This is one of Prepaid Phone News' series of comprehensive US prepaid mobile operator profiles. These posts cover all the major US mobile operators that have prepaid plans as well as MVNOs which offer a good value.
Overview: UK based Lycamobile launched in 2005 and has grown quickly to become Europe's largest MVNO, specializing in low-cost international calls. In the US Lycamobile launched as a T-Mobile MVNO in March, 2013. Worldwide Lycamobile has over 6 million customers. The company hasn't released US subscriber numbers.
Technology: GSM on the 1900 Mhz band with GPRS, Edge and HSPA+ data support. Additional HSPA and HSPA+ service on the 1700 Mhz AWS band. Lycamobile customers don't have access to T-Mobile's LTE service
Plans: Lycamobile's plan offerings include pay as you go and monthly prepaid plans.
Here's the full plan lineup:
Plan
Voice
Texts Domestic / International
Data
International Calling
Pay As You Go 1
2¢/min
4¢/12¢ 2
6¢/MB
Pay as you go
$16/month
250 Minutes
Unlimited / Unlimited
50 MB
$1.00 International call credit 3
$29/month
Unlimited
Unlimited/ Unlimited
Unlimited (250 MB at 4G speeds)
$2.50 International call credit 3
$39/month 1
Unlimited
Unlimited / Unlimited
Unlimited (500 MB at 4G speeds)
$10 International call credit 3
$49/month
Unlimited
Unlimited / Unlimited
Unlimited (1GB MB at 4G speeds)
$20 International 3
1 Balance never expires provided an outgoing call is made, data is used or a text message sent at least every 120 days. Minimum top up is $10.
2 Incoming texts are free.
3 International call credit is a limited time promotion which also includes1000 extra minutes to landlines and mobile numbers in China, Canada, Hong Kong and landlines in India and Mexico on the $29, $39 and $49 Plans.
International Rates:
Lyca has two unlimited international add-ons that are available only with plans priced at $29 and higher):
$10/month for unlimited calls to up to 10 different numbers (the first 10 international numbers dialed each month) in 50 countries (list).
$20/month - same as the $10 plan but includes calls to 17 additional countries and to Mexican mobile phones.
Lycamobile's pay as you international voice rates (rate finder) are good. Sample rates for calls to mobile phones: Canada 1¢; Mexico 3¢; China 1¢; UK 5¢; Philippines 9¢. Pay as you go users pay these prices on top of the base 2¢/minute rate. Lycamobile supports international direct dialing.
Unlimited international text messaging is included with all monthly plans but cost a surprisingly expensive 12¢ per message on pay as you go
Coverage: Lycamobile uses T-Mobile's relatively small native network. There is no roaming. Coverage is available in most cities and larger towns and along most interstates, but is lacking in rural and many resort areas. Lycamobile doesn't publish a coverage map but coverage should be the same as GoSmart's (map).
Devices: Lycamobile sells a selection of mostly pricey phones on their site.
SIMs: SIMs are available in regular, micro and nano sizes. SIMs are free. Shipping SIMs is normally $7 but is free if you order $10 or more in airtime in the same transaction as the SIM.
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): You can also use unlocked GSM phone that supports at least the 1900 Mhz band. Unlike other T-Mobile MVNOs, T-Mobile locked phones do not work.
How to Buy: SIMs are available online from Lycamobile online and from brick and mortar and online dealers (dealer locator).
How to Activate: Activate online or by calling 845-301-1612 from another phone. Activation is free.
Payment Options: You can top up with a PIN online or by calling 611 or 92# from your Lycamobile phone or 845-301-1611 from another phone. You can also add a PIN by dialing *611*PIN# and pressing send on your Lycamobile phone
If you create an online My Lycamobile account you can use it check your balance and plan expiration, view online call, text and data use logs and top up or with a PIN or credit or debit card or set up Auto Recharge.
PIN cards or codes are available from online and from local Lycmobile dealers (dealer locator). Some local and online dealers including callingmart.com offer instant PIN-less refills direct to your phone.
Minute rollover:
Unused pay as you go funds rollover provided you top up on time before the account is deactivated for inactivity
Account expiration:
Pay as you go plan balances never expire provided an outgoing call is made, data is used or a text message sent at least every 120 days.
