The Unofficial Speak Out Wireless Canada Consumer Page - Topic: what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/ Simple:Press Version 5.7.5.3 bylo on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8874 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8874 The advantage of Yak is that there's nothing to buy up front and nothing to expire. You make LD calls. Your credit card or bank account get charged. Don't make calls. Don't get charged. If you make a lot of LD calls then prepaid cards like CiCi may make sense, but there's also the hassle of buying them to consider.

]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:48:47 -0700 Heather on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8870 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8870 ErinM:

"BC" noticed that JustDial.ca & Shaw Prepaid LD are managed under the Goldline Company umbrella. It looks like CiCi is also handled by them. I only have experience with Shaw's but agree with you "thumbs up". I've used Telus Talk & Surf in previous years but experienced busy signals so that's why I looked for another carrier.

PS: sorry if this is a duplicate post of mine... I don't know where my original reply went so I retyped this one.

]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:49:10 -0700 iamdrumming on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8867 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8867 ErinM,

Thanks for your input on CiCi. I have never heard of them before. Yes, they do have great rates. The only problem I see is that their cards expire after 6 months from first use. Other than that, they look decent.

]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:06:33 -0700 ErinM on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8866 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8866 In my research you can't do any better than the CiCi phone card. It has better rates than Yak and others, by roughly a full cent.

I've been using CiCi for a while and LOVE it! *thumbs up*

]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:41:08 -0700 bc on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8525 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8525 Heather - I thought I had seen a chart like that somewhere before, but forgot where... thanks again

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:54:03 -0700 Heather on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8524 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8524 BC:
Good question. Here's the Local Calling Grid from this site; I'm not sure it's the latest grid but it looks like you should be ok with 604 & 778 calls.
https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/wp-content/uploads/long_distance_matrix_aug82008.pdf

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:44:18 -0700 bc on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8522 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8522 Heather - got it, thanks.
one twist I just thought of... does same apply when you've got overlay codes involved, e.g. here in Vancouver we've got of course (604) but also (778). I haven't picked up the SO phone yet, but I'm guessing it might come with a 778 number... I assume your suggestion would be same regardless of 604/778, correct? (sorry if a dumb/obvious question!)

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:24:25 -0700 Heather on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8519 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8519 BC:
Just to clarify & make it easier to remember... the only time you'd need to use the Prepaid LD access# is if you're dialing a number that's not a (604) #. Using the Prepaid LD will get you the local rate + 2.5cents/min for the l.d.

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:20:25 -0700 bc on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8515 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8515 thanks Heather for the additional info - I didn't realize that about traveling and calls to/from the home area code all be charged as local calls with SO, that's a great tip about just using the "home" access#. I had previously assumed when physically outside my home area that I would charged long distance for any calls to/from home.

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:37:28 -0700 Heather on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8511 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8511 One other thing to note with Speakout (SO) service & Shaw (or similar) ld prepaid:
You don't have to bother looking up which is the appropriate local access# to dial when you're travelling in Canada. Assuming your phone is a (604) area code, you would just program Shaw's Vancouver (604) access# into your phone or speed dial. With SO service, calling a # in your own area code is always rated as a local call no matter where you are in the country even though you'll be prompted to dial the "1" first. So I would program in 1+604+vancouver access#. Hope this helps.

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:24:39 -0700 Heather on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8507 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8507 Re Shaw.ca's prepaid ld... yes, it is the same company as Justdial & same customer support. I went with it only because I'm familiar with Shaw's cable service so I knew it was a reputable company.

]]> Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:26:25 -0700 bc on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8490 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8490 thanks bylo, that's very useful feedback.

]]> Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:45:21 -0700 bylo on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8483 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8483

2) re: Yak - it seems this is NOT a prepaid service ie you get an invoice. is that correct?

Correct. However you get statements via e-mail and they can deduct payment either from a bank account or your credit card. It also doesn't matter how much LD you use in a month. There are no minimums. I've had months with less than a $1 LD.

In practice yak is even more convenient than prepaid because you don't have to worry about running out of credits and everything happens automatically. I've used yak for years. They're reliable.

]]> Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:05:13 -0700 bc on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8480 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8480 thanks iamdrumming, bylo, and Heather for your replies. if you don't mind I have a few followup questions...

1) re: justDial.ca - this service sounds good Q: is there some minimum $ purchase when setting up the account? I couldn't seem to find that...
and also, can you refill by any amount?

2) re: Yak - it seems this is NOT a prepaid service ie you get an invoice. is that correct? or is it just prepaid like the others?

3) re: Shaw prepaid calling plan - I had not heard of this one before, thanks for pointing it out. going to their website, it ends up at shop.goldline.net which I notice is same site handling justdial.ca - I guess this is just a single company administering calling cards for various others. at first glance the Shaw offering seems identical to justdial Q: So is there anything distinguishing the 2? e.g. is service/support same from either?

thanks again for your help

]]> Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:57:57 -0700 Heather on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8476 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8476 I recently purchased $10 on Shaw's Prepaid Calling Plan. No expiry date; top-up & view your account on-line; 2.5cents/min Canada. No pin# when dialing from your activated #'s (you can specify up to 8 tel #'s you'll be dialing from; you can change this list as well). Works well.
http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/Custo.....ngPlan.htm

]]> Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:44:57 -0700 bylo on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8474 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8474 We use yak LD for both our landline and cellphones. We couldn't be happier. There are several discussions here about yak cell and their local access-number and call back variants.

]]> Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:13:05 -0700 iamdrumming on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8471 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8471 I highly recommend JustDial.ca

Their rates are $0.025 a minute to Canada or the USA. You can have up to 8 numbers registered so you don't have to enter a pin. I have used them on my travels around North America with no problems.

I have been with them for a few years. One good thing about them is your account never expires.

]]> Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:21:45 -0700 bc on what Cdn Long Distance to add to SO ? https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8468 Other carriers https://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/other-carriers/what-cdn-long-distance-to-add-to-so/#p8468 after learning much from this site about SO (thanks everyone!) I think I'll take advantage of the June promotion and soon get a SO phone.

but now I'm wondering what people recommend for long distance? (light/occasional LD use only, only Canada->Canada)

I see that the SO LD rate is 20cents/min on top of regular air time, whereas I hear various LD calling cards are only a few cents/min. Actually, I had emailed SO customer support with some other questions about long distance, and even they suggested getting some sort of calling card to use with SO!

anyone here have recommendations? pros/cons etc

for example, anyone here have experience with Yak Cell ?

or how about some of those Canadian calling card companies - CiCi, or justdial.ca, or others? (not sure how reputable those all are, I've only just heard about them...)

any suggestions you might have will be greatly appreciated. thanks

]]> Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:39:36 -0700