How do I use my phone in the USA? Check your smartphone's compatibility in the USA and North America!
Your plans for a trip to the USA or North America are progressing well. On the phone, you’ve opted for one of our prepaid sim cards to get around the USA.
But are you sure that your mobile is compatible with the American network? Can you really call from the USA to France with your mobile? Not all European handsets can be used in New York or Los Angeles!
So, how can you be sure that your smartphone will be in tune with the telephone frequency bands once you’ve passed the Statue of Liberty? We tell you all about it, and more importantly, we explain how it works.
What is a frequency band in telephony?
2G, 3G, 4G and 5G bands
Telephone frequency bands are radio waves used by carriers to send data: SMS, calls, MMS or even the Internet. Cell phones transmit the information to relay antennas, which carry it to the recipient.
Each band is identified by a frequency range in MHz (megahertz). These are comparable to routes carrying a specific type of information (message, call, Internet):
- The lower the frequency (between 700 and 900 MHz), the farther the data is sent, and the better it penetrates buildings.
- The higher it is (above 1800 MHz), the higher the transfer speed over a restricted area.
It’s easier to use low bands in the countryside and high bands in the city. Each country has its own frequencies. In Europe, for better transmission, you find the same frequencies between regions. But that’s not the case in the USA!
You need to check that your phone is compatible with your chosen carrier’s U.S. networks, as not all telecom services have the same bands.
The case of 4G and VoLTE
VolTE (Voice over LTE) is a technology that enables voice calls to be made over 4G. It has been deployed to deliver better sound quality and connection times. Traditionally, only 2G and 3G networks were used. This option allows you to use the Internet while communicating. And saves your phone a lot of energy.
To use it, check your smartphone’s compatibility with it, your mobile subscription and the conformity of the SIM card. You also need to be in an area covered by 4G. Then activate it on your Android or iPhone.
Why tell you about VoLTE? Quite simply because, for several years now, the USA has been regularly announcing the end of 2G and 3G. Without these, and if your phone isn’t equipped with VoLTE technology, you won’t be able to make calls. You’ll just be able to text and surf the Internet.
What frequency bands are available in the United States?
Our prepaid plans are used with two American carriers: AT&T and T-Mobile. These two companies do not use the same frequency bands.
| Carrier | 4G | 5G |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | B2, B4, B5, B12, B17, B30 | n2, n5, n30, n66, n71, n77, n257mmWave, n258mmWave, n260mmWave, n261mmWave |
| T-Mobile | B2, B4, B5, B12, B41, B66, B71 | n2, n41, n66, n71, n257mmWave, n258mmWave, n260mmWave, n261mmWave |
So, for your phone to connect to the U.S. network, it must be compatible with at least several of these bands. And especially with the 4G LTE frequency bands, as 2G and 3G are due to be phased out in the next few years.
What’s more, some carriers like AT&T only allow a strict list of models to be used on their network. Even if your model is theoretically compatible. That’s why IMEI verification is mandatory.
Why do you need to check your smartphone's compatibility?
When traveling to the USA, it’s important to check the compatibility of your cell phone to avoid being unable to make calls or send SMS messages. Even if you have a local prepaid or roaming SIM card, your device must be able to connect to regional frequency bands. Otherwise you won’t be able to make calls or surf the web outside Wi-Fi zones (and WhatsApp-type applications for calls).
Each cell phone has different options, depending on the technologies used. Mobiles manufactured in a specific province can rarely be used worldwide, except for top-of-the-range models. That said, even these may be impacted by reduced download or upload speeds and weaker signal strengths.
If you choose one of our prepaid SIM cards, make sure your smartphone is de-locked. A device locked to a French operator won’t be able to recognize it, making connection impossible.
By law, this has been the case for several years for all new models purchased in France.
How do you know if you can use your phone in the USA?
Depending on its brand, year or series, a cell phone may or may not correspond to a specific country’s communication service. So it’s essential that you examine your own handset.
We’re not proposing a list of USA-compatible phones here, but two equally simple steps:
- Check that your smartphone is unlocked so that you can use a prepaid SIM card. If it isn’t, take your IMEI number and contact your operator. This may take a few hours or even days.
- Check the IMEI: instead of wasting time reading your device’s manual, you can take direct advantage of our our smartphone compatibility search tool with American operators. The IMEI gives the frequency bands supported by your cell phone. Our technique queries the two operators we work with: T-Mobile and AT&T. The answer is immediately transmitted from them.
The IMEI number is your phone’s unique serial number. Composed of 15 to 17 digits, it identifies your cell phone and, in certain cases, enables it to be blocked (in the event of loss or theft). You can find it in your phone’s general settings.
Which compatible SIM card should I buy to travel in the USA?
Several prepaid prepaid plans are available for visitors to the USA. You can purchase a local SIM card (such as those from AT&T or T-Mobile, among the three largest operators in the U.S.) for direct access to U.S. networks.
These offer packages with unlimited data, calls and SMS, valid for periods ranging from 7 to 30 days or more. They also guarantee extensive 4G or 5G coverage (depending on local deployment and your phone’s compatibility).
Some SIM cards work with Canada and Mexico, offering a good connection throughout North America. If you have a compatible model, you can also use an eSIM, which is more practical and easier to manage.
