topic Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage? in Get Support

Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Blackbox — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 06:43:00 GMT

I'm sorry to say that I won't be by far your best client by the looks of things. Reardless, I'm very impressed by what you offer and I will do my best to pass it on to my friends who are full time cellphone users! It's about time we get great service with affordable options for PayAsYouGo!

I'm curious how I can make this work best for me, so here is my timeline for a cellphone and why Pay as you go is the way to go for me...

I basically need a cellphone in Canada wide for 1 month in the Spring (APRIL), and 1 month in the Fall SEPTEMBER.
Winter: I'm in Thailand and use a different cellphone service over there for obvious reasons.
Summer: I'm in a remote location (Gwaii Haanas, Haida Gwaii, www.gwaiihaanas.com) with no cellphone coverage, using a satellite internet service.

QUESTIONS:

Is it possible to keep the same cellphone number doing this for only 2 months a year?
Is there added fees for this?
Is there any way to go through the internet using this cellphone number as a connecting point to access me in my remote location in the summer, or in Thailand in the winter (call forward)?

Thank you!

Patrick

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:26:19 GMT

@Blackbox, you can switch to the $10 (50min/50 text) plan before you leave, and that will keep your number active for 120 days (from payment date). However, I dn't think that will be enough for you, so you will probably need to renew the $10 plan after 2 months, and then renew again after another 2 months. Then when you get back, switch to a more appropriate plan (depending on what is offered at that time). There is no number parking feature available with Public Mobile.

EDIT: Call forwarding is available, but on the $10 plan it would use up your minutes, and could run out. You could get a 20 or 25$ talk only plan, and it could forward to any number that is available in your plan (either provincial or Canada wide).

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Blackbox — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:26:18 GMT

Is there charges for switching plans?

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:27:19 GMT

@Blackbox, no there is no charge to switch plans. However if you switch plans, and the previous plan was still active, there is no credit for the remaining amount on the old one.

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

wetcoaster — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:41:26 GMT

@Blackbox wrote:
I'm sorry to say that I won't be by far your best client by the looks of things. Reardless, I'm very impressed by what you offer and I will do my best to pass it on to my friends who are full time cellphone users! It's about time we get great service with affordable options for PayAsYouGo!

I'm curious how I can make this work best for me, so here is my timeline for a cellphone and why Pay as you go is the way to go for me...

I basically need a cellphone in Canada wide for 1 month in the Spring (APRIL), and 1 month in the Fall SEPTEMBER.
Winter: I'm in Thailand and use a different cellphone service over there for obvious reasons.
Summer: I'm in a remote location (Gwaii Haanas, Haida Gwaii, www.gwaiihaanas.com) with no cellphone coverage, using a satellite internet service.
QUESTIONS:
Is it possible to keep the same cellphone number doing this for only 2 months a year?
Is there added fees for this?
Is there any way to go through the internet using this cellphone number as a connecting point to access me in my remote location in the summer, or in Thailand in the winter (call forward)?
Thank you!
Patrick

Technically speaking Public Mobile is prepaid but doesn't offer pay as you go.

How much do you use your phone in those two months?

SpeakOut (a MVNO running on Rogers network) might be a better choice for you.

Edit: Being on my phone I overlooked your question about call forwarding. As @Anonymous mentioned in that case you'd want to go with one of the unlimited plans.

Not sure if satphones are included in the forwarding list (there are a couple of area codes that are not eligible). Direct call forwarding to a number outside of Canada is not possible, but you can get a local fongo number and run that on a local data plan at your destination.

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Blackbox — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:35:33 GMT

I guess getting a new phone number is not a big deal for me, just a small inconvenience

QUESTIONS:

Assuming I just get a new number twice a year, Is there a charge for a "new number" and plan?
Will I be able to reuse my Public Mobile sim card to do this...

SUGGESTION: I believe there may be a fair mount of "part timers" out there who would like a way to keep a phone number, without using cell service, for a cheaper fee. You may want to consider creating this option.

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:39:33 GMT

@Blackbox, there are no other charges, except for the SIM card. You would need a new one each time. They are currently $10. There are promos sometimes, with free SIM cards.

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Blackbox — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:39:45 GMT

Sorry my friend, I was using the wrong term.

Prepaid is great, PayAsYouGo Sucks!

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

will13am — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:41:06 GMT

@Blackbox wrote:
I guess getting a new phone number is not a big deal for me, just a small inconvenience
QUESTIONS:
Assuming I just get a new number twice a year, Is there a charge for a "new number" and plan?
Will I be able to reuse my Public Mobile sim card to do this...
SUGGESTION: I believe there may be a fair mount of "part timers" out there who would like a way to keep a phone number, without using cell service, for a cheaper fee. You may want to consider creating this option.

