Using Italian Wind in Canada

BLC · **Using Italian Wind in Canada -** 04-11-2008, 19:01

I've been trying to use my Italian Wind prepaid in Canada. It recieves the Rogers network but when I try to dial a local number +1-403-**** Roger says Wind has not authorized my use in Canada. I have sent an SMS message to Wind with no problem and I can use my phone as a modem with my laptop but no luck in using it as a phone!

PhotoJim · 04-11-2008, 21:51

Sometimes there is a dial code that you can use.

Try *111*+1403xxxyyyy# or *123*+1403xxxyyyy#.

Expect it to be expensive to use, alas.

Not all prepaid SIMs permit outbound calls in Canada, even when they permit inbound calls.

Effendi · 05-11-2008, 13:42

With Wind you have to dial:

Code:

*124*+1403xxxyyyy#

Calls from Canada will cost you 2 eur/min...

BLC · 05-11-2008, 15:50

Thanks guys but nothing seems to work. I have "easy roaming" and "call your country" so I can call Canada from Italy cheaply and I can call Italy from Canada but I can't call within Canada!
I can add money to my Wind card over the internet from Canada using my Visa card but I can't refill my wife's TIM card as TIM seems to only accept Italian Visa cards?
I had hoped to use my wind phone in Canada as I don't use a cell phone much and it would save me maintaining a Canadian number but I guess I'am out of luck.

VladS · 05-11-2008, 16:29

There are at least a couple low cost alternatives for infrequent use in Canada.

PetroCanada Mobile - min $20 (~13 Euros) refill every 180 days - $0.20/minute
7-Eleven SpeakOut - min $25 (~16 Euros) refill every 365 days - $0.25/minute

Both offer a starter pack including a low end Nokia phone, SIM card and $5 credit for $50-60.

BLC · 05-11-2008, 21:53

I've got a Virgin mobile, $100 for 1 year but the battery is dying. They want $40 for the battery so I was hoping to use my Wind instead. I've got several phones so I don't want another phone and you have to buy the phone with Petro Canada or 7Eleven. Maybe I'll try my wife's TIM card and see if it works.

Effendi · 06-11-2008, 10:17

The *124* roaming should work on Rogers but I really don't get the sense of spending 2 EUR/min for each call, even with the Easy Roaming (still 2 EUR for the first minute).

bylo · 06-11-2008, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLC

I've got a Virgin mobile, $100 for 1 year but the battery is dying. They want $40 for the battery

By "they" you probably mean Virgin. "They" are a rip-off. Try eBay. You may be able to find an OEM battery for ~$10.

Quote:

you have to buy the phone with Petro Canada or 7Eleven.

Officially, yes, but you can find individual SIMS and/or airtime top-ups at http://www.speakoutwireless.ca/speak/

There are also rumours of another SpeakOut promotion starting 16Nov. Usually that means buy $100 of airtime (~500 local minutes) and get a free Nokia 1600 or 1208. You could use the SIM out of that and sell the "free" phone (it's unlocked) on the site above or eBay. By contrast, at 2€/min you'd go through $100 in ~30min.

bylo · 06-11-2008, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Effendi

Rogers

Better known in Canada as Robbers

BLC · 06-11-2008, 15:17

*124* dosen't work with the 403 area code. I suspect this is a Roger's thing rather than WIND. I guess I will have to carry 2 phones around and get a new battery for my Virgin Mobile phone!

On another point entirely my cell phone has no reception in our house in Italy. I have to walk outside the village ( 2 houses down) or into the little Piazza in order to use the phone. I suspect it's the 2 feet of rock in our house walls but we may be in an area of weak signal? Does anyone else have this problem?

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	(#1)
BLC (Offline) Member Advanced Member Posts: 79 Join Date: 23 Sep 2008 Location: Canada & Italy Country:	Using Italian Wind in Canada - 04-11-2008, 19:01 I've been trying to use my Italian Wind prepaid in Canada. It recieves the Rogers network but when I try to dial a local number +1-403-**** Roger says Wind has not authorized my use in Canada. I have sent an SMS message to Wind with no problem and I can use my phone as a modem with my laptop but no luck in using it as a phone!

	(#2)
PhotoJim (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 389 Join Date: 10 Dec 2006 Location: Regina, SK, CA Country:	04-11-2008, 21:51 Sometimes there is a dial code that you can use. Try 111+1403xxxyyyy# or 123+1403xxxyyyy#. Expect it to be expensive to use, alas. Not all prepaid SIMs permit outbound calls in Canada, even when they permit inbound calls. CA: SaskTel, Wind postpaid; Rogers, Bell postpaid iPad flex plans; US: T-Mobile postpaid data, prepaid voice; PureTalk (AT&T MVNO) prepaid voice/data; AT&T prepaid iPad plan Hardware: Too much but notably iPhone 5, iPad Mini Retina LTE, Moto G LTE (N.A. version), iPhone 4. All unlocked.

