almost any 7-11 and buy a
>prepaid SIM card for about $10, with about 100 minutes
>of airtime.
>
>As it stands now, a visitor to the U.S. is better off
>buying a Tracfone or signing up with eCallPlus than
>buying a T-Mobile or Cingular SIM. Not only is it
>cheaper than a prepaid SIM card, the coverage is far
>better since it includes AMPS, and they can always sell
>the handset to someone when they're done with it, or save
>it for the next trip and then re-activate it.
>
>The GSM trade association should encourage the U.S.
>GSM carriers to rectify this problem.
>
>Steve
>"http://sfbacell.com"
>San Francisco Bay Area Cellular Carrier Comparison

--
Best regards,
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/> HELP PAGES FOR
CINGULAR GSM + ERICSSON PHONES: <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

Virgin is a good deal, but in the US, it is not a GSM system. ATT's prepaid
GSM is a pretty good deal, but requires regular top ups. It also requires
some work to purchase a SIM only kit.

Stu

"John Navas" <spamfilter0@navasgroup.com> wrote in message
news:0eYOa.272$dk4.12672@typhoon.sonic.net...
> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> Virgin Mobile <http://www.virginmobileusa.com/>
> After you buy the phone,
>
> FROM THE WEBSITE:
>
> Start talking each day at 25 cents a minute. After 10 minutes the rate
drops
> to 10 cents a minute.
>
> Local and long distance calls to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
> Virgin Islands all cost the same.
>
> There is absolutely no activation fee!
>
> Taxes and services, like call waiting and caller ID, are included in that
tiny
> per-minute airtime rate.
>
> Voicemail is included in your service, so when you check your messages
from
> your cell phone, you only pay for airtime.
>
> Text Messaging
> Cost:
> $0.10 per sent message
> No cost to receive messages
>
> (International Calling available at higher rates)
>
>
> In <3bab8835.0307090916.16f189a9@posting.google.com > on 9 Jul 2003
10:16:11
> -0700, sfbacellexpert@hotmail.com (self-proclaimed sfbacellexpert) wrote:
>
> >Why are U.S. Prepaid GSM SIM Cards so Limited and so Expensive?
> >
> >-AT&T does not sell prepaid GSM cards at all, and rumors are
> > that their upcoming "prepaid" GSM will have a hefty monthly
> > fee.
> >
> >-Cingular sells SIM cards for the western region only and they
> > don't work Nationwide, but at least the price is relatively
> > reasonable at $45 including a $30 airtime credit
> > "http://cellularoutlet.com/pacwirprepdi.html"
> >
> >-T-Mobile charges $100 for a prepaid card with 125 minutes of
> > airtime, but at least it works across the country.
> >
> >Isn't there a big market for reasonably priced prepaid
> >SIM cards for visitors from other GSM countries? Or
> >are they afraid of losing hefty international roaming
> >fees or that U.S. customers will take advantage of
> >this service?
> >
> >In Taiwan I can walk into almost any 7-11 and buy a
> >prepaid SIM card for about $10, with about 100 minutes
> >of airtime.
> >
> >As it stands now, a visitor to the U.S. is better off
> >buying a Tracfone or signing up with eCallPlus than
> >buying a T-Mobile or Cingular SIM. Not only is it
> >cheaper than a prepaid SIM card, the coverage is far
> >better since it includes AMPS, and they can always sell
> >the handset to someone when they're done with it, or save
> >it for the next trip and then re-activate it.
> >
> >The GSM trade association should encourage the U.S.
> >GSM carriers to rectify this problem.
> >
> >Steve
> >"http://sfbacell.com"
> >San Francisco Bay Area Cellular Carrier Comparison
>
> --
> Best regards,
> John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/> HELP PAGES FOR
> CINGULAR GSM + ERICSSON PHONES: <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

AndreA <andtrapACFIORENTINA.NET@smn.sm> wrote in article
<5rjogvgnkpvmocpd6lh2r3uk4qo3b7746r@4ax.com>:

> imho because the american GSM market is "new"... in
> Europe we wiated for years for a serious service and so...
> this is american time :-)

> Andrea de Florence, www.prepaidgsm.net Staff
> < PrepaidGSM: a new domain and a exclusive forum only for you >

Thanks, Andrea, that's a usefel web site. I added a link
to it on my website under the prepaid section.

