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Old 08-01-2013, 01:52 PM   #1
XxBIGDOGxX1817
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Default Heading Down to the U.S with Cell Phone

Heading down to Seattle Wash. this weekend trying to figure out the cheapest way to have my cell with me and still be able to send text messages. Probably some people that have learned the right way to go about this after coming home to some $$$$$ bills. Let me know what you recommend. Thanks.

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Iphone 4s, rogers wireless
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Old 08-01-2013, 01:55 PM   #2
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Best way is to unlock and get a TMobile sim card for unlimited Data/Voice/Text for $2 a day. Just walk into any TMobile and they can set you up.

Might not be economical for a 2 day trip, as it is $50 to unlock from Rogers, and $10 for sim card, plus $10 minimum amount to put on the card.

Really starts to pay off if you make multiple trips, or stay a lot longer though.
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Old 08-01-2013, 01:56 PM   #3
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Phone rogers and get a US text plan before you go.

I'm with Telus. Usually you can buy a month of International texting for like, $25, and it takes the US text price down to a "mere" $0.20/text. but if you don't get a plan it'll be $1+/text, and it's incoming and outgoing.

I got smoked with a $400+ bill once from being in the States at Christmas without a plan, and I got a million merry christmas and happy new year texts.
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Old 08-01-2013, 01:56 PM   #4
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There are a couple of ongoing threads on the myriad of ways to do this. Family and friends seem pretty happy (read don't complain) about roam mobility.

Here is the link:
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Old 08-01-2013, 02:10 PM   #5
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I got hit with a $6500 cell bill last year from roaming. My icloud was downloading Breaking Bad HD to my phone while I was in Denver for a Broncos game. Luckily Rogers has people who now monitor for this kind of thing and they shut my phone off, and reduced the bill to $500. I own an unlocked iphone and have a Tmobile sim, but I figured I wouldn't need it over the 3 days I was there. Lesson learned!!

When you land, you will get a text from Rogers giving you options on data roaming. If I'm in the US for a short period I get one of those (usually the $100 pack for talk, text and data). If I'm there longer I use my tmobile sim to run my phone. I would just get a Rogers roaming service pack, and if you use it up Rogers will send out another text when you get low. Careful on data though, you would be surprised how much web surfing and background apps eat up.

Word to the wise though: Go with Verizon. Tmobile coverage is TERRIBLE in the US.
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Old 08-01-2013, 02:14 PM   #6
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Unlocking and getting a SIM down there is the best bet.

If you don't want to do that call Rogers. They recently revamped their U.S. roaming packages and actually have some decent options now.
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Old 08-01-2013, 02:25 PM   #7
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I second what others have said about the SIM card and have done that in the UK(tesco) and the US(TMobile). SIM cards are free or .99c if you shop around.
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Old 08-01-2013, 02:31 PM   #8
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Doesn't a new sim card mean a new number ?

how would people text you ?
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Old 08-01-2013, 02:42 PM   #9
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am i able to shut off my data and "text" to other iphone users via iMessage with wifi connection??
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Old 08-01-2013, 02:44 PM   #10
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In theory- yes iMessage will work over wifi. However on my last trip to the States I found it failed randomly; sending the messages as SMS.

The one thing is Rogers also introduced a plan that is $8 per day and gives you 50MB of data per day. Might be handier than going with another sim card.
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Old 08-01-2013, 02:49 PM   #11
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If you don't care about having call minutes, I think Rogers has a $20 add-on which gives you unlimited texts. You can sign in to your rogers account online and check what options are available to you, or give them a call.
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Old 08-01-2013, 03:41 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nufy View Post
Doesn't a new sim card mean a new number ?

how would people text you ?
You give them the new number....?

The cool thing with iphones is when you plug a new sim in, you still have all your contacts and conversations in it (maybe other phones do this, I have no idea) but when I hit the US and swap my sim, I carry on my text conversations as per usual. Most of my friends have my US number so they know it's me.

My ipad automatically syncs my imessage with the new number as well.

As far as the imessage goes, I THINK you have to have your phone on, but can have the data roaming turned off. I seem to recall playing with my settings trying to be 110% sure I was on wifi and not roaming, and I had something pop up along those lines.
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Old 08-01-2013, 04:23 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042 View Post
In theory- yes iMessage will work over wifi. However on my last trip to the States I found it failed randomly; sending the messages as SMS.

The one thing is Rogers also introduced a plan that is $8 per day and gives you 50MB of data per day. Might be handier than going with another sim card.
You need to disable "Send as SMS" in the iMessage preferences and then it will only use Wifi or data. I've spent several weeks in the US recently and have only been charged (by Rogers) for outgoing text messages I meant to send (still absurd, but overall cheaper than their US "plans" for the amount I used). Incoming text messages in the US were free since I have unlimited incoming text on my plan.
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Old 08-01-2013, 04:27 PM   #14
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I always do the Rogers add on that gives you a texting a little bit of call time, and is active for a month.
Easiest solution without having to unlock phones, use a different # etc..
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Old 08-01-2013, 04:27 PM   #15
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Rogers will unlock it for 50 bucks, and best is to get a sim card down there
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Old 08-01-2013, 04:28 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rathji View Post
Best way is to unlock and get a TMobile sim card for unlimited Data/Voice/Text for $2 a day. Just walk into any TMobile and they can set you up.

Might not be economical for a 2 day trip, as it is $50 to unlock from Rogers, and $10 for sim card, plus $10 minimum amount to put on the card.

Really starts to pay off if you make multiple trips, or stay a lot longer though.
I'm guess text doesn't include international texting.
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Old 08-01-2013, 04:31 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubecube View Post
I'm guess text doesn't include international texting.
Correct, just in the US.

I just use an app, pretty easy to get around it.
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Old 08-01-2013, 04:40 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob View Post
You need to disable "Send as SMS" in the iMessage preferences and then it will only use Wifi or data. I've spent several weeks in the US recently and have only been charged (by Rogers) for outgoing text messages I meant to send (still absurd, but overall cheaper than their US "plans" for the amount I used). Incoming text messages in the US were free since I have unlimited incoming text on my plan.

So can you just clarify how you got charged? I'm assuming you left data on?
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Old 08-01-2013, 04:41 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rathji View Post
Correct, just in the US.

I just use an app, pretty easy to get around it.
Which one, Whatsapp?
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Old 08-01-2013, 04:44 PM   #20
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I know the OP isn't, but if you are with Bell you should ask for this for the data side of things. They usually don't tell you about it:

1GB for $45 North American Data

Basically it works the exact same as the 1GB plan in Canada, except that you can also use it in the US (only $10 more per month than the Canada data plan). I just switched my wife's phone over to this for good (but I use to switch back and forth based on our travel plans). Now we go to the US and I don't even have to think about the usage, it's basically the same as in Canada.
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