Looking for best/cheapest cell phone/plan for traveler

[ee2k]

I am looking to get a cell phone for a family member that travels to Canada once a year, but would like to maintain a Canadian number year-round (with voicemail.) Can you recommend a company/plan?

Essentially:
- Can do contract
- Needs a new phone
- Ideally less than $25 per month
- Data plan not required

Pay as you go does not seem like it is an option given that the numbers expire after a while. But if they can come out to be the cheapest option I can look into that.

[Grogador]

Don't the pay-as-you-go things last for a year, if you put like $100 on it? Or top up $15/monthly or whatever? Anyway I use Callcentric to do this and other stuff, $1.95/mo for a number with voicemail and a crapload of other features... Forward that to anywhere else; cellphone, SIP device, anywhere. If you wanna keep the number, I don't think you'll find a cheaper option using pay-as-you-go or a suspended monthly contract.

[toyboy88]

FYI - Bunch of the prepaid have options that are valid for one year (ie. can keep number, without any use/add balance for a year). When I was traveling alot last year (out of country), I just put $100 on my Telus prepaid so I could keep my number...worked out great.

That depends of course how much of the year they'll be in Canada actually using it, ie. $100/year prepaid vs. $240-300/year contract or M2M (assuming $20-25/month plan).

[Russo]

I think fido offers 50 min for $15 bucks. And you can add options and change plan for a better one when the person is in the country.

Cannot find the one for 15 bucks on thier website, but there is one for $20 that includes 50 mins and unlimited texting.

http://www.fido.ca/web/content/monthly/standardplans

[jwslam]

http://mobility.petro-canada.ca/en/features/401.aspx

[e31]

I use Pay as you go with my gps for real-time tracking (if ever needed). Rogers $100 prepaid (they don't advertise this), expires in 1 year, and rolls over if you top it up before it expires. 7 years and counting...

[Grogador]

Originally posted by e31
I use Pay as you go with my gps for real-time tracking (if ever needed). Rogers $100 prepaid (they don't advertise this), expires in 1 year, and rolls over if you top it up before it expires. 7 years and counting...

You have $700 credit on a pre-paid Rogers acct?

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by Russo
I think fido offers 50 min for $15 bucks. And you can add options and change plan for a better one when the member is in the country.

Can find the one for 15 bucks on thier website, but there is one for $20 that includes 50 mins and unlimited texting.

http://www.fido.ca/web/content/monthly/standardplans

This. And you can get a $0 phone if sign for 2 years.