[aprssig] Looking for an appplication ?

[Scott Miller]

Yeah, this seems to surprise a lot of people outside the US.  Even if 
you've got an unlocked GSM phone (I use an old quad-band Motorola V400 
when I travel) it's a pain.  The local T-Mobile store didn't even know 
HOW to sell me a prepaid SIM, and the card itself, without service, was $30.

At the AT&T store down the street I paid about $25 for the card and 
service, and it took about 10 or 15 minutes of paperwork and activation 
calls.  In contrast, in Hong Kong, getting a SIM card with cheaper rates 
required a 20-second cash (HKD $90, under $12 US) transaction, and 
another 30 seconds of trying to get the thing out of the shrink wrap. 
Activated automatically on the first call.  In Bangkok I think I 
actually had to sign something, but I've been told that at 190 baht 
($5.40 US) I got ripped off and should have waited until I left the 
airport to get a better rate!

Everyone over there seemed horrified by the idea that buying a phone in 
the US typically involves signing a 2-year service contract.  And I 
think they're right.

Scott
N1VG

Jack Spitznagel wrote:
> Hi Dave,
> 
> Brief point of fact for US Cell Phone users:
> Most users in the US are tied to "locked" phones that are customed up by
> the provider. (I have to suffer through a long Verizon advert during
> start-up.) These phones do not have "normal" SIM cards. (yes, a phone
> can be "jailbroke", but that is another long discussion) However, we do
> now have the right to take our number with us when we switch service
> carriers. Verizon/Sprint/T-Mobile/AT&T/etc have online and dial-up
> facilities for programing a new phone to acquire the users number. I
> believe that the companies caved to this "consumer demand" when faced
> with the possibility that SIM cards might become the norm here. Just one
> of the many things that have squelched innovation and true competition
> in that market here.
> 
> Dave Baxter wrote:
>> +1nnnnnnnnnn etc..  Should do it?   (+1 is the US international prefix)
>> That number will be unique to your SIM card, regardless of the phone it
>> is in.
>>   
> 
> Jack - kd4iz
> 
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