Texting from the US to Canada

[RainbowsMist]

I've been doing a lot of research and read the thread at the top of the page.

Our 2 older DD's want to be able to text their friends back home while we're in Florida..however it's 60 cents per text to send and receive. Just wondering if anyone knows of any texting plans that would allow unlimited texting from the US to Canada? I'm thinking our only option is to unlock their phones (both use sim cards)..but I still can't find a US provider that offers unlimited texting to Canada.

One more question...if I unlock their phones would their phone numbers be the same? Would their friends be charged additional charges because we're in the US?

Any suggetions would be great! Thanks

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

I don't know who your provider is but....I always buy DD a US text plan. In our particular package their are different US plans for different costs. It stays on the phone for a month.
Example--I buy her 100 texts for $25 --She can SEND 100 texts to Canada or US but can RECEIVE UNLIMITED. Rogers for that but every company has a plan. Just call or go online or go to nearest store. Hope this helps. I know for us it is crucial she stay connected...LOL

 

[RainbowsMist]

I don't know who your provider is but....I always buy DD a US text plan. In our particular package their are different US plans for different costs. It stays on the phone for a month.
Example--I buy her 100 texts for $25 --She can SEND 100 texts to Canada or US but can RECEIVE UNLIMITED. Rogers for that but every company has a plan. Just call or go online or go to nearest store. Hope this helps. I know for us it is crucial she stay connected...LOL

We are through Virgin. I called yesterday and they only offer the 60 cents per message when in the US We definitely would need unlimited as 100 texts wouldn't even scratch the surface with DD (14)

 

[Sue M]

Sorry, unfamiliar with Virgin. It also depends on what kind of phone they have. If they have a regular cell phone, and have a texting plan on their phone, it would carry over to U.S. When I had a regular Motorola Razor, because I had a texting plan, when I was in the U.S. there was no additional texting charge (Telus) But......

If you have a smart phone- like i Phone, which I do now, I had to buy a US texting plan. I paid a flat fee of $20, and texting was 0.15 per text. (again Telus)

Maybe the thing to do is go to Walmart while in the U.S. and buy a cheap pay as you go phone that has texting incl on the phone card?

 

[mtmbyck]

Rogers offers a US text plan for about 30/mth we got it for DD last year but only for 1 month.

I am sure Virgin has something similar. But thanks for reminding me I have to do this.

 

[gem21]

I don't know about the US plans and with unlocking it and all, but I am with Koodo and I have unlimited texting for 5$ month, which includes free texts to-and-from the US.

 

[RainbowsMist]

I don't know about the US plans and with unlocking it and all, but I am with Koodo and I have unlimited texting for 5$ month, which includes free texts to-and-from the US.

Really?? Hmmm..
We have international texting now but it's only if we're in Canada. Once we cross the border the fee's kick in.

 

[corster]

None of the Canadian providers include text from the US to Canada.

Best bet is to get an AT&T SIM Card, their Unlimited US Text package (for prepaid) also includes texts to Canada (it doesn't state this on their website, but I can confirm from personal experience that it does)

 

[joandegennaro]

Our telus plan has unlimited North American texting. We text home to friend, family and work all the way down, during and back with no extra fees. Now if we have to phonethen the fees kick in.

 

[RainbowsMist]

Our telus plan has unlimited North American texting. We text home to friend, family and work all the way down, during and back with no extra fees. Now if we have to phonethen the fees kick in.

Most carriers do have that texting option but it's only IF you are texting from Canada. Once you bring that phone into the US and text from there it's a different story. Have you text from the US to Canada before with your phone?

 

[joandegennaro]

Most carriers do have that texting option but it's only IF you are texting from Canada. Once you bring that phone into the US and text from there it's a different story. Have you text from the US to Canada before with your phone?

Only for the past 4 years! No extra charges for regular texts. Picture and video messages are different but just regular texts no extra fees.

 

[Mabel67]

None of the Canadian providers include text from the US to Canada.

Sorry, but this is not true. We have SaskTel with unlimited texting in our plan. This includes texts between Canada and US and doesn't matter if I am in Canada or the US. We have been able to take advantage of this numerous times for keeping in touch with family while we are away. Granted, you have to live in Saskatchewan, but I needed to set the record straight.

I didn't realize until this thread how good we have it!

ETA: we can also text each other when we are in the US at no additional charge

 

[RainbowsMist]

Okay so I kind of feel like I'm losing my mind a little!
I've just checked Rogers and Telus and they both say the text MUST originate in Canada. Which is exactly what our provider (Virgin) told me...I'm beginning to wonder if these plans people say they are able to get do not apply if you live in Nova Scotia???

 

[joandegennaro]

Okay so I kind of feel like I'm losing my mind a little!
I've just checked Rogers and Telus and they both say the text MUST originate in Canada. Which is exactly what our provider (Virgin) told me...I'm beginning to wonder if these plans people say they are able to get do not apply if you live in Nova Scotia???

That may just be your problem, I've been a Telus customer for over 6 years and have been going to Disney yearly since 2006 and have never had to pay for text messages while in Florida. When I retreve voicemails or make or answer calls then the charges are there but never on the text messages. Both my DD and I use the text option to communicate with home and each other while in the world. Handy tool when the DD's go off to a ride and Dh and I wait to have an idea when to expect them or even to let them know we have changed our location.

 

[Sue M]

That may just be your problem, I've been a Telus customer for over 6 years and have been going to Disney yearly since 2006 and have never had to pay for text messages while in Florida. When I retreve voicemails or make or answer calls then the charges are there but never on the text messages. Both my DD and I use the text option to communicate with home and each other while in the world. Handy tool when the DD's go off to a ride and Dh and I wait to have an idea when to expect them or even to let them know we have changed our location.

I think it depends on what kind of phone you have. I used to be able to text while in the U.S. for free, with a regular (Telus) phone. but once I switched to a smart phone (i Phone) it is a different story. Now I have to get a U.S Text plan

 

[joandegennaro]

I think it depends on what kind of phone you have. I used to be able to text while in the U.S. for free, with a regular (Telus) phone. but once I switched to a smart phone (i Phone) it is a different story. Now I have to get a U.S Text plan

Once you move up to the data phones they've got you for every little thing. I think that smart phones cost alot with the plan add-ons

 

[Stittsville]

This rip-off with the text messages really gets me mad. I work writing software for the 3G network infrastructure, and I can tell you that one text message costs the phone company the equivalent of less than 1/100th of a second of a voice call, perhaps as low as 1/1000th. Can you imagine if they charged voice calls at the same rate!!

 

[formill]

Really?? Hmmm..
We have international texting now but it's only if we're in Canada. Once we cross the border the fee's kick in.

We had Koodo too- it was great for that- my daughter sent/received literally thousands of texts while in Florida on more than one occasion- no extra fees.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

I too have Telus and an Iphone and have to add a US text package so each text message costs .15 instead of .60.................and that is with a regular unlimited text plan that i can text the US free from Canada but not the other way around..................

 

[mtmbyck]

Yikes. Confused. So DD and I both have blackberry bolds. Pretty sure we can bum each other free anywhere!

Other DD has an IPod with FaceTime and DH has an IPhone with FaceTime so this should be free also correct?

So provided we stick to these methods, We should be able to find each other in the parks. that's my main concern.