topic Re: International Travel in Get Support

International Travel

sheriking — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 13:33:01 GMT

It doesn't sound like PM has a coverage plan outside of Canada/U.S. We are traveling to the Caribbean in September - don't necessarily need to make calls, I guess the best way to communicate with family back home is through WIFI and using Facebook Messenger or WhatsUp. Any comments/suggestions? Thx.

Re: International Travel

will13am — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 15:54:30 GMT

@sheriking wrote:
It doesn't sound like PM has a coverage plan outside of Canada/U.S. We are traveling to the Caribbean in September - don't necessarily need to make calls, I guess the best way to communicate with family back home is through WIFI and using Facebook Messenger or WhatsUp. Any comments/suggestions? Thx.

You got it right. There are no other options outside of buying a local service. The messaging apps work great provided there is WiFi available.

Re: International Travel

Triguy — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 15:54:48 GMT

You could buy a local sim or use Gigsky sim. If you have access to wi-fi then you could use Skype, Fongo, or TextNow.

Re: International Travel

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 15:56:05 GMT

@sheriking wrote:
It doesn't sound like PM has a coverage plan outside of Canada/U.S. We are traveling to the Caribbean in September - don't necessarily need to make calls, I guess the best way to communicate with family back home is through WIFI and using Facebook Messenger or WhatsUp. Any comments/suggestions? Thx.

I think I've read that some US territories will work like being in the states.

Re: International Travel

hycm53 — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 15:56:58 GMT

@sheriking wrote:
It doesn't sound like PM has a coverage plan outside of Canada/U.S. We are traveling to the Caribbean in September - don't necessarily need to make calls, I guess the best way to communicate with family back home is through WIFI and using Facebook Messenger or WhatsUp. Any comments/suggestions? Thx.

PM has 400 minutes international talk for $15(Add on), but unfortunately it doesn't cover Caribbean. You may try local SIM card.

Re: International Travel

hairbag1 — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 16:07:20 GMT

@sheriking wrote:
It doesn't sound like PM has a coverage plan outside of Canada/U.S. We are traveling to the Caribbean in September - don't necessarily need to make calls, I guess the best way to communicate with family back home is through WIFI and using Facebook Messenger or WhatsUp. Any comments/suggestions? Thx.

As soon as you leave Canada on the way to Caribbean...your Public Mobile service will not work.

I can vouch for TextNow. It's a free app and you can make free calls / texts as long as you have a robust wifi connection. I've used it for my travels and it seems to work just fine.

Safe travels.

Re: International Travel

geopublic — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 16:51:57 GMT

@sheriking wrote:
It doesn't sound like PM has a coverage plan outside of Canada/U.S. We are traveling to the Caribbean in September - don't necessarily need to make calls, I guess the best way to communicate with family back home is through WIFI and using Facebook Messenger or WhatsUp. Any comments/suggestions? Thx.

@sherikingYes, that is agood plan. In addition most of the local providers have kiosks or booths inside/outside the airports that you can stop by and they have prepaid data/minutes plans for short duarations that might be worthwhile to check out.

Re: International Travel

Troydurnford — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 17:55:35 GMT

I am traveling to Tokyo and buying a local sim there. Have don’t it a few times before and I works really good and a lot cheaper than getting a international plan.

Re: International Travel

geopublic — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 19:31:56 GMT

@hycm53 wrote:
@sheriking wrote:
It doesn't sound like PM has a coverage plan outside of Canada/U.S. We are traveling to the Caribbean in September - don't necessarily need to make calls, I guess the best way to communicate with family back home is through WIFI and using Facebook Messenger or WhatsUp. Any comments/suggestions? Thx.
PM has 400 minutes international talk for $15(Add on), but unfortunately it doesn't cover Caribbean. You may try local SIM card.

@hycm53 That add-on only works when in Canada. OP will be in the Caribbean so this is not an option.

