topic Re: Can you receive text while overseas? in Get Support

Can you receive text while overseas?

Lu09020312 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 17:13:21 GMT

Hi,

I'm new to PM.

Just wondering in case of travelling overseas, can I receive text outside of Canada?

Thanks

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

gpixel — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 01:04:13 GMT

@Lu09020312 hi, welcome to PM! no, you cannot. the only other country you can receive texts is the US and only with a roaming add-on.

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

esjliv — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 01:12:27 GMT

@Lu09020312 wrote:
Hi,
I'm new to PM.
Just wondering in case of travelling overseas, can I receive text outside of Canada?
Thanks

Hi @Lu09020312 ,

As others had inquired and shared about this topic in past forums, most will use messaging apps while in wifi areas (like whatsapp) when outside North America. Or buy a local SIM when you arrive where you are going.

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

shep22 — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 01:12:03 GMT

@Lu09020312 wrote:
Hi,
I'm new to PM.
Just wondering in case of travelling overseas, can I receive text outside of Canada?
Thanks

@Lu09020312 hi no sorry only in Canada/US it is best to purchase a local sim when you get to your destination

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

gblackma — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 01:44:04 GMT

As mentioned @Lu09020312 its impossible with PM, except in the US with a 10 day US roaming add on. But you can add a voip app such as TextNow and use it over WiFi to make/ receive/ send calls and texts for free back to Canada and the US. Stay safe.

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

popping — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 01:53:46 GMT

@Lu09020312

You cannot receive text message from oversea.

My family members uses Whatsapp to communicate between family and friends. We let our family know using airport wifi to send Whatsapp message to family and friends. If we decided to get a local SIM card, we can continue to use the same Whatsapp account to communicate with our family and friends while outside wifi range.

As the same time, our family and friend can continue to use Whatsapp to contact the traveller without the dialing long international phone number.

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

cellphoneuser1 — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 02:50:03 GMT

@gpixel

You don't need roaming add-on to receive texts if you're in the U.S. Add-on is only needed for outgoing texts.

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

gpixel — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 06:05:47 GMT

@cellphoneuser1 oh, I assumed you wouldn't be able to receive anything, seeing as you aren't paying to use the cellphone towers in America

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

Lu09020312 — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 19:48:24 GMT

thanks

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

chank — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 00:28:29 GMT

So if you were abroad (not in the US), how do you receive a text message from an organization like your bank, say, with a 2 factor authentication key?

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

softech — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 00:46:17 GMT

@chank wrote:
So if you were abroad (not in the US), how do you receive a text message from an organization like your bank, say, with a 2 factor authentication key?

@chank You simply cannot (unless you are going to USA and buy the US roaming Text add-on, PM only provide roaming option for US)

It is advised you to:

1. disable 2FA (very bad option)

2. use email as 2FA (not very good)

3. Use Authenticator app like Microsoft or Google (best option out of all)

If you are going abroad, please make sure you get this organized before your trip

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

computergeek541 — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 00:48:32 GMT

@chank wrote:
So if you were abroad (not in the US), how do you receive a text message from an organization like your bank, say, with a 2 factor authentication key?

You won't get it. You'll have to work with and a communicate with your bank to get this sorted out.

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

computergeek541 — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 00:52:40 GMT

@softech wrote:
@chank wrote:
So if you were abroad (not in the US), how do you receive a text message from an organization like your bank, say, with a 2 factor authentication key?
@chank You simply cannot (unless you are going to USA and buy the US roaming Text add-on, PM only provide roaming option for US)

Customers are not required to purcahse a roaming add-on to receive text messages while in the United States.

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

Torque — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:51:26 GMT

The only workaround seems to be to find a trusted person that will be in Canada. Register their number with bank, CRA,etc as an additional no. Then WhatsApp, or whatever, with that person when you need the verification code. Worked for me.

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

hTideGnow — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:56:45 GMT

HI @Torque I think the best way is to make sure there is an alternate way for 2FA as well when travelling

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

chank — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:10:36 GMT

But honestly isn't this something that PM should aim to support, the ability to at least receive texts while abroad. Given that almost all organisations now have 2FA or are rolling it out, then it is essential to be able to receive those security messages wherever you are. I know PM provides a basic service for people like us that want a basic service, but receiving texts anywhere are now really part of that basic service. I would be happy to pay for each text received while abroad.

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

softech — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:30:32 GMT

@chank Text alone or full package, data-talk-text, PM still need to have a contract with overseas providers first in order to providing roaming support.

I guess the decision really comes down to costs and potential revenue. PM is already decent enough to provide US roaming while Lucky Mobile provides no roaming anywhere. (But, on the other hand Chatr has worldwide roaming. )

Telus has 3 tiers of services and they are clearly defined for different market share with different price plans. If overseas roaming is critical, maybe you should consider Koodo as it has slightly cheaper plans compare with Telus but at the same time provide roaming service for different countries

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

chank — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:42:28 GMT

@softech OK, I understand about overseas contracts, but as you say Telus clearly supports roaming. I don't even think it need be a service to that extent. Just the ability to receive text messages.

Fundamentally, 2FA is a part of life now. I don't travel a lot, very infrequently in fact, but if I turn up at an international destination then want to log into my bank or some other organisation, their server will immediately detect a different IP address in another country, then they will ask for authentication, and if I haven't gone through all the possible accounts that I might want to access while abroad, and made other arrangements, I will be stuck.

Basically, if you travel at all you probably don't want to use your PM phone number as a 2FA number.

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

softech — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:53:15 GMT

@chank While PM is part of Telus, pretty sure the roaming contract is a different one 😞

if possible, use Authenticator app instead of sms for 2FA. Of course, not all banks allows that 😞

Re: Can you receive text while overseas?

popping — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 20:56:36 GMT

@softech wrote:
@chank While PM is part of Telus, pretty sure the roaming contract is a different one 😞

if possible, use Authenticator app instead of sms for 2FA. Of course, not all banks allows that 😞

I tested my Fongo number with 2FA text message and works with my bank 2FA text. Since Fongo text is going though the Internet and not piggybacked on the mobile voice channel. In theory, it should work outside Canada. But I have not use it outside Canada. YMMV.

My laptop and phone always connected to VPN at a Canadian location on powerup. Bank may not use 2FA as it will be the same Canadian location before and during travel outside Canada. Again, I have not try this with COVID.