Phone Compatibility

A prepaid US sim card is a great way to get a local US phone number and save money on calls and texts while in the USA. GSM networks use the GSM 850/1900Mhz bands in the USA, unlike Europe and most of the rest of the world which uses the GSM 900/1800Mhz bands. This means that you require an unlocked multi-band phone to use with a US prepaid sim card.

Q: Will my mobile phone receive a signal in the USA?

A: You require a GSM 1900Mhz compatible phone to pick up signal in the USA

Q: Is my phone GSM 1900Mhz compatible?

A: Check your phone specifications on your phone manufacturer’s website

Q: Is my phone unlocked?

A: Try a sim card from a different network to your home network in your phone. If your phone powers on normally, then your phone is not locked. If you get a response like "unable to read sim", "invalid card", or "enter subsidy password", this means that your phone is locked

Q: Can I get my phone unlocked?

A: Yes, you can get your phone unlocked. Search the web for "unlock make and model" where you enter the make and model of your phone. There are thousands of resources on the web for unlocking your mobile phone, some popular models such as Nokia can be unlocked for free. You could also visit your local independent mobile phone store, many provide unlocking services for a small fee. Also, you could simply call the network you purchased your phone from and ask them for your unlock code

Q: My phone is unlocked, will it work with a US sim card?

A: Yes, if your phone is an unlocked, GSM 1900Mhz compatible phone, it will work with a US sim card

Q: Will my mobile phone charger work in the USA?

A: Personal electronics work with a voltage input of 100v - 120v in the USA. Check your mobile phone charger to see if the voltage input is printed on the plug, it should say Input: 100 - 240V, or Input: 120V. In this case all you require is a US travel adaptor, otherwise you will require a travel converter, to convert the voltage input