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2:10 pm
August 15, 2010
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I'm still confused about roaming with SO, even the FAQ here didn't answer it all. Here's what I (think I) understand and what I'm not sure of. Confirmation (or correction) will be much appreciated.
1. For outgoing, calls to your home area are considered local, wherever you are in Canada. For example, if I have a 514 number and am in Vancouver, calls to 514 numbers will cost 25c/min.
2. For outgoing calls to nearby, if away from home, are considered LD. For example, if I have a 514 number and am in Vancouver, calls to 604 numbers will cost 45c/min (25c airtime + 20c LD). If true, of course I would really use Yak or OneSuite, with the wrinkle that I'd call their _514_ local access number, to call 604, while sitting in 604?
I note that the #1 and #2 above examples are opposite of what everyone else does.
3. For incoming calls, I think it works like everyone else. If I have a 514 number and am in Vancouver, and I answer the phone, it costs 45c/min. If I have a 514 number and am in Montreal, and I answer the phone, it costs 25c/min.
4. Are 514 and 450 considered one big local area? Or am I into LD if I answer the phone while off the Island?
Thanks!
=aw
7:23 am
October 14, 2008
Offline
All incoming calls, regardless of where you are in Canada, are deducted at the local rate ($0.25/minute), since your Speakout phone did not initiate the call.
8:09 am
August 15, 2010
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Thank you. Isn't that also different than most? It will be a big saving for me if true (I'm sure you're correct, I'm just having trouble believing that I'm reading it right).
For example, my Rogers 613 postpaid is 30c/min (plus airtime though I don't go over my allotment) if I answer it anywhere in Canada that isn't in the greater Ottawa area (not sure the limits, I think Casselman is local).
If I can answer my SO 514 phone while I'm standing in Ottawa for 25c instead of 45c (the rate I had figured), the saving of switching is even greater. I had anticipated answering the 514 SO in Ottawa for 45c, then calling back for either 25c (if the caller's in Montreal) or 27.5c (through OneSuite's Montreal number, if the caller's anywhere else in NA). If I can answer in Ottawa for 25c that's even better.
=aw
8:16 am
October 14, 2008
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It does depend on each company, on how they charge. The main factor is, which phone initiated the call. Since, it is an incoming call, and the SpeakOut phone did not call out, the local rate applies.
11:56 am
July 12, 2009
Offline
You are reading it right. SO long distance rules are quite unique. I've had cell phones from Rogers, Telus and MTS and their rules for long distance are very different than SpeakOut's rules..
I live in Victoria BC and have a SO phone based in Manitoba. I can receive calls on the SO phone from people in Victoria or people in Manitoba (and anywhere else world wide) whether I'm in Manitoba or at home for local airtime rates of 25 cents per minute.
The other carriers charge long distance for receiving calls if you are not in your home location. Rogers and Telus charge long distance to receive calls to places in the same area code that are not "local" to your number. For example a Victoria based Telus or Rogers phone will cost long distance to answer in Nanaimo even though the area code is the same. The same would apply to answer a Winnipeg based Telus, or Rogers phone in Brandon despite both places being in area code 204. MTS have different rules in Manitoba depending on whether the call is between MTS cell phones or to/from MTS cell phones and other numbers.
If I make a call to anyone in Manitoba whether I'm at home in Victoria, or anywhere else in Canada, the call is charged as local airtime. However if I'm in Victoria and call a local number here from the SO phone, it is long distance — even if I am sitting right next to that local phone and can hear it ring.
That is totally different than the three companies I have experience with. I've had cell phones from Rogers, Telus, and MTS. All of those companies treat calls from where you are physically located to phones in that same location as local. For example, a Rogers phone with a Victoria number can call local phones while in Winnipeg as local, but calling home to Victoria is long distance (The same applied with Telus or MTS.)
I have my SO phone for 4 reasons:
1: The incoming call rules that let me answer a call wherever I am in Canada as a local call..
2: To be able to give people in Winnipeg a number to call me that doesn't cost them long distance to call me.
