AT&T and T-Mobile providers in Phoenix (2015, hotel)

[andreawars]

The time for my holiday in AZ is getting close 😊.
But I'm informing not only about the places to visit, but also how to be connected.

I'll bring 2 phones with me, the main one as Platform to check my pictures. The other one will be a Samsung J5 (2015) that I'll use as GPS but also as device to navigate if looking for informations and places.
Seems that my device works better with the 2 providers written above, expecially AT&T

...but, it's about 2 hours I'm looking if I can find a store inside the Sky Harbor airport or nearby. But i can't find anything... neither on Google and googlemaps.

The point is that, I'll landing more or less at 18.00 and I guess in town most of the stores will be closed at that time. I must take the light rail to move to Van Buren where my Hotel is located...I can't also wasting time on searching a store too far away and i would prefer to avoid spending money for an extra phone, as i don't need it at all.

Any indication or suggestion?

Thank you anyway ☺

[wase4711]

what is it you are asking?
both t mobile and att work fine here, if thats your question

[kell490]

You won't have any issues with either in Phoenix. If you drive to remote areas of the state Verizon works better long range they use lower frequency travel farther. I went to Tmobile when I went skiing up in flagstaff could not get a good signal where my work phone was Verizon it worked anywhere on the mountain. If your just going to be staying in city's you should not a have a problem. I never had a problem with Tmobile on major highways even up north or out west just when go back into the mountains seems like Verizon keeps working.

[andreawars]

Maibe i written a lot and i didn't focus on the main question:
Does there are stores inside the Sky Harbor airport to buy simcards by At&T or Tmobile?

I'm landing around 18.00 and when stores are about to close, i can't reach them in time and neither trying to move lonely without knowing where to go. I mostly use GPS to move on offline maps and online, but i wish to searching places with a connection when in trouble to find them.
I wish to avoid Verizon as it uses a different signal to GSM and it is less compatible.
Anyway I'll move also to the National parks like grand canyon and Monument Valley...signal would be worse but anyway if I'm in trouble with the car, i need a Phone to Call a pow truck.

I can't figure it out i can't connect to the world once I'm landing in an international airport, tousands of miles from home, in a well developed country. I'm missing something for sure...

[PHX Newbie]

Andrea - I think your questions are: where can I buy a sim card in the evening after my flight; and should I get AT&T or TMobile.
It is difficult to find on the Sky Harbor webpage, but there is an extensive list of where you can get cards:

Terminal 2
Press Xpress (Pre-security)
The PHX Travelmart (Post-security)
CNBC (Post-security)
The Phoenix (Post-security)

Terminal 3
News Travels Fast (North Concourse)

Terminal 4
12 News (Gates A15-A30)
Arizona Highways (Presecurity)
eSavvy (Gates A1-A14, C1-C9)
Hudson (Gates B15-B28)
iStore (Pre-Security)
Trip Advisor (Gates (A1-A14)

In terms of which provider to use; in Phoenix, signal availability would be similar for AT&T or TMobile. In northern AZ, you will have very little coverage at all; no matter which sim card you have. Here is a very handy map of cell towers. There are large areas where you will not have any coverage.
Arizona Cell Phone Coverage Map & Carrier Reviews

[andreawars]

Originally Posted by PHX Newbie

Andrea - I think your questions are: where can I buy a sim card in the evening after my flight; and should I get AT&T or TMobile.
It is difficult to find on the Sky Harbor webpage, but there is an extensive list of where you can get cards:

Terminal 2
Press Xpress (Pre-security)
The PHX Travelmart (Post-security)
CNBC (Post-security)
The Phoenix (Post-security)

Terminal 3
News Travels Fast (North Concourse)

Terminal 4
12 News (Gates A15-A30)
Arizona Highways (Presecurity)
eSavvy (Gates A1-A14, C1-C9)
Hudson (Gates B15-B28)
iStore (Pre-Security)
Trip Advisor (Gates (A1-A14)

In terms of which provider to use; in Phoenix, signal availability would be similar for AT&T or TMobile. In northern AZ, you will have very little coverage at all; no matter which sim card you have. Here is a very handy map of cell towers. There are large areas where you will not have any coverage.
Arizona Cell Phone Coverage Map & Carrier Reviews

Thank you so much! About skyharbor page i did find Istore but i was pretty sure was just a store of electronic stuff. Are you sure all shops you listed sell sim cards? Because i found that list too...but i wasn't pretty sure by their names they could sell sim cards

What do you Think?

[PHX Newbie]

Good point. I assumed they meant sim cards but it likely just means minute/data refill cards, which you will need anyway.

Assuming you're coming into Terminal 4 on an international arrival, your best option is likely the istore outside security. Their detailed info is below. They are open every day 6 AM until 10 PM. You should call them and ask specifically if they have sim cards for your chosen carrier and phone type. Make sure the sim works before you leave the terminal. Sim cards should be quite cheap.

You do have your phone unlocked already, right?

iStore PHX
Phoenix Skyharbor International Airport
Terminal 4, Pre-Security
2800 N Terminal Rd
Phoenix, AZ
85034
Tel: 602-244-1373

[PHX Newbie]

If you are not coming into Terminal 4, go to the original list and start googling the store name and "sky harbor hours". the results should include the hours.

[andreawars]

Originally Posted by PHX Newbie

Good point. I assumed they meant sim cards but it likely just means minute/data refill cards, which you will need anyway.

Assuming you're coming into Terminal 4 on an international arrival, your best option is likely the istore outside security. Their detailed info is below. They are open every day 6 AM until 10 PM. You should call them and ask specifically if they have sim cards for your chosen carrier and phone type. Make sure the sim works before you leave the terminal. Sim cards should be quite cheap.

You do have your phone unlocked already, right?

iStore PHX
Phoenix Skyharbor International Airport
Terminal 4, Pre-Security
2800 N Terminal Rd
Phoenix, AZ
85034
Tel: 602-244-1373

The Phone is unlocked but works on GSM not CDMA. I've checked a website that show each model of phone (including it model if EU, KOREAN etc...), it is quite compatible with At&T and Tmobile, but in tmobile forum i've found a topic where an expert user replied that if the Phone has the frequency requested, then it works. Tmobile and all Brands don't have the keep an updated list for all phones Worldwide

I'm trying to find out an email of the store becsuse calling them from Italy it would be a suicide.
I'm landing in terminal 4 ☺

[andreawars]

Update: IStore replied me through email. They don't sell sim cards or data.
I don't want to take a Taxi to avoid to get lost for reaching a Tmobile or at&t store. It would be stupid! I'm trying to write to the airport hoping they redirect me somewhere