No you cannot reuse a SIM card once the account deactivates after 90 days of suspension. I suggest looking into the 7-11 speakout service. It is more expensive on a pay per use basis but the expiry is year long. If you are looking for the convenience of retaining your number over a long period of inactivity, speakout service is more suitable than Public Mobile.

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Blackbox — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:45:28 GMT

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions... This is all new to me!

So if I renew with a $10 plan every couple months or so to get through,

I can keep the phone number
I can keep my Sim card (I'm guessing the phone number is "attached" to the sim card...)

Correct?

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:48:30 GMT

@Blackbox, Correct & correct!

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:49:54 GMT

Can one just ping pong back and forth to whatever provider porting ones number over each time?

Go somewhere else. Get the SIM. Port the number. Hold that for the next while.

Return to PM. Get a SIM. Port the number. Use that for when you need it.

And as already said, the 7-11 thing lasts a year.

All depending on whether one just can't be without PM for a period of time 🙂

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

wetcoaster — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:51:34 GMT

@Blackbox wrote:
Sorry my friend, I was using the wrong term.

Prepaid is great, PayAsYouGo Sucks!

Not necessarily. It really depends on your usage.

SpeakOut, as mentioned above, is prepaid with some "value plan" options for the two months you need it but pay as you go for the rest of the year. If you opt to not forward your calls it's the more cost effective option than PM (With SpeakOut your number stays active for a full 365 days with as little as $25 top-up... however, SpeakOut does charge a monthly $1.25 "911 fee" while no such cost exist at Public Mobile.)

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

wetcoaster — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:56:34 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Can one just ping pong back and forth to whatever provider porting ones number over each time?
Go somewhere else. Get the SIM. Port the number. Hold that for the next while.
Return to PM. Get a SIM. Port the number. Use that for when you need it.
And as already said, the 7-11 thing lasts a year.
All depending on whether one just can't be without PM for a period of time 🙂

Of course you can port your number around the block and back - at the cost of a new SIM card every time you port... I personally found porting from SpeakOut to Public Mobile a bit of a hassle (SpeakOut doesn't have account numbers at all), but that is neither here nor there.

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Blackbox — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 20:57:06 GMT

I'm am impressed you would refer me to another business. This shows great integrity, which most service providers don't have...

Thank you so much to help me make an educated decision for my very particular cellphone needs! I will still consider you regardless if it cost a bit more. 7/11 is not my calling...

Great company! I will pass it on!

I do have a PM Sim Card coming already so I'll try it anyway for the following year!

AGAIN THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT, SHOWING INTEGRITY, GREAT SERVICE and answering all my questions!

Patrick Lemaire

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

mimmo — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 21:02:47 GMT

I'm going to offer s differnet type of solution. you can get a free fongo (VOIP) canadian number and use that number anywhere you have wifi or data. the two one month times you are in canada then buy a sim for $10 and get a basic plan with data.

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

bridonca — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 21:09:46 GMT

I have another option for you. Port your phone number to Fongo. You can then have the same phone number indefinitely for free, after the one time $25 porting fee. Outgoing texting with Fongo costs $3 any month, incoming is free. Calls to most of Canada are free.

Since Fongo is a a VOIP app, even when you are out of the country, you can still make calls to Canadian numbers for free, and recieve calls also. When you come back to Canada, set up an account with any telco that currently has the best plan that suits you, and forward the Fongo number to the new number.

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Blackbox — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 21:17:48 GMT

Thanks for the tip! I briefly checked the Fongo website. It seem to be an interesting option. I don't quite understand it all yet but I'll look more into it to see if it answer my needs.

Definitely will if I can get it all working 2 ways, with 1 phone number, all year around from anywhere!

Thanks!

Patrick

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

bridonca — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 21:25:49 GMT

Just download the app, get a free number, play with the app. You can port in later, when convienient.

Re: Can I somehow keep my phone number all year with part time usage?

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 22:04:57 GMT

@Blackbox wrote:
I'm am impressed you would refer me to another business. This shows great integrity, which most service providers don't have...
Thank you so much to help me make an educated decision for my very particular cellphone needs! I will still consider you regardless if it cost a bit more. 7/11 is not my calling...
Great company! I will pass it on!
I do have a PM Sim Card coming already so I'll try it anyway for the following year!
AGAIN THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT, SHOWING INTEGRITY, GREAT SERVICE and answering all my questions!
Patrick somebodyorother

You may want to edit your name out of your post. I'm not sure it qualifies as personal information that is not permitted here on this open forum as per site policy.

With that aside...

Everyone here is a fellow customer just like you. If you see an orange icon with PM in it or a blue icon with MOD in it then THEY work for PM.