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

[Blackbox]

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...

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

QUESTIONS:

1. Is it possible to keep the same cellphone number doing this for only 2 months a year?
2. Is there added fees for this?
3. 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

[Blackbox]

Yes, Fongo is for WIFI.  That is what I will use with the Satellite internet in my remote location.  I have WIFI connnection there, for my cellphone using Fongo...

DATA comes with most cellphone package.  I'll use Fongo on my data data/phone package in Thailand.  That means I can be called from Canada for free, or call to Canada for free!

Public Mobile will tie me up while in cell coverage for my couple months in Canada.

Thanks for the help folks, I should have done this years ago!

Patrick  

[Blackbox]

Yep, start cheap and work my way up if it is not good enough.  But it sure looks promising so far!!!  I have high I hopes for this and I'm looking forward to try it for a year soon.  I do understand that internet speed is a factor for Fongo.  That is why I intend to have my phone number in a big city.  Probably will also get higher internet connection speed with my cellphone if it is not too much more.

I know the alternative to an all cellphone plan option for what I need would be very expensive!  I just got rid of my home phone number which did absolutely nothing!  That cost me $350 per year with TELUS.  + Long distance calling cards!
This new option will cost me less then $200 per year and work anywhere in the world!  There is no question that tis is way better and much cheaper!!!

There is rumours that Virgin Galactic is planning a brand new satellite phone system working around the world.  I doubt it will be as cheap as this option, but who knows the way cellphone service prices are in Canadan compare to the rest of the world...

Tx  

[Anonymous]

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@bridonca wrote:

The quality of service is only as good as your internet connection.  LTE is pretty good, 3G is OK, call forwarding is excellent. 

There are other VOIP providers, but Fongo does more of what you need at the best price.  You might as well start with Fongo, because it is so cheap,  and if you do not like it, you can try something else.  Fongo is pretty good.  Just keep in mind, Fongo has no control over your internet connection, and any problem is usually something they have no control over. 

As for a better way, that depends more on you.  You pay enough money, and you can get fault free solutions, or you are just wasting money, depending on what you want to do.  So it is best to go cheap as possible, and if the solution works, you are good.

I should further mention, if you do not port a number over to Fongo, or buy credit, you need to make a call withing 90 days, or the account expires.  $5 buys long distance credits, so it is still cheap.  https://support.fongo.com/hc/en-us/articles/212435426-Why-was-my-account-deleted-

---

My understanding was that the intent of using services like Fongo was more for while on a wifi connection. I suppose one could get a data only cellphone plan and use it via data but that's gonna cost.

[bridonca]

The quality of service is only as good as your internet connection.  LTE is pretty good, 3G is OK, call forwarding is excellent. 

There are other VOIP providers, but Fongo does more of what you need at the best price.  You might as well start with Fongo, because it is so cheap,  and if you do not like it, you can try something else.  Fongo is pretty good.  Just keep in mind, Fongo has no control over your internet connection, and any problem is usually something they have no control over. 

As for a better way, that depends more on you.  You pay enough money, and you can get fault free solutions, or you are just wasting money, depending on what you want to do.  So it is best to go cheap as possible, and if the solution works, you are good.

I should further mention, if you do not port a number over to Fongo, or buy credit, you need to make a call withing 90 days, or the account expires.  $5 buys long distance credits, so it is still cheap.  https://support.fongo.com/hc/en-us/articles/212435426-Why-was-my-account-deleted-

[Anonymous]

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@Blackbox wrote:

Oops,  Did not mean to break the rules...  I hope they won't hang me by my thumbs, I need them for texting.

I tried to edit out the personal info but I only get access to my last entry by the looks of it.  Can't go back.   SORRY!

---

In the upper right corner of your post by the time stamp you'll see 3 little dots. Click on that and a menu appears. Click on Edit Reply and you can edit your post.

Like I said though, I'm not sure what ALL constitutes personal information around here. I was just giving you a heads up.

