[use overseas SIM cards on free mobile phones!] US "T-Mobile US" provides calls and text messages needed for transportation sharing services instead of taxis for $3 a week-Travel Watch

奥に見えるのはラスベガスの新観光名所、大観覧車の「High Roller」

　A lot of people come to the United States of America for sightseeing and work, but prepaid SIM cards are not so easy to use. This time, it introduces the prepaid SIM of T-Mobile US, an American communications operator.

　アメリカには、日本のNTTドコモやKDDIにあたる通信事業者（MNO）としてAT&T、Verizon、T-Mobile、そして日本のソフトバンクが買収して話題となったSprintがある。それぞれの回線を使うMVNOもあるが、個人的にはあまり存在感を感じていないので、たいていAT&TかT-MobileのプリペイドSIMを購入している。

　In the United States, because operators use a special frequency band, even if iPhone wants to use the Japanese version (international version) in the United States, it cannot fully support the frequency band, and the need for an American version is also an example of a high barrier. Having said that, because the general frequency band is also used, there should be no trouble if you use a terminal with the corresponding frequency bandwidth.

　Moreover, compared with Japan, the cost of communication is not particularly cheap is also a bottleneck. In T-Mobile, $35 has unlimited voice and SMS solutions, because there is no data communication, so there is no reason to choose. There is a scheme called "Simple Choice Plan" if data communication is needed. Voice and SMS are unlimited, $50 for 2 GB, $65 for 6 GB, $80 for 10 GB, and $95 for 14 GB. In the United States, there are many unlimited calls and text messages at home, which is different from Japan.

　In addition, there is a 30-day, $3 "Pay As You Go" plan, which is available for 30 minutes of voice calls and 30 text messages, at an extra charge for data communications. $5 a day can add 500MB and $10 a week can add 1 GB of data traffic. If you travel within a week, this 1 GB solution is the cheapest and easiest. I tried to take advantage of the plan this time.

　This time to interview "CES2016" to the United States, because of the plane, he arrived in Los Angeles on December 31, 2015 and stayed there for two nights. Because it was a bus trip to Las Vegas on January 2, 2016, he bought a SIM card in Los Angeles on January 1.

1月1日の朝、ロサンゼルスのホテルの窓から見た初日の出

　The purchase is the "Best Buy" of the appliance mall in Culver City, which moves by bus from the city of Los Angeles. The environment in which the United States is less likely to buy SIM cards at the airport is easier to understand by going to stores like Best Buy and career stores on the street.

　T-Mobile is committed to prepaid SIM among operators in the United States, so it is possible to buy SIM units through Best Buy. At the same time, they also buy prepaid cards called "top-up cards (refill)". Next, if you visit T-Mobile 's website, activate (activate) SIM on the basis of user login, and register the number from the card, the fee will be recharged and available. This is done in much the same way as prepaid SIM is used in other countries.

ショッピングモール内にあるBest Buyで購入購入したSIM。ナノサイズだが、SIMアダプターが標準で付属するタイプだった

　In fact, there was a problem at the time of purchase, and as mentioned later, with regard to the communications environment in the United States, cities basically entered LTE without a problem. Compared with Japan, it is sometimes easy to fall into 3G and 2G, and there are severe operators in buildings, but the speed is also very fast, and the development of the LTE environment is more difficult than before.

　Las Vegas in the car sometimes drives beyond the circle in the suburbs. Compared to this, during CES, when the meeting hall is crowded, I can't communicate like Parker, and I work very hard. Having said that, this is much better than before.

ラスベガスに向かう車内から。とても人が住んでいるとは思えない荒野を走ったりするので、ところどころ圏外になることもT-Mobileのアプリから利用状況を確認できる速度も十分。この計測はラスベガスで行なった

　In any case, "if no one on the street is too crowded, join LTE" is a comfortable communication environment. If there is a capacity of 1 GB, I think a week or so of personal travel will be enough. In this sense, T-Mobile 's Pay As You Go is an unshakable choice. Another point is that even though it takes 30 minutes to make phone calls and 30 text messages, you can use the voice function for as little as $3.

　In Las Vegas, the streets are spacious. Anyway, Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino is so big that you can get tired just by going to the "next hotel". The bus network is also equipped, and some hotels can also use monorail trams, but the fastest way is to use taxis. If you wait at the gate of Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, you can take it in turn, and this time the one active in Las Vegas is "Lyft".

　Lyft is the same bike sharing service as Uber, which specifies the location of the ride from the mobile app, the nearest car is coming, and the destination is specified on the app to take you there. Because you sign up for a credit card on APP, the payment is automatic, and in extreme cases, it's convenient to take you to your destination without saying a word to the driver.

