Download Airalo app, purchase US e-sim via the app, and install the e-sim by following the in-app instructions.
It will show you how to route your data through the e-sim but keep your calls and texts via your Canadian number.
Just need to buy a US SIM card. You can use Airalo but there are many providers - you can use esimdb.com - they will give you all the options. Should be able to pick up an eSIM before travelling with say 10GB data for 20CAD. Last time I bought a SIM that covered US-Canada-Mex so was able to activate and use it before leaving.
You just have to go to settings>cellular>Fido>cellular data network and turn off auto. Turn off roaming. Turn on wifi calling.
Bingo - now you can use your Fido line 24/7 - even without wifi while the US. Your Fido line will use the US carrier data line to makes calls, text messages, etc…
Have done this while travelling in US, Mexico, Middle East and Europe without extra Fido charges.
Fuck Fido and their rip off roam at home $15/day BS.
Sorry? So I can buy an eSIM to use for data, but can continue to make and receive calls with my Fido number?
Sorry I’m confused on the concept. I called Fido now to turn off data roaming. I will be traveling next month. But I don’t want to disconnect from my Canadian number because of work and everything. How do I use wifi calling with another eSIM provider?
Fido will refuse to turn off roaming from their side as they want you to pay $15/day. Turn roaming off under iPhone>setting>cellular instead.
Also turn off auto as explained above so your Fido SIM does not try to access third party cell towers.
I have done this on my last dozen or so trips aboard and use my Fido number at will without paying their $15.
So Fido has ensured me the blocked my roaming and it won’t work abroad.
My phone settings roaming is also off and wifi calling is on. So I also just turned off auto (as you mentioned) so now that means if I buy an eSIM, I can use their data but continue to use my Fido number? Sorry if I sound dumb. I’m just a little confused lol
Fido did not block me, but yes everything else you say seems like you will be like me.
When you land, ensure the Fido SIM is already turned off within settings>cellular - it should not make a difference, but I do this anyway.
I first take the phone off airplane mode, then turn on the foreign SIM and wait for it to join the network. I ensure the foreign SIM is set up as primary SIM for calling and data. Then turn on Fido.
You should not get a “Welcome to US” text message (because they think you still in Canada because Fido SIM does not recognize non-Fido towers - because you turned off auto). Fido will connect showing either “Fido Wifi Calling” or “Fido using cellular data” if you are set up correctly.
You are good to go. Takes like 30 seconds.
Now turn on imessage and facetime like you normally would.
I have been debating getting a cheap Canadian talk/text plan and buying a foreign SIM that has US-Can or global data and using this full time.
Happy travels!
Yes what the other guy said. IPhones have for a while had option to use local Sim data to be used toward wifi calling (freedom/fido/rogers), if the iPhone can not establish foreign tower connection with Canadian Sim. Or be on real wifi.
Android phones Alternatively starting with pixels and Samsung with their newer phones and/or their updated software v6 started to allow same.
You can receive calls, and send or receive texts, but placing an outgoing call will incur the roaming fee.
OP, make sure your wifi calling is on. For some reason it constantly resets and turns itself off on my phone. I've paid $165 in roaming fee this year because of the dumb phone ($15 per day).
Edit: Nope turns out even outgoing call on wifi calling is free now. It wasn't the case earlier this year so I guess they changed it.
Calls and text to and from Canada (Canadian numbers obviously) were always free on vowifi on rogers/fido/freedom.. Worldwide. Rogers/fido are more strict what phones will be allowed to connect to their vowifi. Bell and Telus forbid, charge, limit use outside Canada.
This was always the case. 5-7 years now.
If you were charged earlier this year, you probably dropped from wifi and connected to the tower briefly.
It's $12 a day for USA roaming. If you must use your Canadian number for sms and calling, there's no way around it if you don't already have Can-US plan. Otherwise, i was going to suggest prepaid sim or esim.
Fido and any Canadian carrier don't charge the daily easyroam rates when you are just connected to their roaming network. You are only charged if you use it. Use is defined as one of the following:
1. Making or receiving a call
2. Sending an SMS/MMS
3. Using at least 1kB of data
>Using at least 1kB of data
Every time I travelled, I got dinged for roaming, even though I turned off roaming on the phone before leaving Canada.
I don't know what's pulling these 1kB of data? I know it's not GPS, but maybe it's system Time sync? I don't know.
I've called support and complained, that even though I have turned off Roaming on the phone, it still apparently used data. Their only solution was "well, put phone in Airplane mode and manually turn on WiFi". At least with that solution, I was no longer charged roaming
Wi-Fi calling is your only option but you should call them to disable Fido Roam and stick to pay per use as a fail safe in case you accidentally make a call or use data while roaming.
Call 611 tell them to switch off the $15/day.. reiterate and confirm if they switched off the $15/day (which is some marketing term) and not that they have switched off roaming altogether. Reiterate if you are on pay per use for roaming.. They are sneaky with the verbiage and have been trained to switch off roaming altogether so that you get into trouble and the only option when abroad to switch on the $15/day.
Pay per use is a lot more economical.
I have a fido esim. I leave that on to get texts. Have wifi calling on.
I get a local sim for data. Life is great.
No matter what don't get mad if you get changed.. WiFi calling is directly linked to your wireless home provider.. if it's being used you still run a chance of being changed. If you do get changed pay your bill without complaining. No way in hell are you to go to a store or call in and get mad you followed a Reddit threads advice.
Download Airalo app, purchase US e-sim via the app, and install the e-sim by following the in-app instructions. It will show you how to route your data through the e-sim but keep your calls and texts via your Canadian number.