3: The fact I can call anywhere in Manitoba (not just Winnipeg) as a local call from wherever I am in Canada.
4: The 365 day expiry even with small top ups. I travel to Manitoba randomly throughout the year as I have family there.
The SO phone can't be my regular phone while at home in Victoria, as I need some form of local phone at home, but it is much better as a cell phone as soon as I leave Victoria than what anyone else offers.
4:00 am
July 7, 2009
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So its cheaper to use Onesuite and call their 514 access number from 604 then calling a 604 number than calling 604 from 604 straight fro SO? Is that what your saying?
5:32 am
October 14, 2008
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It would be cheaper using OneSuite's toll free number to access their system if you are away from your home area.
8:09 am
August 15, 2010
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RonM, thanks for the detailed description. I knew some of the unique SO rules but was having trouble with all of it.
My 613 postpaid Rogers phone costs me 30c/min LD (plus airtime) to answer when I'm in 514. But when I'm in 514, I can call 514 numbers as local (only airtime). It seems (confirmed several times now ) that with SO it's the opposite. It would cost only airtime to answer a 613 SO phone when in 514, but it would cost LD to call from 514 to 514, using a 613 SO phone.
Obviously this has both benefits and drawbacks and in fact is making me wonder whether to go with 514 or 613 if I switch to SO as my main (or only) Canadian cellphone.
[Right now I have a 514 number on my SO phone but never use it, and was thinking of porting/parking my 613 Rogers number with a voip provider then forward to 514 SO; with this new understanding of the rules it may make sense to port it to SO].
One benefit of the entire-area-code local calling is that my 613 Rogers phone loses local access to Ottawa somewhere after Casselman, and doesn't gain local access to Montreal until well into QC. With 613 SO, I can answer it, and can call the 613 OS number, the whole way down 417/40. OTOH Rogers costs 30c/min at worst and SO costs 25c/min at best. [yes the Rogers also has $46 base cost].
iamdrumming, not sure why that would be, OneSuite used to have only 3 local numbers (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal) but now has 33 in AB, BC, ON, QC (including 403, 780, 604, 250, 705, 613, 289, 905, 519, 647, 514, 418, 819). Local access to OS is 2.5c/min, toll-free is 3.5c/min. If your SO phone has one of those area codes, I think it's cheaper to call a "local" number from anywhere in Canada, though if your area code is not one of those then obviously OS's 866 number is the way to go.
Jeremy, with my 613 Rogers postpaid, when I'm in Ottawa I call Montreal through the Ottawa OS access number. When I'm in Montreal, I call Ottawa through the Montreal OS access number. My logic is that with a 514 SO, wherever I am in Canada, I can make local calls to 514. So if I'm sitting in Vancouver and want to call Vancouver, my 514 SO is 45c/min to dial a 604 number, but 25c/min to dial a 514 number. If that 514 number is OS, it's another 2.5c/min to the 604 number (or anywhere in Canada/US, 2c/min to UK, etc.). That's one of those wrap-your-brain-around-it features of SO's that will take getting used to.
BTW, OneSuite has a rather pathetic referral program which is paying double or triple until mid-November. I imagine the moderators have an account and can provide anyone here with a referral code (both referrer and referree get a bonus).
BTWBTW, OneSuite doesn't offer a handy downloadable list of local numbers. I copied them province-by-province into Excel, can't see a way to attach a file to this post but I'm happy to send a copy to anyone interested.
BTWBTWBTW, OneSuite is US$ and Yak is C$ so their 3.5c/min rates aren't identical. But there's no GST/HST with OneSuite.
=aw
8:34 am
October 14, 2008
Offline
Thanks for clearing that up. I was not aware that OneSuite's toll free is more expensive, although it's just a penny. I used to be with OneSuite years ago, but dropped them for a different provider.
8:44 am
August 15, 2010
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Whom do you use now? Always open to an alternative, though I really like OneSuite, including their incoming-faxes-by-email service for $1/mo (!). I actually use OS on my 613 landline now, since it helps burn off the prepaid $$ and extends my account (6 months from last use I think). When I get my voip.ms account working properly OS won't be my landline LD provider.
