[gvb]

AT&T sells a plan with 5GB/month for $50/month[1] (pay-ahead, not prepay). It is a monthly subscription with no commitment - cancel it at any time. I walked into a AT&T store and the lady behind the counter gave me a free SIM (list price $5.95). I bought the $15/month for 250MB data plan since I was just experimenting.

I found out that AT&T has annoying restrictions based on the IMEI number - for a IMEI that maps to a computer, they will only offer you the $50/month plan. For a IMEI that maps to a tablet, they will allow you to to buy the $15/month plan. FWIIW, they require you to enter a IMEA number, not the number of the device you are using the SIM in. ;-)

I am currently running my phone on a T-Mobile on a $30/month pre-paid plan[2] with unlimited (for some definition of "unlimited") data and 100 minutes of talk. Unfortunately, they have poor coverage in about half the area I frequent... I end up roaming on AT&T and don't get data coverage there.

Both those options are essentially the same as your Singapore plan.

[1] http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/data-plans.html

[2] http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans

[mikelward]

The $50 AT&T data plan requires a 24-month voice plan, which starts at $40 per month.

See footnote 6 on the page you linked to, then click on any of the plans, then click View Details next to any of them.

[beedogs]

Jesus, a 2-year commitment to a shitty voice plan just to get a 3G data sim?

I'm visiting New Zealand now. The first thing I did when I got off the plane was purchase a 3G prepaid (2GB) USB dongle for $70, and I can top it up if I need to and move the sim card to a phone if I want to. I didn't have to sign or agree to purchase anything extra.

I can do this in Australia, too. What the hell, USA?

[gvb]

Sorry, wrong link. They make it pretty hard to find the plan that you really want (both AT&T and T-Mobile).

https://buyasession.att.com/sbd/Common/ShopRatePlans.action

Note that the plan you really want is the "Tablets and Gaming Devices". The "Computers, Netbooks, Aircards, Others" plan is a rip-off except for the $50/month 5GB plan, which is the same as the "Tablet" plan. On the "Computers" lower data rate plans, it is $15 per day, $30 per week. Data is data, so they are just ripping you off.

AT&T DataConnect Pass plans

* No Long-Term Contract

* Plans are active for 30 days or until depleted.

* Plans automatically renew every 30 days for domestic data plans, unless you cancel.

* International plans do not automatically renew.

* Plans can be cancelled at any time.

   Domestic DataConnect Pass Plans 	Cost
   DataConnect Month Pass 250MB 	$14.99
   DataConnect Month Pass 3GB 		$30.00
   DataConnect Month Pass 5GB 		$50.00