CELL PHONE PLANS IN THE U.S.
Mobile Phone Systems In The USA
As of December 2022, GSM and CDMA have been shut down by all US carriers thereby discontinuing 2G/3G
data connectivity.
You can still use unlocked GSM and CDMA phones and get a physical SIM card.
eSIM
You could also get an eSIM which is a digital version of the physical SIM card. Convenient because you can’t
lose it, and you don’t have to wait for it to arrive in the mail.
Most phones are eligible for an eSIM.
Exceptions: Phones purchased in China, very old phones (link for supported devices), some MVNO carriers
(link for supported MVNO carriers)
Types of Wireless Service Providers
Providers
Comments
Carrier
There are three main carriers that run their own network —
Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
More stable in highly crowded areas. But
more expensive than MVNOs.
MVNO
MVNOs are carriers that don't have their own wireless network;
instead, they piggyback off another carrier's platform for
coverage through their cell phone plans.
Cheaper and usually more options of
plans. Most of them are fairly stable
around campus.
Types of plans
Type of
plan
How it works
Advantages
Disadvantages
Pre-paid
plan
You “refill” your phone plan
monthly, quarterly or
annually without which you
don’t get service.
You don’t have to commit to a
contract, which means you can
stop refilling your plan
whenever you are out of the
country. You can also change
the plan at any time.
Doesn’t come with a device.
Individual
contract
Usually 1 or 2 year contract
with early termination fee,
monthly bill, and option to
buy phones at discount
prices. This is not very
common anymore.
Usually cheaper in the long
run, you can usually get a
device for free or heavily
discounted.
You have to commit for at least 12
months, requiring cash flow to pay
every month. Devices need to be
paid off if you want to change a
carrier.
Payment
Plan
You pay a monthly bill for
access to a certain amount of
talk, text and data.
Most of these plans include
unlimited talk and text.
You may or may not get the full
advantage of the plan depending on
how heavy of a phone user you are.
Unused data does not carry over to
the next month.
Family
contract
A group of friends or
acquaintances can form a
“family” for phone plan
services and initiate a group
plan together, where you
share data.
Generally, the more people
you have in the “family”
contract, the cheaper it is for
individuals.
You rely on friends/acquaintances’
ability to get together and organize,
as well as pay bills (except Visible) on
time. You also share your
data/minutes which can be
unbalanced.
Unlimited
Plan
You pay a monthly bill for
unlimited talk, text and data.
Don’t need to worry about
limits.
Expensive. Need to be a heavy phone
user to get the most out of this plan.
Plans by Main Carriers /MVNOs
*We list the basic plans for you but all carriers have multiple plans that you can choose depending on your needs.
Please consult their websites. Plans are prices subject to change by individual carrier*
Carriers
Carrier
Verizon
T Mobile
Website
www.verizon.com
www.t-mobile.com
Unlimited talk & text
(in network)
✔
✔
International Calls
Requires extra fee
Requires extra fee
5GB
$40
$20
20GB
/
/
25GB
$60
$40 (30GB)
unlimited/unlimited
plus- 1line
$65/$80
$60/$75/$90
unlimited
basic-3/4/5 lines
$40/$30 per line
https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-p
hone-plans?INTNAV=tNav:Plan
s (price calculator)
unlimited plus-3/4/5
lines
$55/$45 per line
https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-p
hone-plans?INTNAV=tNav:Plan
s
MVNOs
MVNO
Consumer
Cellular
Mint
Mobile
Google Fi
Tello
Boost
Mobile
Ting
Visible
Website
https://www.c
onsumercellu
lar.com/
https://www.
mintmobile.c
om/
https://fi.goog
le.com/
https://www.t
ello.com/
https://deals.
boostmobile.
com/
https://ting.c
om/
https://www.v
isible.com/
Unlimited
talk & text (in
network)
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
International
Calls
Requires
extra fee
Requires
extra fee
Requires extra
fee
Requires
extra fee
Requires
extra fee
Requires
extra fee
Requires
extra fee
flexible/
under 5GB
$20(1GB)
/
$20+$10/GB
$10(1GB)
$14(2GB)
$8.3(1GB)
$10+$5/GB
/
5GB
/
$15
/
$19
$15
$25
/
10GB
$35
/
/
$24
/
$35(12GB)
/
15GB
$20
/
/
$35 (12GB)
/
/
20GB
/
$25
/
/
$45 (22GB)
$45(22GB)
/
25GB
/
/
/
/
/
$55(35GB)
/
unlimited/u
nlimited
plus- 1line
$50
$30
$50/$65
$29
$25/$40/$60
$55 (35GB)
$30/45
unlimited
basic-3/4/5
lines
https://www.
consumerce
llular.com/sh
opping/choo
se/plan
(price
calculator)
/
https://fi.goo
gle.com/abo
ut/plans/
(price
calculator)
/
2 lines-$80
3 lines- $90
4 lines-$180
(35GB)
Must be
purchased
in store
/
/
unlimited
plus-3/4/5
lines
/
/
https://fi.goo
gle.com/abo
ut/plans/
/
/
/
/
Recommended resource: https://9to5mac.com/2022/07/19/best-phone-carriers/
Carriers’ stores near Macalester (double-check on Google Map)
Carrier
Location
Time
ATT
1315 University Ave W /
2132 Ford Pkwy
MON-FRI: 10AM - 8PM, SAT: 10AM - 7PM, SUN:11AM-6PM /
MON-FRI: 10AM - 8PM, SAT: 10AM - 6PM, SUN:11AM-6PM
T-Mobile
1460 University Ave /
2110 Ford Pkwy
MON-FRI: 10AM - 9PM, SAT: 10AM -8PM, SUN: 11AM- 6PM /
MON-FRI: 10AM - 9PM, SAT: 10AM -8PM, SUN: 11AM- 6PM
Verizon
474 Hamline Ave /
2034 Ford Pkwy
MON-SAT: 10AM - 7PM, SUN: 12PM - 6PM /
MON-FRI: 9AM - 8PM, SAT: 9AM - 6PM SUN: 11AM - 5PM
*You can also visit Target, Walmart, or Best Buy stores to buy phones, SIM cards, or phone plans.
*You can also purchase a SIM card online, or get an e-SIM card (check the eligibility of your phone first!)
Installing a Landline Phone
Before you get a mobile phone plan, you may get a landline for your room from Macalester ITS. (Mac requires a phone
number in your student record, otherwise there is a registration hold.) so that your mentors can reach you
(http://its-notices-alerts.blogspot.com/2013/05/11-things-students-should-know-about.html). You can call anywhere in
the Twin Cities with this phone, free of charge.
Notes:
1. Don’t ask your host family to join their family plan (that’s rude). If they make the offer, that’s great.
2. Most phones sold in the U.S. are locked to the carrier that sells them, so you couldn’t take a GSM
iPhone from AT&T and use it on T-Mobile’s network unless the phone is unlocked. However, many
Verizon smartphones come unlocked.
3. On that note, there is also an option to unlock your phone after a certain period of time (for
example, 9 months with AT&T). Consult your phone company for the detailed policies.
4. Each carrier has options for voice, text, or data that gives you a certain amount of usage and fees for
when you go over your limits. If you are not on unlimited voice or text plan, US carriers may charge
you for outgoing and incoming call minutes or texts.
5. To check a coverage map, enter in Mac’s zip code – 55105.
6. Plans change often so check the carrier’s website for updated costs and information.
7. Most plans offer the ability to set up autopay to automatically pay for the bill. This typically comes
with a discount and means you don’t have to worry about remembering to pay every month.