I agree that for just a penny it's really not significant and for ease-of-use, carrying just the 866 # has a lot of benefit. For example, some friends were driving Montreal-Toronto and we gave them only 866 and Toronto numbers. There was no point in suggesting they check whether they were local to Kingston or Belleville before using 866, just use the 866 down the 401 and the 647 when they were settled (for a week) in Toronto.
=aw
9:59 am
August 15, 2010
Offline
With 613 SO, I can answer it, and can call the 613 OS number, the whole way down 417/40.
This was a really stupid statement (by me) in my earlier post. Of course with my 613 Rogers phone, while there's a gap where it's LD to both Ottawa and Montreal local numbers, I would call the OneSuite 866 number and pay only airtime (and that extra penny a minute in LD).
What I can't do is _answer_ my 613 Rogers phone after Casselman while still avoiding LD (though it's 30c/min vs. 25c/min with SO).
=aw
12:46 pm
October 14, 2008
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I use JustDial.ca now. It's alot like OneSuite, except that the funds in your account never expire. That's one thing I didn't like about OneSuite. You have to recharge at least every 6 months, even if there is money in your account. If you're happy with OneSuite, then that's great. I hated the expiry on my money though
1:03 pm
August 15, 2010
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Me too, and I came close to moving on a couple of years ago. BTW, OneSuite changed their expiry rules too, now it's 6 months from last refill OR outbound usage (not sure what other kind of usage there is, since it appears my monthly inbound-fax fee also keeps it alive, though I don't count on it). Makes it much more useful though "never" would be preferable. Using it as my cell and landline LD carrier has pretty much guaranteed it will stay alive (I refill $10 at a time and think I use >$10/6 months).
JustDial.ca site looks familiar, their offering is definitely competitive (2.5c/min to Canada/US, +1c/min for toll-free access) and more access numbers (including NS, NL, MB, and others I'm sure).
US access is a little confusing, looks like 3.5c/min for toll-free, 2.5c/min for local access but must use PIN? Then there are no US local access numbers at the link provided. Also looks like their rates may be a little higher from US (that's what started us on OneSuite, calling to Canada from our US prepaid cell phones).
I'll keep it in mind and might sign up for the 30 minutes free (worth, what, 75c in today's bargain telecom world? ).
=aw
1:22 pm
August 15, 2010
Offline
BTW, the OneSuite referral bonus is (I believe) 5% (for each party) of first purchase.
Until Nov 15/10, it's 15%. I'm guessing (at least one of) the moderators can provide a referral code, but if not I'm happy to send one myself.
=aw
2:55 pm
August 15, 2010
Offline
I just noticed the main page at https://www.speakoutwireless.ca (i.e. here) says this for the roaming rates:
Long distance or roaming CAN or US call: 0.45
and "roaming" to me implies incoming calls when not in my own area code. In this thread, it was stated that incoming calls anywhere in Canada always cost 0.25/min
Am I misunderstanding the summary on this site?
Thanks!
=aw
3:03 pm
October 14, 2008
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That statement was for outgoing calls. ALL incoming calls are deducted the local rate. I repeat, ALL incoming calls are deducted the local rate, regardless of where you are in Canada
3:36 pm
August 15, 2010
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Thank you. I really did believe you, I just find that wording confusing (because "roaming" is incoming as far as I'm concerned).
=aw
12:02 pm
July 5, 2010
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So all incoming calls to our SO phone including International calls are .25/min regarding of where you are in Canada? Likewise, all incoming texts from all around the globe are free for us?
12:23 pm
August 15, 2010
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The former has been confirmed for me by iamdrumming (3 times now I think, iamdrumming is very patient ).
As for the latter, I believe incoming-text rates are the same irrespective of source, for most or all cell companies, but I could be wrong.
=aw
12:26 pm
October 14, 2008
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Read my post above (#16) I couldn't have said it any more plain.
As for texts, ANY and ALL incoming texts are free, regardless of where they are coming in from around the world.