“Lyftカー”にはこうした掲示が貼られている。Uberも同時に貼っているクルマが多く、1人の運転手が2つのサービスに対応しているようだラスベガスのカジノホテルの多くでは、Uber/Lyftの停車スペースが用意されていた。タクシーとの競争もあるせいか、すみ分けをしているようだLyftを呼ぶときは場所を指定して、「Set pickup」を選ぶだけ

　When using the Lyft, you need a mobile phone number to register, at least the number of the Japanese KDDI can be used for registration, but sometimes you will receive a phone call and text message from the driver during deployment. In addition, the system will also receive a SMS before the car arrives. In the case of Japanese numbers, exchanging international calls and text messages will incur extra fees.

　In this regard, if it is T-Mobile 's SIM, as a domestic call is 30 minutes of calls, 30 times of SMS is free, so there is no extra charge. In addition, during the campaign, Lyft sent coupons of $10 x 5 times to first-time registrants for free rides if less than $10, so it was easy to use (tips will be paid separately from credit cards).

　However, when setting the data communication option for T-Mobile 's Pay As You Go, there is a drawback: it cannot be updated after using 1 GB (it should have been possible before, but now it is no longer possible). The option term should be renewed in a week, but the travel doesn't make any sense. It can be used indefinitely at the speed of 128kbps, but it is not very realistic in speed, so you need to pay attention to it.

　Therefore, the author contacted the chat support of T-Mobile, conveyed the meaning of adding another GB, removed the data communication option on the spot, implemented the application of the new option, and can start using it again immediately. There will be a corresponding call to the support phone and the professional store. Given the hassle, it's better to choose "Simple Choice Plan" in the first place when 1 GB is probably not enough. It's by no means cheap, but as a cost-effective solution, the $65 six-GB solution gives an indiscriminate impression.

　In this way, the communication environment in the United States will not feel too "cheap". Of course, this is cheaper than using regular international roaming, but Softbank Corp. 's "America Infinity" can be used in the United States, which is annoying. Although it is limited by Softbank Corp. 's iPhone users, roaming on Sprint lines in the United States can be used for free, voice calls and messages to Japan and the United States are free, and data communications can also be directly used by Softbank Corp. in the data capacity part of the contract, and the network is also OK. If you go to the United States frequently, you can sign a contract with Softbank Corp. for this purpose only.

　At present, Sprint gives people the impression that the airwaves are not in good condition (so it is hard to fight in the United States), but it is also heard that actual users are not too embarrassed, so it is recommended to be used as a "connection and sub-line before purchasing prepaid SIM".

　Users other than Softbank Corp. do not have the same service, so it is cheaper to use a prepaid SIM card than using roaming communications.

ラスベガスといえば、ベラージオ・ホテルの噴水

　So, about one of the aforementioned questions. When buying a SIM card in the United States, you actually need new attention. This is the law called "AB-1717" implemented in California since January 1, 2016.

　The law imposes a tax on prepaid communications services in California at a specified rate. Basically, there seems to be a tax on refills. So far, California is tax-free and does not levy a tax equivalent to Japan's consumption tax, but because of the implementation of this law, the tax will have to be repaid at the time of purchase.

　The tax, known as the MTS (Mobile Telephony Services) service charge, seems to have been further broken down in a few details, but it needs to be paid with a premium on the refilled payment anyway. And the trouble is that even in California, tax rates vary from region to region.

　Depending on the town and other countries, the minimum tax rate is 9.260% and the highest tax rate is 18.260%, which seems to be updated every year. In particular, there are subtle differences in Los Angeles, such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 18.260%, long Beach 13.76% and so on. The Culver City purchased this time is also 18.260% of the region.

　As mentioned above, I bought it on January 1st, but it just came into effect that day. I bought a refill for $35, a SIM for $4.99, a tax of $7.30 and a payment of $47.29. By contrast, it costs only $35 to buy a $35 replenishment in Las Vegas. Because there is no consumption tax, there is actually a difference of $7. Although this is not an extremely large amount, you should keep in mind that if you buy and refill in California, there will be additional payments.

奥にある35ドルのリフィルと4.99ドルのSIMを購入。スマートフォンが見えるのはAndroid Payで支払っているから。画面に「Tax」として7.30ドルが追加されているレシートを確認してみると、MTSサーチャージとして「Local」「PUC」「911」の3種類がかかっている。よく見ると、SIMカードとリフィルにはさらに内税として税金が含まれているような……ラスベガスのBest Buyで同じリフィルを購入した。こちらはシンプルに35ドルだけ

　The prepaid SIM of the contract can be recharged if the network is recharged, so the next time you go to the United States, you can buy a recharge. In this way, it is cheaper to avoid buying in California. As a traveler, although it is a bit troublesome, taking advantage of the opportunity to go to other states to buy well seems to be the key to making it easier to use American SIM cards.

キャリア名	T-Mobile US
購入価格	4.99ドル（別途リフィルが必要）
カードの種類	nanoSIM（mini/microアダプタ付属）
対応周波数帯	LTE：1900MHz（Band3）、1700/2100MHz（Band 4）、700MHz（Band12）3G：2100MHz、1700/1900MHzGSM：1900MHz
APN	fast.t-mobile.com
滞在時期	2015年12月下旬～2016年1月初旬
使用デバイス	パナソニック「LUMIX DMC-CM1」