Davie McCaig

Please excuse my ignorance but do they have pay as you go SIM cards for cell phones in Canada the same as they have in the UK? If so what companies offer them? I am in Calgary at the end of this month and would like to purchase one rather than take my UK mobile phone and pay the high fees they charge for International Calling

Thanks

Dave

iaink

AFAIK Rogers/Fido are the only GSM / SIM offerers, but its probably cheaper and easier just to buy a cheapo Virgin paygo phone ($30 includes $10 call time and potentially another $10 if you can get someone to do the kickback thing) when you get here by the time you pay $25 for a SIM, get the phone unlocked, and then pay higher calling fees etc etc.

R I C H

I got my phone unlocked before leaving the UK, and spent $25 on a Rogers SIM card in Canada to use it as a pay-as-you-go.

Trouble is, where we live cell reception is variable to non-existent. The top-ups cost $30, and if you don't use the credit, it disappears after a month. You have to top up before the end of the month in order to carry over any unused credit. We just ended up with a phone that was accumulating credit and few opportunities to make calls and use it.

Don't bother with a cell now - the truck's got OnStar (http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/index.jsp) so in an emergency we're at least contactable.

oceanMDX

Doesn't Virginmobile use the Rogers network in Canada?

iaink

Thats the reason I switched from Rogers to Virgin, the top ups are less expensive and the left over time does not expire if you manage it right. Perminute rates were a bit cheaper too I think.

Virgin uses the Bell network so coverage is certainly no worse than Rogers.

My reception coverage is actually slightly better now, but i think its more to do with the phone than the network. My phone is now on the virgin website for only $30, including $10 call time credit (and I'll pimp anyone who asks for the extra $10), and I have no complaints at all about battery life or reception sensitivity...Its not a flash phone, but Im not the sort who cares anyway.

PMM

Hi

With Rogers Pay as you Go, you buy a $100 top up and it is good for a year.

The Escapea

We just bought a couple of Fido SIMS (for a nominal fee) for our already-unlocked mobiles, and then just top them up with $$$s as and when. If you're still in the UK, I'd recommend buying an unlocked mobile before you come out - you can pick them up really cheaply on eBay. Over here, phones seem really expensive, and I can't believe they still lock people into 3 year contacts (and still then expect them to pay for the phone!!!). Only down side with the Canadian version of pay as you go is that the credit is time-limited - I think to 30days with Fido! You don't have to top it up every 30days though (which I think Virgin requires?).

iaink

Virgin also offers 1 year for $100, among other options, and any unused credit is carries over if you top up again before the year is up, which Im not sure Rogers do..they didnt use too.

Virgin offers more actual call time for that $100 I believe.