Hello everyone, today Xiaobin will share with you an article about how to apply for a phone card in the United States cost-effective and convenient. Whether you are an international student, staff member, or tourist, after arriving in the United States, your domestic phone card cannot be used and you can only spend expensive and slow international roaming every day. If you have urgent matters, you cannot make phone calls with classmates. Therefore, in the North American survival guide, it is extremely important to have a reliable and useful phone card as soon as possible. Let's get started now!

1. Choose the appropriate operator
   The four major operators in the United States are AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. They each have different pricing and coverage characteristics. Let's take a look at each of the following:
   (1) AT&T
   AT&T is one of the largest operators in the United States, with extensive coverage, especially in urban and suburban areas. AT&T's prepaid package starts at $30 per month and includes 2GB of high-speed data. The post paid package starts at $65 per month and offers unlimited high-speed data. It should be noted that AT&T's signal coverage in some remote areas may not be ideal!
   (2) Verizon
   Verizon is renowned for its excellent network quality and wide coverage, especially in remote areas. Verizon's prepaid package starts at $35 per month and includes 6GB of high-speed data. The post paid package starts at $70 per month and offers unlimited high-speed data. Verizon's price may be relatively high, but network quality and stability are its advantages.
   (3) T-Mobile
   T-Mobile's coverage in the United States is relatively small, mainly concentrated in urban areas. However, T-Mobile is popular due to its price advantage and attractive packages. The prepaid package starts at $15 per month and includes 2.5GB of high-speed data. The post paid package starts at $60 per month and provides unlimited high-speed data. T-Mobile's packages typically include additional benefits such as international roaming services and free Netflix.
   (4) Sprint
   Sprint merged with T-Mobile in 2018 to become the third largest operator. Sprint's network coverage is relatively good in urban areas, but the signal may be weak in remote areas. Sprint's prepaid package starts at $35 per month and includes 3GB of high-speed data. The post paid package starts at $60 per month and provides unlimited high-speed data. The advantage of Sprint lies in its reasonable price, and the package includes various additional services such as free Hulu.
   Overall, the four major operators each have their own characteristics. When choosing an operator, it is necessary to comprehensively consider price, coverage, package content, and one's own needs. If there are high requirements for network quality and coverage, AT&T or Verizon can be chosen. If you want to find a cost-effective package, you can consider T-Mobile or Sprint.

2. Comparing various packages
   In the United States, there is a wide variety of options for phone card packages. Usually including monthly plans, prepaid plans, and contract plans. Among them, prepaid plans are relatively flexible and do not require long-term contracts, making them suitable for individuals who stay for a short period of time. Monthly and contract plans usually offer more discounts, suitable for long-term residents.
   In addition, there is also a family plan to choose from. Family plans usually require 2-6 people, which is more cost-effective than handling them separately. You can bring classmates from the same school to handle them together, but it is important to choose a reliable partner because package renewals are usually paid by one person (linked to a bank card). If a partner delays payment during the package renewal period, the paying student will find it difficult!
   Purchase a phone card
   There are multiple ways to purchase a phone card in the United States. In addition to going to physical stores of operators, you can also purchase at large supermarkets, electronic product stores, airports, and other places. In addition, it can also be purchased on websites such as Amazon and eBay. Here, Xiaobin suggests that everyone go to the physical store of the operator to apply. The staff will patiently explain various packages and help you complete activation and card loading, which may be much more reliable than operating online.
   Activate phone card
   After purchasing a phone card, you need to activate it. If the card is not obtained from a physical store, you can usually activate it through phone, text message, or the official website of the operator. During the activation process, you need to provide some personal information, such as name, address, and social security number (SSN). Of course, our Chinese students can use their passport numbers for identity verification.
   Recharge and Management
   For prepaid phone card users, regular recharge is necessary. There are many ways to recharge, such as using a credit card online, purchasing a recharge card, or recharging in a physical store. To avoid service interruption, it is recommended that you pay attention to your balance and expiration date, and recharge in a timely manner.
   In addition, most operators provide official mobile applications or websites to facilitate user account management. Through these tools, you can view remaining calls, text messages, and traffic, understand billing details, and even change packages or add additional services.
   Understand the local dialing rules in the United States
   It is very important to understand the local dialing rules when using a phone card in the United States. The telephone number in the United States has a total of 10 digits, including a 3-digit area code and a 7-digit telephone number. When making calls within the United States, you need to dial the area code first and then the phone number. When making international calls, you need to first dial "011" (international exit code), then dial the country code, region code, and phone number.

matters needing attention
Finally, I would like to remind everyone to pay attention to the following points:
(1) Ensure that your phone is unlocked and compatible with the US carrier network. This way, it can only be used normally when replacing the phone card.
(2) When choosing a package, one should fully consider their own needs, such as calling, surfing the internet, and international roaming, in order to purchase the most suitable package.
(3) If a student wants to buy a new iPhone in the United States, please note that the American iPhone has no sim card slot, so it can not be used in China after returning home, so it needs to be considered clearly.

summary
The above is a detailed introduction on how to apply for a phone card in the United States in a cost-effective and convenient manner. I hope that through this article, everyone can smoothly apply for a phone card and enjoy convenient communication services in the United States. In American life, a good phone card can keep you in touch with family and friends, making it convenient for your studies, work, and life. Wishing everyone a happy life in the United States!