Year long "sabatical" - what to do with cell phone?

[sun]

So, if all goes to plan, I'm moving to Europe for a year - starting in June.

My cell contract is up in March and I want to upgrade my phone (have had the same one for 2.5 years). Talked to Bell and they said they can suspend my account for six months while I'm away (for $17/month), after which, it will be full price for the remaining six months.

Should I just buy the phone outright with no contract? Will I be able to use it in Europe after getting a European provider?

Going in circles on google, so thought I might look for help here. Any advice?

[Temporary_User]

Why not just continue using your current phone until June, cancel your plan, and get a new phone/plan when you come back from your trip?

[cam_wmh]

Need more information.

What kind of phone do you have right now?
What kind of phone do you wish to upgrade to?
Will your usage change any when in Europe?

[Brannigans Law]

Who ate your sandwich?

[sun]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Why not just continue using your current phone until June, cancel your plan, and get a new phone/plan when you come back from your trip?

Good question. Part of the reason is I wanted to keep the same number - thought it over though, and I've changed my mind. I also could use a new phone right now, since mine is showing its age.

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Need more information.

What kind of phone do you have right now?
What kind of phone do you wish to upgrade to?
Will your usage change any when in Europe?

I have an iphone 4 currently, looking to get a 5s. As far as usage, it's tough to say. I'll be travelling a lot over there vs here. Is roaming a thing in the EU? More international calls, I would assume. As it stands now, I rarely exceed the terms on my plan:

200 anytime local minutes
National Fab 10 - Text & Talk
Text Messaging - Unlimited Package
Unlimited Picture and Video Messaging
Basic Long Distance Rate
1 gig data
$55/mo

[worth]

I am in the same situation starting in April. I was looking into a service like this:

http://www.parkmyphone.com/

Have not done much research yet though. I am not under contract.

[sun]

Originally Posted by worth

I am in the same situation starting in April. I was looking into a service like this:

http://www.parkmyphone.com/

Have not done much research yet though. I am not under contract.

Interesting, I'll definitely look into this. Thanks!

Side question: In general, if you can afford to buy a phone without contract, should you do it? Pros/cons?

[TurnedTheCorner]

[Thor]

Its so sad that North America is so based on contracts, in EU you just buy phones and do whatever you want with providers.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by sun

Good question. Part of the reason is I wanted to keep the same number - thought it over though, and I've changed my mind. I also could use a new phone right now, since mine is showing its age.



I have an iphone 4 currently, looking to get a 5s. As far as usage, it's tough to say. I'll be travelling a lot over there vs here. Is roaming a thing in the EU? More international calls, I would assume. As it stands now, I rarely exceed the terms on my plan:

200 anytime local minutes
National Fab 10 - Text & Talk
Text Messaging - Unlimited Package
Unlimited Picture and Video Messaging
Basic Long Distance Rate
1 gig data
$55/mo

First step, is call & ask your provider to unlock your iPhone 4.
It's worth more in the classifieds, if it's unlocked.

Retail for cheapest iPhone 5S is $600.

Your provider is likely not going to give you a free iPhone 5S. It'll likely cost between $100 & $250 on a 2 yr, depending on memory size; and will have the outstanding device balance eroded by approximately $100 when you wish to terminate the contract, and pay out the remaining balance.

Caveat; Due to the new 2 yr term limitations, your monthly plan will increase approximately 20%.

My suggestion?

Keep the iPhone 4 that you have now, and get it unlocked asap. When they ask why just say its due to a vacation in Europe. Then when June comes, terminate the service entirely. You'll be without obligation other than your existing billing month.

As you have 6 months, wait for a deal (classifieds, apple, dealers), to buy an unlocked 5s outright.

Or just keep using your 4, and use the additional funds to slay more babes in Euroland. Sign up with a big provider in Europe. Orange, British Telecom etc;

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Thor

Its so sad that North America is so based on contracts, in EU you just buy phones and do whatever you want with providers.

No, not really.

Almost every telco, worldwide allows you to pay a low up-front acquisition cost for a device, with the remaining balance of the device amortized over a term -- whether it's 1, 2, or 3 years.

You can take an unlocked device and be a monthly subscriber too.

[cam_wmh]

Ahh. Huge consideration overlooked.

Do you wish to have the same telephone number upon returning to Canada?

If so, it does make sense to sign up and get a 5S asap. You will be paying the device balance down as its suspended while you're in Europe for the 12 months.

[sun]

Thank you cam_wmh! I have a good new years buzz going on right now, but I will take a look at this tomorrow morning for sure. Cheers.

[ken0042]

If keeping the number is the biggest issue, why not port it over to a free provider such as Fongo?

For a $25 one-time fee, you can transfer your existing home or mobile phone number to Fongo.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by sun

Interesting, I'll definitely look into this. Thanks!

Side question: In general, if you can afford to buy a phone without contract, should you do it? Pros/cons?

I only buy unlocked now. Honestly, can't say it is cheaper, but you can get just as good plans as most here off contract. You can sell you phone whenever and if it is an iPhone get a pretty good return. In the end I would say it is a wash.

However, a side bonus is you can get the new handset from Apple right away. I got the Gold iPhone for my wife months (got it in 2 weeks after launch) before some of the folks got theirs on a telco upgrade.

I think the unlocked crowd is mainly for freedom to upgrade whenever, and roaming. Things like leaving your carrier whenever are good, but When I was with Virgin I never did because I had a good deal and there is no real competition.

I would say with the 2 year max contract also put a big dent in the allure of unlocked. 3 years was just stupid. Many would still have an iPhone 4 right now under contact. Now it is much better.

So I would say buy unlocked if you are frequently traveling to US/another supported country. Also if you need a new phone every year. Or like my wife is on a cheap pay as you go that you can't buy your handset from the Telco.

Otherwise I would just sign the 2 years and put up with the disadvantages.

[gargamel]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a somewhat related question. If I cancel my cell plan, can I still use my iphone for FaceTime, whatsapp and viber over a wifi connection? Now that FaceTime is tied to an email address instead of just my number, it seems like that should work, but I'm nervous to try it since the phone company won't give me a straight answer and I don't want to be limited to communicating through my computer while I'm living in Asia.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by gargamel

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a somewhat related question. If I cancel my cell plan, can I still use my iphone for FaceTime, whatsapp and viber over a wifi connection? Now that FaceTime is tied to an email address instead of just my number, it seems like that should work, but I'm nervous to try it since the phone company won't give me a straight answer and I don't want to be limited to communicating through my computer while I'm living in Asia.

You sure can!

[CubicleGeek]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Why not just continue using your current phone until June, cancel your plan, and get a new phone/plan when you come back from your trip?

What this guy said. You should be able to keep your number for far cheaper than $17 if you're not under contract, the minimum is to continue to pay network access fee, 911, and tax. I worked in China for a while and didn't want to lose my number, so I had Rogers reduce my plan to the minimum - no minutes, no data, no messaging service.

The good thing about that too, is you get next year's phone, and not this year's. Just don't use this number for calls while you're off a plan - you will pay through your nose.

[Rathji]

Why would you sign a contract and get a free phone, and then spend $450 over 6 of the next 24 months on a plan that you won't be using?

Buy a Nexus 5 outright for $349, and use it in Europe. Park your number with http://www.parkmyphone.com/. Come back and either keep using the Nexus phone or sell it and use the money to pay the extra cost of getting a new iPhone 6.

[sun]

Thanks everyone for your help! Really cleared things up for me and it was much appreciated. I'll probably buy a phone outright without a contract, unlock/sell my old one, and use the new one while abroad while parking my number.