Cell Phones - A Great Question!
This page talks about different phone carriers
- some better in our area than others. It talks about monthly plans that are
paid automatically so time, minutes, or phone numbers are not lost. It also talks about pre-paid phones -- forget
contract phones unless you know you will be here for more than 2 years and can
afford extra fees required (especially with AT&T).
For a detailed price comparison of plans see the drop-down page after this.
This page talks about different phone carriers - some better in our area than others. It talks about monthly plans that are paid automatically so time, minutes, or phone numbers are not lost. It also talks about pre-paid phones -- forget contract phones unless you know you will be here for more than 2 years and can afford extra fees required (especially with AT&T). For a detailed comparison see the drop-down page after this.
Four important things to know about using cell phones in the U.S.
First: Cell phones in the U.S. are very different from many other countries.
Second: If you have an international phone plan, it will not work in the U.S. because no one can call you back. We have 9 digits, you probably have 10.
Third: In America, you pay every time you receive a call or text just as if you had sent it yourself.
Fourth: You may be used to doing a lot of texting because texting is cheap or free and talking costs more. In the U.S., talking is cheaper. All U.S. plans start with the price for domestic talking and add extra fees for texting, + web access, + international calls... except for one carrier, Net 10.
Most of you have heard of AT&T and T-Mobile. T-Mobile has poor receptions in Monterey so there is no local official "T-Mobie" store. This also means you cannot get a T-Mobile Sim card in Monterey.
Some students want to buy an IPhone because they hear AT&T sells them at a discount. To get this, you must sign a 2 year contract with penalties for early termination. It also requires a $35 setup fee plus a $500 deposit unless you have a social security card which requires having a job. It will also cost over $80 per month to use.
Net 10, www.net10.com, has the best coverage (uses combined coverage provided by many major carriers including AT&T). They have the cheapest plans with no extra cost; and the cheapest phones.
If you bring your own phone, you might consider this: If it's unlocked, you can get an AT&T Sim card. They give 250 minutes (domestic) talking & unlimited texting for $25 per month. Add $5 for international calling. For ("Hot-Spot" Web access, add $15 more for 1gig data. That would total $45 for all -- BUT you still only get 250 talking minutes which is almost nothing.
If you need to buy a phone and want a cheap plan, Net 10 is a lot cheaper than AT&T: One option is $100 for 6 months. That gives you 1500 minutes to use over 6 months anyway you want (talk, text, Internet). This averages $16/mo for 6 mo for 250 min. If you’re here 4 mo, it averages $25/mo for 375 min. You must use a Net 10 phone. For a phone, many students are happy with a basic flip phone for $20 or basic texting phone for a little more. In the end, it's cheaper!
Net 10 also has a plan for 1000 minutes for $25 that includes use for Internet, international calls, text, etc. With this plan, again, you cannot use your own phone but you can buy a good basic Net 10 flip-phone for $20 or texting phone for $30-40.
If you use your phone a lot, this is the cheapest plan anywhere (2.5 cents per minute). This seems like more talking minutes than you need, but you can also use it for texting, international calling, and web access with a "hot-spot capable" basic phone – with no additional fees.
Net10 also has an unlimited everything plan as low as $45 per month ($55 includes international calling) and there are no extra fees (using a Net 10 smartphone). The same with AT&T would be close to $80. For more options compared to AT&T, see the drop-down page after this.
Phones:
Ordering online can get you the best phone deals. The local stores only have limited choices (see links below).
If you will be here for at least one year and you need to spend as little as possible because of your budget, Net 10 is your best choice even if it means buying a cheaper phone. Retail stores have limited choices on phones because fancier smart-phones are more popular. Flip phones or phones with texting keypads are much cheaper. Some are available in stores but more are online.
Buying phones online: Net 10 often has special deals for our zip code (93940) and several students have ordered them & had them sent to our address. You can see Net 10 phones available in local stores here and their special on-line DISCOUNT deals here. Their basic website is www.net10.com which is where you can see their plans also.
If you would like us to get one of these phones so it is activated and ready to use when you arrive, please tell us. Also, let us know if you wish to order online – the special deals are not available in local stores.
--Either way, you cannot beat Net10 prices or rates per minute anywhere--
* NOTE: Texting only works within the U.S., not internationally (it’s the same with many other plans). Most students are happy using email to 'text' back home.
IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN PHONE and insist on using it even if it costs a lot more, AT&T will be your best choice. For smart-phones it will cost a minimum $70/month. For basic phones it will cost $55 for unlimited talk, text & international talk, but no web access.
COMPARE BRINGING YOUR OWN PHONE TO THIS:
If you buy a Net 10 phone, you can have almost unlimited everything for $25/month.
Net-10 phones are in high-demand in the summer as everyone arrives and sometimes we must order them online to have it here for you. If you would like us to help you get a Net10 phone, please tell us before you arrive.
If you are a MIIS student, this is important:
Studying in Monterey, you will have your laptop with you everywhere and the school is accessible & wireless, 24/7. Most students use Skype, QQ, MSN etc to call home. This means you don't need to access the Web constantly on your phone -- so save money with Net 10.
===================================
Special note on International Calling -- If your country is not on a provider’s list or if you want to look for a cheaper rate, you may want to look at special International Calling Cards available online:
Some find that getting an International Calling Card is cheaper than using a plan through a carrier -- it's worth comparing. Consider searching for "international calling cards" and see what you find. Then search to review that company to be sure it's not a scam. One reliable card that has been recommended by users is at www.starfone.net. Four others to consider might be www.rebtel.com or www.myIDT.com, www.STIprepaid.com. These are sold locally so their stores consider them safe.
