If you live in Canada, roaming is a big deal – and we are not talking about a hiking opportunity, but wireless roaming with your cellphone. The Big Three all have different forms of roaming plans – Rogers’ Roam Like Home plan is very popular and they are constantly expanding to different countries. Bell introduced their Roam Better program back in November in the US and now they are expanding it to 100 international locations, such as Europe, the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico, Central and South America, Asia, Oceania, South Africa, the Middle East and Mexico.
Roam Better is a little different from the other programs in that it does not use any of the customer’s existing data plan – it carries with it 100MB of data with the monthly fee you pay. For instance, Roam Better in the US (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) will cost you $5 per day for 100MB of LTE-based roaming and if you use up your 100MB of data, you will get a text message asking if you want to add another 100MB of data for an additional $5. Your daily Roam Better data, including any additional data purchased, expires at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time no matter where you are roaming, so you cannot carry any data over until the next day.
Outside the US and priced like Telus, Roam Better will cost you $10 per day. This add-on will give you 100MB of data and unlimited calling and texts per day, and again, this data will not come out of your original data bucket. If you need more data, Bell will send you a text message with a link to add an additional 100MB for $10. All of your daily Roam Better data, including any additional data you may have purchased, expires at 11:59 pm Eastern time no matter where you are. The international Roam Better plan operates exactly like the one designed for the US…it just costs $10 per day rather than $5.
All of Bell’s customers can participate in the program whether you have a personal or business account and are in a Share Plan that includes unlimited local or nationwide calling. To get Roam Better, simply text ROAM to 7626. Once you enroll, Roam Better will automatically provide affordable daily rates for each day you call, text or use data with your phone when roaming in any of the Roam Better destinations. If Roam Better is not available for your travel destination, or if you don’t have an eligible Share plan, you can purchase one of Bell’s affordable Travel Passes.