vB Easy Archive - Thinking of a new phone

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Thinking of a new phone
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Posted by: Dan1988

Hi. Before I begin, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Daniel, I'm 18 years old, and I'm from the US (more specifically Pawtucket, RI). Currently, I'm a first-year student at Carleton University in Ottawa, ON, currently as a French major but am considering adding onto that major.

Here's my dilemma. Currently I'm on a contract with Verizon along with my mom. Verizon, I think, has great coverage in my section of RI. However, unless I want to get hit with roaming charges, I don't use my phone. I like Verizon, after all it's also the phone company, yet I'm in a bit of a dilemma. A while back, my mom ordered phonecards from Verizon for the both on us, I think around late August or so. The phonecards haven't arrived.

Now, if I eventually want a cell phone, I'm probably going to have to go with a Canadian provider, so long as I use a CDMA and/or EV-DO phone AND I have the ability to call home and use it back home without getting hit with roaming charges (no GSM nor UMTS for me, please; so that scratches out Rogers). Plus, it must be affordable (I currently don't have a job right now). My question for you guys is three-fold:

1. Out of the two main CDMA/EV-DO networks (Bell and Telus), which one provides better coverage of the Ottawa area?
2. Should I go pre-paid (either through Bell or Telus or through an MVNO like President's Choice Mobile) or regular contract?
3. What phone should I get? I'm a stickler for phones that I can only use for calling, contacts lists, and voicemail; lately however I've been attracted by mobile TV.

Thanks in advance.

Posted by: Dan1988

What, nobody loves me?

Posted by: idreamoutloud

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan1988

What, nobody loves me?

Telus loves you if you pay your bill. Bell loves themselves.

Posted by: Dan1988

Elaborate please. Does this mean I should go pre-paid?

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

Go GSM, do pre-paid in both US and CAN. Swap SIM's when you are here or there. Done.

Posted by: fung_pi

i'm at carleton too! HA!

but yes...depends on whether or not you wanna go on a contract with bell or telus. i'm not too fond of bell since they're not that great at customer service, and they charge you a lot per minute with pay as you go. Their contracts also aren't very comparable to what telus is offering you now for xmas season.

i'd go with telus on ther EPP 25 plan. $25 month gets u 250 local calls, caller ID, voicemail, unlimited evenings+weekends. if you wanna go pay as u go with telus they charge you based on the amount of card you get...(ie. $10 card they charge u 33cents a minute...$50 card i think was 25cents/min?)

but last i checked u can't use prepaid phones outside canada.

Posted by: Dan1988

fung_pi, does Telus offer any North America plans? How about for their student plans? In addition, what you mean that I can't take a prepaid phone outside of Canada?

Oh, and Heavy Fluid, I already mentioned that I want to use CDMA (including EV-DO IF possible), so that means that GSM is out of the picture.