For a detailed price comparison of plans see the drop-down page after this.
This page talks about different phone carriers - some better in our area than others. It talks about monthly plans that are paid automatically so time, minutes, or phone numbers are not lost. It also talks about pre-paid phones -- forget contract phones unless you know you will be here for more than 2 years and can afford extra fees required (especially with AT&T). For a detailed comparison see the drop-down page after this.
Four important things to know about using cell phones in the U.S.
First: Cell phones in the U.S. are very different from many other countries.
Second: If you have an international phone plan, it will not work in the U.S. because no one can call you back. We have 9 digits, you probably have 10.
Third: In America, you pay every time you receive a call or text just as if you had sent it yourself.
Fourth: You may be used to doing a lot of texting because texting is cheap or free and talking costs more. In the U.S., talking is cheaper. All U.S. plans start with the price for domestic talking and add extra fees for texting, + web access, + international calls... except for one carrier, Net 10.
Most of you have heard of AT&T and T-Mobile. T-Mobile has poor receptions in Monterey so there is no local official "T-Mobie" store. This also means you cannot get a T-Mobile Sim card in Monterey.
Some students want to buy an IPhone because they hear AT&T sells them at a discount. To get this, you must sign a 2 year contract with penalties for early termination. It also requires a $35 setup fee plus a $500 deposit unless you have a social security card which requires having a job. It will also cost over $80 per month to use.
Net 10, www.net10.com, has the best coverage (uses combined coverage provided by many major carriers including AT&T). They have the cheapest plans with no extra cost; and the cheapest phones.
If you bring your own phone, you might consider this: If it's unlocked, you can get an AT&T Sim card. They give 250 minutes (domestic) talking & unlimited texting for $25 per month. Add $5 for international calling. For ("Hot-Spot" Web access, add $15 more for 1gig data. That would total $45 for all -- BUT you still only get 250 talking minutes which is almost nothing.
If you need to buy a phone and want a cheap plan, Net 10 is a lot cheaper than AT&T: One option is $100 for 6 months. That gives you 1500 minutes to use over 6 months anyway you want (talk, text, Internet). This averages $16/mo for 6 mo for 250 min. If you’re here 4 mo, it averages $25/mo for 375 min. You must use a Net 10 phone. For a phone, many students are happy with a basic flip phone for $20 or basic texting phone for a little more. In the end, it's cheaper!
Net 10 also has a plan for 1000 minutes for $25 that includes use for Internet, international calls, text, etc. With this plan, again, you cannot use your own phone but you can buy a good basic Net 10 flip-phone for $20 or texting phone for $30-40.
If you use your phone a lot, this is the cheapest plan anywhere (2.5 cents per minute). This seems like more talking minutes than you need, but you can also use it for texting, international calling, and web access with a "hot-spot capable" basic phone – with no additional fees.
Net10 also has an unlimited everything plan as low as $45 per month ($55 includes international calling) and there are no extra fees (using a Net 10 smartphone). The same with AT&T would be close to $80. For more options compared to AT&T, see the drop-down page after this.
Phones:
Ordering online can get you the best phone deals. The local stores only have limited choices (see links below).
If you will be here for at least one year and you need to spend as little as possible because of your budget, Net 10 is your best choice even if it means buying a cheaper phone. Retail stores have limited choices on phones because fancier smart-phones are more popular. Flip phones or phones with texting keypads are much cheaper. Some are available in stores but more are online.
Buying phones online: Net 10 often has special deals for our zip code (93940) and several students have ordered them & had them sent to our address. You can see Net 10 phones available in local stores here and their special on-line DISCOUNT deals here. Their basic website is www.net10.com which is where you can see their plans also.
If you would like us to get one of these phones so it is activated and ready to use when you arrive, please tell us. Also, let us know if you wish to order online – the special deals are not available in local stores.
--Either way, you cannot beat Net10 prices or rates per minute anywhere--
* NOTE: Texting only works within the U.S., not internationally (it’s the same with many other plans). Most students are happy using email to 'text' back home.
IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN PHONE and insist on using it even if it costs a lot more, AT&T will be your best choice. For smart-phones it will cost a minimum $70/month. For basic phones it will cost $55 for unlimited talk, text & international talk, but no web access.
COMPARE BRINGING YOUR OWN PHONE TO THIS:
If you buy a Net 10 phone, you can have almost unlimited everything for $25/month.
Net-10 phones are in high-demand in the summer as everyone arrives and sometimes we must order them online to have it here for you. If you would like us to help you get a Net10 phone, please tell us before you arrive.
If you are a MIIS student, this is important:
Studying in Monterey, you will have your laptop with you everywhere and the school is accessible & wireless, 24/7. Most students use Skype, QQ, MSN etc to call home. This means you don't need to access the Web constantly on your phone -- so save money with Net 10.
===================================
Special note on International Calling -- If your country is not on a provider’s list or if you want to look for a cheaper rate, you may want to look at special International Calling Cards available online:
Some find that getting an International Calling Card is cheaper than using a plan through a carrier -- it's worth comparing. Consider searching for "international calling cards" and see what you find. Then search to review that company to be sure it's not a scam. One reliable card that has been recommended by users is at www.starfone.net. Four others to consider might be www.rebtel.com or www.myIDT.com, www.STIprepaid.com. These are sold locally so their stores consider them safe.