Cell phone

Cell Phone
You can't live in the USA without a phone number. If you plan to use your cell phone for calling and texting, you may be good with your non-US cell phone.

There are four (soon may be only three) main Mobile Network Providers (MNP):

- T-Mobile

- Verison

- AT&T

- Sprint

There are many virtual operators that use one of networks above or use wifi (!).

'''Your non-US cellphone is probably GSM. In that case you need to get SIM from AT&T or T-Mobile '''or any virtual operator using their network. The other two operators run different technology called CDMA that is not compatible with GSM.

There is high probability that your non-US cell phone will be unable to use data (or will be extremely slow, or will work only in some places). For more info see section below.

More on networks here: https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/wiki/United_States (info about prepaid cards, but technical information applies to postpaid SIM cards as well).

It may be quite difficult to get information on which MNP alternative operator uses. Some are listed here: https://www.frequencycheck.com/countries/united-states

Using virtual operator that utilizes Wifi is a lottery - on some places it works, on some you can't make a call.

Personal experience: H2O Wireless has good prices and decent services and runs on AT&T network

Data Plan
For using data, you need a cell phone that supports frequencies used by that carrier. You can do that here (button 'Check Compatibility' at the header of the page): https://www.frequencycheck.com/

Not every frequency (for LTE it is called band) is used everywhere - so if your phone supports only some bands, you may be without data in some places.

Also check coverage of selected Mobile Network Provider in areas you plan to use the phone. In general, quality of signal is worse in buildings (even shopping malls), and it is not uncommon that carrier has several spots without coverage even in cities. Despite their web site claims 100% coverage in the area.

Coverage:

- AT&T: https://www.att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html

- T-Mobile: https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/coverage-map

- Verizon: https://www.verizonwireless.com/featured/better-matters/?map=4glte#maps

- Sprint: https://coverage.sprint.com/IMPACT.jsp?

Not all devices sold on MNP's online shop support all the bands they use. Usually one can get better device for better price on amazon, but compatibility with chosen network needs to be checked on https://www.frequencycheck.com/models. Also make sure that the device is unlocked for any carrier.