Expert: Roberto Serrano - 9/15/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a unlocked 3g quad band phone and a unlocked sierra wireless quad band 881u air card. They are not connected with any service provider like t mobile etc...If I buy a sim card for each can I pop it into the cell and one into the aircard and use it without signing any service contracts?

ANSWER: Hello George,

I am sorry but you will either have to have there service or the correct plan placed on your account in order to use the sim card on your wireless card. Please call your provider add the plan and you will be able to use your plan this way. I hope that I have been of help to you if you have any other questions please do not hesitat to ask. Thank you for your question.

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QUESTION: Thank you for that answer. Is that also true of the cell phone.If I sign up for a data plan with a U.S. carrier and cross the border into Mexico I assume I can take out the Sierra usb modems sim card for the U.S. and insert a mexican data card to cut out the roaming charges? Or I can wait to get to Mexico and sign up with Mexican data plan??

ANSWER: Hello George,

If you were to go to Mexico with your sim card you will receive roaming charges for data. I would suggest to get a Mexican sim card with a data plan this way you will not play alot. I hope that I have been of help to you if you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you for your question.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, just to clarify. If I signed up for a U.S. data plan here in the states, then go to Mexico, take out the US sim and insert a mexican data sim I can avoid the roaming charges. Then come back to the states and put the U.S.data card back in, correct??

Answer
Hello George,

This is correct you will be able to pop a sim card from mexico into your phone when you get to mexico and when you return just pop in your original carrier sim card with no problem. I hope that I have been of help to you if you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you for your question.