The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: balkanbabe on April 27, 2015, 02:48:28 PM
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Moving to the US - looking for a recommendation on cell phone provider and plan.
Need a provider that has good long distance rates to Canada, and can provide cellular coverage while in Canada through an add-on. We would like "lite" smartphones. Talk, text, data.
(We are not going with Republic Wireless because they do not offer cellular coverage in Canada, where we spend several months a year. They provide coverage through wifi, but we are often places where there is no wifi, like hiking). There is no work-around when you are on a Republic phone, like for example, swapping out a SIM.
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Your best option is to go with a GSM MVNO down in the States and swap SIM cards up Canada way. That said, it's going to be a bit difficult to recommend specifics without a better idea on frequency and volume of usage, and the region you're moving to to determine the best carrier. T-Mobile MVNOs are the cheapest on bundled plans, but they don't have the coverage of AT&T MVNOs.
Try starting with the guide (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/communications-tech-son-of-the-superguide!/) if you haven't already (unabridged here (http://www.techmeshugana.com/theguide/)), and I'll help where I can. Also, for the sake of academic curiosity as I'm sure at least one person will eventually chime in with GOOGLE FI! GOOGLE FI! despite the $650+ phone buy-in, here's a deconstruction on how to replicate it for roughly the same monthly cost on nearly any blasted Android handset you like (http://www.techmeshugana.com/2015/04/google-fi-fee-fo-feh/). Pair the knowledge with the guide, you can mix and match to fit.
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we have been very happy with Ting, but I have no idea if it works in Canada. The only down side for me is not being able to have data when we are away.
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Wow - lots to read, thanks IP! Will sift through that and get back to you with any questions.....we move in August/September, so I am doing prelim research right now.