recommendations for Canada | cheap international calling

[opcmaster]

Originally Posted by bylo

You can buy a Rogers or Fido SIM via eBay, e.g. these and then buy airtime at many stores here. I don't know if the SIM card comes preactivated with a phone number or if you have to do that while in Canada.

Overseas calls from Canada using any cellphone provider are very expensive, however, you can buy inexpensive prepaid long distance cards locally at many stores. Look at e.g. Phone Card Depot. I've never dealt with them but their Search Card Rates function will show you many of the cards that are available here.

Added: You can activate a Rogers SIM online here. Calls to Germany are CA$0.75/minute or ~€0.50. Prepaid long distance cards are less than 1/10th of that. Local air time is CA$0.25/minute (using a CA$20 airtime refill.) Note that air time is charging on both outgoing and incoming calls.

Please note that in Canada you will be charged long distance for all calls not originated from your local calling area, which means that you will be charged two long distance rates: one for call to Germany plus another for long distance in Canada. The way to avoid it is to use calling card with toll free access number. Check out CiCi Calling card. CiCi has no-charge toll free access number and only 2.8c/min rate to Germany. You may also check Smart card from Ontario Calling Cards for converting outgoing calls to incoming.