topic Relocating to USA - advice needed in Business Customers

Relocating to USA - advice needed

Humpty — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 22:03:35 GMT

Hi, I am relocating to the US but with frequent trips back to the UK. I need advice about the best phone set-up going forward. My goal is to mainly use some US network, but still keep my UK number.

Details:

a) I have an iPhone SE, I think I unlocked it (I went through the unlocking steps and got a message from O2 saying "Your iPhone can now be unlocked...iTunes...", so am not sure whether it is unlocked yet or not!)

b) I have some old phones lying around, e.g. an old Motorola from a decade ago.

c) I was thinking of putting the O2 SIM in the old phone, so people can still call me on UK number. When I do this it says I need a Network PIN. Where do I get this? Will it work?

d) And then get a US contract and put the US SIM in the iPhone SE. Can I use any US network?

Is any of that a sensible and/or viable plan?

I did also buy a WorldSIM Duet on the plane over. It's supposed to allow me to use two SIMs, maybe put the O2 SIM in that instead of the Motorola. If I can get it to work.

Other possibilities would be:

a) Start afresh with a whole new US phone and contract.

b) Get a dual SIM phone.

c) Give O2 lots of money for some bolt on.

Confused, exhausted and jetlagged! ANy advice much appreciated.

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

MI5 — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 22:12:42 GMT

@Humpty

The old Motorola is locked to a different network. You need to find out which one and get them to unlock it.

Your iPhone will work with any GSM SIM in the world, so that's only AT&T or TMobile in USA.

Your dual SIM phone should handle both UK and USA GSM SIM cards too.

Call charges for USA can be found here https://www.o2.co.uk/international/internationalhub

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

Humpty — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 22:30:25 GMT

I never even thought that the old phone would need to be unlocked! So, I've started that process just now. (It's with AT&T.)

And useful info about T-Mobile and AT&T.

Thanks!

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

PhoneChanger — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 06:26:08 GMT

Hi @Humpty, welcome to the forum

A) If you've been the message in iTunes then your iPhone will now be unlocked and you should be free to put in another SIM card to use

B) The old Motorola may work if it supports the networks in the USA, and again assuming it is unlocked

C) The old O2 SIM will work for people to call you but remember you do get charged if people call you in the USA so charges will rack up quite quickly, and theoretically you can only roam for up to 90 days at any one time, after which they can disconnect you until you get back to the UK

D) As per @MI5 comments for the iPhone in the USA

The WorldSim Duet is an interesting device, but its quite bulky, and I'd be intrigued to see if that works with iPhone with it being over Bluetooth.

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

Humpty — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 10:34:41 GMT

B) AT&T said they didn't have enough info to unlock the phone!

C) I didn't know that 90-day rule. So O2 just stop taking money from me?! But they don't take my number away?

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

Bambino — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 11:03:17 GMT

@Humpty It would depend on how long after the 90 days you returned. You could lose the number if it was a considerable amount of time after the 90 days. You might want to think about changing that number to a Pay & Go account with an international sim. You would only have to make a chargeable call or text every six months to keep it active. If you're going to be mainly in the US, you need a US sim for data, as O2 throttle their data speeds outside the EU and your O2 data would be pretty useless anyway.

Edit: If you're not wedded to your iPhone, OnePlus make very good dual sim phones.

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

Humpty — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 11:20:38 GMT

Do you have a link for the "changing that number to a Pay & Go account with an international sim"?

I've spent four weeks trying to understand the US healthcare system. Looks like another four weeks to figure out the phones!

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

Cleoriff — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 11:50:52 GMT

Hi @Humpty

Link here about changing to PAYG and keeping your number

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/phones-sims-and-devices/how-to-keep-your-mobile-number

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

MI5 — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 11:54:58 GMT

An international SIM would only be beneficial if you wanted to call USA from UK otherwise there's no benefit.
All PAYG options here https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/sim-cards/pay-as-you-go
Personally, I'd go for the classic as your credit won't expire as long as you keep the SIM active at least once every 6 months.

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

Humpty — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 12:13:05 GMT

This is all very helpful! Although often counterintuitive: Pay O2 hundreds of pounds a year and they might take your number away, but pay pennies on PAYG and they won't!

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

MI5 — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 13:02:13 GMT

They won't take your number away on contract as long as you keep paying the bills.
PAYG requires one chargeable activity once every 6 months to keep the SIM active.

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

TallTrees — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 13:16:21 GMT

Yeh and if you forget to keep your sim active the sim goes dead and any money gone too 😫😫
Life's SO difficult, @Humpty

I seem to be always "walking this walk"

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

Humpty — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 13:31:08 GMT

Wait until we have a Corbyn government. Don't leave your house empty for too long!

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

TallTrees — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 13:41:05 GMT

No worries @Humpty
When Boris has finalised his vision for UK future that'll be the least of concerns🤓

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

JAZZ-trad — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 16:37:03 GMT

Hello @Humpty

Probably a complete re-think (however distressing) is probably the way to go.

Great advice from MI5 re phone. Seems quite a head-ache combining old

mobile phones etc. to get the perfect "fit".

Good Luck and hope you enjoy your relocation to the United States.

JAZZ-trad

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

MI5 — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 16:51:58 GMT

Carrying 2 phones around can be a real PITA so a dual sim device is definitely the way to go.

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

pgn — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 18:06:37 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
Carrying 2 phones around can be a real PITA so a dual sim device is definitely the way to go.

Which the OnePlus range of phones is - dual-sim.

Other makes of dual-sim phones are available...

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

MI5 — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 18:08:02 GMT

I wouldn't have anything else

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

pgn — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 18:12:37 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
I wouldn't have anything else

Me either - although I've been reading about some odd behaviour in the OP 7 Pro, random resets currently. My 6T has a while to go yet though, and I see you went from 5 to straight 6 when I wasn't looking...

Re: Relocating to USA - advice needed

MI5 — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 19:21:41 GMT

Yeah, not too keen on the 7 so waiting to see what the 8 is like