Where can I buy a SIM card in the USA?
Asked by
jlm11f (
12416
)
November 27th, 2009
This is probably a silly Q. But I am not sure, so I ask anyway. I have an unlocked cell phone that currently works more like an iPod touch because it doesn’t have a SIM card. But I have google voice. So I am hoping that if I add a SIM card to it, I’ll be able to use the phone to make/receive calls using google voice and no additional money?
Assuming that logic is right, where can I buy a SIM card? I need the cheapest possible since I don’t plan to be using it for anything but putting into my phone. I don’t want to have to buy a Pay as you go phone along with it. Will I be able to find something to meet my needs from Walmart?
For all those wondering, I already have a proper cell phone that works with Verizon, but I just want to use this other phone to its maximum potential since I have it anyway. Also, the reason I cannot get SIM from Verizon is because Verizon is CDMA technology and this phone needs a SIM i.e. GSM technology
Thanks!!
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9 Answers
How does google voice figure into your plans for this cell phone? You’d still need a wireless plan and carrier to use it…
You should be able to buy a SIM card from any cell phone provider—though I don’t think it’d be cheap. The best bet would be to get a burner SIM—like from Boost or a similar provider.
If I get a prepaid SIM card with the minimum requirement, and it comes w/ a cell #, then I can port my GVoice # to that SIM phone #, so I can receive calls without using the prepaid minutes on the SIM card. Does that make sense? I know in many other countries (like India), you can go anywhere and just buy a SIM card and it comes w/ a cell phone number. It is a really easy process. I just don’t know how it works here or rather why it is so much more complicated here.
Check with ATT. I got a couple for free because I was concerned about what would happen if I ever lost my phone.
My whole life is in those numbers in my contact list.
ATT is my cell provider, but if you brought your iPhone in with you to an ATT store, they might assume the same?
The other thingcyou can try is calling the Apple support line and asking them about it. You need to persist in getting transferred to a specialist, since the front-line phone people are not as knowledgeable about atypical situations.
@PnL If you have an iPhone, good luck getting a SIM card for it. The SIM card for an iPhone is proprietary, and doesn’t accept non-iPhone SIM cards.
@PnL Also, incoming calls will still debit minutes on your plan in the US, if I remember correctly.
Do you have any friends with both an iPhone and ATT as their service provider who might be willing to stop by their local ATT store and grub an extra one off of them for you.
They didn’t give me any hassle about the 2nd extra one when I thought I had misplaced the first. I don’t think they really keep track of such things.
If all else fails, drop me a PM and I’ll mail you one of my extras but it would be quicker and more convenient for you to handle it locally if you can :)
yes you can get them at walmart and just about any electronics store. the cheapest is probably on ebay or amazon.com if you don’t mind online shopping. avoid buying it at the cell phone stores as they tend to gouge prices for everything
You can get this at Walmart.
@Buttonstc That’s very kind of you, thank you. I ended up making a stupid move out of frustration last night and bought a pay as you go phone from walmart for 30$. They don’t sell SIM cards alone, but I knew they had them w/ the pay as you go phone. So yeah..essentially I spent 30$ for a SIM card. I still feel really stupid about it but oh well.
Thank you to everyone for their answers!!
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