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Overseas Message Retrieval from SO
July 5, 2009
1:19 pm
sim
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March 5, 2009
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Hi
I was wondering if I purchase a SO bundle with $100 talk time to be used in N. America.
Along with that if I can add a long distance plan (1010620) for making long distance calls overseas. (This 1010620 works more like a calling card with a local access # can be used to make long calls from N. America to overseas and not vice versa)

When I go overseas (India/Asia) I take SO bundle with me, I just keep the phone on to retrieve any messages from my local contacts in N. America.
- Is there a voice mail privilege on the SO bundle so that the local contacts can leave a message for me? With a display of the phone number.
- Can I hear the message overseas or even see the display of the phone number
-Will it deduct the fee to hear the message or display the phone number from my SO $100 talk time.
-Does anyone knows how much it would deduct.
- Is there a call forward to international countries?

While overseas I use a GSM phone and a local (India / Asia) sim card. I will call the person who had left a message on my SO phone.

Is the above possible? Or is there a better / cheaper way to do this.
I will be using the SO phone only to retrieve messages and see phone display while I am overseas.
- Also is there an online way of purchasing minutes for my SO phone just in case I run out of minutes
Any suggestions will be appreciate.

Thank you

July 5, 2009
2:20 pm
Big Ang
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Along with that if I can add a long distance plan (1010620) for making long distance calls overseas. (This 1010620 works more like a calling card with a local access # can be used to make long calls from N. America to overseas and not vice versa)

A: It depends on what number you have to call before you call the number you want. If it is a 1-800 or a regular phone number, then it should work. If it is a 10-10-xxx number, then I don't believe it would work (although I have not tried it)

When I go overseas (India/Asia) I take SO bundle with me, I just keep the phone on to retrieve any messages from my local contacts in N. America.
- Is there a voice mail privilege on the SO bundle so that the local contacts can leave a message for me? With a display of the phone number.

A: Anyone can call you on your Canadian number. You will have to call the Speakout voicemail number from a local phone periodically since your phone won't be picking up any signal, including voicemail alerts.

I'm not sure if the caller's phone number will be recorded on the voicemail because I have never received a call from overseas.

- Can I hear the message overseas

A: Sure, if you call the Speakout voicemail number from a local phone.

or even see the display of the phone number

A: Nope, I doubt you phone will be receiving any signal outside Canada.

-Will it deduct the fee to hear the message or display the phone number from my SO $100 talk time.

A: Calling the Speakout voicemail number from a local phone should not cost you anything from Speakout, but you'll have to pay long distance charges from whatever local phone you're calling from

-Does anyone knows how much it would deduct.

A: Speakout does not charge anything when you call their voicemail number from a phone other than your cellphone.

- Is there a call forward to international countries?

A: Never heard of Speakout having that. It's possible. Anyone know the answer??

I will be using the SO phone only to retrieve messages and see phone display while I am overseas.

A: You can get messages on your voicemail, but the actual phone will not receive a signal so you'll have to call the voicemail number every so often. No signal, no phone display.

- Also is there an online way of purchasing minutes for my SO phone just in case I run out of minutes

A: No and yes. Not from Speakout, but you can buy airtime from anyone selling it on this forum.

What you may want to do instead of using a Speakout phone is to use one of those VOIP services. You may be able to find one that forwards your calls to an international number (such as your cellphone in India) for cheap. Then you can use the voicemail from your Indian cellphone to collect the calls.

July 6, 2009
1:38 am
Peter
BC
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Big Ang said:

- Is there a call forward to international countries?

A: Never heard of Speakout having that. It's possible. Anyone know the answer??


There's no call forwarding on Speak Out at all, even to local numbers.

July 6, 2009
7:16 am
iamdrumming
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If you go overseas, nothing with SO will work over there, and it also won't work in the USA. It only works in Canada. I wouldn't even bother to bring your SO Canadian phone.

July 6, 2009
3:13 pm
Big Ang
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Well, technically the phone number will still work, but it will go directly to voicemail so people can leave you messages.

But your SIM will not work in any phone outside Canada (I'd leave it at home so I wouldn't lose it). I don't think ANY prepaid cellphone service will work outside North America.

Oh, and most of the phones sold by Speakout will not work overseas, even with a local SIM card.

Oh, and I just remembered something that you mentioned in your original post. Even if you bought airtime from someone, you cannot add it to your phone since Speakout service will not work outside Canada.

July 6, 2009
9:46 pm
bridonca
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Have you ever thought of using VOIP and wifi? In your situation, it seems to be a more practical solution. You can even get a dual phone that does does wifi VOIP and GSM, like this phone. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAP.....0351310623

July 8, 2009
11:28 am
sim
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Thank you all for taking the time to answer each of my querries. appreciate your kind help !!!
I will look into the suggestions - voip and the dual phone
kind regards

July 8, 2009
12:53 pm
sim
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Hi All
Please clarify

Now that you all were kind to answer my above querries on retrieving messages while i am overseas.

