Just a point of interest for BC users of Speakout – area code 250 covers a significant part of the province – i.e. Vanc. Island, and most of rest of province excluding the lower mainland – in clarifying with a SO CSR by email she stated the following – ". Calling any number within the 250 area code, from your SpeakOut handset, will be billed as a local call. The local exchange prompts you to add the "1" but you will only be billed $.25 per minute." I did several tests to be sure and was only charged $.25 per minute. Great deal for those of us in this A/C.

This appears in keeping with the Q&A posted on Speakout site – "Are all numbers in my area code considered a local call?

Yes. SpeakOut Wireless offers a larger calling area than traditional Wireless service providers. In fact, many areas in your province are considered a local call. See the current SpeakOut Rates