These are the instructions for a T-Mobile USA SIM Card purchased from
www.usapayasyougosimcard.co.uk
and
Thank you for purchasing our USA SIM Card.
Set out below are the instructions about how to activate and use your SIM Card.
Please make sure to carefully read the information below before departing to the USA.
Activation Request Website
To activate your SIM Card please go to the Activation Request Website.
It's important to check that your phone will work in the USA on the T-Mobile network. Just because you've used your phone in the USA or overseas before doesn't necessarily mean it will work on the T-Mobile network. Here's how to check:
If you have iPhone 6 onwards, then your phone will work on T-Mobile (provided of course that it's network unlocked). You don't need to check if your iPhone will be compatible.
If you have a Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, Pixel, Xiaomi, Motorola, Nokia or other phone, then you'll need to enter your phone's IMEI number into the T-Mobile website here.
(On the T-Mobile website your phone must show as being fully compatible (not just "partially compatible"). If your phone isn't compatible then you could (a) use the SIM Card in a phone that is compatible, or (b) give the SIM Card to someone else who can activate it with these instructions and use it in their phone, or (c) use the SIM Card at anytime through until the "activate by" date on the back of your SIM Card (for a future trip with a compatible phone).)
Information about using your SIM Card
When will my SIM Card start working?
Your SIM Card will start working by 8am US Central Time on the date you specify when you request activation (this is Day 1). It will stop working completely (including stop receiving calls & texts) after 11:59pm US Central Time on the 5th, 7th, 14th, 21st, 30th, 45th or 60th day (depending on how many days you chose).
Insert the SIM Card into your phone when you get to the USA (or insert it on the plane when your phone is in airplane mode).
What's my USA mobile number?
American SIM Cards don't get their phone number allocated until the SIM Card is activated. This means it's not possible to know your phone number before the SIM Card gets activated.
Upon arrival in the USA, and after turning your phone on, you'll be able to find your USA mobile number in your phone's settings.
Here's how to find your phone number in your phone settings:
(a) If you’re using an iPhone:
Go to Settings/Phone/My Number.
(b) If you’re using Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, Pixel, Xiaomi, Motorola, Nokia or other phone:
From the Home screen, open “Settings“. Scroll down and select “About phone” or “About device“. Some versions of Android display the phone number on this screen. If not, proceed to step 3. Select “Status” or “Phone identity“. Your phone number should be displayed on the screen. On some devices, it may be listed under “Voice MSISDN Line 1” or “SIM card status“; or (ii) Open the messages app, select “Settings” and then scroll to the bottom to see “Phone number”.
(c) If you’re travelling with someone else using our SIM Card:
Just call them and look at what phone number appears as the caller ID on their phone screen.
Need to know your American phone number before you leave? You could enter a date earlier than when you actually arrive and then email us on that date to find our your phone number. However, the date you request will be day 1 of your bundle, and time does not stop. For example, if you bought 30 days, and you're in the USA 25 days, you could safely request activation four (4) days prior to your arrival date. If you want to do this, just choose the date during the activation of your SIM Card (see above) and then email us the next day and we can let you know your USA number.
How does someone back home call or text me?
If you want someone back home to call or text you then:
- If they are calling or texting you from their mobile, they'll call/text +1 then your full mobile number. They'll need to actually enter the + symbol as part of the number. For example, if your USA mobile number is 917-123-4567 then the person back home will call/text +19171234567. The person calling or texting you will incur standard international call and texting rates (they'll need to contact their mobile network provider to find out what it costs).
- If they are calling you from their landline phone (eg home phone/office phone), they'll dial the international exit code for the country they're in (e.g., 00 if they're in the UK, 0011 if they're in Australia) then 1 (the country code for the USA) then your USA mobile number. For example, if your USA mobile number is 917-123-4567 then someone calling you from the UK will dial 00 1 9171234567. Someone from Australia will dial 0011 1 9171234567. The person calling you will incur standard international calling rates (they'll need to contact their phone network provider to find out what it costs).
- You might also just want to tell them to call or message you using your favourite voice and messaging apps such as Whatsapp, Viber, Facetime, Facebook Messenger etc.
