Since this forum is called "7-Eleven Rates and Plans", please keep the discussion to 7-Eleven/SpeakOut. If you would like to discuss other carriers, please keep or start that discussion in the "Other Carriers" forum.

Thanks!

http://www.virginmobile.ca/en/.....tance.html

Speakout uses Rogers towers. In comparison, here is the Rogers coverage map.
http://www.rogers.com/web/cont.....ss_network

Now I would love to recommend Speakout, because it offers unlimited data, but it's voice options are pretty costly. You have to pay a pretty penny for a phone you do not want, or go through hoops to get a SIM. It is not really worth the hassle for 3 months.

I ended up deciding on recommending the Virgin Smartphone data plan. http://www.virginmobile.ca/en/.....mmary.html For $25, you get 512 megabytes of data. Not much, but it is good enough for your GPS, and the odd web page. Apparently, if you go over the limit the first 2 months, you do not get penalized.

For voice, Virgin offers an Unlimited Local Incoming Calls plan for $10. http://www.virginmobile.ca/en/features/ if you want to make calls, use something like dingaling.ca, where on your web browser, you enter the number you're calling from (your cell with unlimited incoming), and any number you want to call in North America. All for 1 cent a minute.

So for $35 a month. you have pretty much everything you need for 3 months. A Virgin SIM costs $5. The only gotchas is to give 1 month in advance cancellation notice. If asked why you quit, say their data allowance is too chintzy. Don't say you are only going to be here 3 months. Canadian cell phone companies treat short timers differently.

I want to go Payasyougo. Can I keep my same phone number? Can I use my Rogers phone with a different provider?

Yes and yes, however you will need a SO SIM if you want SO service or a PCM SIM if you want service from them. You can`t buy these SIMs individually from SO or PCM. You can buy them from people who sell them here, on eBay, etc. Then you`ll have to call SO or PCM and have them port your old Rogers number over to that SIM.

Knotwise said:

I have a Rogers cell phone and I am just finishing a 3 year plan. I want to go Payasyougo. Can I keep my same phone number? Can I use my Rogers phone with a different provider? If not, why not?

1. Yes, you can port your number to SpeakOut. Read post # 16 on the home page of this site.
2. Yes, a Rogers phone will work with a SpeaKout SIM, even if the phone is locked to Rogers. However, a Fido phone that's locked will not work.

pgl said:

Hi everybody. A question: when you speak about minute usage, do you mean outgoing minutes or outgoing + incoming minutes?

I come from Europe, and I had the greatest shock (and bill) when I got to know that carriers here make you pay for incoming calls. No carrier in Europe does that (unless you are abroad, then you pay the difference between your country and the country you're visiting).

Welcome to Canada! Airtime is deducted, regardless if the call is outgoing or incoming.

I come from Europe, and I had the greatest shock (and bill) when I got to know that carriers here make you pay for incoming calls. No carrier in Europe does that (unless you are abroad, then you pay the difference between your country and the country you're visiting).

Foglight said:

I'll be travelling across Canada in August and I was wondering who should I be going with? Does Speakout works in every province?

Speak Out works off the Rogers network, so if there is Rogers coverage, then Speak Out will work. However, I have found coverage can be spotty, especially when going through the prairies. Best thing would be to check the coverage maps of each provider.

Which pay-as-you go plan would you recommend?

SpeakOut, providing there are 7-11 stores in NB. Otherwise PetroCanada Mobile. With SO you can get as little as $25 airtime that lasts 365 days. With PCM you need to spend $100 to get 365 days.

I am in Canada, St Andrews - New Brunswick, for 3 non-consecutive months a year. The rest of the time I am in Europe. Which pay-as-you go plan would you recommend?

Best
Stephen