Naive Q: On an unlimited plan, are outgoing calls free?

[jrcgarry]

'Evening dudes,

I understand that, on an unlimited plan, there's no cap as to the number of call minutes allowed per month, but I've yet to see a cost per minute for those calls.
Or are they free?

[Pawprints1986]

That's the thing though, shouldn't need to rely on third party software or your internet connection to make and keep a call. That's probably a fantastic way to go through all your data in one sitting too should the WiFi drop out...

Plus I thought they were hard at work updating the infrastructure due to the covid pandemic and increased use? I had read that, somewhere. They should only drop calls if they're at max traffic capacity... I haven't had to make a call for that long thankfully but it would frustrate many others I'm sure

[BearFBI]

---

@zblackma wrote:

@BearFBIgreat idea. But it affects all calls. There was another user thread that said that his colleague had to reconnect him twice to a conference call and both times it disconnected around 2.5 hours. FYI the friend was using Fido.

---

This is where Wi-Fi calling would come in handy. Google hangouts can only work for outgoing calls. Incoming calls go through PM creating the 2.5 Hour problem again.

[zblackma]

@BearFBIgreat idea. But it affects all calls. There was another user thread that said that his colleague had to reconnect him twice to a conference call and both times it disconnected around 2.5 hours. FYI the friend was using Fido.

[BearFBI]

---

@zblackma wrote:

@BearFBIit seems that its a system limit. The call cuts off after 2.5 hours. 

---

@zblackma Is it only for outgoing calls ? Or is it for both ? If its only for outgoing calls that can be fixed with hangouts dialer and you can call as long as you want.

[zblackma]

@BearFBIit seems that its a system limit. The call cuts off after 2.5 hours. 

[BearFBI]

---

@Luddite wrote:
FYI: I never talk this long but there seems to be a system limit of 2.5 hours, and then the call is terminated by PM. Though, I imagine you can immediately call back, assuming blood is not yet flowing .

What. Ive never known this! Is this time policy only during high usage times of the network ? or is it always a system limit of 2.5 Hours ? 

---

[Pawprints1986]

Are these covid based limits though? Or were these in place all along, but people only started to notice them now say waiting on hold with the government?

[computergeek541]

@Pawprints1986 

Some carriers will not cut you off at all.  Other carriers have the per call time limit set to a different value.  I've done a 6 hour call on Bell Mobility before.

[Pawprints1986]

And that's all carriers? 

[geopublic]

There is a timeout and the call will get dropped. It is recommended that when calling if the option to enter a call back number is offered then take it.

[Pawprints1986]

@Luddite is that 2.5 always or just if traffic is very high? I'd be so angry to be on hold with some business just to have the connection cut off and lose my spot...

[Luddite]

---

@mpcdesign wrote:

@jrcgarry , that's right. So, pick up the phone and call someone across the opposite end of the country (because that is also a feature too) and talk until your ears bleeds or until someone falls asleep.

If you recently got into a longrlong distance  this is a great way to stay connected. 

And if you want, you can call every single family member in Canada! 

---

@mpcdesign FYI: I never talk this long but there seems to be a system limit of 2.5 hours, and then the call is terminated by PM. Though, I imagine you can immediately call back, assuming blood is not yet flowing .

[kb_mv]

---

@Naepalm wrote:

Back in the day when they used to sell texts for 5cents per text, btw that was crazy lucrative. They would show the cost per text call time. 

---

 My other phone is with Knowroaming and I pay 25 cents per text sent!

[gblackma]

Yes @jrcgarry if you are on any of the new plans starting from the $25 plan. All Canada wide calls within Canada, incoming and outgoing are free without additional charges, the only cost being the cost of the plan. Welcome to the community. Stay safe.

[geopublic]

@jrcgarry  All incoming calls worldwide are free and all outgoing calls Canada wide are free on all Public Mobile unlimited calling plans.

Note: Outgoing calls longer than two hours might get dropped during high network usage periods.

[Anonymous]

---

@Pawprints1986 wrote:

@jrcgarry 

Depending on the other persons plan, someone in Germany could call you and you wouldn't need long distance add ons in that case. It would be part of free incoming

I *think* you could text there for free, as long as you're in Canada, I believe. But I'm less certain about that part 😉

---

They call it international texting.

Some have confused this thinking they can go outside Canada and expecting that they can text. No. PM only works in Canada or using roaming add-ons in the US.

[Pawprints1986]

@jrcgarry 

Depending on the other persons plan, someone in Germany could call you and you wouldn't need long distance add ons in that case. It would be part of free incoming

I *think* you could text there for free, as long as you're in Canada, I believe. But I'm less certain about that part 😉

[Anonymous]

---

@jrcgarry wrote:

Ah - the hunt is on!

Thank you! Last thing I want to do is join a provider and annoy the folk who have helped me!

<in my young day menus were a bit more obvious - I thought that was just some decoration...>

---

Not annoying. Just fyi. 🙂 Your post and choosing it as the solution just kinda felt like maybe you thought you were closing the thread. Seems my guess was right.

[jrcgarry]

Ah - the hunt is on!

Thank you! Last thing I want to do is join a provider and annoy the folk who have helped me!

<in my young day menus were a bit more obvious - I thought that was just some decoration...>

<tiktaktiktak>
There.
Unsolved!

If that's the way of things around here I 'umbly nod and accept it.
Thanks to all who have helped this newbie with getting on to Public Mobile.

[Anonymous]

---

@jrcgarry wrote:

Whoops!
That's exactly what I thought it meant - um - now, should I reverse that acceptance?
(danged if I know how to though...)

---

The 3 dots upper right of that post... remove as solution or some such wording.

[jrcgarry]

Whoops!
That's exactly what I thought it meant - um - now, should I reverse that acceptance?
(danged if I know how to though...)

[Anonymous]

---

@jrcgarry wrote:

<rubs chin>

I did know someone who worked at Darmstadt, ESA's uplink/downlink station, so there's an idea...

<looks at calls to germany first...>

---

For that you'll need the 400 minute add-on.

btw: if you have some familiarity with other forums then there's no thread close in this one. In case that's what you thought the Accept as solution meant. It's frowned upon around these parts to give yourself the solution to your question.

[jrcgarry]

<rubs chin>

I did know someone who worked at Darmstadt, ESA's uplink/downlink station, so there's an idea...

<looks at calls to germany first...>

[Anonymous]

---

@jrcgarry wrote:

So no long-distance multi-hour sessions with Mars - okay, I understand.
🙂

---

But if a caller can patch in to the earth telephone system from Mars then you can receive that call included in your plan cost. 🙂

[jrcgarry]

<woohoo!>
The aggregate wisdom (and speed) of this forum is heartening!

Thanks all!

[jrcgarry]

Clear as day.
Thank you!

[jrcgarry]

So no long-distance multi-hour sessions with Mars - okay, I understand.
🙂

[jrcgarry]

Super! Thanks mpcdesign!

Glad that my suspicions were ill-founded!

[Pawprints1986]

I should have specified, by local calls, I meant Canada wide! D'oh, should have been clearer

[mpcdesign]

@jrcgarry , that's right. So, pick up the phone and call someone across the opposite end of the country (because that is also a feature too) and talk until your ears bleeds or until someone falls asleep.

If you recently got into a longrlong distance  this is a great way to stay connected. 

And if you want, you can call every single family member in Canada!