Phone service Americans in Canada

[float5]

What are people doing when up in Canada for a while as far as using their phones --- or using something else? For calling campgrounds, for instance, or calling anybody.

[captmath]

Stopped at Canadian Walmart and bought a cheap pay-as-I-go phone on my first trip. Just buy a 15-minute card to reactivate it whenever I go back.

[EDarby]

Wow, thanks for the reminder!!! I'm going to have to all AT&T to get temporary i-net/texting-to-the-U.S. privileges!

[Loren & Cathy]

One unexpected thing on last fall's trip to Chilliwack was that approaching the border crossing in Sumas, our phones started ringing with offers for some plan in Canada. We have Verizon and were quite surprised at this. As we were in Canada for only two days we just didn't use the phones. Left Canada in Osoyoos. Loren

[BCnomad]

That happens the other way too Loren.

[fudge_brownie]

If you have AT&T you can add 30 days of international service. It gives texting, phone and 120 MB of data. I believe it cost $30 US. When you order it you can put an automatic unsubscribe on the service. Seemed to work fine, as always it requires service, from Rogers when across the border.

They have just come out with a different plan, not sure it applies to Canada however. It is $20 per month with texting and data, phone calls cost $1 per minute.

[ddeg]

We have Verizon and have added, for an extra $15, 100 Minutes on phone and 100 text messages while we are in Canada. Anything over 100 minutes will be $0.10 per minute for text or phone. So we will be using only for emergency. If you are on Verizon you can call their GlobalServices at 1-800-922-0204 to add.

[float5]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

If you have AT&T you can add 30 days of international service. It gives texting, phone and 120 MB of data. I believe it cost $30 US. When you order it you can put an automatic unsubscribe on the service. Seemed to work fine, as always it requires service, from Rogers when across the border.

They have just come out with a different plan, not sure it applies to Canada however. It is $20 per month with texting and data, phone calls cost $1 per minute.

I know about the international data and thought I would get it for a month but did not know that could apply to the phone. Probably does not in my case --- I use an AARP phone that does happen to be ATT. How do you link getting the phone minutes with the data? My data is completely separate from the phone.

[float5]

Originally Posted by captmath

Stopped at Canadian Walmart and bought a cheap pay-as-I-go phone on my first trip. Just buy a 15-minute card to reactivate it whenever I go back.

Thought about doing this and may have to.

[float5]

Originally Posted by ddeg

We have Verizon and have added, for an extra $15, 100 Minutes on phone and 100 text messages while we are in Canada. Anything over 100 minutes will be $0.10 per minute for text or phone. So we will be using only for emergency. If you are on Verizon you can call their GlobalServices at 1-800-922-0204 to add.

That sounds like a good way to go. On my phone, however, they said to leave the phone home! Guess they do not want anything to do with service in Canada.

[BCnomad]

I offer my phone for short USA calls at that grand sum of a cent a minute.

Yes, I have an x large phone plan at the moment.

[EDarby]

That new plan sounds great if it will apply to Canada!

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

If you have AT&T you can add 30 days of international service. It gives texting, phone and 120 MB of data. I believe it cost $30 US. When you order it you can put an automatic unsubscribe on the service. Seemed to work fine, as always it requires service, from Rogers when across the border.

They have just come out with a different plan, not sure it applies to Canada however. It is $20 per month with texting and data, phone calls cost $1 per minute.

[float5]

Originally Posted by BCnomad

I offer my phone for short USA calls at that grand sum of a cent a minute.

Yes, I have an x large phone plan at the moment.

That is so nice of you. You could see our 21' when we pick up. Oh, wait, you have one!

[fudge_brownie]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

They have just come out with a different plan, not sure it applies to Canada however. It is $20 per month with texting and data, phone calls cost $1 per minute.

I stand corrected, the new plan is still $30 and is available in Canada. It also offers something called WiFi Hotspots, which from what I can tell, is pretty lame. Certain cities and airports have free WiFi that allows free data and calling. They are so few as to be almost meaningless.

Called Passport, this maybe the only ATT option for the occasional traveller.

If you have some hybrid plan from AARP, I would call ATT and ask. I found good customer service in my infrequent contact.

[Greggo]

Skype should work up there with Internet. I'm kind of looking forward to being off the net for a week. My Virgin Mobile was useless for 9 days on this trip and I kind of enjoyed it!

Greg