Here in the UK it is possible to pick up cellphone pay-as-you-go SIM cards for next to nothing. I thought that this might be a cost effective way to get a cellphone service on an upcoming trip to New York as I don’t need to keep my current number and my handset is compatible with US networks. So, are SIM cards similarly cheap there and would I be able to purchase one on landing?
There doesn’t seem to be a market for SIM cards in the US. All of the companies selling pay-as-you-go service seem to insist on selling you a cheap phone. I prefer the European model of keeping phones and SIM cards distinct, but it isn’t popular with the cellular carriers in the US. They want you to use their branded phone.
FWIM’s I had my phone in for repair and picked up a phone for under $20 just to get by. It came with 40 minutes, and IIRC an additional 40 min would be a extra $10, though there is volume pricing discounts and other plans available. I got my phone back before I used up all the time, most likely will never use that phone again.