Keeping US phone numbers in Canada

[AjeyaGupta]

Yes, just enroll to that 5$ north america roaming. It should be enough. If you are on postpaid, it will be more cost while roaming without this roaming plan. Also make sure after 2 days of activating the plan, call them back and verify if you have roaming plan enabled. Sometimes at the store they dont do it correctly and end up paying for roaming.
Call: As its unlimited, you can use your phone network.
Data: As its limited, try to use less while outside of home.

Rest should be fine to use it for years. No issues for the last 4 years.

Okay, understood. Thanks for your input.

Another question is have you investigated Google Fi option instead of T-mobile? The plan rate is better than T-mob, and it essentially allows unlimited international roaming without the need to think anything about line termination. Just wondering if Google Fi has a compelling disadvantage over T-mobile, especially while living in Canada, yet maintaining US number.

Thank you.

 

[harirajmohan]

Okay, understood. Thanks for your input.

Another question is have you investigated Google Fi option instead of T-mobile? The plan rate is better than T-mob, and it essentially allows unlimited international roaming without the need to think anything about line termination. Just wondering if Google Fi has a compelling disadvantage over T-mobile, especially while living in Canada, yet maintaining US number.

Thank you.

I did not but seems that unlimited plan is 60$ per line which is not required as t-mobile plans dont cost this much (as we dont use that much data anyway). Also looks like the old phones might not be compatible with Fi.

 

[Alex54321]

Thanks @harirajmohan & @Alex54321 for your inputs. I think I'l; just hang on with my current T-mobile plan and continue to use call/text over WiFi. One question I have is do you have to pay extra for N.A option covering Canada and Mexico? After talking with T-mob rep, I got an impression that I need to enroll in this.

Thanks

Again my TMobile plan is not representative, since I keep it for very looong time. It's an old "Simple Choice" Family Unlimited Talk&Text ($90/mo) with 3 lines, in each North America option add up for $10 (Feature includes: Call and text to and from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada as much as you want, and use your monthly high-speed data (up to 5GB) in Canada and Mexico at no extra charge. Streaming music on top services like Pandora and iHeartRadio without using your data on our network or in Canada or Mexico.)
Since roaming included I use it in Europe as well ( visitor trips), just turn up Call Forwarding to make sure all accidental/spam calls go directly to my mail box.
All messages are unlimited and WhatsUp rules ....

 

[4RyL]

Hi, I am on a T-Mobile family plan with about 12 numbers. The primary account holder will be in US and I will be moving to Canada soon. Can still I use my US number while in Canada? What do I need to do so my number is not deactivated? Thanks

 

[Alex54321]

I have 3 lines with T-Mobile, all 3 lines have additional ($10 each) North America option. With this option I can use the phone in Canada as in US, no roaming charges. The funny thing I just checked my/our usage. Almost 0 minutes calls, a lot of messages and data usage ( stil below 2gb allowed).

Most of the time we use WhatsUp or Viber anyways, when I call to Europe I use Google voice ( i.e 1cent/min for Germany) - again ove WiFi ( from home ) or data plan on the go. Even local Canadian calls from home go over WiFi.

No complains from TMobile so far, since September 2018. That's our experience.

 

[Laaker]

The telephone number porting service is valid when switching from one country to another. To make sure that this is possible, you can go to the mobile operator to establish this and of course to conclude the contract. In Canada, you will already choose a new operator, and you will announce that you want to keep the number. When I was in Europe, I was told that the port period lasts up to 2 weeks. I was offered a temp number france for personal use during this time.

 

[colourfulcanada]

I use Tello $5 and it's perfect and works perfectly fine even overseas. Highly recommend Tello


My referral code: P355HP1K

 

[FletcherHubbard]

Hi,

Has anyone preserved their US phone numbers after moving to Canada?
We are planning on getting new cell phone plans in Canada but would still want to keep our US numbers.
We have seen suggestions of using VoIP services to port US phone number - any recommendations? Has anyone used Google Voice for this? Also, do we need to do this porting while we are still in the US or can I do it once we are already in Canada and ready to close our US phone plan.

snaptube vidmate​

Thanks

Very different situation versus others living and working in Canada. Most run into trouble after telecom company realizes they are primarily living and using the phone from Canada.

 

[Andreas Munzer]

The telephone number porting service is valid when switching from one country to another. To make sure that this is possible, you can go to the mobile operator to establish this and of course to conclude the contract. In Canada, you will already choose a new operator, and you will announce that you want to keep the number. When I was in Europe, I was told that the port period lasts up to 2 weeks. I was offered a temp number from smslive.pro for personal use during this time.

Such services are good if you are not willing to uncover your real phnone number (just like singlelogin for emails) but at the same time if we are talking about some really important accounts I would not reccoment you use a similar service because there is high risk for a reverification code in a couple of months which you will not be able to get.