Purchasing an AT&T pay as you go SIM

[lj_hound]

Hey guys,

due to a longer stay in San Francisco, CA beginning in July this year I want to purchase a pay as you go SIM from AT&T.

My question is how do I purchase one? Do I have to leave my personal details at the shop for a registration (like here in Germany) or isn't any registration needed? I am asking because I have no permanent residence in the U.S., I am just living in my friends house for a few weeks.

Thank you,

Bill

 

[Applecheekies]

You can buy unactivated AT&T SIM cards from eBay. You can use that SIM card and a GSM phone to create a free GoPhone account at https://www.wireless.att.com/activations/ You should be able to purchase prepaid Pay As You Go cards locally in the San Francisco area.

 

[Sam Tak]

How long will you be there? If you're going to be there for at least 3 weeks to a month, you might as well just get a plan without a contract. If you already have a GSM phone, in which you can put a SIM card, you can activate any phone plan without a contract. You'll just have to pay the $6 for the SIM card and the $36 activation fee (and the phone plan rates, obviously). The only reason I could ever seen anyone doing the prepaid route is if they have terrible credit or something.

Note: Make sure you just get the SIM card directly from AT&T. Don't get it from eBay. I made that mistake and ended up with a SIM card I could not use.

If you decide to go this route, just call AT&T and request a service plan without a contract. As long as you have a phone, you can do it. You'll save WAY more money over a GoPhone, unless you plan to rarely use it (like maybe 100 minutes a month or less).