Texting from the US to Canada

[RainbowsMist]

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.

I would call your provider just to double, triple check regarding the Blackberry.

My oldest DD has a Blackberry and she's under the impression once she leaves Canada's she can't BBM anymore because roaming fees would kick in due to being picked up by a US provider.

My middle DD also has an iPod and I know last year when we went, the parks didn't have WiFi so her iPod was useless (for anything requiring an internet connection). Maybe they have WiFi now?? I thought I read on the boards the resorts have WiFi though.

Best of luck!

 

[Sue M]

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

They really do. I'm seriously thinking of buying a cheap Walmart phone next time i go down. Net-10

 

[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.

Never thought I would have to quote myself but......just made a switch to my previous plan and what problems did I encounter

Here is the just of things. Older phones are on a different network that allows my plan to have the ablity to text while physically in the states as I noted in my post above. New phone (just got one for DD12) although I have the exact same plan as the older phones this new phone is on a different network that charges you when physically in the US. So for new phone I will have to purchase a $20 text plan that is good for 30days which will exempt me from the 65 cent fee per text. Which is equal to about 30 text messages. DD will send more than 30 messages just to her friends on the drive down alone so worth the $20. Just makes me mad that it is free on older phones. I think the phone companies do the upgrade just to upsell.

 

[ccudmore]

My middle DD also has an iPod and I know last year when we went, the parks didn't have WiFi so her iPod was useless (for anything requiring an internet connection). Maybe they have WiFi now?? I thought I read on the boards the resorts have WiFi though.

Some of the resorts with conference centres have WiFi in the lobby or conference rooms, but not in the guest rooms. If you want in-room WiFi you can buy a small wireless router and take it with you (Apple AirPort Express is a great option) and plug it into the in-room Internet connection (more $$$) or take an iPhone with you with a US data pack added on. With the 4.3 iOS coming out next week you'll be able to create a WiFi hot-spot for up to 5 other devices using the iPhone's 3G connection. Even though none of the US carriers allow this on their devices, the Canadian carriers do and it works fine on the US carrier networks.

 

[jtdl]

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)

My daughter and I are both with prepaid Solo and we have free incoming and outgoing texting anywhere in North America - we live in a border city and use it all the time and have also used it in Florida many times, including just last week. We just came off a cruise last week and weren't able to use it anywhere in the Caribbean as we had no service - but as long as we have service it is free.

 

[mom4463]

I would call your provider just to double, triple check regarding the Blackberry.

My oldest DD has a Blackberry and she's under the impression once she leaves Canada's she can't BBM anymore because roaming fees would kick in due to being picked up by a US provider.

My middle DD also has an iPod and I know last year when we went, the parks didn't have WiFi so her iPod was useless (for anything requiring an internet connection). Maybe they have WiFi now?? I thought I read on the boards the resorts have WiFi though.

Best of luck!

Telus told my DD not to BBM in the US because the roaming fees would kick in, so she only used her Blackberry Bold to text ($20 for unlimited text for 30 days).

 

[Mickey1Fan]

Bell Mobility customer here - I have to sign up for a $10 per month package. 25 cents per text and free incoming. Better than .60 per text sent and received.

 

[briar_rose_59]

Virgin Mobile customer here. I had called them a couple months ago to see about adding on a US texting plan since my boyfriend lives in the states and I like to text my friends back here or text him once I've gotten to wherever he's picking me up etc. I actually wanted to add texting on on a regular basis, not just for a month, and they told me there was nothing like that available. The only way I could get international texting even (still from Canada but would be able to text to the states) would be to buy out my contract and sign onto a new one. Since I was only about 4 months into a 3 year iPhone contract that was definitely not an option... Not sure if they've changed anything since but I don't see anything glancing at the website...

 

[RainbowsMist]

Virgin Mobile customer here. I had called them a couple months ago to see about adding on a US texting plan since my boyfriend lives in the states and I like to text my friends back here or text him once I've gotten to wherever he's picking me up etc. I actually wanted to add texting on on a regular basis, not just for a month, and they told me there was nothing like that available. The only way I could get international texting even (still from Canada but would be able to text to the states) would be to buy out my contract and sign onto a new one. Since I was only about 4 months into a 3 year iPhone contract that was definitely not an option... Not sure if they've changed anything since but I don't see anything glancing at the website...

Yep that's what they just told us and we just got our new phones in December. We have the international texting but once we leave Canada it doesn't apply

 

[Sue M]

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..................

Yep, this is what I had to buy, $20 U.S. text plan, for 1 month, PLUS pay .15 per text. With my regular home texting plan.

I think they really get you coming & going. Ridiculous having to pay .15 per text on top of the $20 charge. Just don't get it.

Then if you want to add on Voice or Data, it gets really crazy.

 

[A&CsMom]

My husband has a blackberry and is with Bell, and I just upgraded to a blackberry with Rogers. One of the reasons I did this was so we could bbm while we are in Florida for a week this month. We often each take a child and split up in the parks and I thought it would be a lot better than walkie talkies. Then I heard conflicting stories of whether I would have to add a US plan to my phone or not. I stopped by the Rogers booth today at the mall and at least for me (I have a $30/month messenger/text plan with 150 minutes), I was told that as long as I only bbm, no texting, surfing or phoning, it will probably only cost me about $5 extra on my bill. I sure hope he's right. My husband still has to check with Bell but he thinks he is covered for North America.

