Texting Canada from the UK
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 113
Texting Canada from the UK
Hi everyone,
I've just moved back to the UK after 2 years of living in Canada. My boyfriend in Canada has unlimited international texts (to send and receive) and I was wondering if there are any phone companies in the UK that offer anything similar to this, or are at least cheaper than 30p/text which is what 02 are currently charging me!
thanks in advance,
Sarah
I've just moved back to the UK after 2 years of living in Canada. My boyfriend in Canada has unlimited international texts (to send and receive) and I was wondering if there are any phone companies in the UK that offer anything similar to this, or are at least cheaper than 30p/text which is what 02 are currently charging me!
thanks in advance,
Sarah
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 889
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
Hi everyone,
I've just moved back to the UK after 2 years of living in Canada. My boyfriend in Canada has unlimited international texts (to send and receive) and I was wondering if there are any phone companies in the UK that offer anything similar to this, or are at least cheaper than 30p/text which is what 02 are currently charging me!
thanks in advance,
Sarah
I've just moved back to the UK after 2 years of living in Canada. My boyfriend in Canada has unlimited international texts (to send and receive) and I was wondering if there are any phone companies in the UK that offer anything similar to this, or are at least cheaper than 30p/text which is what 02 are currently charging me!
thanks in advance,
Sarah
May be worth looking into that to see if they still do it?
#3
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
What I used when I returned to the UK was http://www.18185.co.uk. Basically you call a number in London and that redirects it to whoever you're trying to call in Canada. The rate when I used it was just 0.5p a minute!
The only issue is that it uses up your 'local' minutes as you call the London number, but if you have one of those fancy unlimited calls to a certain number thing, then that'd be a sweet option.
Saved me a fortune in phone calls, and meant we didn't have to just rely on Skype to chat. She also had one of those cheap international text things, so she'd text me and I'd call her back.
Is real easy to set up too!
#4
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: South Yorkshire
Posts: 6
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
I'm in the same situation with my boyfriend living in Toronto. T-mobile charge me 17p to send a text and free to receive, however when im out there it costs me 50p to send and receive texts and £1.20 min calls. They dont seem to have any USA/Canada boosters. We mostly use Skype and MSN while im in the UK as its free each way for both of us and can be used on our phones too.
Hope that helps
Alex
Hope that helps
Alex
#5
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
I use 'ping' with my wife who is currently in the UK. It is similar to SMS and uses a very small amount of data (uses no data if you are on Wifi).
I have free international texts here so I text her and she 'pings' me back.
Not sure what phone you have but it's free and I've got it on my iphone and she has it on her blackberry
just thought on - It changed it's name recently to 'touch'
I have free international texts here so I text her and she 'pings' me back.
Not sure what phone you have but it's free and I've got it on my iphone and she has it on her blackberry
just thought on - It changed it's name recently to 'touch'
#6
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
Hi everyone,
I've just moved back to the UK after 2 years of living in Canada. My boyfriend in Canada has unlimited international texts (to send and receive) and I was wondering if there are any phone companies in the UK that offer anything similar to this, or are at least cheaper than 30p/text which is what 02 are currently charging me!
thanks in advance,
Sarah
I've just moved back to the UK after 2 years of living in Canada. My boyfriend in Canada has unlimited international texts (to send and receive) and I was wondering if there are any phone companies in the UK that offer anything similar to this, or are at least cheaper than 30p/text which is what 02 are currently charging me!
thanks in advance,
Sarah
#7
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,159
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
If you have iphones install whats app it a messaging serviceservice that wont cost you a penny/dime. Or use PM on face book with you can pick up FB on your phone.
#8
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
I'm in the same situation with my boyfriend living in Toronto. T-mobile charge me 17p to send a text and free to receive, however when im out there it costs me 50p to send and receive texts and £1.20 min calls. They dont seem to have any USA/Canada boosters. We mostly use Skype and MSN while im in the UK as its free each way for both of us and can be used on our phones too.
Hope that helps
Alex
Hope that helps
Alex
How did the Mobile Phone companies respond? Yep, you've guessed it - At the same time they lowered their European rates, they hiked up their roaming charges for the rest of the World. Alas, the Boys from Brussels have no jurisdiction over Canada & the rest of The World.
Last edited by castra; Mar 30th 2012 at 3:24 pm. Reason: typo edit.
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Red Deer Alberta now back in Stafford
Posts: 107
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
Or you could both buy a Blackberry, then BBM each other, rather than text, which is totally free in all countries I have a T Mobile 12 month contract here in UK, for £15 a month you get unlimited UK texts, unlimited Internet, 100 minutes and you can choose from a selection of handsets including Blackberry, some are free, mine was just £35 for a Blackberry Curve.
You can upgrade your phone after 12 months or cancel contract
I don't think your boyfriend will find such a good deal in Canada though
You can upgrade your phone after 12 months or cancel contract
I don't think your boyfriend will find such a good deal in Canada though
#10
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 113
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
Or you could both buy a Blackberry, then BBM each other, rather than text, which is totally free in all countries I have a T Mobile 12 month contract here in UK, for £15 a month you get unlimited UK texts, unlimited Internet, 100 minutes and you can choose from a selection of handsets including Blackberry, some are free, mine was just £35 for a Blackberry Curve.
You can upgrade your phone after 12 months or cancel contract
I don't think your boyfriend will find such a good deal in Canada though
You can upgrade your phone after 12 months or cancel contract
I don't think your boyfriend will find such a good deal in Canada though
Because I don't know how permanently I'll be over here, I don't want to buy an iphone. I have a really crappy old UK phone that I know I'll need to change, but just don't want to be locked into a 12 -12 month contract when I'm not sure how long I'll be here for..
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 829
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
When I was in the UK last year I just used email to text.
I know it is slightly technical but I sent the message as an email to her phone and she received it as a text message.
Below is some details of SMS email gateways.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SMS_gateways
I got a pay as you go phone which had unlimited internet included so it was cheap.
I know it is slightly technical but I sent the message as an email to her phone and she received it as a text message.
Below is some details of SMS email gateways.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SMS_gateways
I got a pay as you go phone which had unlimited internet included so it was cheap.
#12
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
You can send SMS Messages from Skype at very reasonable rates (usually 2-3c). There are Skype apps for pretty much every smartphone platform. You can also make it look like it came from your phone number.
#13
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Whitby, ON
Posts: 225
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
My boyfriend already has a blackberry in canada and has free international texts as part of his plan. Maybe I'll look into getting a blackberry..hmm.
Because I don't know how permanently I'll be over here, I don't want to buy an iphone. I have a really crappy old UK phone that I know I'll need to change, but just don't want to be locked into a 12 -12 month contract when I'm not sure how long I'll be here for..
Because I don't know how permanently I'll be over here, I don't want to buy an iphone. I have a really crappy old UK phone that I know I'll need to change, but just don't want to be locked into a 12 -12 month contract when I'm not sure how long I'll be here for..
If you are with O2 then for calls if you dont have it already use the international favourites for £10 a month. This will give you an in canada number so you can be called from Canada for free and you can call you other halfs mobile for 3000 minutes per month. This is regardless of the allowance you have on your mobile.
#14
Every day's a school day
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Was Calgary back in Edmonton again !!
Posts: 2,667
Re: Texting Canada from the UK
dump you Canadian boyfriend and get a UK one...problem solved