Cellphone Based Data Providers Recommendation

Yeti plus wrote:
I'll second the ATT pay as you go plan.
ATT was the only one with coverage in Alaska when we went there in 2016, and I just pay by the month when we need the phone/US data.
Only drawback is ATT recycles the pay as you go numbers after a few months of inactivity, so I end up with a new # every time we head to the USA. I just send a text to the kids so they can get in touch if necessary, and everyone else can't find me!
Brian

I talked to AT&T about losing the phone number, the tech said if you put $2.00 into the pay as you go (1 day of service, the phone number stays alive for a couple of months.

Regarding the US address, just put in the address of the RV park you are staying at and use your credit card to pay, worked for me.

A final comment or two, AT&T pairs with Rogers in Canada, I used the data and phone when on the road up north in Canada, worked well. The phone worked well all summer on Rogers.

Also, I would check with Verizon before going with them, you will need a SIM card that is compatible with your Canadian phone, Verizon still uses the old CDMA standard in some places, not compatible with our Canadian (and most of the worlds) phones

Straight Talk, Verizon towers and 10 gigs $40 month phone and data hotspot from your phone. Or they sell a hot spot only.

horton333 wrote:
Do you know, for sure, that a Canadian can buy Verizon service, with no zip code and no U.S. based credit card. I've been told that is not (was not last year anyway) possible from two people who got refused when they tried to buy.

Yes we can at a Verizon company store. “My” store in Great Falls uses their address.

Go on the Verizon website to verify your devices are compatible.

I used a Straight Talk hot spot a couple of years ago. Was not impressed. Slow, hard to get refill cards and it seemed like the data disappeared real fast.

I'm going to try the Telus Canada/US plan this year for data, talk and text. Hopefully I won't be disappointed

We've been using Roam Mobility for the past few years, probably since they started their service. I like it since their rates are in Canadian dollars making it more affordable. I used to just get their Talk/Text plans and use StraightTalk for data via a MiFi. But like Lenny K, I found we went through data way too fast and it was expensive at $10 US/GB. So last year I went with RM's Talk/Text/Data plan which gave me 4GB/month plus cell phone use for $50 Can. Having had T-mobile years ago, I was worried about data coverage but I found that TM has drastically improved! We had data almost everywhere we went. This year I went with RM again and got in on their 6GB/month plan. Even though we only down for 4.5 months, I paid for 6 months to get the extra data. Hopefully I can avoid having to go to StraightTalk again. There are negatives though with RM. Their customer service sucks. You cannot talk in person with anyone, only by online/email messages. And no matter what you say, your first response is only links to their FAQs. Further response takes a while if you ever do hear back from them. Another issue is you cannot buy more data if you run out. You have to buy a whole new plan.

Lenny K wrote:
I'm going to try the Telus Canada/US plan this year for data, talk and text. Hopefully I wan't be disappointed

We're with Telus for our home phone/tv/internet. I'm interested to see how you like their Canada/US plan.

Hello:
Just want to add to this discussion. Last year we used our Koodo roam US and it worked very well for both of us. Koodo is with AT&T and we were in Yuma. Coverage down and in Yuma was excellent.
The only big drawback was the $100.00 a month per phone (2 phones), plus our plans which really adds up.
The plus was that we had our Canadian numbers and the wife's family could communicate with no cost to them.
For the 2 plus months it was doable, however if it was longer I think I'd do more looking. Unfortunately, when a person takes into account the 32% currency extra things start to balance out.
Hope this might help.
Garry

Good to hear that Koodo, a subsidiary of Telus, worked well for you Garry.
The plan I'm getting from Telus is $135 plus tax for 12 gigs of data, unlimited talk and text in Canada and the USA. I also took in consideration of the exchange rate and the little more that it will cost me is made up for the ability to keep my own number.
This cost is for one phone and I didn't look into the cost of a shared plan.

The one other feature in using the Telus plan in the USA is that you can change from AT&T to a provider in your area that has a stronger signal without incurring any additional costs as this is a roaming plan.I would think you could do that for Koodoo also.