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Old 08-15-2016, 09:03 PM   #1
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Cell Phone Options for Canadian Snowbirds

Hello:

Any Canadian Snowbirds out there that can tell me what you do for cell phones while in the states? Do you buy a US plan on your Canadian phone provider? Or do you use an American cell phone service.

Thanks
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Old 08-16-2016, 06:46 AM   #2
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I bought a US phone (unlocked) it is way cheaper than a CDN plan in the US if you are down there for any length of time.. the reason to buy an unlocked phone is when you go home you can switch sim cards and use the phone in Canada too.. Verizon has the best coverage in the US and T-Mobile has the best rates.. you have to check and find out who covers the area you are going to and who has coverage on the route you will take
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Old 08-16-2016, 08:15 AM   #3
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Check with your provider. We are in the US and use Verizon. Under an international plan we were charged $2 for every day in Canada we used the phone . We did not use the phone everyday so we weren't charged for non use days. This set up avoids any roaming charges.
Verizon apparantely has arrangements with Rogers and Bell and we always got good service all the way up to Wawa and down to the border.
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Old 08-16-2016, 08:31 AM   #4
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Im using a tracfone , its working ok, price per minutes is reasonnable, phone are fairly cheap if you want a phone that you can use as a phone ! Other optional phone can be expensive. I dont know if its the same for western states but here in the easter states t-mobile coverage sucks big time, so just make sure that if you go tracfone that you get an at&t sim or verizon sim card.
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Old 08-16-2016, 08:39 AM   #5
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We bought an unlocked iPhone off Amazon when it came time to upgrade DW's iPhone to swap out SIM cards while travelling in the US. We tried Roam mobility but their coverage is extremely limited. Recently in northern NY state we had coverage from 3 different cell phone carriers but could not get a signal from Roam. Roam probably works better in urban areas. We thought this would be a good solution because we could use the same phone which we had all the accessories for and all the contacts and apps etc were already on the phone. We also tried purchasing a cheap pay as you go phone in the US but had problems getting it working because we did not have a ZIP code and the customer support was non-existent to help resolve the problem.

We have learned to make use of Skype calling on wifi as free wifi is readily available in the US. You add credit to your Skype account with a Credit Card and you can call any cell phone or landline for about 2 or 3 cents per minute. We also recently learned that with DW's iPhone connected to campground wifi, we were able to receive phone calls over wifi when somebody dialed her Canadian phone number. While travelling, your Canadian phone will work however the roaming fees are exhorbitant but in an emergency you can still make a call.
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Old 08-16-2016, 08:50 AM   #6
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, its Roam mobility that was using t mobile ! Could not remember the name !
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Old 08-18-2016, 08:35 AM   #7
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Thanks everyone! I was looking at the ROAM mobility and it seems perfect. But I am concerned about the coverage.

It's sounding like the best option is to unlock our cell phones and get a US SIM card and plan down there.
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Old 08-18-2016, 09:45 AM   #8
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You are concerned about the coverage and you have to. Roam coverage was basically non existant in New Hampshire , Maine and Vermont, and so on many important highway , basically nothing in west virginia...stay away from roam and or T-Mobile ( their supplier ) if you are planning to travel in the eastern states. I got to say that their customer service was pretty good and they reimburse me without any trouble.
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Old 08-19-2016, 08:38 AM   #9
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You are concerned about the coverage and you have to. Roam coverage was basically non existant in New Hampshire , Maine and Vermont, and so on many important highway , basically nothing in west virginia...stay away from roam and or T-Mobile ( their supplier ) if you are planning to travel in the eastern states. I got to say that their customer service was pretty good and they reimburse me without any trouble.
Thanks. Most of our travel would be in the Western USA and down into Arizona. Anyone know how the ROAM service is there?
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Old 08-19-2016, 02:43 PM   #10
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Arizona away from major cities has no coverage.. I have Verizon and in Chinle Page Monument Valley and Sonoran Desert.. nada. I dont think we had much in Grand Canyon and spotty in Sedona.


https://www.roammobility.com/coverage

check the map..
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Old 08-19-2016, 04:17 PM   #11
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Might I suggest Cricket wireless service? Several years ago, I was able to bring my Verizon iPhone 4s to the new carrier. They sent a sim card for $10 and I was good to go. Cricket wireless is a pre-pay with no contracts. We have the $40.00 per month plan, but since it's set up for direct debit on our credit card, they discount each line $5.00. I am not sure what fees (if any) would apply to stop and re-start. They also have a small variety of phones for sale. I recently bought a new iPhone 5s through them for $150.00 plus a new sim card. They offered the new 6/6s models, but I couldn't see spending that much for a phone.
Their coverage is very good and from what I understand, they are owned by AT&T and utilize the same cell towers. Verizon does have better coverage when not near major cities.
You might also check into going pre-paid with Verizon. They too have several plans for a flat rate and you are not obligated to sign up for 2 years.
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Old 08-19-2016, 04:26 PM   #12
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Verizon prepaid requires one of a couple of phones. Basic ones. Smart phone is not eligible..

They no longer do 2 year contracts
Getting a phone these days and a plan is confusing and like buying a used car.. The numbers just fly around.. and they make it seem like you are getting a bargain.

I think the minimum Verizon pay as you go is a hundred bucks..Texting is still charged. The phone is something like 20 bucks. My husband has had that "plan " for years and sees no need for a smartphone. But peoples needs differ. He couldn't text if there were a prize at the end of a carrot.
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Old 08-19-2016, 06:02 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by ykcamom View Post
Thanks. Most of our travel would be in the Western USA and down into Arizona. Anyone know how the ROAM service is there?

Try this link for an answer https://www.roammobility.com/coverage
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Old 11-26-2016, 10:26 PM   #14
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I have an unlocked phone and am with Fido. I just added a US feature for a dollar that gives me long distance for 1 cent a minute(not sure how this works as we don't use pennies anymore). I also have Magic Jack which I use when I am in Yuma and just downloaded the app onto my smartphone and I can use it in any WiFi zone. There are probably cheaper ways of doing it but I am happy.
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Old 03-19-2017, 08:53 AM   #15
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I have used Republic Wireless for 3-4 years and enjoyed the flexibility of WI-Fi and Cell. I've almost always been able to find a hot spot where no cell coverage existed. Republic has a $20. that works great for me. You may get a free sim card with sign up. I use a Motorola 4G Plus service has been flawless. Spent a week in Suprise this spring, no phone issues. Check www.republicwireless.com. Good luck. Jeff
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