If you need cell phone coverage in Canada and Alaska here are some hints.
Background
The notion is to point out a common platform that will work for the US travelers in Canada at low cost with no ongoing commitment in terms of contracts. It requires GSM technology type phones.
AT&T is the dominate provider in Alaska – if there is service available at a location then AT&T will be the local provider of choice.
Roger's Communications is a ubiquitous provider in Canada for cell coverage. Their coverage map is fairly extensive but apparently they do not cover more remote areas.
Make sure you have at least one unlocked GSM cell phone capable of at least 850/1900 MHz reception. That phone will work in big city America, rural America(850 MHz is used here) and Canada.
Rogers is an AT&T roaming partner for AT&T monthly plan customers but you will not like their dollars per minute charges for calls from your AT&T phone used in Canada. The key is to get ‘local’ coverage and the least expensive way is to have a pre-paid phone account with the local provider.
Once you have your unlocked GSM phone, then you can purchase a Rogers SIM card with your own Canadian telephone number, voice mail etc.
Details
Purchase an unlocked GSM cell phone capable of at least 850/1900 MHz reception. That phone will work in big city America, rural America(850 MHz is used) and Canada. It must be unlocked so it will work with AT&T and Rogers Communication.
The SIM card in the phone has your carrier identity and the electronic info to’ know’ your phone number and register it with the carrier and make calls. It is a little device inside your cell phone that is easily removed/replaced.
In Alaska use an AT&T SIM card since they are the dominate provider in Alaska. In Canada take out the AT&T SIM card in the phone and put in a prepaid Rogers SIM card. Now you have native Canadian telephone number and service. This only works if the phone is unlocked.
If you are a monthly AT&T customer then you can take the SIM card out of your current phone and put it in your recently purchased unlocked phone – same plan, just a different phone. If you are not an AT&T monthly plan customer then you should purchase an AT&T “GO Phone” SIM card – a prepaid plan type approach.
You have reasonable cost cell service in Canada and America.
More Details
Go to ebay, and search for “unlocked cell phone” – the last search had over 12,000 hits. I use a Nokia 3150 – it has 850/1800/1900 MHz reception, is inexpensive, rugged and readily available for about $25. Unfortunately it is only good for talking – text messaging is almost impossible, it has no camera, no Internet browser, no RSS feeds, no nuthin but talking.
On ebay search for “rogers SIM card” – you should get about 50+ hits. Buy one that is not activated. Should cost about $10 or so. Rogers will sell them to you for about $49.
You now have an unlocked phone and a Canadian SIM card.
If you do not have AT&T service as your native service in the US, then you will probably need to buy an AT&T ‘GO phone’ SIM card or pay for roaming charges in Alaska. That will allow your unlocked phone to work in Alaska. On ebay search for “AT&T SIM card” – you should get about 700+ hits. Buy one that is not activated. Should cost about $10 or so.
Your existing AT&T phone will not work with the Rogers SIM card because the phone is locked to the AT&T network – that is why you bought an unlocked phone. Did I mention that you need an unlocked phone?
You now have all the pieces – use the AT&T SIM card in America and the Rogers SIM card in Canada. Since they are associated with prepaid accounts, you have no contract or other issues. Cost for service vary but will be about $ .25/minute for America and about $ .20/minute for Canada.
Use the prepaid account phone to make calls and also call your ‘regular’ cell/home number, pick up your messages, and return calls.
* This post was
edited 02/18/08 02:16pm by bains *
Just to clarify - Roger's Communications is NOT the dominate provider in Canada for cell coverage.
They are the only national provider, which also means they do not have roaming agreements with any other Canadian provider. Being GSM they are incompatible with all the other carriers as well. They also have fewer towers than the telco network and while metro areas are usually well covered, highways and small towns have many dead areas.
The local telcos (Telus, MTS, Bell, etc.) still have much better coverage and when combined with roaming agreements, give a larger network. This comes from a time when most telcos were government owned and coverage was mandated as opposed to Rogers installing towers based on population and revenue.
It comes down to need. Convenience or safety. If I was stuck on the side of the road the only phone I'd want would be CDMA. Even then, an old analog phone would be good as a backup as there are still remote areas that aren't digital.
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For the Maritimes Bell Aliant (part of Bell Canada System I believe) is the dominant carrier for cell phones. Rogers is here also but don't get too far from the main track, coverage and towers are sparse.
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I agree with tyndall & WilleyB, Rogers is available in Canada, but IS NOT the dominate provider in Canada for cell coverage. For instance here in B.C. if you want GOOD service you go with Telus, they cover most, but not all of the province. They also operate in Alberta another province that you will probably have to travel through to get to Alaska........ We have travelled basically all over Canada & the Pacific NW of the US with Telus and never had a problem nor had to change a sim. I think BAINS must be a Rogers salesman..........
My apologies to any who were offended by my statement that Rodgers is the dominate provider in Canada -- that statement has been amended. The notion was to point out a common platform that would work for the US travelers in Canada at low cost with no ongoing commitment in terms of contracts.
I stand sort of corrected. BTW, I am not a Rodgers sales person.
I selected an approach which would work in both Canada and the USA and that required GSM technology. CDMA technology is being phased out in the US and aside from some minor carriers conversion to GSM is almost complete. It is not used, to my knowledge in the EU, and is the technology of choice in the Far East and Mid East.
Here is a Wikipedia discussion – with an estimated 82% worldwide coverage, that is what drove my thinking – that and European travel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM
Is this a change from last year? If cell service was available, I seemed to always have been able to use my Verizon cell. The broadband air card worked well to, but a bit expensive if used a lot.
To complete the picture you also need to know this:
Telus and Rogers have pretty good coverage for the popular parts of the province. However we have these things called mountains that mess up signals regardless of who your carrier is. I have had both Rogers and Telus over the years, even Bell for a bit. All were effectively the same coverage. Rogers makes it easier because you can switch SIM cards and not have to switch phones and phone numbers.
Regardless of who you go with in mountain ranges that aren't around a town you may/will lose your coverage for a while. Doesn't matter who your with.
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Hi guys. After reading all you have to say, I am not able to figure out what handset and phone company I should subscribe to. I want a " pay as you go" phone and I had it narrowed down to T-Mobile or Virgin Mobile. I will rarely use a cell phone. I am driving a new motor motor home from the Winnebago factory in Iowa to Anchorage,Ak. and will need a cell phone mainly for emergency,break down, whatever. Would appreciate any info you have in regards to my particular situation. Bains,Tyndall,Garym114. All of you certainly have a lot of knowledge. Thank-You very much. Louie
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