As it stands now, the best option for a visitor to the
U.S. (or any prepaid customer for that matter) is to
purchase a prepaid CDMA or TDMA phone that includes
AMPS roaming. They can always sell it to a future
traveler, or save it for another trip.

eCallPlus is the best deal since roaming on other
networks is at no extra cost, as are international
calls, but Tracfone is more easily available for
purchase. Virgin has good rates, but they don't
allow roaming on either non-Sprint CDMA networks
or on AMPS, even though the phones they sell are
technically capable of it. Sprint's PCS network is not
as extensive as AT&T's TDMA network, so a Virgin
subscriber will find themselves without any coverage
in many areas where a normal Sprint customer would
be roaming. Verizon's prepaid service has good
coverage, and allows roaming, but it is very
expensive.

Hopefully Cingular will eliminate the CA/NV/WA/ID
limitation when their GSM overlay of their TDMA
network is completed in 2004. They may be worried
that if they offered nationwide prepaid GSM coverage
before their GSM network is complete that they would
have a lot of complaints, and they're trying to keep
a low profile right now, especially in California where
they're in a lot of trouble with the Public Utilities
Commission.

Steve
"http://www.sfbacell.com"
San Francisco Bay Area Cellular Carrier Comparison

[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]

sfbacellexpertNO@SPAMhotmail.com (Steven Scharf), con una bandiera
della rinata Fiorentina in una mano e lo striscione "MEGLIO LIBERI
ALL'INFERNO CHE SCHIAVI IN PARADISO" nell'altra, cosi' parlo':


>> Andrea de Florence, www.prepaidgsm.net Staff
>> < PrepaidGSM: a new domain and a exclusive forum only for you >

>Thanks, Andrea, that's a usefel web site. I added a link
>to it on my website under the prepaid section.

[OT on]
your site is good too! You'll have a link too :P Now I'm waitin' only
for you in our forum :P
[OT off :P]

>As it stands now, the best option for a visitor to the
>U.S. (or any prepaid customer for that matter) is to
>purchase a prepaid CDMA or TDMA phone that includes
>AMPS roaming. They can always sell it to a future
>traveler, or save it for another trip.

true, but pay attention. We european are using very much sms... and a
sim Vociestream is good too if u want only to use sms services... imho
CDMA or TDMA is only for the "techno" customer, not for the normal
people. I saw people with DualBan (900/1800Mhz) in USA :-)

>Hopefully Cingular will eliminate the CA/NV/WA/ID
>limitation when their GSM overlay of their TDMA
>network is completed in 2004. They may be worried
>that if they offered nationwide prepaid GSM coverage
>before their GSM network is complete that they would
>have a lot of complaints, and they're trying to keep
>a low profile right now, especially in California where
>they're in a lot of trouble with the Public Utilities
>Commission.

interesting... but honestly do u like Cingular? :-)

--
Andrea de Florence, www.prepaidgsm.net Staff
< PrepaidGSM: a new domain and a exclusive forum only for you >

This site takes a little more in depth look at USA PrePaid and has a fairly
good look at Australia as well. Your TMOBILE quote is a bit off. For $50
customer gets his SIM card, activated with $30 of airtime good for 60 days.
Nothing to write home to Mom about, but gets the traveler up and running,
and probably a better deal then ROAMING, for most

http://reachme.at/PrePaidWireless

Certainly not as nice as Andreas site, but some good info laid out using a
templated website provided by MSN. There is links to just about every major
carrier and their PrePaid areas in the USA.

