International Calling
 

I'm doing my first Canada overnight tomorrow. Called AT&T and found out their international rates are ridiculous, as expected. An example, if my phone is on, and I receive a text message, I get charged $.50. And I can pay an addition $5/month for the privilege of only being charged $.60/min on a call. So do you guys just leave your phones off while your there or what? Skype if needed? Obviously if the call is important enough I'll make it, but I get a pretty good amount of texts in the day, so unless you guys have other answers I guess I'll be keeping my phone off. Lemme know!

Anytime I'm in Canada or Mexico, I just use Skype on my iPhone or laptop. Phone can stay on, provided you're not getting calls or text messages, or provided you keep your data roaming off.

Thanks for the good input.

How about for you non-iphone/non-wifi capable phone users?

google voice.........

I have an iPhone. On those, you have to make sure the data push is turned off, or it will bill you. I usually made all the calls I needed before heading to Canada, then just kept the phone off up there. Always had free internet on overnights, so talked online or emailed.

It sucks to be in YYZ and pay $2.49 a minute, when you can see NY state from where you are! Stupid Rogers wireless ;)

Or do what I do and put the iPhone in airplane mode and then turn on WiFi. Then you can use Skype and you don't have to worry about additional charges from roaming voice and data. Works great!

That is exactly what I do.

I leave my phone on in case my wife or someone else needs me in an emergency. It is also the way I communicate with my wife. She will call me and I wont answer and then will call back on skype through my computer or through the wifi on my iphone with the skype app.

I have data roaming off which is an absolute must although I can still receive texts. The good thing is that I hardly ever get any texts so if I go to Canada 4 times in a month I may get 1 or 2 texts. It cost me 1.00 total but the positive is that my phone stays on in case my wife or someone else (important) needs me.

If ATT could disable texts over there as well it would be great.

Canada is an inconvenience but certainly easy to work around for free to very cheap money.

With VoipCheap you can make phonecalls from your computer or phone. Calls to US landline or mobile are free the first 90 days, then standard rates apply. You have to buy a 10 euro credit, roughly 15 bucks with taxes. On HTC Hero you need the Fring app to make it work with WIFI.

Verizon has a Canada plan, for 4.99 a month add all calls/text to-from canada to my anytime minutes...

Either the person that you spoke to was misinformed or you misunderstood.

Text messages are FREE to receive and .50$ to SEND. I promise I would say I am out of the country just as much as I am in it.

Also you can leave your phone on the cellular network, just make sure that the data roaming is OFF. There will be no E or 3G symbol in the top left but you will still have bars. You won't be charged anything unless you pick up a call.