Monthly plans renew every 30 days. If you do not have sufficient funds in your account to renew your service will be suspended.
On both pay as you go and monthly plans, you will lose you phone number if you do not top up within 30 days after your account is suspended.
Account Management: You can check your cash balance or available minutes and view call logs online at My Lycamobile. Or dial *611# or 94# to display your balance on screen or call 611 or 95# to hear your balance. To check you balance from another phone call 845-301-1611
Call Forwarding, Call Waiting and 3-Way Calling
To forward all calls to another number: Lycamobile doesn't support call forwarding.
Call waiting: Call waiting is enabled by default. It lets you place one call on hold while you take another call. When you are on a call and have another incoming call, you will hear a short tone. You'll have approximately 30 seconds to answer before the second caller hears a standard message or is forwarded to voicemail. Unless you have an unlimited calling plan, you will be charged for both calls.
To answer Call Waiting: To put the first call on hold, press "SEND." You'll automatically be connected with the second call. To return to the first call, press "SEND" again. To switch between the two calls, press "SEND."
3-Way Calling: Lets you create a conference call between yourself and two other people. You will be charged for both calls.
While on the first call, dial the 10-digit number of the second person and press "SEND." The first person is automatically put on hold while the call is made.
When the 2nd person answers, press "SEND" to create the conference call.
Lycamobile "Secret" Codes:
*#06# displays the phone's IMEI (serial number)
*613# or 97# view your Lycamobile number
*611# or 94# to display your balance on screen
95# hear your balance
*611*PIN# apply a top-up PIN
Free information services calls
611 - add a PIN
612 - Lycamobile customer care
711 - Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) for the hearing and speech impaired
911 - Emergency services
Other 3 digit codes like 211, 311 and 511 are not free on Lycamobile.
Toll-free calls: Unlike other US mobile operators, Lycamoble does not charge for calls to toll free 800 and 866 numbers
Lycamobile data settings:
APN: data.lycamobile.us
Username: lmus (Lowercase L for Lima)
Password: plus
Lycamobile Quirks: Lycamobile uses an unusual network infrastructure compared with typical MVNOs. The Lycamobile network delivers excellent quality by most reports but does have issues in other areas.
Unlocked phones required: Lycamobile uses its own Mobile County Code/Mobile Network code (MCC/MNC); 311/960, rather than T-Mobile's 310/260. T-mobile locked phones only accept SIMS with MCC/MNC 310/260 and don't work with Lycamobile SIMs. Some phones require roaming to be enabled to work with Lycamobile and display a roaming indicator although they aren't actually roaming
Porting Issues: T-Mobile's network is only used for the initial wireless portion of the call. The rest of the call routing is over leased lines with the call termination handed by VOIP providers or competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs). Lycamobile is unable to port many numbers that can be ported to other operators probably becaucse it VOIP and CLEC partners don't have a presence in all exchanges.
Google Voice Incompatibilities: Calling out with Google Voice apps doesn't work for many users possibly because Lycamobile doesn't format the caller ID correctly. See these Google Support Forum threads for details: thread 1, thread 2.
No MMS: Lyvamobile doesn't support MMS
Data Rounding: On pay as you go, Lyca rounds up each data session to the next penny. Services like push email, Google Voice messaging and social media updates create dozens of small data sessions per day. That results in high charges than on Lycamobile compared with operators that don't round. A Howard Forums user reported that he is charged about 45¢ per day for 1 MB of data used by Gmail and Google Voice compared with a 6¢ charge for the same usage on Airvoice which doesn't round data
Customer Service:
Phone support: 8 AM to Midnight EST at 866-277-3221 (toll-free) or 845-301-1612 or 612 from your Lycamobile phone
Online email support form: www.lycamobile.us/en/contactus. Report customer support issues at
complaints@lycamobile.us
Online Chat: Not available
Social Media: Facebook
Phone Sales and General Information Web Site: http://www.lycamobile.us/en/
Lycamobile Pros: Airtime doesn't expire free incoming texts, calls to 800 numbers are free, very good pay as you go voice and messaging rates, good international rates, competent support, online call records,
Lycamobile Cons: Data rounding, porting issues, Google Voice incompatibilities, no MMS, no call forwarding, limited T-Mobile native coverage
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