Immigrating to Canada, one must not forget the convenient way to contact family back home, making applying for a phone a primary task for new immigrants. Let us learn together how to apply for a phone and save on call costs.
In Canada, phones are an important part of life. Once new immigrants settle in Canada, the first thing they need to do is apply for a phone. Taking Ontario as an example, the phone company "Bell Canada" has service centers located in every major commercial center (Mall) in the province, and you can apply at the nearest location. When new customers apply for a phone, Bell requires a deposit of CAD 200, which can be refunded after six months. Additionally, there is a one-time installation fee of CAD 55 (activation fee). Bell offers a wide range of services for each phone user, such as call waiting, call forwarding, three-way calling, visual call waiting, call display, and call answer-message, among others. Most service centers will ask if you need these features, so be careful not to say "yes" if you do not fully understand, as your first month's bill may be shocking. The best practice is to state that you do not want any features (as some centers may add multiple features without asking). The basic monthly rental fee is around CAD 23, allowing unlimited local calls without additional charges, and the phone is usually activated on the same day or the next day after application. Most phones in North America use a voicemail system, which can be tape-based or digital, or you can apply for the phone company's "message" feature as a substitute. The voicemail system is very useful; when you are not home, potential employers may leave messages informing you of interview times and locations. If you do not have a voicemail system, they may seek other candidates. When applying for a phone, you can receive a free telephone directory and yellow pages, and some Chinese community organizations also provide Chinese yellow pages. If you have a computer, you can also obtain a CD for looking up phone numbers. After applying for a Bell phone, you can choose a long-distance telecommunications company to handle your long-distance calls, as Bell's long-distance service is relatively expensive. The largest long-distance companies here are "Sprint Canada" and "AT&T", but for calls to China, the more affordable options are "Hong Kong Telecom" and "Asia Telecom", which charge by the second and have consistent rates day and night. Additionally, there are phone cards available, averaging around CAD 0.50 per minute, but sometimes the call quality is poor, and wait times can be long.
How to Save on Long-Distance Phone Costs in Canada
Making long-distance calls from abroad is a concern for new immigrants. In Canada, due to the rise of the Chinese market, long-distance call costs are no longer expensive and are on a downward trend. Generally, there are two methods: long-distance phone cards and choosing a long-distance phone company.
First, let's talk about long-distance phone cards. Various phone cards can be purchased at grocery stores on the streets, all with expiration limits, typically six months or a year (be careful not to buy cards from the local phone company, as those are very expensive). Cards are divided into those with and without connection fees; those with connection fees generally have a lower average cost per minute, making them suitable for long conversations. It is advisable not to be overly tempted by low prices, as some cards perform poorly and may not connect at all.
Local phone service in Canada is monopolized, so when you install a phone, you must use the designated phone company and pay a fixed monthly fee. However, you still have the right to freely choose your long-distance phone company. To choose a long-distance phone company, you should pay attention to advertisements, as major phone companies frequently promote price reductions to attract customers, allowing you to make an informed choice based on your personal needs.
In general, using phone cards is cheaper than using long-distance phone companies. For example, the average price per minute for phone cards for calls to mainland China is CAD 0.20-0.40, while phone company prices range from CAD 0.30-0.60. However, the latter is more convenient than the former, and both have their advantages. Of course, in Canada, you can use both methods simultaneously, as long-distance phone companies typically do not charge a monthly fee; you will only receive a bill at the end of the month after usage.