Also check out http://reachme.at/PalmPlace has some good info about using
your PDA and Mobile Phone as well

And for the "safety" oriented http://reachme.at/GasMask Site deals with
all the hoopla these days of securing a good quality Gas Mask If that links
down http://groups.msn.com/gasmaskinfo

"sfbacellexpert" <sfbacellexpert@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3bab8835.0307090916.16f189a9@posting.google.c om...
> Why are U.S. Prepaid GSM SIM Cards so Limited and so Expensive?
>
> -AT&T does not sell prepaid GSM cards at all, and rumors are
> that their upcoming "prepaid" GSM will have a hefty monthly
> fee.
>
> -Cingular sells SIM cards for the western region only and they
> don't work Nationwide, but at least the price is relatively
> reasonable at $45 including a $30 airtime credit
> "http://cellularoutlet.com/pacwirprepdi.html"
>
> -T-Mobile charges $100 for a prepaid card with 125 minutes of
> airtime, but at least it works across the country.
>
> Isn't there a big market for reasonably priced prepaid
> SIM cards for visitors from other GSM countries? Or
> are they afraid of losing hefty international roaming
> fees or that U.S. customers will take advantage of
> this service?
>
> In Taiwan I can walk into almost any 7-11 and buy a
> prepaid SIM card for about $10, with about 100 minutes
> of airtime.
>
> As it stands now, a visitor to the U.S. is better off
> buying a Tracfone or signing up with eCallPlus than
> buying a T-Mobile or Cingular SIM. Not only is it
> cheaper than a prepaid SIM card, the coverage is far
> better since it includes AMPS, and they can always sell
> the handset to someone when they're done with it, or save
> it for the next trip and then re-activate it.
>
> The GSM trade association should encourage the U.S.
> GSM carriers to rectify this problem.
>
> Steve
> "http://sfbacell.com"
> San Francisco Bay Area Cellular Carrier Comparison

Where I live in NE Pennsylvania T-Mobile offers a prepaid SIM card for
$50.00 which gives you a total of 120 anytime minutes, plus Tax it comes to
$53.00. I inquired about this at T-Mobile at a kiosk at the local shopping
mall. I told the sales rep that I have a phone purchased from ATTWS and it
was unlocked ( Nokia 6310i) I had the phone remotely unlocked so that I can
use it abroad.......the sales rep told me that the T-Mobile SIM Card would
work as long as the phone is unlocked.
"sfbacellexpert" <sfbacellexpert@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3bab8835.0307090916.16f189a9@posting.google.c om...
> Why are U.S. Prepaid GSM SIM Cards so Limited and so Expensive?
>
> -AT&T does not sell prepaid GSM cards at all, and rumors are
> that their upcoming "prepaid" GSM will have a hefty monthly
> fee.
>
> -Cingular sells SIM cards for the western region only and they
> don't work Nationwide, but at least the price is relatively
> reasonable at $45 including a $30 airtime credit
> "http://cellularoutlet.com/pacwirprepdi.html"
>
> -T-Mobile charges $100 for a prepaid card with 125 minutes of
> airtime, but at least it works across the country.
>
> Isn't there a big market for reasonably priced prepaid
> SIM cards for visitors from other GSM countries? Or
> are they afraid of losing hefty international roaming
> fees or that U.S. customers will take advantage of
> this service?
>
> In Taiwan I can walk into almost any 7-11 and buy a
> prepaid SIM card for about $10, with about 100 minutes
> of airtime.
>
> As it stands now, a visitor to the U.S. is better off
> buying a Tracfone or signing up with eCallPlus than
> buying a T-Mobile or Cingular SIM. Not only is it
> cheaper than a prepaid SIM card, the coverage is far
> better since it includes AMPS, and they can always sell
> the handset to someone when they're done with it, or save
> it for the next trip and then re-activate it.
>
> The GSM trade association should encourage the U.S.
> GSM carriers to rectify this problem.
>
> Steve
> "http://sfbacell.com"
> San Francisco Bay Area Cellular Carrier Comparison

hmmm i think the main reason they are so expensive because they are
PREPAID lol high price here in the US and im sure they are expensive
in other country's as well

