Cell Phone Plans

[shankdown]

I'm curious as to what cell phone plans WJ pilots have. I find I get raped while using the phone while in Florida on layovers, and whenever else I happen to be south of the border. I'd like to get a BlackBerry with a data package, but Bell is awful to deal with in this regard. Further, I'd like to be able to use my phone when I leave the country, by popping in another sim card for whatever country I happen to be travelling in. Ideally, I'd be spending in the $140 range. Just lookin' for some direction as where to look for a plan, and what can be included in the plan for about that much. If you've got a good deal set up, can you let me know where you're getting it, what you're getting, and for how much?

SD

[Go Guns]

Not a WestJet pilot but I have a similar situation

On Telus, with an HTC Touch, I've got
-unlimited nationwide talk/text to 10 numbers
-unlimited time on weekends and evenings starting @ 1700
-unlimited Canadian long distance
-unlimited data in Canada
-450 anytime minutes during the day (which I find I never go over)

I pay about $100/mth but I use this phone anytime, anywhere coast to coast and I never have to worry about paying extra for going over my minutes or whatever.

Now in the US it's a different story. Data stays off and it's only quick phone calls to the wife. Like you, I'm looking for ways to continue using my cell State side without it costing me a small fortune.

[gulfan]

check http://www.howardforums.com/

The guys on there are pretty good. They discuss plans, help eachother out. I'm on a retention deal with Rogers – probably not the best anymore since it’s a year old.

250 anytime minutes
free evenings / weekends after six
voice mail / caller id / 200 txt msg / call waiting
1000 long distance minutes
everything said and done it’s 39 a month.

also look at this thread on red flag deals - http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/show ... p?t=111887

rogers phones are sim based too, so if you break it - you can buy a new phone off ebay and just swap the card and your good to go.

[cjet]

I have a rogers phone simply for the reason that it is the only service that will work in all of the caribbean including Cuba.

CJET

[McDoo the Irish Navigator]

Same here, except its actually FIDO, which is owned by and uses the rigers network. Works all over.
The Fido to Fido unlimited long distance, with 100 daytime, 100 LD minutes costs me about $105 everymonth for two phones and two plans.

[WJ700]

I'm in a pissing match right now with Telus.

McDoo... does that Fido plan give you US service? Or do you have a US sim card. Or is there such a thing as having a US sim card on hand?

Also, one of our pilots put something on the WJPA forum a while ago about just buying an 'unlocked' phone... with sim card. Then keeping multiple cards for where ever you frequent. I believe he spends time in Europe. I'd like to learn more about that as the US has far better deals than anything in Canada (actually... we're the highest cell phone fees in the WORLD... cause' we're Canadian and love taking the Maple Leaf Dildo from ankle view). Calling to Canada with a US phone is next to nothing for cost. I've had a friend in NYC and another LA call me on a cell phone and then tell me its 'pennies'.

My Motorola K1M just died and I'm considering either a Nokia, or Motorola again as they work well with Mac iSync for contacts and calender via Bluetooth. The iPhone just seems too bulky to me.

[Ali G]

Use Skype, cheap, easy. I paid about $8 for 3 months of unlimited calling within north america. You can get your own permanent number for extra (about $30), with voicemail. Anyone can call it anytime and leave a message when you are not logged in. You can play your messages and call for next to nothing when you get to your hotel as most have free wireless.

I always bring my laptop and use pay as I go for everything else.

[McDoo the Irish Navigator]

WJ700;
My phone certainly works in the US. There are all the usual fees. Roaming etc.
I generally try not to use it, although I hadn't thought of getting a sim card from a US provider.

[commuter]

Food for thought here.......
If you want to put another sim card in your phone ( which is the way the rest of the world works buy the way)
you will run into problems.
All phones are locked in Canada ( not sure about the US) so in order to use another companys sim card you will have to get the phone unlocked. I unlocked my phone in Europe last year. The kicker is if you go from company to an other company in Canada they will lock the phone up again.
Cell companys are a joke in this country!