Using a cellphone in the U.S. while travelling

[vebk]

I'm travelling to the U.S. and want to have cell-phone connectivity there. International roaming is out-of-the-question expensive.

What do people recommend? Are there any services that give pre-paid SIM cards?

I basically want people back here to be able to call me, and to occasionally make calls domestically in the U.S. such as when co-ordinating plans with someone. Will hardly use SMS probably, but if I can get access to EDGE internet that would be awesome!

Any suggestions?

(alternatively any suggestions as to good phone cards there?)

 

[Yo93sh]

i have read a lot about matrix providing such service
u can google to know more

 

[amityrock]

yeah.. jus gt a matrix for my uncle a week back..

rent is $30 per month.. 300 mins free local outgoing+incoming. extra mins chargeable at about 25-30 cents a min. calls to india at about 75 cents.

U can get a handset from them aswell but then all the call charges go up by 5cents.

A word of advice: get the handset from them cause u need a quad band phone an its irritating to look for one.. in my case only my phone at home is quad band an hence i had 2 give my phone 2 uncle!!

 

[P.Ping Tom]

Yup. I used matrix as well. $1/day rental for the phone + sim card, 30c/min for calls, 25c for sms, 10 mins free airtime per day.