 

[CindyCan]

For those with Telus - can you confirm that if you pay the $20 roaming text 30 day add-on, you're still charged for texts? And, do you have unlimited texting as part of your monthly plan?

The way the website reads, it appears that the $20 should cover the "roaming" portion, and if you have unlimited texting that should cover the standard charge, so texting would be free.

I know that (just like Disney!) when you talk to Telus people they all have a different answer, so until we do it & then get our bill we won't know for sure.

Thanks!

 

[visitingapril09]

Each company is so different.........Anyone have first hand experience with Koodo phones? We want to be able to text each other down there, not necessarily home.

 

[joandegennaro]

For those with Telus - can you confirm that if you pay the $20 roaming text 30 day add-on, you're still charged for texts? And, do you have unlimited texting as part of your monthly plan?

The way the website reads, it appears that the $20 should cover the "roaming" portion, and if you have unlimited texting that should cover the standard charge, so texting would be free.

I know that (just like Disney!) when you talk to Telus people they all have a different answer, so until we do it & then get our bill we won't know for sure.

Thanks!

Just bought my DD a phone on Friday so here is the deal for her with telus. She has unlimited text on her plan, however when physically in the states there would be a charge and therefore I purchased the $20 text package which will cover her for 30 days of texting while physically in the states. I was told that this is required as the phone I purchased her is on the "new" network. Our older phones that are on the old network and have unlimited text on the plan do not require the text plan while physically texting from the states. Hope this helps.

 

[RainbowsMist]

Just and FYI regarding Blackberry Messenger...direct from Virgin Mobiles website

"Heads-up! If you’re travelling with a Smartphone or Blackberry, remember that apps like Facebook, Twitter, BlackBerry Messenger and Email use up data while you’re in the US. Turn off your data roaming if you don’t want to rack up a super-high bill."

http://www.virginmobile.ca/en/support/longdistance.html

 

[CindyCan]

Just bought my DD a phone on Friday so here is the deal for her with telus. She has unlimited text on her plan, however when physically in the states there would be a charge and therefore I purchased the $20 text package which will cover her for 30 days of texting while physically in the states. I was told that this is required as the phone I purchased her is on the "new" network. Our older phones that are on the old network and have unlimited text on the plan do not require the text plan while physically texting from the states. Hope this helps.

Thanks! So is your understanding the same as mine? Because she has unlimited texting at home, by buying the $20 text package, she can text as much as she wants in the US and there won't be any extra charge?

My daughter just got her phone a month ago, and I'm just in the process of getting my new phone, so we'll both be on the new network.

 

[RainbowsMist]

Thanks! So is your understanding the same as mine? Because she has unlimited texting at home, by buying the $20 text package, she can text as much as she wants in the US and there won't be any extra charge?

My daughter just got her phone a month ago, and I'm just in the process of getting my new phone, so we'll both be on the new network.

I was doing some more searching this afternoon (checking out all the providers) and this is what Telus says on the "International Text Pass for $20" maybe I'm reading it wrong....

http://www.telusmobility.com/en/ON/....shtml?INTCMP=mobile_packages/usroaming.shtml

 

[RainbowsMist]

I was doing some more searching this afternoon (checking out all the providers) and this is what Telus says on the "International Text Pass for $20" maybe I'm reading it wrong....

http://www.telusmobility.com/en/ON/....shtml?INTCMP=mobile_packages/usroaming.shtml

Just an update...you are correct if you have a contract (non pre-paid). I just called our local Telus and got the full scoop. If you currently have a contract with unlimited texting then you just pay the $20 for the Pass and you'll have unlimited texting in the US. Our option (because we're with Virgin) is to unlock our phone, buy a $10 Telus SIM card, sign a month to month contract add a $25 plan then the $20 Text Pass..then cancel when we get home! Sounds good to me!!

 

[CindyCan]

Just an update...you are correct if you have a contract (non pre-paid). I just called our local Telus and got the full scoop. If you currently have a contract with unlimited texting then you just pay the $20 for the Pass and you'll have unlimited texting in the US. Our option (because we're with Virgin) is to unlock our phone, buy a $10 Telus SIM card, sign a month to month contract add a $25 plan then the $20 Text Pass..then cancel when we get home! Sounds good to me!!

Thanks - that's what I thought, but good to get it confirmed. It sounds yours is more complicated than mine, but you've got it figured out. We'd much prefer to use our own phones, and we text each other alot. It will be nice for the our phones to work as soon as we cross the border since we drive.

 

[RainbowsMist]

Thanks - that's what I thought, but good to get it confirmed. It sounds yours is more complicated than mine, but you've got it figured out. We'd much prefer to use our own phones, and we text each other alot. It will be nice for the our phones to work as soon as we cross the border since we drive.

Yes using your own phone is much easier! DD will be able to use hers too..we just have to switch SIM cards! Great news for both of us and hopefully others too!!