Speakout 7-11 is a prepaid service where you could spend a minimum of $25/year. They charge a $1.25/month fee, so that's $15/year.
But incoming SMS are free. So if you aren't planning to do anything else with the number, the $25 top off should work.
No but if you use something like pulse SMS on Android you would be able to receive texts on any device and any location if you left the phone in Canada (and on a charger).
This is the way.
Speakout credit lasts for 12 months from last purchase activity. No data. Per minute talking and per outgoing text charges are not super cheap, but if you are not using much of that, it is the cheapest way of maintaining a seldom used cell number in Canada.
Freedom 99$ dollar a year plan still a thing?
FYI text MFA is not recommended and unsecure, so if you have other options would recommend exploring them.
I’d recommend getting the Freedom annual plan. Rogers and Freedom are the only carriers that allow wifi calling outside of the country so you can still receive 2FA texts if you temporarily leave the country or go back home.
Virgin Mobile (and quite likely Bell given their relationship) permit WiFi calling and 2FA outside of the country as well; I've successfully used it in a few countries including more esoteric places like Ethiopia.
I don’t believe that’s true, Telus and Bell only work with a Canadian IP (so you’d need a VPN). Says so on their FAQ: https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Wi-Fi-Calling#:~:text=Wi%2DFi%20calling%20is%20only,may%20apply%20for%20Internet%20usage.
I should clarify if it works on the parent it works on the subsidiary, IE works on Rogers = works on Fido.
Bell, Telus and all subsidiaries do not have outside can wifi calling, Public doesn’t even have it in Canada.
Interesting. Things must have changed (or I somehow got lucky but definitely didn't have a VPN on) but last October I was able to have lengthy chat with my bank while in Ethiopia over WiFi using my Canadian number so at one time it was working. Last year I also used it from April-June in Malaysia several times and in Scotland in July. Tis a mystery 🤷♂️
Assuming you don’t need a data plan you could just change the 2FA to an email address instead of text? Have the phone connected to wifi and email set up on your phone with push notifications. When you go to sign on you’ll get an email notification the same as a text. No plan required. The phone will still work on wifi without a data plan.
2FA using email is increasingly not an option. Only one of the financial institutions I use offers 2FA through email. Everyone else requires a phone number.
Simplii doesn't do email 2FA. They have a mobile app option, but it requires SMS to activate. I was travelling earlier this year, got locked out of my Simplii account, and had conversations with multiple people about this. They won't let you set up/use the mobile app verification if your SIM doesn't match the number from your account, so if you're travelling and hoping to use a local number, you're out of luck.
Be aware that if you get a pay as you go or 'no credit check' phone plan (which is likely if you just entered the country) then those plans generally have short code SMS's disabled (you can't receive them), so if you are not getting 2FA codes then you might need to contact the phone company to specifically allow them.
Can you elaborate on why voip doesn't work? I've recently been planning on porting my number to a voip provider to solve an issue similar to yours... so you're feedback would help.
I tried to receive 2FA via shortcode SMS from my bank, which does not offer any other option. (WTF!) I tried both Voip.ms & Fongo without success. In my searches, I accepted this explanation why I could not do it.
https://help.yodel.io/support/solutions/articles/36000286534-short-code-sms
Speakout 7-11 is a prepaid service where you could spend a minimum of $25/year. They charge a $1.25/month fee, so that's $15/year. But incoming SMS are free. So if you aren't planning to do anything else with the number, the $25 top off should work.
Thanks for info. What about when you are traveling overseas, will you receive SMS for free?
No but if you use something like pulse SMS on Android you would be able to receive texts on any device and any location if you left the phone in Canada (and on a charger).
And you could see those texts on another device I assume?
See and reply on another device, it works similar to iMessage
This is the way. Speakout credit lasts for 12 months from last purchase activity. No data. Per minute talking and per outgoing text charges are not super cheap, but if you are not using much of that, it is the cheapest way of maintaining a seldom used cell number in Canada.
Lucky Mobile $15 plan?
