(where) can I purchase a GSM sim card at JFK or LGA airport?

June 5, 2006 6:04 PM

(where) can I purchase a GSM sim card at JFK or LGA airport?

I will be traveling to the US in July and have a tri-band unlocked Sony Erricson K700i (900/1800/1900) and would like to get a sim card ASAP as we are anticipating the possibility of difficulties upon our arrival. I may need to make numerous calls which would be costly on roaming.

I roamed last year for 4 weeks while doing a 'round the world' and don't ever want a phone bill that size again!

I understand that T-Mobile and Cingular are my 2 options and that T-mobiles coverage is not great in some areas.

I have also discovered that you can rent phones in Terminal 3 at JFK (the JFK website isn't very specific). Can I also buy a SIM card from this vendor? Is there somewhere else in at either of these airports where I can get a SIM card. Are they easy to apply for? (Here in Australia you need ID and an address but can apply at any supermarket, newsagent or post-office very quickly)

My other option is to buy while I'm still at home but I'm unsure what I'm getting. Telestail offer an expensive option through T-mobile and a cheaper one through SIMple, but who the hell are SIMple and what network am I getting?

Sorry for the long question(s) I just didn't need information repeated that I already know.

posted by mule to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

Maybe you could order a Cingular/T-Mobile prepaid phone+sim (you can ditch the phone, once you receive the combo) over the internet, before you leave? Have it shipped to your country of origin?
posted by rbs at 6:43 PM on June 5, 2006

You can buy prepay SIM cards on eBay pretty easily. That's surely a much better option. Cingular are (or at least were) the best network for this.

I don't think you need ID to buy a prepaid phone/SIM card in the US. I certainly didn't two years ago.
posted by cillit bang at 7:23 PM on June 5, 2006

Buying prepaid SIMs here isn't even half as easy as other parts of the world. Most of the time they're sold with the phone, unfortunately. I second the suggestion for eBay though, very easy to get the pay as you go SIMs there.

Just as a note though, don't try to use any cell phone before you clear Customs and Immigration. The officers will very forcefully, and very loudly tell you to stop talking. I got barked at in Newark airport when I rang home to let them know I was back in the country-- fair enough though, I ignored the "no talking on phones" sign.
posted by GreenTentacle at 5:43 AM on June 6, 2006

T-Mobile just recently(Last week!) signed a roaming agreement with Cingular for their Pay-as-you-go customers in the US (Same $.10/min as non-roaming) - I don't know if it works the other way around.

Here's T-mobile's coverage map, if you know where you're going to be spending you time - In my experience, if a town's got over a few thousand people in it or is near an interstate, it usually has service. You may be out-of-luck in Iowa, however.
posted by Orb2069 at 6:55 AM on June 6, 2006

If you have a laptop, you can try to find a free/cheap WiFi hotspot and make calls through Skype.
posted by Sharcho at 10:36 AM on June 6, 2006