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AT&T will sell you a SIM, without a contract, without a phone; Europe laughs

Categories: AT&T
By: , IntoMobile
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 PM

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I’ve held off on blogging about the recent news that AT&T now sells SIM cards. Here in Europe buying a SIM card is like buying a bottle of Pepsi, you’re in and out in less than 30 seconds. When I went to the states during Christmas I stopped by a T-Mobile ship to pick up a SIM since they have unlimited EDGE data (ask for t-zones) for only 7 dollars a month. They wanted my ID, my address, my home phone number and a urine sample. I felt like I was being interrogated all for a god damn piece of plastic with microchip that I would be using for only 3 weeks. A 10 minute argument with the 17 year old pimple faced, incredibly busty breasted bimbo working the register and I got what I needed. I pay per month, what normal users pay, plus an extra $5 because I was considered an undesirable by the Führer.

Apparently AT&T service will now be equally as easy to obtain and since they offer the only HSDPA network in the states they’re looking a lot more attractive than T-Mobile. Don’t even bother telling me T-Mobile has 3G, no one makes a smartphone that uses the 1700 MHz band. The blogosphere blew up when a typo stated you needed a 2 year contract to get a SIM card, but Gigaom clears up the miscommunication by actually doing something called real journalism and contacting a source.

Ricky Cadden says AT&T still manages to muck up MMS, but we have to be happy that baby steps are being taken.

[Image lifted from Engadet]

About The Author

Stefan Constantinescu

Stefan Constantinescu (@WhatTheBit on Twitter) has loved technology since as far back as he can remember. It started with computers, but in the past few years his passion has turned to mobile devices. As a mobile phone enthusiast who lives and breathes devices that connect to the internet, he knows he is not alone with this radical fascination of all things wireless. He is strongly opinionated and enjoys a good debate so leave comments in his posts and he’ll get back to you! Stefan began blogging as a hobby in the fall of 2006 and joined IntoMobile in the summer of 2007. Later he got a job at Nokia in March 2008, but as of June 2009 he has rejoined the IntoMobile team. He is currently based out of Helsinki, Finland.

  • Tariq

    I don’t get it…i’ve been using AT&T/Cingular with my unlocked phones ever since I moved to the US 3 years ago. I’ve never bought a phone from them, I always get the SIM by itself. I live with my 3 brothers, we’ve all been doing the same thing for years! The people in the store always look at me like I just raped someone when i pull out my phone and put the sim in it, but that’s beside the point

  • Sven

    Thank you Stefan. Are these offers a possible solution for travellers to the U.S.? I’m will be staying for 2 weeks in NYC with my N95 and would like to use internet and apps like Google Maps via EDGE. Which offer would you recommend?

  • Maciek

    Sven,

    Just go to T-Mobile store and buy the cheapest starter (it’s usually $30) which includes bottom line Nokia phone and a starter sim with $10 worth of calling. I believe you need to log in to t-mobile’s website to activate edge service. I will double check on it and let you know as I’ve bought about 6 phones before (I needed a starter sim for my Text-to-tv system demo). Now I have a bunch of sims (if anyone needs one – let me know. I can send them to you free – you will have to recharge it with top-up cards though as they are “high and dry” by now)

  • veniko

    Hello!
    Hungary is the same as US (was): you need to show all kind of papers if you want to buy a SIM. :-)

  • Melissa

    I am a employee of at&t, and from my knowledge of working here as long as I have, when a customer comes in, all they have to do is have a account with us and we will give them a new SIM card FREE OF CHARGE, we never give anyone hassles or question someone, everyone has there reasons, they either lost it, phone was stolen or which ever. I hope this clears this up.

  • Melissa

    And the reason why we do this is because like I said in my last statement, there are many reasons why. If someone stole your phone why should you have to pay 25.00 to get a new one. Thats ridiculous.