Traveling to Canada with Sprint Hero

[jjw14]

Hi,

I'm heading to Halifax, Nova Scotia for a week and will be bringing my Hero with me. I'll be calling Sprint customer support to see what options are available for voice and data, but I trust the advice of folks in this forum.

Is there any international voice and data plan that i can sign up for so that I don't end up paying sky-high roaming rates? I really don't want to have to keep my phone in airplane mode the whole week. Any advice from travelers to the "Great White North" would really be appreciated, eh?

Thanks
Jjw

 

[tatonka_Hero]

I believe there's a plan that's so much per day for data. I wish I could remember. My gf got on a plan for a week while she was in mexico, was only like 10 bucks extra on her bill for the month

 

[jjw14]

Thanks for the info. I also found this in a April 26 Sprint press release for a blackberry:
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The Worldwide BlackBerry plan gives customers unlimited BlackBerry email and Web access in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and other locations using CDMA technology, and with UMTS and EDGE/GSM/GPRS carriers abroad where Sprint has applicable roaming agreements. The plan is available to corporate customers for $69.99 per month, or an additional $40 per month (excluding taxes and surcharges) as an attachable to Simply EverythingSM, Everything Data, Everything Data Family or Business Advantage with Messaging and Data plans.
-----

It sounds like I should be able to just tack on $40 to my monthly plan, but I will call to see if this is unlimited data. Steep for just a weeklong trip, but I've heard horror stories where people get stuck with a data bill for several $K because they didn't realize they were on international roaming. Could be an urban legend, but I don't want to find out

 

[tatonka_Hero]

assuming that's the same international plan they use for the Hero, then yes it would likely work. They might be able to pro-rate it for you if you're not in Canada for a full month

 

[jjw14]

You're right about the pro-rating, tatonka.

Just got off the phone with customer service. The short answer is the International Data Plan can be added to the Everything Data Plan for an extra $40 per line/month. This is pro-rated, so it would be approximately $10 for the week. For voice, it's $2.99/month plus 0.20 cents/min (in Canada), also pro-rated.

Customer service was good, and they also set up a call back to deactivate the service upon my return to the U.S.. Not to shabby.


Here are the gritty details if you want them:

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Thank you for contacting Sprint Worldwide. It was my pleasure serving you today. I am personally committed to providing excellent customer service. My goal is to make certain you can say YES when asked if your issue has been resolved.

Sprint Nextel has processed the following transaction(s) today:

 

[thefley]

well it would of been nice of them to tell me this while i was in mexico, they tossed out some bullshit charges for inter. calls and texts.

 

[cephraim]

What happens if you don't authorize this plan?
When does the clock start? When you make the first call/text?

Thanks for sharing!
Eph

 

[tatonka_Hero]

What happens if you don't authorize this plan?
When does the clock start? When you make the first call/text?

Thanks for sharing!
Eph

I believe the "clock" would start when you want it to. So if you're planning to be out of country on June 10th, you can start the plan on June 10th

 

[cephraim]

But, you have to tell them, right?
Would the phones still work without this plan?

 

[tatonka_Hero]

But, you have to tell them, right?
Would the phones still work without this plan?

yup, you still have to sign up for the plan and tell them when to start it.

I believe the phones will work without the plan, but the charges will be outrageous lol

 

[cephraim]

yup, you still have to sign up for the plan and tell them when to start it.

I believe the phones will work without the plan, but the charges will be outrageous lol

Any idea what they would be?

 

[tatonka_Hero]

Any idea what they would be?

price-wise, not a clue. But data rates are pretty high. I had a buddy who received a couple of pic messages and made a couple calls while we were on the canadian border (still in Minnesota actually), and it cost him like 20 bucks or more.

 

[cephraim]

Wow. I guess that's one advantage of Verizon over Sprint. I don't think I was ever charged a premium while in Niagara Falls when I was on Verizon...

 

[tatonka_Hero]

Wow. I guess that's one advantage of Verizon over Sprint. I don't think I was ever charged a premium while in Niagara Falls when I was on Verizon...

yes, but there's a tower in niagra falls I'm sure. We were in the middle of lake of the woods, and the closest (and only close enough) tower was in canada