North America plan no longer. Now what?

[elizabeth c]

I live in Canada and the US. My North America Plan died with my phone. No luck finding anything similar. Paying roaming at 69 cents per min. would break me. Any ideas?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by elizabeth c

I live in Canada and the US. My North America Plan died with my phone. No luck finding anything similar. Paying roaming at 69 cents per min. would break me. Any ideas?

What phone/carrier did you have, and how old was the phone & plan?

-Jay

[elizabeth c]

The plan was AT&T North America. My phone was an old nokia analog. I was warned that my phones days were numbered by AT&T but knew I would lose the no roaming in Canada with a new phone as the North America plan had been discontinued. Verizon has since discontinued a similar plan.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by elizabeth c

The plan was AT&T North America. My phone was an old nokia analog. I was warned that my phones days were numbered by AT&T but knew I would lose the no roaming in Canada with a new phone as the North America plan had been discontinued. Verizon has since discontinued a similar plan.

I guess you're right. Even if your phone didn't die it would be shut off early next year. The only solution I can come up with is to have 2 prepaid phones, an american and a canadian one.

-Jay

[elizabeth c]

Canadian phone for Canada calls. US phone for US calls. What about Canada to US calls, vice versa and incoming from the other country? It just doesn't work unfortunately. What exactly is a sim card and might that work? Thx for your thoughts.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by elizabeth c

Canadian phone for Canada calls. US phone for US calls. What about Canada to US calls, vice versa and incoming from the other country? It just doesn't work unfortunately. What exactly is a sim card and might that work? Thx for your thoughts.

A SIM card is the data card used in GSM telephone systems (ATT, T-Mobile, Rogers). Having multiple SIM cards would be no different than multiple telephones. Unfortunately I do not think any carrier offers a plan similar to what you had.

-Jay

[music4praise]

Originally Posted by elizabeth c

I live in Canada and the US. My North America Plan died with my phone. No luck finding anything similar. Paying roaming at 69 cents per min. would break me. Any ideas?

Alltel has a North American plan. You will have to use an address that is in their service area to get it, however. Try the following link and click on the tab that says North American Freedom.

Individual Plans

It may not serve your needs but it is only one I know of.

[Buickman]

Verizon has US & Canada plans, I was just in the store looking at them last week.

Nationwide Plus Canada

[mframe]

AT&T's North American Plans were available for GSM phones, too. You could have probably bought one from eBay, or a GoPhone, and with a new (blank) SIM, put it on the account. If you have already contacted Customer Service and requested that account be closed, then it is too late to get it back, however.

[elizabeth c]

Thank you all for the info. Alltel and Verizon now have NorthAmerica Plans. So, It is decision time. The plans from both companies are very similar and not being very tech savvy I don't know much about phones. Anything to steer me in favor of one over the other?. They use the same cell towers in Canada so the coverage should be the same. Thx in advance.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by elizabeth c

Thank you all for the info. Alltel and Verizon now have NorthAmerica Plans. So, It is decision time. The plans from both companies are very similar and not being very tech savvy I don't know much about phones. Anything to steer me in favor of one over the other?. They use the same cell towers in Canada so the coverage should be the same. Thx in advance.

If I had the choice between Verizon and Alltel, all things being equal I'd choose Alltel. Verizon would have to offer a signifigantly better deal for me to go Verizon.

-Jay

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

If I had the choice between Verizon and Alltel, all things being equal I'd choose Alltel. Verizon would have to offer a signifigantly better deal for me to go Verizon.

-Jay

Except for the fact that Alltel barely has service in California. If she lives in a major metro area, she's out of luck getting Alltel. Verizon would be her only choice.

elizabeth c, what part of California do you live in?

[elizabeth c]

I live in central California, on a ranch in the boonies. We have no coverage at our home but 30 minutes away in San Luis Obispo all carriers have good coverage. I'm going to check out Verizon at Costco today. I don't think I want to mess with Alltel if they don't really service my area. Sounds like trouble and poor CS to me.