Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiteTiger
Whatever you do in the end, do NOT give your kids phones without a SIM card in it. These are commonly known as 'Emergency Phones' and are damn near useless IN an emergency.
A cell phone without a SIM card but with power can still be used. It can only dial 911, and it provides no useful information when doing so, so unless the person calling is conscious, capable and able to tell emergency services where they are, they are basically unfindable.
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If you have an old phone (unlocked) the cheapest SIM card option I found is through 7-11 (
www.speakout7eleven.ca). They have a prepaid (aka pay as you go) option meaning you only pay for phone calls and outgoing texts (although they do deduct $1.25 each month for 911 fees), but the unique part is that your credit doesn't expire for 365 days (unlike other plans where you have to top it up every month because your credit expires after only 30 days).
We've used it with our daughter for the past two years and the cost has only been $25 per year (which is the minimum top-up amount). Note: this option doesn't work if you your kid regularly texts (since the charges will add up quickly), but as an "emergency phone" it does the trick.