How do I call or text a UK or Australian number?
Calling to non-USA numbers isn't included with your SIM Card.
If you're in the UK and purchased our SIM Card with the Calling and Texting Abroad Add-On then you get unlimited calling and texting to UK numbers (mobiles and landlines).
If you're in Australia and purchased our SIM Card with the International Calling and Texting Pack then you get unlimited calling to UK landlines (not mobiles) and unlimited texting to Australian mobiles.
If you forgot to purchase international calling and texting then reply to your order confirmation email or WhatsApp message our Support Team at +447882165545 for more information.
To call or text a UK number from the USA:
Dial +44 then the UK number with the first 0 removed. For example if you wanted to call or text the UK phone number 07100 200 300 then you'd dial +447100200300. You must actually enter the + symbol as part of the number.
To call or text an Australian number from the USA:
Dial +61 then the UK number with the first 0 removed. For example if you wanted to call (02) 9911 1234 then you'd dial +61299111234. You must actually enter the + symbol as part of the number.
Are you using an iPhone?
Please immediately right now delete/remove any pre-existing profiles that may already be installed on your iPhone by checking at Settings, General, Profile (at the bottom). If there are any profiles then remove them, and reboot your phone. Failure to remove any pre-existing profiles will mean that data won't work on the USA SIM Card. Can't see any profiles? Then there's none to delete/remove!
If you're not using an iPhone
You may need to change the APN settings on your phone (see further below)
Are you using a dual SIM phone? A phone that has eSIM?
Some customers have problems with the SIM Card if they are using a dual SIM phone. This is a problem with the phone and not a problem with the SIM Card. If you have a dual SIM phone and the SIM Card isn't working, here's a few things to fix the problem:
- If your phone has eSIM, make sure that the physical SIM Card (i.e., the USA SIM Card) is selected as the active SIM Card for calls, texts and data
- Make sure that mobile data is turned on for the physical SIM Card (i.e., the USA SIM Card)
- Do a Google search for more information.
Need to keep receiving calls to your UK or Australian number?
We offer a "Follow Me" number for those customers needing to keep receiving calls on their UK or Australian phone number.
A Follow Me number is a local number in your country (UK or Australia). You forward your UK or Australian number to your Follow Me number, which in turn is routed to your USA phone number.
Here's what it costs for a Follow Me number:
250 minutes of call forwarding: USD$25
500 minutes of call forwarding: USD$40
1000 minutes of call forwarding: USD$70
(You'll pay for this in your local currency GBP£ or AUD$, based on the prevailing exchange rate).
The Follow Me number service only diverts voice calls (it technically can't divert SMS text messages).
To buy a Follow Me number just reply to your order confirmation email.
(2) Changing APN settings on your phone
If you are not using an iPhone you may need to change the APN settings on your phone. If you are using an iPhone you won't need to change the APN settings. Read more below.
If you are using an iPhone then you won't need to change the APN settings (as they are automatically downloaded from the network when your SIM Card first connects). But if you are experiencing any data issues on your iPhone then: (i) reset the network settings by going to Settings, General, Reset, Reset Network Settings, and (ii) delete/remove any pre-existing profiles that may already be installed on your iPhone by checking at Settings, General, Profile (at the bottom). If there are any profiles then remove them, and restart your phone.
If you are not using an iPhone, for example you're using a Samsung, HTC, Sony or other phone, then you may need to manually edit the APN settings in your phone. The APN settings enable your phone to connect to the T-Mobile data network so you can use data services on your phone for your apps. Here's what to do:
1. Upon arrival in the USA, test whether data works on your phone. Try loading a website when your phone's connected to 3G, 4G or LTE. If everything works, then great! There's nothing more to do.
2. If the website doesn't load, try another website (in case the first website is offline). If the second website doesn't work, or you get a message on your phone about being unable to access the cellular data network, then you'll need to manually change the APN settings in your phone, as shown below:
For Android, Blackberry, Windows, and any other phone that is NOT an iPhone - click here to read the T-Mobile website instructions
(3) Voicemail and other useful information
To set-up voicemail just follow these instructions.
To check whether you'll get network coverage in a particular location, just consult the T-Mobile coverage map.