Hello America, British Columbia calling...

[Shy Tall Guy]

One of the companies I am trying to get a job with is in British Columbia, which is fine (except that they get more snow than here, and more rain, and more dreary clouds, and they have more taxes, etc. - *sigh*), but I have a problem:

I talk to my family mostly via email, but also talk to them on the phone. Email across national boundaries is not a problem, and technically neither is a phone call - however, I have noticed that when I call my friends in BC, that I get a pretty hefty surcharge for making an international call (I only use a cell phone for voice comms). I also pay a hefty charge for making a call when I am physically in BC, even though they are local calls.

I am assuming the same would be true for calls from BC into the US, or when I would be visiting in the US.

So, how do you people in BC handle these problems? Do you have any special cell phone plans that let you call in BC and the western US without surcharges, or do you just bite the bullet whenever you make these calls?

 

[Cath!]

go to telusmobility.com

They have a plan that allows long distance calling anywhere in North America with no roaming charges.

Or do as I do...and go to London Drugs up here, buy a $30 phone card and you have about 11 hours of talktime to the US.

Or else...there are all kinds of plans for regular phones that are under 10 cents/minute.

Did you hear back from that company then??

 

[Todd-'o'-Vision]

Land Line works wonders in all of canada compared to any cell plan i have ever seen in canada

we are not as tech advanced here cell for are a novelty

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Did you hear back from that company then??

No - I just put in my resume with them; had to wait - timing issues on their end. But I am sure I will probably get an interview due to my experience in their specific market.

 

[plasticman33]

I've used my cell in BC to call back to the states, and it's been no charges. Strangely when I call from here to Canada, I get charged. Why I have no idea. I have free nationwide calling through Verizon, but why it's OK from one way and not the other puzzles me.

 

[Moridin187]

Land Line works wonders in all of canada compared to any cell plan i have ever seen in canada

we are not as tech advanced here cell for are a novelty

Actually it's the same in most of the U.S. as well Todd.. I don't need a cellphone for anything.. And frankly, I don't want to be carrying something that can be used to trace my exact location at any time...

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Actually it's the same in most of the U.S. as well Todd.. I don't need a cellphone for anything.. And frankly, I don't want to be carrying something that can be used to trace my exact location at any time...

Well, cell phones are very common in the US, to the point where most people have them, even kids. I only use a cell phone for voice - I use my landline only for dial up, and that has only been in the last year or so since I don't have employment to provide 'net access.

As for tracing your exact location; it is not that easy to do with a cell phone, and you can always turn it off. When I look at my cell phone bill, I notice that when making most of my calls from home, I am connecting to a location that is about 10 miles north of me - probably because I sit on a hill overlooking that area.

Currently, with my phone (a Motorola TimePort), if a person wants to trace my cell phone they have to go through quite a hassle, and unless I am under serious investigation I doubt anyone would bother.

In the future most cell phones will have GPS in them and cell networks will better be able to pinpoint you if they wish - but at this point in time I don't think I am giving away any privacy by having anybody know where I roughly am.

If it ever comes to that I can just shut the phone off - or if you are really paranoid, remove the battery. Besides, I often forget my phone and leave it at home.

Contrast this with a landline where when you make a call they absolutely know where exactly you are - assuming you are making the call from your phone.