I think it's kinda silly having a policy like that seeing as how everyone and there dog gives up all kinds of personal information and exposes it for all to see elsewhere on the intertubes. And if someone wants to expose their information then that's their problem. And if someone wants to kindly suggest that maybe that's not wise then fine. BUT...this site has a policy.

About Fongo...I don't like VOIP in general. Breaks up too often for my liking. But there are many options and of course the price is right.

[Blackbox]

OK, so I checked Fongo and I think I've got it figured out.  Is there better than Fongo???

So here is my possible solution based on all your wonderful help you gave me.  My only beef is I have to buy 2 Sim cards a year which I find Eco unfriendly...

I did some research and I believe I found a way to make this work over a 1 year period. You tell me! My schedule is pretty well the same year after year!

I need to explain my situation to you folks because it is complicated so bare with me!
It is based on a 1 year timeline which repeats itself year after year.
My ultimate question:
DO YOU THINK I GOT IT RIGHT AND THIS WILL WORK OVER 1 YEAR WITH THE SAME PHONE NUMBER WITH FONGO? Keep reading...

I believe I need a 1 year Fongo account with a permanent phone number somewhere in BC, probably Vancouver to make this work best.

1 YEAR TIME FRAME:
Get a Fongo Account, and a permanent phone number with them all year.

1 month: APRIL: Location Canada, need a cellphone.
Get a sim card and a phone number with a service provider like PUBLIC MOBILE for the month, with a phone number in Vancouver.
USE FONGO to CALL FORWARD TO THAT NUMBER during that time.

5 months: MAY to SEPTEMBER: Remote location in Canada, only satellite internet access available. No cellphone coverage!!!
Use internet access there to send/receive calls on my FONGO CELLPHONE NUMBER

1 month: OCTOBER Location Canada, need a cellphone.
Get another sim card because other on expired and a new phone number with a service provider like PUBLIC MOBILE for the month, with again a phone number in Vancouver.
USE FONGO to CALL FORWARD TO THAT NEW NUMBER during that time.

5 months: NOVEMBER to MARCH, location Thailand, have a cellphone with Thai Sim Card (AIS)
Use internet access there and send/receive calls on my FONGO cell Canadian phone number .

1) MY GOAL IS TO KEEP THE SAME PHONE NUMBER ALL YEAR AROUND AND BE REACHABLE WTH IT NO MATTER WHAT! AT A REASONABLE COST CONSIDERING!!!
2) What kind of quality of line service should I expect with this?

3)Does this seems to make sense to you folks or do you see a better way to do this???

4)Do you think there is better Fongo out there?

You folks are awesome, thanks for the help!

Many Thanks!
Patrick

[Blackbox]

Oops,  Did not mean to break the rules...  I hope they won't hang me by my thumbs, I need them for texting.

I tried to edit out the personal info but I only get access to my last entry by the looks of it.  Can't go back.   SORRY!

[Anonymous]

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@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.

[bridonca]

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

[Blackbox · Accepted solution]

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

[bridonca]

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.  

[mimmo]

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.

[Blackbox]

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

[wetcoaster]

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@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.

[wetcoaster]

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@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.)

[Anonymous]

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 🙂

[Anonymous]

@Blackbox, Correct & correct!

[Blackbox]

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,

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

Correct?

[will13am]

---

@Blackbox wrote:

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

QUESTIONS:

1. Assuming I just get a new number twice a year, Is there a charge for a "new number" and plan?
2. 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. 

[Blackbox]

Sorry my friend, I was using the wrong term.

Prepaid is great, PayAsYouGo Sucks!

[Anonymous]

@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.

[Blackbox]

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

QUESTIONS:

1. Assuming I just get a new number twice a year, Is there a charge for a "new number" and plan?
2. 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.

[wetcoaster]

---

@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...

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

QUESTIONS:

1. Is it possible to keep the same cellphone number doing this for only 2 months a year?
2. Is there added fees for this?
3. 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.

[Anonymous]

@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.

[Blackbox]

Is there charges for switching plans?

[Anonymous]

@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).