2 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Besides helping me with the content of the Currency Exchange and Border Crossing pages, Bill Magee has also written a short guide on the use of cell phones within Canada. We have relied heavily on text messaging and cell phone calls to communicate with one another during our Fests, as well as individuals perhaps calling someone at home. Those who went on our Toronto and Montreal trips in 2004 and 2006 respectively may possibly have received an unwanted present in the form of a high phone bill about a month after their return.

Basically, we need to find other ways to communicate, refrain from doing so except in emergency, and remember to shut off any automatic text messaging (Twitter comes to mind) while we are outside the USA. Unless you have a plan that includes calling to, from, or within Canada, you may pay dearly for doing what you're used to doing without worry here in the USA.

It should also be pointed out that if you plan to call say, a hotel in Vancouver from home, you may incur extra charges as well if your plan is restricted to this country.

Bill's guide is here.

Edited by KevinKorell, 31 March 2011 - 09:25 PM.

[jis]

On certain plans you can add on a Canada roaming for some number of minutes for the month covering the period of your travel. On the data side at least for the iPhone there are several plans for adding international data roaming on a data volume package basis, e.g., the plan extension that I have is something like 200MB for I forget how much. I just turn that on only in months that I am traveling abroad. So I will have it on for both June and July since I will be traveling abroad both months (June - Israel, July - Canada and Scotland). I have used this plan as far afield as in India, Singapore, Japan and most of Western Europe in the past. Similar there are text messaging packages too. So bottom line, check with your mobile carrier and explore the possibilities that they offer.

[BillMagee]

...On the data side at least for the iPhone there are several plans for adding international data roaming on a data volume package basis, e.g., the plan extension that I have is something like 200MB for I forget how much.

The AT&T international data package for iPhone is $25/month for 20MB, $200/month for 200MB.

Standard data roaming is $19.50 per MB. Ouch!

AT&T iPhone International Tips