Re: International Travel

mh1983 — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 20:01:34 GMT

@sheriking wrote:
It doesn't sound like PM has a coverage plan outside of Canada/U.S. We are traveling to the Caribbean in September - don't necessarily need to make calls, I guess the best way to communicate with family back home is through WIFI and using Facebook Messenger or WhatsUp. Any comments/suggestions? Thx.

Those apps over WiFi are fine. Depends on how you tend to stay in touch with family/friends and what you mean by "calls". Do you tend to use Skype-like apps like the one you suggested? (Where you're just calling a contact and not an actual number.) Or do you call actual numbers?

If numbers, I'd suggest either Textnow (as some others did) and Fongo (that's the one I'd recommend, just from my own experience). You'll get a REAL number (separate from your PM number) that's tied to the app. From it, you can make/receive calls as if you were in Canada. Coverage for Fongo is quite good and there are no limits on # of calls, etc; texting is an extra cost, but it's reasonable.

Re: International Travel

marilores — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 22:51:18 GMT

So if I go to Australia, I can buy a prepaid SIM card and replace the Installed Canada SIM ? Do I have to subscribe to an Australian provider to get a Wifi service ?

Re: International Travel

PAULRANG18 — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 23:19:33 GMT

Best to buy a local sim at your destination or use one of the messaging apps.

Re: International Travel

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 23:40:00 GMT

@marilores wrote:
So if I go to Australia, I can buy a prepaid SIM card and replace the Installed Canada SIM ? Do I have to subscribe to an Australian provider to get a Wifi service ?

You can connect to wifi without a SIM installed. But I suspect you're asking about actual cell data service. Yes.

This was one of the original purposes of the SIM card. Portability of the phone. And cheaper for the manufacturer. They make one phone that can be used just about anywhere. Rather than a version of a phone that works in some places.

Re: International Travel

apvm — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 01:54:31 GMT

If your phone is esim compatible, Airalo is the best option. https://www.airalo.com

Re: International Travel

CatCanyon — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 15:41:21 GMT

Does the recipient of the call need the app textnow? All my friends can do this but I speak daily to my 97 year old mother on her land line??? I am going to Australia for 2 months and am looking for a solution for land line. Thanks for the heads up about textnow ... I'm about to diagnose the app.

Re: International Travel

CatCanyon — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 15:42:24 GMT

Oops! Not diagnose but download...;-) just woke up

Re: International Travel

CatCanyon — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 15:45:30 GMT

Do you know if international plan covers Australia?

Re: International Travel

CatCanyon — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 15:48:40 GMT

Seeking clarification on Fongo... can I use my PM cell phone number to text or I'm I locked down to paying for text once I use fongo? Heading to Australia for 2 months... need text for business. Thanks

Re: International Travel

dust2dust — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 16:07:40 GMT

For TextNow:

https://help.textnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/360042516474-How-To-Text-Internationally

Calling And Texting When Outside The US and Canada:

When travelling abroad, you can send and receive text messages to a Canadian or an American number through TextNow if you have wifi available. You'll only be able to call or text Canadian and US numbers, and not numbers outside the US or Canada.

But it's a different number. You can forward your cell number to it. You can put your sim into a phone left at home and on and use an app to forward texts to it. Replying will be the textnow number.

Re: International Travel

softech — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 16:10:36 GMT

@CatCanyon wrote:
Do you know if international plan covers Australia?

PM has no plan or no romaing covers Australia.

Fongo, If you are going for 2 months, you are not thinking to port number into Fongo, right? The best way is to use TextNow instead of Fongo. TextNow give you text to Canada and US for free. You can just forward your PM phone to the TextNow number BEFORE your trip and take the PM SIM out once done. Then all calls will forward to the TextNow number and you can pickup the calls (and make calls) while you are in Australia, as long as you have Wifi or Mobile Data there. But, text cannot be forwarded, unless some trickier way with app. So, you would want your friend to text your new TextNow number. For banking 2FA, setup email to receive (not the best way) or use Authenticator app if they allows (a much better way)