The most economical option from pm would be redeeming points for US 10 day Roaming add ons as they are discounted between 25% and 50% from the regular price.
Given the decommissioning of the 3G network in the US and you are not beholden to having to use your phone number you can download a voip provider app such as textnow or fongo. Then when you are ready to depart Canada or arrive in the US purchase one of the US 10 day Roaming data add ons.
US Roaming 1gb data add on=$20 or 15pts
US Roaming 500mb data add on=$15 or 10pts
US Roaming 250mb data add on=$10 or 5pts
You will receive incoming SMS texts without any US Roaming add on necessary. You can use your voip provider to call and text on WiFi or mobile data and send MMS text with your mobile data. More info in the spoiler below....
Here is some info about US roaming add ons that should help you.....
While you have to have an active plan to purchase and use US roaming add ons the type of plan you have does not affect the roaming add ons features.
US roaming add ons start the moment you confirm and submit your purchase in your self serve account and expire 240 hours later (10 days×24 hours).
You can pre-load the funds needed to purchase the add ons in your self serve account so you only have to log in, select the US roaming add on and then confirm and submit your purchase.
Wait til late as possible to purchase since they are immediately valid so on free wifi at the destination airport or stopping shortly before the border at mcd's or timmy's to buy the add on while on free wifi.
If you are staying longer than 10 days you must wait a minimum of 24 hours to purchase the same US roaming add on or contact the CSA's to add it before the waiting period ends.
If you have two US roaming add ons with a talk feature that overlap the talk feature basically gets disabled. Avoid this....but you will have to get one removed by a CSA to get your calling feature back if this happens.
After purchase reboot your phone and manually select either at&t or T-mobile to get better reception. Some areas have better coverage by either provider so when travelling around the US you will be better served by choosing the provider with better signal strength by locale.
You will recieve incoming texts without any US roaming add ons. Adding a voip app for use on wifi is good to use for a back up plan or you could call forward your pm phone # to your voip # before you leave Canada and purchase just the US local sim card instead. Don't allow you pm sim card to connect to a US tower or call forwarding will default back to voicemail.)
All US roaming add ons have either unlimted text, talk or both. Only data has limits depending on your purchase 250mb/500mb/1gb. Once the data is consumed it will just stop you could then purchase different roaming add on, wait 24 hr to buy or contact the moderator to buy the same US roaming add on again. (* except talk as previously mentioned.)
Happy travels and Stay--Safe!
Please note currently due to the decommissioning of the 3G network in the US by pm's roaming partners at&t has already begun this process but as of March 3rd 2022 still has some areas that are still served by the 3G network. T-Mobile has an end date of July 1st 2022. This will affect the ability of pm customers to send and receive voice calls and emergency service such as 911 while in the US and using pm's US roaming add ons. The current work around is to download a voip app such as textnow or fongo for use while on wifi or mobile data for voice calls when in areas no longer served by the 3G network which will eventually include all areas served by at&t and T-Mobile.
To contact customer support : Submit a support ticket via SIMon the chat bot Click here
Or if you cannot submit a ticket via SIMon thenClick here ....for additional member supplied info.
Unlimited U.S. Talk, Text and 250MB Data Bundle...$20
Unlimited U.S. Talk and Text Bundle...$15
Unlimited U.S. Talk Only...$8
Unlimited U.S. Text Only...$8
U.S. Data Only
10 day packages
250MB...$10
500MB...$15
1GB...$20
Important: As of February 22nd, 2022, some United States (U.S) carriers will begin turning down certain 3G/HSPA networks in the U.S. As a result, some customers using U.S. roaming add-ons may be impacted by differences in coverage or service quality (including 9-1-1 calls) when roaming in the U.S. This shutdown will not impact your service in Canada.
