Cell Phone Service in the US

[Griffyn1]

Hello,

I have the old basic $15/month plan which does not include coverage in the states.  If I have to cross the border on any random day, and I would like cell service for that day, how do I go about getting it?  Am I able to use Google Maps as well as make phone call?  How about texting?

Thanksfor your help.

Griffyn

[Griffyn1]

Thank you for the reassurance, dust2dust…that was nice of you to clarify!

As things have turned out, I’m able to get everything done in Windsor but I will hang onto this information for future reference.

Thanks again to everyone for your helpful posts…you guys are awesome!

Mary

[dust2dust]

No, no, you're fine. You have found the right evidence that your phone has been enabled for volte. You'll be good for roaming talk. You're using the volte now in Canada. It will work in the states. Sorry to worry you. My phone can do volte but this place refuses to enable it while it works perfectly fine with another provider. That's what I was going on about along with the fact that many devices are enabled but there's no toggle, like yours. Mystifying.

[Griffyn1]

We’ll that’s interesting…I wasn’t aware that PM couldn’t get rid of the $15 plan at some future date.

[DennyCrane · Accepted solution]

@Griffyn1 TextNow is a third party app that provides you with a free phone number that you can call and text with. Take note that it's not your PM phone number, it's a new number altogether. The service requires data, which can either be WiFi or cellular data.

I personally had a terrible experience with it, to the point that I couldn't even hear people on the other end of the call. And that was with a very strong wifi signal and 300Mpbs speed. I think reliability would be even worse over the cellular data network.

[hTideGnow]

HI @Griffyn1 

A14 should be good

I know you don't see it on the PM compatible list, but your phone already enabled and you can use VoLTE here, it will work in US

and worst case if it does not work, you can ask agent to reverse fully or partially the roaming addon cost (depends if you jsut get talk/text roaming or getting the bundle with data)

[Griffyn1]

🤦🏻‍♀️ Thanks, DennyCrane.

[Griffyn1]

hTideGnow…I have a Samsung A14 5G phone.

And are you saying I can use TextNow using my data, I don’t need WiFi?  Cause I will definitely not have WiFi.

[DennyCrane]

@Griffyn1 You confirmed you have VoLTE by making a phone call and confirming that your phone held the connection to the 4G/LTE network. VoLTE = Voice over the LTE network, which you are able to do.

[Griffyn1]

Sorry, how exactly did I confirm that it does?

[DennyCrane]

@Griffyn1 I just remembered you said you're on the $15 plan, which is unlikely to go away because it is regulated that the carriers offer this plan. That said, I still think the add-on's are better for your scenario.

[hTideGnow]

HI @Griffyn1 

What brand of phone you have again?

since you have a VoLTE enabled phone, thereis a high chance you can use it in US.  

And there is also T-Mobile 2G netowrk, which many can use it for voice calls

Worst case, use voIP app TextNow with Wifi or Mobile data to make calls

[DennyCrane]

@Griffyn1 You're fine. If it works at home (you've confirmed it does) it'll work in the US.

[Griffyn1]

Well, that doesn’t sound good, dust2dust!  Based on your comment, I might not know until I get over there and try it out whether the add-on will work for me!  Now I’m a little worried…I need to be reachable!

Griffyn

[Griffyn1]

Circumstances, not ice 🙄!

[Griffyn1]

Thank you for being so helpful, DennyCrane!  And what a good point to remind me that I may not have my old plan to go back to, I never even considered that!  I love that plan because, under normal circumstances, it’s perfect for me.  I’ll likely do the add-on option. 

While I have your attention…under normal ice, do you think I should be on the 5G/LTE/WCDMA/GSM mode or the one I’m currently on?  I’m not sure what, if any, advantages there are to one over the other.

Griffyn

[DennyCrane]

@Griffyn1

You've now confirmed you have VoLTE, so you're good there. Many phones (my Pixel included) don't have a VoLTE toggle.

You are already on 4G preferred by the looks of your settings. Again, all good here. We always provide this information because many people go to the US and don't understand why it isn't working, and many times it's because of AT&T 5G.

You don't need a new sim to change plans to a Canada/US plan. You just login to your account and Change Subscription. We always recommend changing it at next renewal vs immediately though, because you don't get any refund or credit for the unused portion of your current plan.

Having said this, for your situation the roaming add-on's might make more sense because it's not an ongoing thing. And if you change to a Canada/US plan you may not get your current plan back if it's not being offered when you return.

[Griffyn1]

Thanks DennyCrane…I was responding to your previous message when I saw this longer one.  Sorry!  Sooooo many questions!  

Since I can’t find a VoLTE toggle, does that mean it’s automatically on?

I think my phone is already on 4G with what I’ve told you, right?

