hey

I was wondering if anyone has taken an unlocked triband mobile phone from the UK, and used it in Canada? I know in theory it should work, but that isnt always the case with those kinds of things.

If your doing this, I'd strongly suggest you check with your service provider first.
The problem is the way call rates are calculated. If your UK provider doesn't have an operating contract in Canada, (Or anywhere overseas) your call will be routed from where you are to their UK centre at international rates. Then, If you are calling a UK number, your call will be connected at UK rates, which will be added to the international rate. So, imaging calling a number in Canada! (Two lots of international rates :scared: )
It's a problem I've encountered before, as we can be issued with a mobile phone for operational reasons and the bill from three weeks climbing in Romania, just on administration calls, (10 mins max twice a day) was almost £250.
To put this in perspective, we had a welfare case, and the landline calls from Romania to Exeter, (2x 20 minute calls) amounted to less than £4.

The imprest holder was not impressed one bit.

I think Brodel is talking about taking the SIM card out and replacing it with a Canadian one. That's what I am hoping to do too!

oh, sorry. I should have stated that I intend to take out my UK sim card (Orange), and put in a Canadian one in its place (Rogers). I'm not going to be using my Orange account in Canada but was hoping to take the phone I use in the UK, and use it in Canada. It is unlocked so should work on all networks, and is triband so should work in Canada, I was just interested to see if anyone had actually done the same thing and if they had any trouble with it.

if so... i've done it.
Just go to the kiosk and buy a sim card.

oh ok, so it does work then? great

well it did for me... jsut beware you pay to recieve calls as you do to make them (think this is true with all pay-as-you-go tarifs)

Excellent news.

Not so good, but I know it's the way of things over there.

Yea, I am going as a student though and will be back over summer so its not worth me having a contract and paying line rental when I am not there. thanks for the help.

One thing worth considering..

only one of those bands on your phone will work here, and only in certain areas..

these area's are getting more widespread but can still be restrictive... as some of the outer lying area in canada still use analog... and some have no coverage at all and your phone will not be compatible with any of the analogue signals over here..

check with the primary service provider in the area your going too...

it would be a shame to buy a sim card thats only any use in the city and your planing on being in the country...

[I agree with the ;last post.
First we tried using our phone with Vodaphone, they said it would work and it didn't.
So we rushed out and bought a Rogers chip in BC. Cost a fortune just to get the chip, register etc, Nightmare trying to top up with credit. Then we had big problems trying to get coverage int the area we wanted.
Last week we took another phone, and asked O2 if they had coverage etc, they said yes no problem. Then guess what they didn't.

Back to trying to find out why we could not get coverage with Rogers.
Answer our phones , we took three and neither were suitable.
We were told to get a Telus phone where we were. ( Vancouver Island and mainland) Cost $CAN 99 including $75 of free credit. Phone worked wonderfully everywhere we went. Fantastic reception.
We can use it in Canada and USA, and will keep it just for there.

So before you waste money be 100% sure your phone is right, and you have good coverage in the area you will be living.
My husband is a technology freak, but he still got it wrong!







QUOTE=Brodel]hey

I was wondering if anyone has taken an unlocked triband mobile phone from the UK, and used it in Canada? I know in theory it should work, but that isnt always the case with those kinds of things. [/QUOTE]

thanks for the advice, from what I have found out I should be ok though. I have a triband phone which covers GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz.

according to this website, Rogers use GSM 850/1900 and thier coverage map seems pretty solid for Regina SK which is where I will be.

can anyone see any flaws in this that I have missed, or has anyone also had all those boxes ticked and still had problems?

Just double check the coverage of the 1900 area as that will be all you can use.

But given that its in a city you should be fine.

l am going to be doing a work holiday for 6 months. ls it wiser to rent a phone or buy a new prepaid phone?