coverage in Canada (again)

[lav-chan]

Hi.

I know this has been covered a few times here, but it doesn't seem like the other threads i found answered my questions very definitively. So i'll try to be concise as possible.

Basically i live in America and i'm considering visiting Canada (Winnipeg, specifically) this spring. And while it's not super-important either way, it would be helpful to know exactly how my phone will work up there.

I have the America's Choice plan right now, the 'new' one (i've only had it for like a year). I thought that meant free roaming anywhere in the US or Canada, but after looking it up on the Internet i've discovered that that's not the case. So i know that roaming in Canada is not free, at least.


These are my questions:

1.) How much will it cost to call American numbers from Canada? Is it just the 69-cents-per-minute roaming fee? Any other taxes, long-distance charges, anything like that?

2.) How much will it cost to call Canadian numbers while i'm in Canada? Same 69-cents thing?

3.) How will i dial US numbers from Canada? The same as normal, or do i have to add a number to the front or something? What about calling Canadian numbers?

4.) Will it cost me anything if somebody from the United States calls me while i'm up there? Will it cost them to call me? How does that work, exactly?

5.) I read something about having to call Verizon to ask them to enable direct-dialling on your phone or something, but i didn't understand exactly what that meant. Will i have to have Verizon do anything to my phone in order to make calls from Canada to the US (or to receive them in Canada from the US)? What about making calls within Canada (as in, to Canadian numbers)?

6.) I have free nights and week ends and free IN calling. Does that apply in Canada? (I mean, even if i do get charged roaming, will it detract from my minutes if i call during those 'free' periods?)


Thanks for any help.

[ZaphodB]

1.) How much will it cost to call American numbers from Canada? Is it just the 69-cents-per-minute roaming fee? Any other taxes, long-distance charges, anything like that?

It will cost you 69 cents per minute plus any long distance costs passed along by the carrier you use in Canada. I don't THINK any of the Canuckian folks charge long distance, but make sure to ask when you call 611. You'll be on Telus up in Winnipeg, eh.

Don't forget that it may take up to two months for those calls to come through on your bill due to the vagaries of incompatible billing systems, and don't forget that you pay tax on that too, so it's really more like 79 cents a minute or so, depending where you live.

2.) How much will it cost to call Canadian numbers while i'm in Canada? Same 69-cents thing?

Same.

3.) How will i dial US numbers from Canada? The same as normal, or do i have to add a number to the front or something? What about calling Canadian numbers?

Canada and the U.S. use the same dialling pattern, so you will dial 1 + AC + 7 digits for all calls.

4.) Will it cost me anything if somebody from the United States calls me while i'm up there? Will it cost them to call me? How does that work, exactly?

If you answer the phone while you are up there, it's the same 69 cents a minute plus tax rate. Your callers would pay only what they would normally pay if you were at home -- so if it's long-distance to call your cell from their house, it will be the same, etc. They just call your regular number and then your phone rings, wheeeee magic, hey I'm in Winnipeg, eh.

5.) I read something about having to call Verizon to ask them to enable direct-dialling on your phone or something, but i didn't understand exactly what that meant. Will i have to have Verizon do anything to my phone in order to make calls from Canada to the US (or to receive them in Canada from the US)? What about making calls within Canada (as in, to Canadian numbers)?

You will need to have Canadian roaming added to your plan -- it's free to have the CAPABILITY to roam added, just call 611 a couple days beforehand and make sure you do *228 option 2 from home before you leave. You only pay if you actually make or receive a call -- there is no charge for leaving your phone on.

6.) I have free nights and week ends and free IN calling. Does that apply in Canada? (I mean, even if i do get charged roaming, will it detract from my minutes if i call during those 'free' periods?)

Free nights, weekends and IN calling do not apply in Canada. If you make or receive calls, even at night, at the weekend, or to an 'IN' number, those minutes come out of your anytime minutes. Let's say you have 300 minutes a month, plus nights, weekends and IN calling, and you make 100 minutes of phone calls on a Saturday night back home to the US from Winnipeg -- when you get home, you will only have 200 minutes left, and those 100 minutes you used in Canada will cost you over $70 in roaming fees.

[lav-chan]

Rad. That pretty much covers everything. Thanks!