can I get a new sim card? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Bent · 2012-03-01, 04:03 PM

My daughter is going to be traveling to New York this summer, An iPhone will work extremely well for her, (facetime, etc) but I understand roaming charges will be quite high if it isn't a local market phone.
Is it possible to avoid excessive roaming charges by installing a new sim card that is local to that market area? (and what happens, does the phone retain it's same number, etc?)
Or have I misunderstood everything?

JamesK · 2012-03-01, 04:10 PM

You can get a local sim, provided the phone is not locked to the carrier. You will get a different phone number.

Bent · 2012-03-01, 04:19 PM

ok - next question, will the carrier say if it is locked (or is there a way to tell?)

MTS Allstream...

notsure · 2012-03-01, 04:33 PM

If you have a contract with your provider then the chances are 99.999999999% that it is locked.

Bent · 2012-03-01, 04:51 PM

and that leads to the next question - is the service available anywhere to have it unlocked?

Wayne · 2012-03-01, 04:51 PM

The best option is likely to buy a cheapo unlocked phone either locally or on eBay and get a pay as you go SIM plan while in NY. She can still use the iPhone with wifi but should turn off celllar data roaming unless you are a billionaire. Wifi hotspots should be easy to find.

notsure · 2012-03-01, 05:03 PM

Or get a cheapo Google android phone used on ebay / kijjiji - they are unlocked. I love my iPhone but in a pinch an android phone would do nicely.

whitbyterry · 2012-03-01, 07:56 PM

Call your carrier and see what options there are.

If going for more than a few weeks, getting a used Nexus that is unlocked and for TMobile might be good. $3 per day for web is better than roaming data rates but could also go with a monthly plan if there for 3 months.

Bent · 2012-03-02, 10:52 AM

thanks - it was looking like a simple pay-as-you-go plan for a conventional cell phone and her IpOd touch when at free Wi-fi would work better for her.

Last night, we talked about what she's going to get paid - it turns out subscription costs won't be an issue for a local market smart phone in either city, actually such may be provided by her agencies, she's signing a modeling contract with DNA Models and her first client is Abercrombie & Fitch.

2012-03-01, 04:03 PM	#1
Bent Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: MB Posts: 1,788	can I get a new sim card? My daughter is going to be traveling to New York this summer, An iPhone will work extremely well for her, (facetime, etc) but I understand roaming charges will be quite high if it isn't a local market phone. Is it possible to avoid excessive roaming charges by installing a new sim card that is local to that market area? (and what happens, does the phone retain it's same number, etc?) Or have I misunderstood everything? __________________ I'm a sleep expert.

2012-03-01, 04:19 PM	#3
Bent Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: MB Posts: 1,788	ok - next question, will the carrier say if it is locked (or is there a way to tell?) MTS Allstream... __________________ I'm a sleep expert.

2012-03-01, 04:51 PM	#5
Bent Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: MB Posts: 1,788	and that leads to the next question - is the service available anywhere to have it unlocked? __________________ I'm a sleep expert.

2012-03-02, 10:52 AM	#9
Bent Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: MB Posts: 1,788	thanks - it was looking like a simple pay-as-you-go plan for a conventional cell phone and her IpOd touch when at free Wi-fi would work better for her. Last night, we talked about what she's going to get paid - it turns out subscription costs won't be an issue for a local market smart phone in either city, actually such may be provided by her agencies, she's signing a modeling contract with DNA Models and her first client is Abercrombie & Fitch. __________________ I'm a sleep expert.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2012-03-01, 04:10 PM	#2
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,037	You can get a local sim, provided the phone is not locked to the carrier. You will get a different phone number.

2012-03-01, 04:33 PM	#4
notsure Veteran Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ottawa, ON; OTA, XBMC, ATV Posts: 1,594	If you have a contract with your provider then the chances are 99.999999999% that it is locked.

2012-03-01, 04:51 PM	#6
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,568	The best option is likely to buy a cheapo unlocked phone either locally or on eBay and get a pay as you go SIM plan while in NY. She can still use the iPhone with wifi but should turn off celllar data roaming unless you are a billionaire. Wifi hotspots should be easy to find.

2012-03-01, 05:03 PM	#7
notsure Veteran Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ottawa, ON; OTA, XBMC, ATV Posts: 1,594	Or get a cheapo Google android phone used on ebay / kijjiji - they are unlocked. I love my iPhone but in a pinch an android phone would do nicely.

2012-03-01, 07:56 PM	#8
whitbyterry Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Whitby, Ontario (Rogers Cable), LG 42PC3D, 8642HD Posts: 514	Call your carrier and see what options there are. If going for more than a few weeks, getting a used Nexus that is unlocked and for TMobile might be good. $3 per day for web is better than roaming data rates but could also go with a monthly plan if there for 3 months.