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Headed to Canada...what to expect?
- Thread starter turboxt
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I don't think they can hit you with any roaming charges since it's a pre-pay method.
However it might not let you connect until you sign up for one of those expensive international plans.
However it might not let you connect until you sign up for one of those expensive international plans.
Agree on the pre-pay aspect...still wondering if the 3G will carry over into the Rogers coverage zone again as in the case of my BB device...can"t imagine that it will work.
I would really play it safe and call AT&T. I have to imagine they are going to want to sell you an International Plan. I think you will get hit with roaming charges up the wazoo if you don't.
Play it safe and give them a call. Please report back what you find.
Steve
Play it safe and give them a call. Please report back what you find.
Steve
Just found this on the ATT website...
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/ipad-data-plans.jsp
Looks bad...sounds like I would have to have an "international plan"
Yes, you will get hit with roaming (massively expensive) if you use your 3G in Canada w/ the ATT SIM. The $15/30 data plans are for use in the U.S. only. Go outside and boom, you are a prime candidate as the focus of a Eyewittness News Sweeps Week Consumer Alert Story.
1) If you keep the ATT SIM installed make sure you have international roaming turned off.
2) Try and find a pre-paid SIM from a Canadian provider (might have to cut the SIM down, doubt you'll find a microSIM).
1) If you keep the ATT SIM installed make sure you have international roaming turned off.
2) Try and find a pre-paid SIM from a Canadian provider (might have to cut the SIM down, doubt you'll find a microSIM).
Actually, just got off the phone with ATT.
No Roaming charges at all...just no service period unless you sign up (in addition to the US domestic package) for the following plans:
DATA PACKAGES
Data Global Add-Ons for BlackBerry®, iPhone, Smartphone, and other devices*
*Quick Messaging and Touch devices
Keep up with email and browse the Web with your BlackBerry, iPhone++, Smartphone, and other devices* when you travel abroad. AT&T has created Data Global Add-Ons with lower rates in more than 90 countries. Discounted Countries are subject to change. For a complete list of discounted countries visit att.com/dataconnectglobal for current information.
There are four packages available:
$24.99/month: 20 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 20 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
$59.99/month: 50 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 50 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
$119.99/month: 100 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 100 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
$199.99/month: 200 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 200 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
*Quick Messaging and Touch devices
20 MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $0.005/KB within the more than 90 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $0.0195/KB.
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.
Call 1-800-331-0500 to sign up now.
50 MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $0.005/KB within the more than 90 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $0.010/KB.1
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.
Call 1-800-331-0500 to sign up now.
100 MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $0.005/KB within the more than 90 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $0.010/KB.1
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.
Call 1-800-331-0500 to sign up now.
200 MB Data Global Add-On
Overage rate is $0.005/KB within the more than 90 discounted countries.
Rate outside these discounted countries is $0.010/KB.1
Does not include data usage within the U.S. Qualified domestic plan required.
Call 1-800-331-0500 to sign up now.
1 Rate outside the more than 90 countries is $0.010/KB except in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Brunei, Faroe Islands, Kuwait, Macedonia (former Yugoslavia), Maldives, Mongolia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Venezuela where the rate is $0.0195/KB.
Other restrictions and terms and conditions apply for data.
++ While using data on iPhone is unlimited within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, international data roaming can get expensive quickly as international roaming rates apply. Voice and data usage, including data usage incurred from delivery of Visual Voicemail messages, will be charged at international rates. For a complete list of countries visit att.com/dataconnectglobal and rates visit att.com/worldpackages. AT&T offers these iPhone International traveling tips to help you keep control of data usage.
Please Note:
1 MB = 1024KB
$0.0195/KB = about $20/MB
$0.010/KB = about $10/MB
$0.005/KB = about $5/MB
If you want to buy a prepaid sim in Canada, you have a choice of the following providers: Rogers/Fido, Bell, Telus, and Virgin.
Basically they have similar rates of:
$30 500MB
$35 1GB
$50 2GB
$65 5GB
iPadinCanada has a great post about it
Basically they have similar rates of:
$30 500MB
$35 1GB
$50 2GB
$65 5GB
iPadinCanada has a great post about it
No roaming charges IF you don't use data. That is obvious. But the U.S. pre-paid data plans do not include Canada. If you have the ATT SIM in your 3G and Int'l Roaming is on, you will get hit with roaming charges.
Hello??? We're talking about a prepaid plan here! The iPad 3G has NO roaming charges whatsoever, you just don't have service out of country without the international plan. AT&T has no way to charge you anything above the $29.99 per month anyways, you pre pay for your service.
Those AT&T rates sure are HORRIBLE.
Where are you going in Canada?
If you're going to be near city at all, be aware that much of Canada tends to be a bit more wired than the US. I've found the following service to be highly useful in Canada to get fairly cheap Wifi:
http://www.boingo.com/
Works well on macbook, iphone and ipad.
Would love to hear of your experience, especially if you go the 3g route, since I'll be traveling up to BC soon. Mostly Vancouver where there's plentiful Wifi, but also to some foresty areas where 3g could come in handy.
Where are you going in Canada?
If you're going to be near city at all, be aware that much of Canada tends to be a bit more wired than the US. I've found the following service to be highly useful in Canada to get fairly cheap Wifi:
http://www.boingo.com/
Works well on macbook, iphone and ipad.
Would love to hear of your experience, especially if you go the 3g route, since I'll be traveling up to BC soon. Mostly Vancouver where there's plentiful Wifi, but also to some foresty areas where 3g could come in handy.
Mostly Toronto proper on this trip. Agreed that ATT is out to lunch on the data rates. The 3G rates in Canada look equally bad. Feel bad for those Hockey Gold medal winners...
I hear ya, but this is not what ATT has stated (not the end all I understand).
AND they technically don't have a way to charge you for the roaming given the pre pay pricing model.
I still don't trust them.
Mostly Toronto proper on this trip. Agreed that ATT is out to lunch on the data rates. The 3G rates in Canada look equally bad. Feel bad for those Hockey Gold medal winners...
It's true. As a Canadian on Bell, I'm paying $25 a month for my iPhone to have a mere 500MB a month of data.
But the worst part is, if I use my iPhone in the US, the default roaming rate is $6 /MB. I can pay $10 to get that reduced to $1 /MB, but it's still a crappy deal.
I'm looking forward to buying an iPad 3G so that when I visit the US I can buy an AT&T SIM card and stay connected for only $30 while I'm there.
I go to Vancouver every few months, and the best thing I can suggest in terms of connectivity is boingo. You're limited to WiFi, but plenty of locations are covered and it will only cost you a few dollars. I wish the at&t international rates were more reasonable, but until they come to senses, we need some other alternatives. The boingo service is very affordable and works quite well.