	(#3)
Effendi (Offline) The great Dictator! Prepaid Prophet Posts: 2,487 Join Date: 13 Jan 2004 Location: Trieste/Trst Country:	05-11-2008, 13:42 With Wind you have to dial: Code: 124+1403xxxyyyy# Calls from Canada will cost you 2 eur/min... Working Prepaids: IT: Wind, Vodafone IT, UNO Mobile; SM: Prima; UK: 3, Virgin; INT: TravelSIM, Truphone. Deceased Prepaids: CZ: Oskar, Eurotel; SK: Orange; DE: E-Plus, Aldi, Simyo; GE: Geocell; AM: Armentel; PL: Heyah, Plus; LT: Tele2; LV: Amigo; EE: Elisa; UA: Kyivstar; NZ: Vodafone; INT: UM, UM+, ICQSim. GSM/3G Phones: Nokia Lumia 630 dual sim

	(#4)
BLC (Offline) Member Advanced Member Posts: 79 Join Date: 23 Sep 2008 Location: Canada & Italy Country:	05-11-2008, 15:50 Thanks guys but nothing seems to work. I have "easy roaming" and "call your country" so I can call Canada from Italy cheaply and I can call Italy from Canada but I can't call within Canada! I can add money to my Wind card over the internet from Canada using my Visa card but I can't refill my wife's TIM card as TIM seems to only accept Italian Visa cards? I had hoped to use my wind phone in Canada as I don't use a cell phone much and it would save me maintaining a Canadian number but I guess I'am out of luck.

	(#5)
VladS (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Pioneer Posts: 590 Join Date: 22 Jun 2004 Country:	05-11-2008, 16:29 There are at least a couple low cost alternatives for infrequent use in Canada. PetroCanada Mobile - min $20 (~13 Euros) refill every 180 days - $0.20/minute 7-Eleven SpeakOut - min $25 (~16 Euros) refill every 365 days - $0.25/minute Both offer a starter pack including a low end Nokia phone, SIM card and $5 credit for $50-60. VladS Mobile phones: iPhone 5, Blackberry 9900, Nexus S, Samsung S3322 duos Mobile data cards: Huawei E587u-5, Huawei E583c, Huawei E160 Postpaid SIMs: CA: Fido, Wind; INTL: Telna Prepaid SIMs: DE: Fonic, Lidl; AT: yesss!, bob; UK: O2; US: AT&T; RO: Orange, Vodafone; FR: b&you, Lycamobile; NL: Lycamobile; BE: Lycamobile, Jim Mobile; CL: Entel; MX: Telcel; INTL: eKit Blue, eKit Yellow Dead SIMs: too many to list

	(#6)
BLC (Offline) Member Advanced Member Posts: 79 Join Date: 23 Sep 2008 Location: Canada & Italy Country:	05-11-2008, 21:53 I've got a Virgin mobile, $100 for 1 year but the battery is dying. They want $40 for the battery so I was hoping to use my Wind instead. I've got several phones so I don't want another phone and you have to buy the phone with Petro Canada or 7Eleven. Maybe I'll try my wife's TIM card and see if it works.

	(#7)
Effendi (Offline) The great Dictator! Prepaid Prophet Posts: 2,487 Join Date: 13 Jan 2004 Location: Trieste/Trst Country:	06-11-2008, 10:17 The 124 roaming should work on Rogers but I really don't get the sense of spending 2 EUR/min for each call, even with the Easy Roaming (still 2 EUR for the first minute). Working Prepaids: IT: Wind, Vodafone IT, UNO Mobile; SM: Prima; UK: 3, Virgin; INT: TravelSIM, Truphone. Deceased Prepaids: CZ: Oskar, Eurotel; SK: Orange; DE: E-Plus, Aldi, Simyo; GE: Geocell; AM: Armentel; PL: Heyah, Plus; LT: Tele2; LV: Amigo; EE: Elisa; UA: Kyivstar; NZ: Vodafone; INT: UM, UM+, ICQSim. GSM/3G Phones: Nokia Lumia 630 dual sim

	(#10)
BLC (Offline) Member Advanced Member Posts: 79 Join Date: 23 Sep 2008 Location: Canada & Italy Country:	06-11-2008, 15:17 124 dosen't work with the 403 area code. I suspect this is a Roger's thing rather than WIND. I guess I will have to carry 2 phones around and get a new battery for my Virgin Mobile phone! On another point entirely my cell phone has no reception in our house in Italy. I have to walk outside the village ( 2 houses down) or into the little Piazza in order to use the phone. I suspect it's the 2 feet of rock in our house walls but we may be in an area of weak signal? Does anyone else have this problem?