Can someone explain how the USA addon works

[kapinc]

Plan on being in the USA for a week. Are you able to make calls and text in the USA with the addon?

[sbreakin]

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@s2scotty wrote:

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@kacey wrote:

Then you use the plan based on the minutes/texts/data that you purchased.  If you use it all, then you have an option of purchasing more.

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For clarity, say that you consume the allowable "data" but everything else -- minutes/texts and days are not yet consumed, what is the usability of your phone? Do you still have unlimited voice and texts? Or is it that as soon as one element of the add-on package is spent, then the package as a whole is done like toast?

/S

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Only the part that you use up is gone. 

So for example one of the add on's I buy when going to USA is the $20 Text, Call & 250Mb data.  If you use up all the data you can still text or call.  In fact if you use up the data & want more - the best option then would to buy a data only to add to your previous plan - which someone correct me if I am wrong.  I know you can't stack the same plan until the first one expires (like 2 data plans) but understod that could buy a different plan if needed.  Since i kind of cheap I try to stick with what i bought in first place & usually the Text/Call/Data is what i get my wife.

Whereas for myself - i do the data only add on as I know how to use data to make Fongo/ Google Voice for calls & of course I have the data for Google maps etc.  The only downside is it's bit tricky trying to text (so need to use Wechat or kakoa etc).

[s2scotty]

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@kacey wrote:

Then you use the plan based on the minutes/texts/data that you purchased.  If you use it all, then you have an option of purchasing more.

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For clarity, say that you consume the allowable "data" but everything else -- minutes/texts and days are not yet consumed, what is the usability of your phone? Do you still have unlimited voice and texts? Or is it that as soon as one element of the add-on package is spent, then the package as a whole is done like toast?

/S

[stonechucker]

If it's only a short trip (ie 1 to 7 days), activate it before crossing the boarder ... give yourself time to make sure you see it active on your Self-Serve page.

[kapinc]

Thanks everyone for the replies.  I think I will purchase an addon for my trip and will let you know how it works. I only need it for emergencies when in transit.

[will13am]

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@srlawren wrote:

@kapinc it's actually quite different than most carrier's roaming, other than maybe prepaid Koodo which I think offers some similar options.  Most carriers have a "roam like home" type plan that charges you by the day and gives you 24 hours of access to your normal Canadian plan for somewhere between $5 and $7.  PM being pre-paid works differently.  You do have to explicity purchase add-on(s) for whatever service(s) you want to use while in the US.  

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Roam like home is a euphemism for being overcharged, even worse than when at home.  I know that most trips are short in nature and likely not to last more than 2 weeks.  At $7 per day for 14 days, that is $98 dollars.  Ouch!  If the data usage can be contained, the Public Mobile roaming addons are well priced. 

[kacey · Accepted solution]

The US Add-on is an add on that's prepaid/work's pretty similar to your regular PM plan.

I have auto-renew on, so when I needed the add-on, I loaded an amount first onto my account.  Then I selected the add-on that I wanted.  It becomes active immediately.

Then you use the plan based on the minutes/texts/data that you purchased.  If you use it all, then you have an option of purchasing more.

Hope this helps!

[srlawren]

@kapinc it's actually quite different than most carrier's roaming, other than maybe prepaid Koodo which I think offers some similar options.  Most carriers have a "roam like home" type plan that charges you by the day and gives you 24 hours of access to your normal Canadian plan for somewhere between $5 and $7.  PM being pre-paid works differently.  You do have to explicity purchase add-on(s) for whatever service(s) you want to use while in the US.  

[Taekgun]

Not everywhere.  I'm not sure about where those area codes are, or why there's such a list of area codes but I don't think it impacts most of us visiting the US.  Perhaps someone who has used the US add-ons can comment.

[Taekgun]

Exactly!  For shorter trips down south, the add-ons make perfect sense.  Longer term you should buy a SIM card.

[kapinc]

Also I noticed this:

1. Unlimited Talk option required. Calls made to numbers starting with the following six digit combinations are not included in U.S. Roaming talk Add-Ons or U.S. calling from Canada and will not be completed when dialed: 712-432, 605-562, 641-552, 605-475, 605-477, 712-775, 559-726

So not all of the USA?

[kapinc]

Thanks for the reply. So I assume it works like all the other carriers with there roaming packages. That is good to know as I don't want to purchase a different long distance sim card for another company.

[Taekgun]

@kapinc

The short answer is YES!  You select the add-on through self-serve or by using 611 (in Canada) or 1-855-4PUBLIC (in the US), the add-on starts the day your buy it, so the date of purchase is day 1.  Ensure your have roaming turned on for your device, and when you are in the US, make sure you are connected to AT&The or T-Mobile as they are the partner networks.