Setting up US accounts

[Derek Steen]

I'd like to know what kind of setups I can get for a ~6 month period.

If the iPhone is release before I go to the USA in July, I'll probably buy it here. But will it work in the USA? Do I just change the SIM card?

I'd also like to get a lifecasting setup — I believe Sprint is the best service for that — so that my friends and family (and fans, of course) can tune in, back in Australia. Do they allow short or pre-paid contracts for things such as mobile broadband? Can anyone find this out for me?

Remember, I'll be traveling all around the country. Do they charge more for national roaming?

Are there any other accounts you think I need?

[Joely]

cell phone stuff in the USA is pretty bad. most require contracts and cell equipment can be pretty spendy.
however there are some okay prepaid providers like Cricket. the problem with cricket though is it's not nationwide coverage it pretty limited. this is a rundown of who they are and where they operate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket_Communications ...unfortunately some of those coverage area don't even offer the mobile 'nets.

You could probably get on sprint but they'll want you on contract for a year and may have you pay extra for the card. I have sprint myself and I'll probably be confined to the west coast for the most part when you are here but you could defiantly borrow my card. I'll be living in the Seattle area. I've also really tinkered with the idea of making a mobile wireless station.. they sell routers that will take your evdo card and turn it into a fun little wifi base station. Plug that in a car or get a big battery and that'll turn it into a wifi station where multiple people can access teh netz anywhere.. I've also tested this a little using ad-hoc wifi mode on my laptop. Its a ton of fun. If we meet up we'll defiantly have to try that

[Derek Steen]

Dude! Great info!

I think if I was restricted on coverage I'd be worse of than I am now, in Australia.

A year contract isn't so bad. I could just sell the contract(?), or even give it to someone as a treat----- no, wait. I'm going to get sponsors. Yeah, that sounds like a better idea. ;)

WIFI station sounds like a plan! I think I need one of those tiny Sony Vaios with an extra large battery. Alternatives?

[Joely]

theres also the IBM ThinkPad X61 that has about 10 hr battery with the extended and also evdo built in.. i think the vaio is better though cuz its smaller, more portable. If you have sprint built in its pretty easy.. i defiantly recommend sprint over verizon and at&t.. verizon caps you at 5gb and if you're streaming that'll go real quick and then they will make your internet real slow (i have a friend who has it) at&t can be fast if you are in the right area but right now its only in like 3 major cities that have hsdpa i think.. sprint is starting xohm.. their version of wimax which will be uberly fast but it will only be in a few cities this year and probably won't be across the country for another year or 2 but i'm looking forward to upgrading to that. you look into getting a sponsor like you said or give the url i gave u a try. http://celltradeusa.com/