"PDA Man" <pdaman@pdamanland.tv> wrote in article
<ndWcnfT3G9c_5ZGiXTWJiw@comcast.com>:
> This site takes a little more in depth look at USA PrePaid and has a fairly
> good look at Australia as well. Your TMOBILE quote is a bit off. For $50
> customer gets his SIM card, activated with $30 of airtime good for 60 days.
> Nothing to write home to Mom about, but gets the traveler up and running,
> and probably a better deal then ROAMING, for most
>
> http://reachme.at/PrePaidWireless
>
> Certainly not as nice as Andreas site, but some good info laid out using a
> templated website provided by MSN. There is links to just about every major
> carrier and their PrePaid areas in the USA.
>
> Also check out http://reachme.at/PalmPlace has some good info about using
> your PDA and Mobile Phone as well
>
> And for the "safety" oriented http://reachme.at/GasMask Site deals with
> all the hoopla these days of securing a good quality Gas Mask If that links
> down http://groups.msn.com/gasmaskinfo
>
> "sfbacellexpert" <sfbacellexpert@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3bab8835.0307090916.16f189a9@posting.google.c om...
> > Why are U.S. Prepaid GSM SIM Cards so Limited and so Expensive?
> >
> > -AT&T does not sell prepaid GSM cards at all, and rumors are
> > that their upcoming "prepaid" GSM will have a hefty monthly
> > fee.
> >
> > -Cingular sells SIM cards for the western region only and they
> > don't work Nationwide, but at least the price is relatively
> > reasonable at $45 including a $30 airtime credit
> > "http://cellularoutlet.com/pacwirprepdi.html"
> >
> > -T-Mobile charges $100 for a prepaid card with 125 minutes of
> > airtime, but at least it works across the country.
> >
> > Isn't there a big market for reasonably priced prepaid
> > SIM cards for visitors from other GSM countries? Or
> > are they afraid of losing hefty international roaming
> > fees or that U.S. customers will take advantage of
> > this service?
> >
> > In Taiwan I can walk into almost any 7-11 and buy a
> > prepaid SIM card for about $10, with about 100 minutes
> > of airtime.
> >
> > As it stands now, a visitor to the U.S. is better off
> > buying a Tracfone or signing up with eCallPlus than
> > buying a T-Mobile or Cingular SIM. Not only is it
> > cheaper than a prepaid SIM card, the coverage is far
> > better since it includes AMPS, and they can always sell
> > the handset to someone when they're done with it, or save
> > it for the next trip and then re-activate it.
> >
> > The GSM trade association should encourage the U.S.
> > GSM carriers to rectify this problem.
> >
> > Steve
> > "http://sfbacell.com"
> > San Francisco Bay Area Cellular Carrier Comparison
>
>

[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]

AndreA <andtrapACFIORENTINA.NET@smn.sm> wrote in message news:<8qkogvsjvnrd3alhgarnmr43rl7rumk6cr@4ax.com>. ..
> John Navas <spamfilter0@navasgroup.com>, con una bandiera della
> rinata Fiorentina in una mano e lo striscione "MEGLIO LIBERI
> ALL'INFERNO CHE SCHIAVI IN PARADISO" nell'altra, cosi' parlo':
>
> >[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
> >
> >Virgin Mobile <http://www.virginmobileusa.com/>
>
> ehm... subject is GSM :P

Maybe, but if this thread illustrates anything, it's...

A) GSM coverage in the USA is spotty at best,
certainly compared to CDMA or TDMA, at least
today, and ...

B) It might be a false economy for a European
traveller to bring their phone here and purchase
an American SIM when for only a little more
upfront and less per minute they can buy a
CDMA or TDMA prepaid phone.