Quick question about roaming charges and cellphone use in the states
 

So I am going to San Francisco to about a week with some friends and am planning on bringing my cellphone with me.

I am going to turn off data services in my phone so I don't incur roaming charges while I am over there. I just want to know how cellphone and charges will work if I want to call or text some friends who are also coming with me that have Canadian phones.

Also do you guys have some tips/suggestions on which way to proceed with using my cellphone in the states?

Thanks in advance.

^ my tip is....
don't use it at all. Stick to landlines/pay phones. If you were going for 2/3 weeks plus then I'd say buy a pay as you go phone and just fill it up with like 10 bucks, because these phones are cheap as fcuk in the states anyways

If you call your buddies canadian number while it is in the US service area, you will still be charged as roaming fees according to w/e the rates ur provider charges.

also check this out http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/prepaid.aspx

near the bottom they sell pay as you go sim cards for 9 bucks in-store and 6 bucks online. depending on how much ur gonna use ur phone in the states this is definitely a route you can choose

i think you may be able to set up some type of long distance plan temporarily for like a month with your carrier (even though your only going for a week it may be cheaper)

its worth a shot try calling them up and ask what you can do

what about texting?

If you're using Rogers, they have these travel packs for telephone calls in the US. It was good to use for me when I went to New York for 4 days earlier this year because my phone went off the hook because of work.

But if you're on the other networks, buy a local prepaid card but bring an old 2nd cell phone so you can selectively answer calls when you're away, just in case there are emergencies.

If you're primarily staying in the same area but might be just calling to see where each other is (ie. a shopping mall) a walkie-talkie is good too

Have fun!

Travel packs?

once you're down there, you're roaming. making calls and texting will cost extra (roaming charges).

If you are on Fido like me .. they like to charge

$0.75 per text message and $1.45 per min for calls in US

http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/F...edStates#rates

I usually like to bring walkie talkies [gmrs] as someone already mentioned
It's free to use anywhere :p

get the cheapest plan for windmobile,

7.5 and top up 20 dollars, bring down the phone down states to use

25 cents a min

I remember using at&t pay as you go was around $3 a day. Might just be cheaper to get the travel plan etc. beforehand though.

Is your phone unlocked?

It's been awhile, but i remember before you could buy a prepaid sim off of ebay for cheap with like a $10 credit on it. Local US airtime is cheap.