How do I use my 416 number in Europe?

[LeoDiCroce]

Hello, Public Mobile Community. Can you please explain, how do I use my Toronto 416 number in Europe? Is there a special SIM card that will allow me to keep my number? My phone is an iPhone SE, and has no SIM restrictions, except that it can only accommodate one SIM at a time.

Last time I went to Europe, I bought a Europe Prepaid SIM Card (on Amazon, in Canada, before departure). I inserted the new SIM upon arriving (in Italy), and got a UK number, which worked fine for Google maps, emails, and WhatsApp. Unfortunately, I missed all my calls and texts to the 416 number.

I understand Public Mobile is not an option because it does NOT support European roaming.

Do I need to switch to Rogers or Bell? Do they support European roaming?

What other options are there?

Thank you in advance,

[LeoDiCroce]

Understood. Like I said, I want to use my 416 number. Thanks anyway. 

[slusagm]

@LeoDiCroce 

the TextNow could be VERY useful to receive and make calls

before your trip, forward all your calls to the new number you choose from TextNow, then you can receive calls while in Europe.  Of course, TextNow will allows you to make calls for free back to Canada as well

but for 2FA text or regular text, it cannot be forward.  But for text with friends, iMessage, RCS and Whatsapp message will still work as long as you have Wifi or local data 

[LeoDiCroce]

Thank you. Unfortunately, my phone does not support eSim. Maybe its time for a new phone.

[LeoDiCroce]

Thank you. Unfortunately, TextNow does not appear to offer my own number back to me. Only new numbers are on the menu. I have no appetite for a new number.

[Chalupa_Batman]

---

@LeoDiCroce wrote:

Hello, Public Mobile Community. Can you please explain, how do I use my Toronto 416 number in Europe? Is there a special SIM card that will allow me to keep my number? My phone is an iPhone SE, and has no SIM restrictions, except that it can only accommodate one SIM at a time.

Last time I went to Europe, I bought a Europe Prepaid SIM Card (on Amazon, in Canada, before departure). I inserted the new SIM upon arriving (in Italy), and got a UK number, which worked fine for Google maps, emails, and WhatsApp. Unfortunately, I missed all my calls and texts to the 416 number.

I understand Public Mobile is not an option because it does NOT support European roaming.

Do I need to switch to Rogers or Bell? Do they support European roaming?

What other options are there?

Thank you in advance,

---

Public Mobile only works in Canada, the United States and Mexico. There is no roaming outside these three countries. 

If I may make a suggestion though that might be worth looking into. You can download an app like TextNow, pick a local number to where you live now. Then, look at getting a eSIM from Airalo. Here's the link.

https://www.airalo.com/ 

[TheSterlinger]

Hi,

No, you will not be able to get calls and texts on your 416 number in Europe unfortunately. 

You'd have to do what you did last time. Or purchase a travel eSIM. You can look into various ones offered for where you are going.

Other téléphone providers like Bell, Koodo and Rogers have roaming at a cost $$ yes.