Mobile phones
 

Dear All,

I am waiting for my visa which i expect to get this week.

I have one mobile phone Moto W220.I just want to know it is advisible to carry this mobile phones from india and then use the canada sim.

OR

I just keep my mobile in india and purchase a new phone from canada

Anybody who already settled need your reply.
I also Want to know any good Scheme from canadian mobile operator

I will go to calgary alberta

Thanks

Re: Mobile phones
 

If your mobile is unlocked (not tied to your Indian network) then you can get a sim card from Rogers (40$) and it will cost you around $20 a month on pay as you go if you don't use it too much.

There has recently been an airtime auction so expect some changes in the next 18 months - 2 years in terms of operators and prices.

Other operators here use CDMA technology which is not compatible with GSM.

Re: Mobile phones
 

Canada2006;6743582]If your mobile is unlocked (not tied to your Indian network) then you can get a sim card from Rogers (40$) and it will cost you around $20 a month on pay as you go if you don't use it too much.

There has recently been an airtime auction so expect some changes in the next 18 months - 2 years in terms of operators and prices.

Other operators here use CDMA technology which is not compatible with GSM.

Dear Canada2006.


How can i know that my mobile is locked or not.How to check it.

As you know in india we get incoming call totally free this facility is also available on rogers with us 20 dollar per months

Can u please explian in detail

Thanks

Re: Mobile phones
 

Only you would know if your phone is locked or not. Talk to your mobile network provider.

Incoming calls in Canada are NOT free.

All cell providers have websites, even Rogers. Google is your friend.

Re: Mobile phones
 

You will be shocked at just how little is free when it comes to cell phones

Incoming - costs
Voicemail - costs
Long Distance - costs - even if they call you, you pay the 'roaming' part

All of these are included in the UK (and I beleive India) you need to re-think your cell usage when you move here or your first bill will be crippling

Re: Mobile phones
 

I've been coming around to the same conclusion... Canada seems to be incredibly backward when it comes to mobile phone networks in relation to the rest of the world :mad:

My current thinking is to just get a Virgin phone for my first year (they seem to have a basic yet functional Nokia that's free with PAYG) and then see what happens when the new players hit the market. We've got some nice enough unlocked GSM phones, but we can still use them when we visit other countries and get PAYG SIMs.

Does anyone know if you can get a 12 month contract with Virgin Canada? Looking at their website, it seems the only thing you can get is a 36 month contract?! :blink:

Re: Mobile phones
 

Borrow a friend's SIM card from another network and see if it works in your phone.

Re: Mobile phones
 

I admit that Canada is not as advanced as other countries with cell phones...we have a huge area to cover and the take up rate has not been as high as other places...it could have to do with the fact that generally landline rates are low and the area that you can call in your local calling area is relatively large.

In terms of long distance, you pay 'roaming' charges when your cell is receiving the signal from a cell phone tower that is outside your local area. e.g if you are in Toronto and your cell is tied to the Ottawa area, any calls you recieve are long distance. Any calls you make to a Toronto area number are local and any calls you make to a non-Toronto area are LD.

If you are signing up for cell/internet/TV service with Rogers or Bell or Telus you have lots of leverage to get a good deal..don't just rely on the published deals...try the Loyalty and Retentions departments that they have.

With Rogers at least it is pretty easy to negotiate for 1000 CDN LD for $5 and also to get incoming calls thrown in free...just don't let on that this is going to be a business cell # for your own business as they may clue in you'll be using it a lot.

Re: Mobile phones
 

I used to love getting text messages - now all I think is "Dam that sucker just cost me 10c" ! :(

Re: Mobile phones
 

This is all part of your assimilation process....as a brit you were addicted to the chirping sound of a text arriving in your inbox.....now as a Canadian you think of the cost.

Seriously though it is pretty easy to get a text plan added to your cell phone especially if you are willing to extend your contract further out....

Hopefully you aren't like my next door neighbour. The daughter who is in grade 9 has had an average of 1500 incoming/outgoing texts a month for the last year....luckily she is on a 2500/month plan.....

And they say the art of conversation is dead.

Re: Mobile phones
 

I can recommend Solo Mobile from Bell for a phone service provider. It's not a pay-as-you go option - it's a month-by-month contract with one month's notice period. You need to buy a new phone, though, as Bell do not do SIM cards. It cost us less than $30 a month (including taxes) for 100 free anytime minutes, free evening and weekends, 50 text messages and voicemail - and unlike on pay-as-you-go, there is no emergency services fee or system access fee.

But as a new immigrant, they will ask for a deposit and that is a pain to get back. Normally to be returned in 6 months time if you pay the bill on time, but if you cancel before that and leave the country, then it's a real pain.

Re: Mobile phones
 

Unlimited incoming calls are available on some monthly plans, but expect to pay more than $20 per month if you want that.

I'm not aware of a pay as you go option that includes unlimited incoming calls.

Re: Mobile phones
 

gotoronto you've only been here a couple of months and you've not had a job since you arrived. If you went to any country as an immigrant with no job and no credit history, I don't they'd extend much credit to you either, Canada is no different.

You have to consider that due to the short duration of your stay in Canada and your quick decision to return to the UK, you have to take into account that it takes time for an accounting department anywhere to close out an active account and process all the charges and issue a refund. I shouldn't worry too much though, sure its a bit of a pain, but I'm sure you'll get your security deposits refunded in due time.

Anyway, good luck with your move back to the UK.

Re: Mobile phones
 

I did not say it was specific to Canada. READ before you ATTACK! It is good information for people to have before they emigrate. Not everyone is prepared for the deposit issue and some get caught by surprise.

I don't get why you personally attack me. I have never said that Canada was a horrible place. Why do I bother sharing useful information like that?

Re: Mobile phones
 

I'm sorry, I missed this first time around.

It looks like this is a dual-band phone that is not compatible with Canadian networks. See http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_w220-1458.php. So you'll need a new phone whichever provider you choose.

You should be able to pick up a pre-paid phone with some credit for less than $100. If you go on a contract then the phone will be cheap, but as others have pointed out, you'll likely have to pay a deposit.