Hi…
We won EI @ Israel’s regional and are attending CMP 
Now, I am sure we will need to communicate a lot @ the competition, and if we use our Israeli cells it will cost a fortune.
I wanted to know if any of you guys know of any place near the Atlanta airport/dome that we can rent SIMs or talkmans or IDK, in order to communicate w/ each other during the competition since it’s illegal to use walkie-talkies…
Thanks!
Team Artemis #3083
You can get disposable phones in the US, I think. Stuff like Tracfones, etc, that have a limited number of minutes on them that you can buy at random airport stores.
Walkie-Talkies are no longer against the rule book.
See team update #8
sentence crossed out by the update:
Two-way radios or other form of wireless communications are not allowed (with the
exception of the previous bullet).
Just be sure your walkie-talkies are on frequencies and at power levels permitted in the US. You can buy “FRS” radios here for <$30 each, they operate on the 450 MHz band but will likely not reach from the stands to the pits (100 mW I think).
Perhaps everyone can get their Amateur Radio licenses and operate as hams here?
May, in 08 I bought a phone for not too much (maybe the phone was maybe $19? + you buy minutes for it).
here is a sample page from AT&T:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/prepaid-phones.jsp
We are thinking of doing this as well, probably a phone for the drive team, one for the strategy and one or two for the mentors.
Of course I’m sure all companies have these type of deals, and it’s just a matter of finding the closest mall…
-Leav
You might try to find a Target or Wal Mart store, and pick up a T-mobile To-Go Prepaid phone. They’re pretty cheap. If you find a T-mobile store, they can probably set you up with a SIM and some minutes for not a lot of money.
Make sure your phones support the US frequencies (850 and 1900).
When you arrive at the airport, I’m sure you can find some places that offer temporary pay as you go phones. But airports might be expensive. I might recommend going to a nearby mall or calling a cellphone provider directly.
Or you might even be able to order some prepaid phones online in advance, have them shipped to your hotel, and tell your hotel that you are expecting a package, and to hold it for you.
I work for AT&T, (one of the two major carriers here in US that use SIM Cards). I’m sure i can provide you guys with SIM cards. (I can activate them before i come to Atlanta or you guys can do it yourselves over the phone).
I can provide the SIM cards free of charge
I think the best prepaid plan for your situation would be one of our plans that charges $1 a day for unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling. So you will be able to contact all your team members for a really good price.
we also offer a more expensive $3 a plan taht allows you to call anyone in the US, if your interested in that instead.
Send me a Private Message and i can arrange to get the SIM cards to you guys once you land in Atlanta.