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Taking cell phones to USA

Taking cell phones to USA

grandmaB
Joined: This month
Posts: 310

grandmaB
Joined: This month
Posts: 310

Taking cell phones to USA
11/11/2018 at 11:44 PM

we are going to Florida for 2 weeks & was wondering if people take their iPhones. It seems that Bell/MTS don’t have any kind of add on pkg. that is worth getting bc it will cost you $$$$$$$$$$ for text & data. Any suggestions as to what other people do without having to take a second mortgage out.
Edited by admin, 2018-11-12 05:59:11. Reason: title
campfire3
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 153

campfire3
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 153

...
11/11/2018 at 11:58 PM

I usually just put on airplane mode and connect to WiFi whenever I want to use my BellMTS iPhone in the USA. Hotels, malls, some restaurants (ex. McDonalds), etc. have free WiFi these days. I should clarify that I don’t make phone calls, I just iMessage for free, browse the internet and use apps (ex. Maps, Facebook, FaceTime) on the WiFi down there.
Someonesomewhere
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 67

Someonesomewhere
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 67

Wifi
11/12/2018 at 5:07 AM

Most places/parks you visit will also have free guest wifi. I managed fine and was worried about it when I went earlier this year.
achuckrey
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 906

achuckrey
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 906

.:.
11/12/2018 at 8:03 AM

Bell does have travel plans

https://www.bellmts.ca/personal/wireless/travel

I do agree with the wifi though. If you are on wifi you can talk to others with iPhones or iPads via FaceTime video or audio.
RantsFromAfar
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 283

RantsFromAfar
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 283

*****
11/12/2018 at 9:07 AM

There is another possibility.

Look into prepaid phone plans that are available at you destination and buy a sim card once you get there and activate it during the trip.There's also the option of Roam mobility which you can buy here in Canada. Roam will send you a free SIM through their "Zoomer" offer. (They will generally send it to non-Zoomer members, I got one last month)

https://get.roammobility.com/zoomer/

You must make sure that your Canadian provider has unlocked your phone already for either of these options.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Roaming
11/12/2018 at 9:30 AM

Rogers used to have a big advantage in this area, but looks like all of the Big 3 phone companies let you use your existing plan on US roaming for $7/day now. Bell calls theirs "Roam Better with Home Data" and I see they're bumping the price to $8/day next month. Just double-check with your provider to make sure it applies to your plan and that there isnt something else you have to signup for.
curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2981

curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2981

hmmm
11/12/2018 at 10:25 AM

I am with MTS. When I go to the US, I get the 'international text' package - 50 texts for $5. They can put it on your plan for one month, just give them the dates you will be out of country. Then I use free wifi when I can, as others have said. I don't pay for extra data.
floyd2
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 67

floyd2
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 67

Telus
11/12/2018 at 6:29 PM

has a Canada/ US plan that you can talk text and use your data on both sides of the border. Just go to the Telus website and they explain it very well
FM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 48

FM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 48

SIM card
11/12/2018 at 9:06 PM

You can get SIM cards from wal-mart once you're in the US for $50 that gives you unlimited calling, texting, and data for 1 month.
Telus costs $7/day. So if I'm going to be in the states for over 1 week, that's the go to.
floyd2
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 67

floyd2
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 67

If you are
11/12/2018 at 11:03 PM

in the US very often look at the Telus Canada / US plan It has worked well for me. You use your data, texting and voice just like at home and no extra daily charge
cotr
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 631

cotr
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 631

.
11/13/2018 at 6:06 AM

I am in the States quite often so I am on the Telus North America plan with cost me $10 a month and I use my phone for calling and texting. With this plan you can use your phone as if you were in Canada
Pasquale
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 389

Pasquale
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 389

We also
11/13/2018 at 8:02 AM

Put our IPhone on plane mode and just hook up to the free wifi when we get to where we are going. No worries , no stress
grandmaB
Joined: This month
Posts: 310

grandmaB
Joined: This month
Posts: 310

I’m not much for
11/13/2018 at 10:13 AM

Phone technology and I have an iPhone 7 Plus...so if I leave my phone on airplane mode do I need to go into my phone settings to turn anything off when I use the free Wi-Fi at theme parks etc. I don’t want to be coming back home and see roaming charges on our phone bill.