The Unofficial Speak Out Wireless Canada Consumer Page - Topic: Easy way to use phone in USA?

Bylo on Easy way to use phone in USA?

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:06:15 -0800

Actually, the best deals I found so far is from 7-11 again.

It depends on your usage pattern. Heavier users will find T-Mobile cheaper because airtime is only 10c/min. If you already have an unlocked GSM phone then the eBay offer may make sense.

Also with T-M you can roam in Canada, as well as overseas (if your phone has 900/1800.) The rates for that may be high, but if you want to be reachable on a single number it may be worth it.

And, as in Canada, 7-11 stores don't exist in some areas so you can't buy the phone/plan.

the Nokia 1600b GSM cellphone is LOCKED to SpeakOut.

Yabbut you can take the SIM out of it and use it with the unlocked 1600b you bought in Canada (or any other unlocked GSM phone.)

there is a Sanyo version for $49.99 however, that's NOT a GSM phone nor it works on the AT&T network.

It's a CDMA phone that works on Sprint. (So it may roam on Bell or Telus.)

PatrickP on Easy way to use phone in USA?

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:06:56 -0800

Actually, the best deals I found so far is from 7-11 again. The US 7-11s sell a Nokia 1600b cellphones which operate on the AT&T GSM network for $39.99. Each phones come 25 min of initial airtime. You can buy additional airtime of $10, $25, $50 and $100 and each of those are valid for 365. Each min of airtime on the 7-11 US Speakout is only $0.15 per min and each text msg sent or recieved is $0.05 (and you can send & received txt msg to other ppl on diff networks like AT&T, T-mobile, Rogers, Fido, Telus, etc... 'cuz I have used tried it).

The downsides that you have to pay $1.25 for 911 service recovery fee and the Nokia 1600b GSM cellphone is LOCKED to SpeakOut. Btw, there is a Sanyo version for $49.99 however, that's NOT a GSM phone nor it works on the AT&T network.

Patrick

newbie on Easy way to use phone in USA?

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:11:17 -0800

Thanks Bylo
Your 2 comments were helpful. I do travel to the US at least twice a year. I would seldom use the phone and mostly to call out. For $10 i can get a sim and 150 minutes that expire in 90 days. Even if i let it expire i have another 90 days to buy $10 recharge. For me the security of having it on winter roads is worth it.

Bylo on Easy way to use phone in USA?

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:43:58 -0800

Yup, your understanding of how all this would work is correct.

One issue with T-Mobile is that in order to get 365 day airtime expiry you need to buy at least $100 worth of airtime. If you don't visit the US much that could be a problem.

A second issue is that you've now got two phone numbers (SO in Canada and T-Mobile in the US) so people who are trying to reach you will have to either know where you are or try both.

newbie on Easy way to use phone in USA?

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:36:30 -0800

Not sure where to put this question. I want a cheap phone to use in the USA on trips.
Please let me know anyone if this works. On ebay T mobile pay as you go sims are cheap and easy to buy. I think they use gsm phones. I believe my Nokia 1600is gsm unlocked?If i buy this T mobile sim from ebay i can replace my cdn 7-11 sim with it. A new phone # is embedded in the new sim? Essentially i will become a no contract T mobile customer. When i return to Canada i can switch sims and go back to my 7-11service here. Sorry i am new to this stuff.Thanks