Polly the Parrot wrote...

> Last time I was in the States, 3G wasn't available in any case.
>
> Has things changed recently?

AT&T is progressively rolling out its 3G network and where my wife is there is
coverage. Not sure about London, though. I haven't checked.

Anyway, an update. I called Optus yesterday but they wouldn't deal with me,
despite me begging and pleading and figuratively speaking, pushing my blind and
deaf leper child in front of me asking for special dispensation.

The missus eventually called Optus and got the runaround for about half an hour
(not flash when calling from O/S). They got it activated, but then they told her
about the bond. My wife exploded saying that none of this stuff was mentioned
when she bought the phone at the Optus shop and which the staff there was told
explicitly that the phone was being purchased for her overseas travel and that
yes, all roaming stuff would be activated, no mentioning of bonds or whatever.

The Optus person then conceded a bit and said that as her bill had just been
issued (I recieved it here two days ago), that if she pays that now then they'll
waive the bond. Which she did.

Anyway, she got a pre-paid SIM from a local ATT outlet. And that's working fine.
Although she said that she's charged to RECEIVE SMSes as well as to send them.

How wonderful that is. Imagine getting onto one of those advertising scam SMS
lists and having to pay to receive spam SMSes...