Confusion about using phone in USA

[Anonymous]

I'll be going on holiday soon to visit my friend in the States and he has completely confused me about using my phone over there. I've all ready checked the details for using my phone abroad anyway and the outrageous cost of data (£6 PER MB!!!!) so I plan to use Wi-Fi wherever possible! However I would like to have the opportunity of making calls and sending texts to US phones and UK phones, but at 40p per text, I'm looking for a cheaper alternative.

I spoke to an O2 trainee who advised I rent a phone; my friend suggested a 'pay as you go SIM'. But then he said something about my phone being locked by O2?!?! As I'm on a 24 month contract, what does this mean??

Also if I get a pay as you go SIM from a different provider, eg. T-Mobile, in the States, will my phone still work?? Is there such thing as an International pay as you go SIM from O2??

Many thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

If you bought your phone from O2 it will be network locked. This means that only O2 SIM cards can be used in your phone...until you unlock it. You can request an unlock by calling customer services or visiting this page: 

http://service.o2.co.uk/IQ/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE?New,Kb=Companion,question=ref(User):str(Mobile),C...

Even an international PAYG SIM from O2 will have extortianate cosst for txts and calls so your cheapest option really is to unlock your phone, get a SIM from a local carrier over there, turn off data roaming and then use Wifi wherever possible.

I hope this helps

[adamtemp64]

which phone do you have?

But o2 do not do any tariffs to reduce costs back to the uk.

But if your phone supports TUGO and you use that when in a free wifi spot it will use your uk allowance for calls and texts.

On pay monthly you can ulock it but using a usa sim will only make it cheeper for calls / sms in the usa international sms may cost the same as using o2 and calls again could be the same or higher.

[Anonymous]

Firstly thank you for the speedy responses!!

Secondly yes I did buy my phone from O2. Thank you for the locking explanation and link. Do I unlock my phone before I leave the UK or while I'm in the US??

And just to clarify, once O2 unlock my phone, I can use *any* SIM by *any* provider/carrier in the US?

[adamtemp64 · Accepted solution]

unlock before going using the unlocking form. https://www.o2.co.uk/apps/help/help?qid=1&q1=2&route=unlocking&case=Handset%20Unlocking%20Form any carrier in the usa that uss gsm and a sim card

Again what handset are you using if tugo will work it will be a cheap option when in free wifi

[Anonymous]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace 2.

What is TUGO? Do I need to sign up for it/register?

I reckon that using Skype for calls to the UK when on wifi is my best bet.

[adamtemp64]

http://www.o2.co.uk/tugo/want-it all about tugo

[Anonymous]

Okay thank you.

One more question about unlocking; when I get back from the US, do I need to lock my phone again? Is there a limit to how many times the phone can be locked/unlocked?

[Anonymous]

Once your phone is unlocked thats it, you dont need to do anything else! It just means you can put any SIM card in it and it'll work!

Also makes it easier to sell/pass on once you're finished with it! 

[Bambino]

I travel to the US frequently. I use a T-Mobile Pay and Go sim, but it's for calls and texts only. No data. You can call in to a T-Mobile or AT&T store and see what you can get on Pay and Go. There are data plans, but make sure it's Pay and Go only, and that you're not signing a long term contract.