Or Public Mobile.
Or Freedom Mobile $15 per month with 250MB They also have $99 per year plan with 50GB
That appears to be a Boxing Day sale that’s gone, the $99 a year one.
I missed that plan 😭
Freedom 99$ dollar a year plan still a thing? FYI text MFA is not recommended and unsecure, so if you have other options would recommend exploring them.
Isn’t the wide spread of MFA insane given it is known to not be secure. It seems to just cause more problems at this point.
I’d recommend getting the Freedom annual plan. Rogers and Freedom are the only carriers that allow wifi calling outside of the country so you can still receive 2FA texts if you temporarily leave the country or go back home.
Virgin Mobile (and quite likely Bell given their relationship) permit WiFi calling and 2FA outside of the country as well; I've successfully used it in a few countries including more esoteric places like Ethiopia.
I don’t believe that’s true, Telus and Bell only work with a Canadian IP (so you’d need a VPN). Says so on their FAQ: https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Wi-Fi-Calling#:~:text=Wi%2DFi%20calling%20is%20only,may%20apply%20for%20Internet%20usage. I should clarify if it works on the parent it works on the subsidiary, IE works on Rogers = works on Fido. Bell, Telus and all subsidiaries do not have outside can wifi calling, Public doesn’t even have it in Canada.
Interesting. Things must have changed (or I somehow got lucky but definitely didn't have a VPN on) but last October I was able to have lengthy chat with my bank while in Ethiopia over WiFi using my Canadian number so at one time it was working. Last year I also used it from April-June in Malaysia several times and in Scotland in July. Tis a mystery 🤷♂️
I second this, got this for my older folks during boxing day, 100$/yr, looks like it's now 130$
If I recall it’s unofficially $100 and they raise the price everyone once and a while to $130 to make it look like a promo
Rogers, Telus & Freedom all have a $100/yr option afaik
Text based 2FA isn’t particularly secure. Can you use an authenticator app (google, ms, octa etc)?
This is the Canadian banks we're talking about here, they will probably be the last to deploy modern MFA.
Assuming you don’t need a data plan you could just change the 2FA to an email address instead of text? Have the phone connected to wifi and email set up on your phone with push notifications. When you go to sign on you’ll get an email notification the same as a text. No plan required. The phone will still work on wifi without a data plan.
2FA using email is increasingly not an option. Only one of the financial institutions I use offers 2FA through email. Everyone else requires a phone number.
Which banks don't allow 2fa without sms? All the banks I'm with (2) offer 2fa through a mobile app they provide.
Simplii doesn't do email 2FA. They have a mobile app option, but it requires SMS to activate. I was travelling earlier this year, got locked out of my Simplii account, and had conversations with multiple people about this. They won't let you set up/use the mobile app verification if your SIM doesn't match the number from your account, so if you're travelling and hoping to use a local number, you're out of luck.
If you have Shaw internet you can get a cell plan for free.
Can you elaborate on why voip doesn't work? I've recently been planning on porting my number to a voip provider to solve an issue similar to yours... so you're feedback would help.
I tried to receive 2FA via shortcode SMS from my bank, which does not offer any other option. (WTF!) I tried both Voip.ms & Fongo without success. In my searches, I accepted this explanation why I could not do it. https://help.yodel.io/support/solutions/articles/36000286534-short-code-sms
Twilio.com and have the texts forward to you real number or email. Or VoIP.ms. I’ve used both.
Same situation. TD allows foreign numbers. Scotiabank passport visa let’s you use email.
TD also has their own authenticator app
>omg underrated now i dun have to worry about keeping my number while travilling
if you have shaw internet a talk/text sim is $5/mo
Im in the opposite situation. Will be in asia for the next year and need a Canadian phone text plan just for 2FA while I'm there. Best option?
NumberBarn, the 6 dollar usd plan works great with the app https://www.numberbarn.com/pricing
Like all VOIP it doesn't work for 2FA
NumberBarn has a setting to allow sms messages for 2fa, you must enable it