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5:32 am
September 30, 2009
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Last week when the ice storm hit Toronto, my data plan from Speakout was about to expire and I had only $8 in credit left, so not enough to renew. Power and Internet were out, and I don't live anywhere near a 7-Eleven store.
I switched to Koodo prepaid (base plan $15/month for unlimited text) because they had a promotion for double minutes and data (1000 minutes for $25 and 2 GB for $30). Unlike other prepaid plans, the minutes and data don't expire as long as you pay for the base plan. This came in handy during and after the ice storm, since my cable Internet was out for almost a week (I used about 155 MB).
8:39 am
April 22, 2009
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If you need unlimited text, Rogers sells it for $85 a year. And they throw in 100 minutes for emergency calls! Boosters look nice, but they are still pretty chintzy. I suppose it will work for some people, though I see an overpriced text plan.
11:18 am
December 30, 2010
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i believe it is more about the booster which i agree is too expensive unless one really need unlimited sms.
for this situation, bell tablet plan still seems to be the best as it can scale up and down as needed and the base is only 5 dollars a month which can still be used for emergency purpose.
7:27 am
September 30, 2009
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chimpanzee said:
for this situation, bell tablet plan still seems to be the best as it can scale up and down as needed and the base is only 5 dollars a month which can still be used for emergency purpose.
That $5 gets you 10 MB - not a lot if you plan to use Fongo (~0.8 MB/min), and tethering is extra. Might be OK if you don't use SMS at all.
The Rogers plan doesn't include any data. I have heard of people adding 100 MB for $10/month but YMMV.
I was spending about $13-15/month on Speakout (data + SMS, mostly) but my data usage is variable so Koodo might actually work out cheaper in the long run.
1:10 pm
March 12, 2009
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So why would anyone pay for data AND sms when you can text for free using data?
5:07 pm
August 13, 2009
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Because (except for speakout) SMS is basically free.
Data you pay through the nose.
And everybody has a cell phone with incoming texting.
Not everybody has XYZ texting app.
I don't have a texting app because there's no telling how many you have to join to be with all of your connections
1:28 pm
January 14, 2014
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There are texting apps that provide you with a phone number so that the recipient of your SMS does not need to join – they won't even know you're using an Internet carrier. Of the several I tried, I prefer Google Voice (but that's not so easy to join, as it's only for USA & Calgary). I am staying with Google Voice, as it allowed me to get a vanity, easy to remember number (404-9BONOBO), but nothing prevents you from trying the other free ones.
Also, my VoIP provider offers free SMS as well. Getting the overpriced SMS packages from cell phone providers is silly, not to mention that you have to always type your messages on the phone. With Google Voice, I can type from both the phone and my laptop or desktop.
If I had to give up Google Voice (for instance, if they stop offering free calls and SMS in North America), I'd keep my VoIP SMS service, as it's only one app to keep on my smartphone at all times.
5:16 am
March 12, 2009
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Would you be so kind as to tell us which VOIP service you are referring to.
7:03 pm
December 30, 2010
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inbonobo said:
There are texting apps that provide you with a phone number so that the recipient of your SMS does not need to join – they won't even know you're using an Internet carrier. Of the several I tried, I prefer Google Voice (but that's not so easy to join, as it's only for USA & Calgary). I am staying with Google Voice, as it allowed me to get a vanity, easy to remember number (404-9BONOBO), but nothing prevents you from trying the other free ones.
Also, my VoIP provider offers free SMS as well. Getting the overpriced SMS packages from cell phone providers is silly, not to mention that you have to always type your messages on the phone. With Google Voice, I can type from both the phone and my laptop or desktop.
If I had to give up Google Voice (for instance, if they stop offering free calls and SMS in North America), I'd keep my VoIP SMS service, as it's only one app to keep on my smartphone at all times.
is it coincidence that we think alike
7:44 am
September 30, 2009
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Google Voice is not really an option in Canada any more, as they've closed the loophole that allowed you to register with a number in area code 403. Fongo has an SMS add-on for $3/month. I haven't tried it so I can't comment on reliability.
12:29 pm
December 30, 2010
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if you can get a T-mobile prepaid, google voice is still possible as I am told that T-mobile prepaid can roam in canada. Of course, google voice will not be linking to the canada number but you can still get one.
i found it to be much more convenient than all these apps because it can be used via web page
note that all these non-mobile SMS solution seems to be restricted to US/Canada and have difficulties to many international numbers
