Wireless phone provider for Hamilton, Ontario

Hi everybody,

I'll soon move to Canada, more specifically to Hamilton, Ont., and
wanted to ask you about a suitable wireless phone provider.

Even though I'm European, I'm not a heavy user of wireless phones, so,
according to my calculations, a prepaid card makes much more sense for
me than a monthly plan since monthly charges are quite high in Canada.
I already have an unlocked GSM phone, so could choose Rogers or Fido.

Surprisingly, with a Rogers prepaid card, one can only call a limited
number of foreign countries from Canada, whereas with a Fido prepaid
card, one can call virtually every foreign country from Canada.

In that sense, a Fido prepaid card would probably make most sense. My
biggest reservation about getting a prepaid plan though is that,
unless in most European countries, I would not be able to use the
phone abroad. I still have an old European tri-band GSM mobile for
which roaming works almost everywhere, but somehow it would be much
more convenient to be able to be called on my Canadian number
regardless of where I am. On the other hand, a monthly plan, which
would allow for that, would cost me approximately $20 more a month
than a prepaid card.

Any thoughts? Any cheap monthly plans, or prepaid cards with which I
could also use my Canadian phone abroad?

Many thanks and best wishes,

David

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At 28 Jun 2007 05:55:41 -0700 David Haardt wrote:

> Surprisingly, with a Rogers prepaid card, one can only call a limited
> number of foreign countries from Canada, whereas with a Fido prepaid
> card, one can call virtually every foreign country from Canada.


A "pinless" international calling card, that automatically recognizes
your mobile's number would equalize that, and probably be less expensive
as well.


> In that sense, a Fido prepaid card would probably make most sense. My
> biggest reservation about getting a prepaid plan though is that,
> unless in most European countries, I would not be able to use the
> phone abroad.

True. In the US and Canada, prepaid has a "second class" status. It
seems as if mobile operators intentionally "cripple" prepaid plans in
order to make the more expensive monthy plans more atractive to low-
minute users. Generally data is expensive or unavailable on prepaid, SMS
more expensive, and international roaming disabled.

> I still have an old European tri-band GSM mobile for
> which roaming works almost everywhere, but somehow it would be much
> more convenient to be able to be called on my Canadian number
> regardless of where I am.

A common workaround is use a VoIP Call Forwarding (Call Diversion)
service- you forward your Canadian cell to a local Canadian VoIP number
you setup to forward to your European SIM. This presupposes you are
allowed to forward your Canadian cell (one US prepaid provider doesn't
even allow Call Fowarding!) and also that you can find a reasonably
priced (pay-per-use/low or no monthly fee) VoIP service with Forwarding
(Skype perhaps?).

> On the other hand, a monthly plan, which
> would allow for that, would cost me approximately $20 more a month
> than a prepaid card.


Tough decision - if you travel back to Europe frequently the extra $20
might be worth it in less hassle. Otherwise, you should be able to
imitate a monthly plan for less with the workarounds I described.