> Not sure if Rogers et al up offer a prepaid monthly plan or similar,
> but wouldn't that, and a new SIM card be obtainable w/o a Canadian
> address?  (hopefully I'm not misunderstanding how the tech works)

Yeah, most of the Canadian cell providers offer pay-as-you-go service
- I think they hate pay-as-you-go because they can't gouge you on a
regular basis.

I am stunned that they didn't suggest pay as you go as an alternative
(no commission I guess?).  I never had to show any evidence of my
address to get a SIM card (in Vancouver) but I get why the contract
would need that (so they can send the repo men around).  Anyway, next
time, if you get stuck, I am sure a Canadian will offer you the use of
their address should you not decide to use the current one (1 Vanagon
Place, Hwy 1, Canada... no, I don't know the postcode...)

Anyway, both Rogers and Fido (same company on the inside) offer a
$10/month for 100MB  data package on the pay as you go service.  If
you just want email and the odd map lookup, this is perfect.   See the
"data-add-on" tab on
http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless-products/addons - top the
phone up with $20 and you should be good.  Be warned, the shiesters
make your credit 'expire' after 30 days unless you add more (you can
add more credit and get a longer expiration - eg, I put $100 on it and
it lasts a year - just have to remember to refill it or else it will
expire again - which reminds me I need to do that) - and of course,
you need an unlocked phone to use a different SIM - but that is
another conversation.

Hope that helps keep you online,

Tom