So my understanding if i have a SO phone i can call overseas from N. America, but people from overseas (India/Asia Can they call me while i am in N. America using my SO phone and them using their local phone ?

I am looking for a cell phone + sim card which is cheap without having to recharge monthly and the unused minutes expiring.And family from India /Asia can call me

Thank you for your help

July 8, 2009
5:12 pm
Big Ang
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Anyone from anywhere in the world can call your Canadian phone number, just like they would be able to call your Canadian home phone from anywhere. As long as they don't mind paying long distance charges. A Canadian cellphone has a Canadian phone number that works like any other Canadian phone number.

Now, whether or not you will be able to receive the call is another matter entirely. For example, if your cellphone is turned off, then Speakout cannot find it and therefore the call will go directly to voicemail. If you are in a subway tunnel and do not have any reception then Speakout cannot find your phone and the call will go directly to voicemail. If your phone is physically outside Canada then Speakout cannot find your phone and the call will go directly to voicemail. See the pattern? If Speakout cannot find your phone, your phone will not ring or inform you that you have had a call. People can still call you, but they will just get your voicemail. If Speakout CAN find your phone (meaning your phone is in Canada and has reception) then your phone will ring, etc etc.

Speakout is a great cellphone if you need it infrequently and do not want to worry about buying more airtime each and every month. Once you buy airtime from Speakout AND load it into your account, it does not expire for 365 days (or you use it all up, whichever comes first). Anytime before the 365 day expiry you can buy another airtime card and both the old and new balance will have 365 days from that point before they expire.

One disadvantage with Speakout (and, to the best of my knowledge, every other Canadian prepaid cellphone) is that you cannot use it outside North America. There may be 1 or 2 prepaid plans that you can use in the US, can't remember which ones, but I know Speakout isn't one of them. Of course, anyone can call you from anywhere in the world, since your cellphone uses a regular phone number, just like your home phone.

If you are using the phone while you are in Canada, Speakout looks like it's a good option for you. If you are using the phone overseas, then you will probably want a different solution.

July 9, 2009
2:25 pm
sim
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Thank you Big Ang for anwering my addtional querries.
Yesterday i purchased a SO 2760 +$100 airtime the total cost came to about $155
Excellent deal - now to only see if it is unlocked. I cannot remove the cover to see a number under the phone to call nokia to see if my phone is unlocked.the lady at the store was not sure.

It is very difficult to open the cover for the battery of the phone.
Hopefully the 1010620 long distane plan can be put on my cell number to cut down the cost of making long distance phone calls.

Has anyone tried using the SO sim + airtime on a virgin mobile LG 260? they had the phone at the 7-11 store.
Thank you again to all for your kind help

July 9, 2009
3:31 pm
Big Ang
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The battery cover on that Nokia is a little tricky. I guess Nokia didn't think people would be constantly switching SIMs.

I'm not sure if Nokia would know if your phone is locked or not. The easiest way (in my opinion) is to find a friend that has a Fido phone (or an american friend with a T-Mobile or AT&T phone) and try out the 2760 with the Fido SIM card. Don't bother trying it out with a Rogers SIM - it will work regardless if it is unlocked or locked (cause if it's locked, the phone treats Rogers and Speakout SIMS the same).

Phones from Virgin Mobile (or Bell, Bell Solo, Telus, Koodo, President's Choice Mobility) will not work with any SIM card because SIM cards are for GSM phones and Bell/Telus/Virgin/Solo/Koodo/Pres.Choice use CDMA technology - different thing altogether.

For the record, some of the GSM carriers in Canada are Speakout, PetroCanada Mobility, Rogers, and Fido.

July 13, 2009
2:25 pm
sim
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Thank you Big Ang for your reply

I used a pen to open the cover there is a small hote on the top right side - it worked

Thank you for tell me about the rogers sim card on speak out as the store lady also tried with the rogers phone and i did too and it worked. Now i am going to try with another sim card
I do hope it works.
Thank you for all your help

July 14, 2009
11:37 am
sim
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The 2760 is locked

July 14, 2009
1:26 pm
dennismiller
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So 2760's do seem to be locked now but weren't a while back.

As for the cover just put your thumb on it press and slide it back. Works fine.

July 14, 2009
4:19 pm
sim
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Hi
I phoned speak out today and they told me that the 2760 is UNLOCKED !!! they told me to get in touch with Nokia. I phoned Nokia and they said that my international sim card that i was trying to use on my SO Nokia 2760 has to be contacted.

I have roaming on this international sim card i use it on all gsm unlock phones and it is fine but when i use it on the SO nokia 2760 phone it gives a message to enter restriction code.
My understanding is this means my phone is locked but speakout insists that that model is UNLOCKed.

Is there a cheap way to unlock this phone
I like my phone.
Still having a very hard time trying to open the back cover i use a pen
i would appreciat your help.
thank you