Yes, I did look at the Canada-US packages, with the $65 plan being my only real option.  If I have to switch temporarily, how do I go about doing so?  Is it as easy as buying it?  Do I need a different SIM or an eSIM?  If I go with an add-on pkg, is that a simple process too?

I may be taking my cat across the border (I live in Windsor) for an oncology consult then based on that consult, I might be needing to go back.  I have no idea about a time frame since we haven’t actually gone for a consult yet.

Thanks again for your help.

Griffyn

[dust2dust]

My posts almost always say the term 4G along with the term LTE - 4G LTE. I say the same with 2G GSM. To avoid this possible confusion. 5G is only 5G. I'll also often say 3G (UMTS, WCDMA, HSPA). Some phones say these things in different ways so I try to cover them all.

[DennyCrane]

@Griffyn1 This one is 4G

LTE/WCDMA/GSM (this is the one it’s currently on)

It's basically saying 1st priority is LTE (aka 4G), next is 3G, then 2G.

[Griffyn1]

Sorry dust2dust…I’m not very tech savvy.  How do I change the phone from 5G to 4G?  When I look under Mobile Networks and tap network modes, these are the options presented to me:

5G/LTE/WCDMA/GSM

LTE/WCDMA/GSM (this is the one it’s currently on)

WCDMA/GSM

WCDMA only

GSM only

Griffyn

[DennyCrane]

Glad you have VoLTE, as that could have been a big hurdle. I'll repeat what @dust2dust said because it can't be said enough, make sure to set your Preferred Network to 4G when in the US, because AT&T 5G does not work at the moment. And ensure Data Roaming is on.

As for roaming options, will you be going down for sporadic day trips on an ongoing basis, or just for a specific window of time? The roaming add-on's are still good value, even if you only use them for a couple days. The tier 1 providers charge between $12-$15 per day.

Your other option is to switch (even if temporarily) to a Canada/US plan. Right now the cheapest option is $65, but until a few weeks ago there was a $50 version. My suspicion is that a cheaper version [than $65] will come back for Black Friday. These plans are great because your whole data bucket, as well as calls and texts work in the US.

[dust2dust]

Well that sounds promising. How about that IMS too?
So with volte, you'll have a much better experience using roaming talk. Text and data will be fine either way. When you go next time and you bought the add-on then set the phone to 4G LTE if it's on 5G. It should connect to either T-Mobile or AT&T on its own. But you might need to connect manually.
If you wish to buy the add-on again around the 15 days then there's a glitch to that but maybe you won't be re-buying so soon after having one. And if you do then you might want to pick up the roaming plan instead.

[Griffyn1]

IMS is registered

[Griffyn1]

Yes, while I was on the call.  Both MVNT and MDNT say LTE and stay that way when I make the call.  I just tried it again, no change.

[dust2dust]

While you were on the call? You weren't looking at Mobile data network type? Next thing to look for is any mention of IMS in that screen and if there then is it registered?

Adding - the list is hit and miss. Some devices not on the list can work. So I prefer to look for the actual evidence as we all know that messaging from the company around here is poorly updated. Some people also had volte working for a brief period and then it was snatched away.

[Griffyn1]

PS…although Google says my Samsung A14 5G is compatible, it’s not in PM’s list at the bottom of the link that DennyCrane sent me.

Griffyn

[Griffyn1]

Hi dust2dust…I turned off my WiFi, made a call to my landline and Mobile Voice Network Type did not change from LTE.

Griffyn

[dust2dust]

Make a call, stay on the call - go to settings, about phone, status information, sim card status and look at the Mobile voice network type line. Does it say UMTS? If so then you don't have volte. Stay on the call. When not on a call then it will say LTE.

[Griffyn1]

Hi DennyCrane…where does it tell me if I’m connected to the 4G or 5G network?  It doesn’t say anything at the top of my phone (it’s a Samsung A14).  When I google what Samsung phones are compatible with voLTE, my phone is listed but when I go into my Mobile Networks screen, it’s not there to enable.

Griffyn

[DennyCrane]

@Griffyn1 Before you get too deep into the roaming options, if phone calls are your primary concern you need to first make sure your phone is VoLTE compatible for Public Mobile's network. Without VoLTE you phone needs to fallback to the 3G network to make phone calls, which the US no longer has.

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/get-help/articles/volte

What phone are you using? To confirm VoLTE you can perform this quick test at home:

1) Temporarily disable wifi 

2) Ensure you're connected to either the 4G or 5G network (yes you can do this on a 3G plan)

3) Make a phone call

4) Watch the connection at the top of your screen. If after the call connects you stay connected to 4G/LTE/5G, you have VoLTE. If you fallback to 3G, you don't.

5) Turn wifi back on