Switching wireless plans

[RainZ]

Is it possible to switch your wireless provider? For instance, If I have a plan with Bell and would like to transfer to Telus, can this be done?

[Bogie]

Depends on your contract with your existing provider, and if your phone uses a SIM chip or not (most do now). You cannot transfer plans, as that is contractural with your provider with penalties for exiting before your agreed time period, and I am pretty sure you cannot transfer numbers between providers (check with the provider you want to switch to).

Read your existing provider contract.

[networkguy]

First off Bell does not use SIM cards, neither does Telus. Second, as Bogie points out it really de[ends on whether you are currently locked into a contract or not; if you are, then it depends on what if any buyout there is which is usually based on the remaining number of months in your contract, if your not under a contract you can simply cancel your service with Bell and go and sign up with Telus, either as a pay as you go customer or sign up with a contract.

Number portability is not available in Canada yet, although it may be within the next few years.

Any reason you want to go to Telus rather then Rogers? If anything Bell has better coverage then Telus in North America, Rogers on the other hand has global coverage, Bell and Telus cannot be used outside of North America.

NG

[RainZ]

I'm on a prepaid monthly pop-up plan (pay as you go) and if I have remaning minutes, they are scrapped, even though I pay for those minutes. Since I use the phone occasionally, this plan seemed best for me. I thought my left-over minutes would keep accumulating. I heard that with Telus, your remaning minutes transfer over to the next month.

[sharpnfuzzy]

They do as long as you keep buying cards. You have to buy at least one $10 card each month to roll over your balance.

[tweakthis]

I used to have a Bell pay-as-you-go plan but when it increased by 50% in cost I switched to Virgin. I had to buy a phone, but they are as cheap as $80 and the time on the phone card is four months. My $15 card that I bought at the end of December is good till April.