Hi Joy,

I just picked up a great (but not short term) cell phone alternative,
the  Vonage WiFi UTStarcom F1000:

http://www.vonage.com/device.php?type=F1000

It is a portable phone that uses WiFi and VOIP instead of cellular
service. Yes this means you can only make phone calls in wireless
hotspost, but it has free voicemail and all the perks. Plus you can
set it up to just about any area code, so you could set it up with a
202 area code and use it at the Second Cup in Halifax Nova Scotia and
talk to anyone in Washington DC for free. Perfect for the traveling
consultant.

Chris

On 5/30/06, Joy Hecht <jhecht@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> Hi guys,
>
> I'm going to be in Canada in my van for around a month this summer.  I've
> got a verizon cellphone, which works in Canada but they would charge me a
> serious fortune to use it, no free minutes or anything.
>
> I'm wondering if there are any options for getting a short-term cellphone
> for while I'm in Canada, and how much that might cost.
>
> Also, does anyone have any sense of how easy it is to find free wifi access
> on the eastern side of Canada - basically from Toronto to Newfoundland?
> Hopefully mostly Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
>
> Other suggestions about travel in that part of the world would be
> interesting too, of course!
>
>
>
> Joy
>
> ****************************************************************
> Joy Hecht
> and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
>
> For musings about life and the vanadventures:
> http://www.joyhecht.net
>
> ****************************************************************
>