Best Smartphone Plan Covering US and Canada?

j00bhaka writes "I am a US citizen attending university in Nova Scotia, Canada. I currently have the Verizon America and Canada plan (also known as the North American plan). My bill is currently around $80-$100 per month. I chose this for a couple reasons. One, I have had my number for about 7 years. Two, I do not permanently live in Canada. I live in Canada for 8 months out of the year at school, then travel home for the summer months. Either way, I would be dealing with international roaming without having both countries in my plan. Currently, I obviously don't have a smartphone. Through Verizon, I could purchase one, and add their international unlimited data plan on top of my (already) hefty phone bill. I have looked into Telus and Rogers here in Canada and cannot find anything better. As a student, my budget is obviously limited. Is there any way to reasonably have (and utilize) a smartphone while I am living in both countries? If so, what do you suggest I do?"

Comments

Why a smartphone? Google voice + prepaid is best

[cytoman]

Get a Google voice number and any smartphone or dumbphone that accepts SIM cards. Then, get a prepaid SIM from Canada and redirect your Google Voice number to that number. When you are in the US, get a US pre-paid SIM and redirect your Google Voice number to that number.

For your internet on the go, you would rely on wifi and your notebook/netbook.

I'm not sure what you want to achieve:

[obarthelemy]

International roaming will always be expensive, be it for calls or data.

1- do you really need it ? I'd expect Wifi to be available most anywhere you are (though not while you're actually on the move), so VOIP, maybe with both a Canadian and a US provider, should be OK for you most of the time.

2- for when you DO need voice or data on the move or out of Wifi coverage, it's you choice between a single number w/ expensive international roaming, or 2 numbers, swapping SIMs.

I don't know what your situation is, but lotsa students have managed to survive without mobile phones, or without $100 monthly bills. Might require a little planning and temperance.

Get multiple sim cards or....

[dacarr]

As logistically goofy as it sounds, one can actually get multiple SIM cards, and just do a seasonal suspension on the account depending on where and how long they will be out of the country. You'll want to go GSM for this one, though. Also, if Verizon can suspend the service, you should be able to get the CDMA carrier up in Canada to register the ESN of the device, since you're currently running Verizon. Check up there to find out the details. Again, look forward to seasonal suspensions. Above all, TALK TO VERIZON and check your options.