India Roaming

[ararade1]

how can i add India roaming so I at least get text messages there

[Ash1959]

@ararade1, I think that you are speaking of text messages such as OTP. Or even if it is for simple text msg from friends; the easiest way is to plan ahead and get an Indian SIM card. Register that number with whoever you want the OTP to come from and share with friends there. There are plenty of plan available with different carriers in India for people travelling to foreign countries. Of course, this would add an extra burden of paying every year for a 365-day plan. But that is the price of convinience. Unfortunately PM doesn't appear to have any such option. Also, there are many threads outside of this forum where you can find more details. I won't go into any more details here as it is outside the scope of the PM community forum. Cheers!!

[hTideGnow]

Hi @balaca 

Fongo will work for voice, but text might not work

install and login bank app ahead of the trip won't help  When the app notice you have a different IP, outside of your usual area, they will send you 2FA code to validate.  Only way to help is to arrange with the banks ahead of the trip to not use sms as 2FA, maybe use email instead

[balaca]

Your SIM will be dead for the time you are in India.  Install all the banks' apps in your mobile before you leave Canada (so there won't be an OTP issue).  There is a complicated way to access Voice Mail. 

Fongo is very buggy and often doesn't work.

[Chalupa_Batman]

Hello @ararade1 

As mentioned, Public Mobile can not be used outside of Canada and the United States. However, if you are using an iPhone, you may consider purchasing a data only card via https://www.airalo.com/india-esim if your phone takes eSIM. Or go to a location in India that sells them. While on a data only plan, you still can't make or take any calls on your public mobile number, however, if you do have an iPhone, while on data or wifi you can still use iMessages and FaceTime which is technically connected to your PM number but more on your Apple account. 

If you want to call and text your friends back home, you can use a VPN on your phone and download TextNow and choose a location where you live and phone number. It's free of charge and once installed, it will ask to have access to your contact list. Once saying yes, you can, while on WiFi/data SIM using VPN can call back to Canada and Text back to Canada free of charge. 

[softech]

@hairbag1 

Fongo can be an alternatives then

As to using globally, someone did said they tried using in Europe 6 months ago without issue.  Of course things can change within these 6 month.  Better to register both and try them  🙂

[Handy1]

@ararade1  Sorry PM only has roaming in the US . You best to get local pre paid SIM card in India 

[hairbag1]

@ararade1 

you can't..not with PM. You'll need a local sim and a cheap plan there...or try TextNow.

added...I just read that TextNow is now geoactivated and you can't use it anywhere outside of North America now. It may work for 1 or 2 days but will cease working for you eventually, while away.