Any advice on sorting out US cellphone carrier for a UK phone?

[smilingstone 223]

Hi all,

 

I finally made the move over to the US last week and we're starting to look into how to get me up and running with a cellphone that isn't useless beyond extortionate international roaming fees or a wifi connection.

 

My phone is from the UK and my UK sim card is contract-free, I simply pay X p/month and it gives me X GB of data and unlimited calls/texts. Really simple. However, it doesn't look like anything like this exists in the US (if it does, I'm yet to find it). 

 

Does anyone have any suggestions for the best route for this? Some providers let you "bring your own device" (BYOD) and switch to them, but it doesn't look like my phone is supported for the ones I've seen (a Samsung Galaxy A15). Hubbie-to-be just suggests a new phone to make it simple but I really don't want that when I haven't even had mine 12 months!

 

Thank you  

[appleblossom 3,025]

Mint Mobile. I set up a US number with Mint before I left the UK, I’ve kept my UK number too and have both lines on my phone.

 

Mint also gives free calls to the UK. Mine is an Iphone though, I’ve no idea if it would work with your phone, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t?

Edited Monday at 09:28 PM by appleblossom

[smilingstone 223]

6 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

Mint Mobile. I set up a US number with Mint before I left the UK, I’ve kept my UK number too and have both on my phone (my Mint mobile is an eSIM).

 

Doesn't look like my phone is compatible with Mint either.  

[appleblossom 3,025]

3 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

 

Doesn't look like my phone is compatible with Mint either.  

 

The only Samsung A15 that I can select from the drop down menu says it is, unless you have a different version maybe? You can check with your IMEI number though to be sure - https://www.mintmobile.com/how-it-works/compatibility/ 

 

Edited Monday at 09:34 PM by appleblossom

[smilingstone 223]

11 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

The only Samsung A15 that I can select from the drop down menu says it is, unless you have a different version maybe? You can check with your IMEI number though to be sure - https://www.mintmobile.com/how-it-works/compatibility/ 

 

 

Yeah, I think I have the 4G version, cheaped out as my UK carrier didn't offer 5G in my area anyway. I checked the IMEI and it said no.

 

The hunt continues!

[appleblossom 3,025]

2 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

 

Yeah, I think I have the 4G version, cheaped out as my UK carrier didn't offer 5G in my area anyway. I checked the IMEI and it said no.

 

The hunt continues!

 

Oh blimey. In which case I’m afraid I agree with your fiancé, I’d just get a new phone - if Mint won’t work I think you’d struggle to find any other carrier that will. 

[Crazy Cat 42,179]

23 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

 

Doesn't look like my phone is compatible with Mint either.  

There are plenty of carriers offering free phones.

[SL2024 90]

My fiancee's dad got me added to their family phone plan with their phone provider (AT&T) so I was able to get a US number added to my phone which is dual SIM compatible. Does anyone in your fiancé's family have a family phone plan they can add you too? Or is your UK phone not compatible at all with any of the providers you have looked at so far?

Edited 22 hours ago by SL2024

[Boiler 45,993]

Borrow someone’s SIM stick it in and see if it works

[ineedadisplayname 503]

If you get roaming on it, it means it can connect to the US towers.

 

It might happen that you won't get the full feature set and at some areas (rural mainly) in the US you won't get cell service or data connection but in general it should work.

 

As others suggested try it with your partners sim card and see if data/calls are working. You might need APN settings for that carrier.

 

[ineedadisplayname 503]

7 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

There are plenty of carriers offering free phones.

Don't sell yourself for a "free" phone.

 

Even if the budget is tight you can get a decent (Moto g g5 2024) model for like $150 on amazon that is the US version.

 

Also as a new immigrant it will be interesting to get a whole new post paid plan right out of the gate

Edited 19 hours ago by ineedadisplayname

[Melancholic Mage 118]

@smilingstone Have you tried US Mobile? 

 

https://www.usmobile.com/

[P055UM 289]

I would suggest you get a new phone which can run two SIM cards. 
 

I moved my UK number to GiffGaff (only top up when needed in Europe) and got myself a US number on Mint ($15/month). 

[yuna628 9,702]

The best thing to likely do would be to buy a gophone or buy a phone outright from whatever provider you think will work for you best. If you ever travel back to the UK be aware of if the phone is unlocked or not before putting another sim in.

[Boiler 45,993]

iPhone or Pixel are the logical choice