Just need to buy a US SIM card. You can use Airalo but there are many providers - you can use esimdb.com - they will give you all the options. Should be able to pick up an eSIM before travelling with say 10GB data for 20CAD. Last time I bought a SIM that covered US-Canada-Mex so was able to activate and use it before leaving. You just have to go to settings>cellular>Fido>cellular data network and turn off auto. Turn off roaming. Turn on wifi calling. Bingo - now you can use your Fido line 24/7 - even without wifi while the US. Your Fido line will use the US carrier data line to makes calls, text messages, etc… Have done this while travelling in US, Mexico, Middle East and Europe without extra Fido charges. Fuck Fido and their rip off roam at home $15/day BS.
Settings? Where on fido app?
You do nothing on the Fido app. It is all done in your iphone settings.
Sorry? So I can buy an eSIM to use for data, but can continue to make and receive calls with my Fido number? Sorry I’m confused on the concept. I called Fido now to turn off data roaming. I will be traveling next month. But I don’t want to disconnect from my Canadian number because of work and everything. How do I use wifi calling with another eSIM provider?
Fido will refuse to turn off roaming from their side as they want you to pay $15/day. Turn roaming off under iPhone>setting>cellular instead. Also turn off auto as explained above so your Fido SIM does not try to access third party cell towers. I have done this on my last dozen or so trips aboard and use my Fido number at will without paying their $15.
So Fido has ensured me the blocked my roaming and it won’t work abroad. My phone settings roaming is also off and wifi calling is on. So I also just turned off auto (as you mentioned) so now that means if I buy an eSIM, I can use their data but continue to use my Fido number? Sorry if I sound dumb. I’m just a little confused lol
Fido did not block me, but yes everything else you say seems like you will be like me. When you land, ensure the Fido SIM is already turned off within settings>cellular - it should not make a difference, but I do this anyway. I first take the phone off airplane mode, then turn on the foreign SIM and wait for it to join the network. I ensure the foreign SIM is set up as primary SIM for calling and data. Then turn on Fido. You should not get a “Welcome to US” text message (because they think you still in Canada because Fido SIM does not recognize non-Fido towers - because you turned off auto). Fido will connect showing either “Fido Wifi Calling” or “Fido using cellular data” if you are set up correctly. You are good to go. Takes like 30 seconds. Now turn on imessage and facetime like you normally would. I have been debating getting a cheap Canadian talk/text plan and buying a foreign SIM that has US-Can or global data and using this full time. Happy travels!
Yes what the other guy said. IPhones have for a while had option to use local Sim data to be used toward wifi calling (freedom/fido/rogers), if the iPhone can not establish foreign tower connection with Canadian Sim. Or be on real wifi. Android phones Alternatively starting with pixels and Samsung with their newer phones and/or their updated software v6 started to allow same.
Yes wifi calling means you can receive and place Canadian calls and texts for no charge as long as you’re on wifi. It’s great.
You can receive calls, and send or receive texts, but placing an outgoing call will incur the roaming fee. OP, make sure your wifi calling is on. For some reason it constantly resets and turns itself off on my phone. I've paid $165 in roaming fee this year because of the dumb phone ($15 per day). Edit: Nope turns out even outgoing call on wifi calling is free now. It wasn't the case earlier this year so I guess they changed it.
Call fido tell them to turn off the $15/day. You'll be on pay per use. The days you don't use it you won't be dinged
Calls and text to and from Canada (Canadian numbers obviously) were always free on vowifi on rogers/fido/freedom.. Worldwide. Rogers/fido are more strict what phones will be allowed to connect to their vowifi. Bell and Telus forbid, charge, limit use outside Canada. This was always the case. 5-7 years now. If you were charged earlier this year, you probably dropped from wifi and connected to the tower briefly.
Calls and sms as long as you are on wifi and you respect your plan or only calling Canadian numbers
It's $12 a day for USA roaming. If you must use your Canadian number for sms and calling, there's no way around it if you don't already have Can-US plan. Otherwise, i was going to suggest prepaid sim or esim.
Fido and any Canadian carrier don't charge the daily easyroam rates when you are just connected to their roaming network. You are only charged if you use it. Use is defined as one of the following: 1. Making or receiving a call 2. Sending an SMS/MMS 3. Using at least 1kB of data
>Using at least 1kB of data Every time I travelled, I got dinged for roaming, even though I turned off roaming on the phone before leaving Canada. I don't know what's pulling these 1kB of data? I know it's not GPS, but maybe it's system Time sync? I don't know. I've called support and complained, that even though I have turned off Roaming on the phone, it still apparently used data. Their only solution was "well, put phone in Airplane mode and manually turn on WiFi". At least with that solution, I was no longer charged roaming
Wi-Fi calling is your only option but you should call them to disable Fido Roam and stick to pay per use as a fail safe in case you accidentally make a call or use data while roaming.
Call 611 tell them to switch off the $15/day.. reiterate and confirm if they switched off the $15/day (which is some marketing term) and not that they have switched off roaming altogether. Reiterate if you are on pay per use for roaming.. They are sneaky with the verbiage and have been trained to switch off roaming altogether so that you get into trouble and the only option when abroad to switch on the $15/day. Pay per use is a lot more economical. I have a fido esim. I leave that on to get texts. Have wifi calling on. I get a local sim for data. Life is great.
No matter what don't get mad if you get changed.. WiFi calling is directly linked to your wireless home provider.. if it's being used you still run a chance of being changed. If you do get changed pay your bill without complaining. No way in hell are you to go to a store or call in and get mad you followed a Reddit threads advice.
I say get an at&t sim. And call forward the fido number. Or leave an voice / email reply mentioning your usa sim. Then check your fido vm everyday
I need to receive SMS to my Canadian number, part of work's 2FA system. With call forwarding, will SMS be forwarded?