Set-up and tips for traveling with your mobile device

In this article, we will give you some tips to use before you travel, and tricks related to usage and monitoring during your vacation to make sure you are always in control. 

Here is a list of topics we will be covering within this article:

Easy Roam covers more than 200+ destinations worldwide. For one daily fee, Easy Roam gives you access to data and minutes from your monthly plan plus unlimited text, so you can stay connected whenever you travel.

How to confirm you’re signed up for Easy Roam?

To ensure you’re properly covered and able to connect to a network, while abroad, you’ll need to have the following add-ons added to each line you would like to roam with. 

• US Easy Roam

• Easy Roam INTL

• International Voice Roaming

• International Data Roaming

Note: When you travel outside of Canada and US, make sure the Pay Per Use International Long Distance add on is added to your add-ons, in order to be able to make calls.

You could look up your add-ons by logging into Self Serve under the "Manage add-ons" section. 

If you don’t have a Self Serve account, Koodo Assist can help you set one up.

Adding Easy Roam is easy!

If you would like to add Easy Roam, simply text ROAM to 7626 and follow the steps to enable it. Texting to 7626 is free in Canada and while roaming, and it won’t activate the Easy Roam daily fee. It may take up to 30 seconds to receive a response from 7626.

Tip: Each phone number on your account needs to add Easy Roam individually

Visit koodo.com/easyroam for more information about Easy Roam, including the destinations that are covered and key details about how Easy Roam works.

Visit our Easy Roam FAQ page for additional help.

Data roaming is typically switched OFF by default in your mobile device’s settings. This setting must be switched on to use data with apps, including instant messaging (e.g. iMessage for iPhone and WhatsApp), browse the web and send or receive picture/video messages. To enable data roaming on your device, follow the device-specific instructions below.

iOS (Apple) devices:

1. Select Settings

2. Select Cellular

3. Select Cellular Data Options

4. Toggle Data Roaming ON. It will appear green when data roaming is enabled

Android devices:

1. Select Settings

2. Select Network and Internet

3. Select Mobile Network

4. Toggle ON Roaming - Connect to data services when roaming

 Hint: Reverse the steps to toggle data roaming OFF

Self Serve is the best way to monitor your monthly data usage. View your current usage in Self Serve. 

Data usage notifications:

You’ll continue to receive the same data usage notifications you’re used to getting at home while traveling with Easy Roam. This includes the amount of your monthly data used and if you’ve incurred any additional data charges from exceeding the data in your monthly plan. You’ll even be given the option to add a data top up when you reach your limit.

Hint:To receive or turn off alerts about your data usage, just check or uncheck the box in your Data Settings.

Welcome notifications sent to the device(s) that are roaming

When you arrive in another country, you will receive a welcome message. This message will confirm one of the following depending on how your mobile device is setup:

• If you have Easy Roam (as long as your destination is included in Easy Roam)

• If you’re not covered and will be subject to pay-per-use rates.

This message is sent as a text message to the user of the device that is roaming in another country. You will not be charged for receiving this message, and it will not activate the Easy Roam daily fee.

Hint: To ensure the account owner is aware of any potential roaming charges when any device on the account is roaming in another country, the welcome message will also be sent by email we have on file

If you leave Canada while data and data roaming is switched on in your mobile device’s settings, then roaming charges will most likely apply. This is because most devices regularly consume data through apps that run in the background and features used by apps, like location services. You have the option to switch data and data roaming off in your mobile device’s settings before traveling if you prefer to avoid roaming charges. If you’re just looking to make calls and send texts, this is a great way to avoid unexpected data charges.

To learn more about managing your device’s data roaming settings, see the section above about turning on data roaming.

If Easy Roam is enabled on your mobile device:

• The daily fee will automatically activate if you use data, send a text, make or receive a call in the US or one of the 200+ International destinations that are covered.

• Once activated, you get access to your monthly rate plan until 11:59 pm in the time-zone you are traveling on the day you first use data, send a text and make or receive a call.

• If you don’t want to use Easy Roam the next day, then you must turn data and data roaming off in your mobile device’s settings before 11:59 pm in the time-zone you are traveling.. This will ensure you won’t be accidentally charged for another day. Since incoming texts won’t activate Easy Roam, just refrain from making or answering calls and sending texts to avoid activating Easy Roam again.

For more information about how you will be charged while traveling, visit the support article: Understanding how you will be charged for roaming.

To confirm the mobile network coverage for your destination, our friends over at TELUS have made a very helpful interactive map.  Mobile network coverage map for international traveling.

If you’re having trouble getting your device to work, see the troubleshooting tips in the support article: Troubleshoot mobile device issues while traveling.

 Learn how to make calls and send texts while traveling

To get help on how to make calls or send texts while traveling in the US or abroad, view the support article: Make a call or send a text when traveling

An important tip about iMessage and instant messaging apps:

iMessage on iPhone (e.g. when you receive blue messages from other iPhone users) and other instant messaging apps (e.g. WhatsApp) use data, and not text messages. If you continue to use iMessage or instant messaging without enough data in your monthly rate plan for Easy Roam then additional data charges will apply.

Getting around with GPS

Although GPS itself doesn’t require data to locate you (blue dot), loading the map with all the street names, directions, and businesses does. To get around in a country you’re traveling in without triggering Easy Roam, make sure to download the map of the area you’re visiting offline.

To download offline maps:

1. Open the Google Maps app Maps.

2. At the bottom, tap Settings Settings and then Offline maps.

3. Tap Select your own map Select your own map.

4. Move the map to cover the area you'd like to download.

5. Tap Download Download

View the support article Google Maps when offline to learn more.

Once you return to Canada, you will receive a welcome back SMS notification to confirm you are no longer roaming. At this time you may be wondering how much you’ve spent on roaming and what exactly will show up on your bill. At this time it is not possible to confirm your final roaming charges until you receive this summary in your applicable monthly bill. If your trip spanned more than one bill cycle, then the applicable roaming charges will appear on all bills covering the period when you were traveling and using your device.

For more information on what to expect on your bill, visit the support article: Understanding roaming charges on your bill.

If you were traveling with Easy Roam, you don't need to remove it from your account. You will only be charged when you use your device while roaming, so you can keep it on your account for your next trip.

If you’re ever using your device in Canada while close to the US border, you can get tips on how to avoid accidental roaming charges by viewing the support article: Understanding how you will be charged for roaming.

If Easy Roam does not cover the destination you are traveling to, then you will be billed at our pay-per-use rates.

Note: Without Easy Roam, pay-per-use charges can add up quickly. You should turn data and data roaming OFF in your device settings to avoid surprise charges.

You can confirm the applicable pay-per-use rates by searching your travel destination at koodo.com/payperuse and referring to the information near the bottom of the page.

Understanding how you will be charged while traveling
How to place calls when traveling
Troubleshoot mobile phone problems when traveling