![wifi-1989627_640.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVB651jknW5vAew8HcvgTxdUiz8F91BbtQtZCsc9buctF/wifi-1989627_640.png)

So I had a cell plan with unlimited data using my now retired Windows phone. It was with a discount company that had spotty but okay service and cost me $60 a month . I would barely get a signal in my office when I was working a few years ago. 99% of my calling (which I rarely do nowadays) and texting/emailing would occur at home or at the office. Never in between locations. Lets just say I was not a fan of using my phone while walking or busing. 

When I had to leave my job, finances became tight. Very tight. I could not justify paying for this with the amount of time I would use it. I had to find something else. So I canceled my number. Around this time I had purchased a cheap iphone 4 for wifi email, messaging and app access. My Windows phone just didn't have the apps I wanted. A friend asked me if I had heard of the Fongo app. I had not but I assumed it was like Skype calling without a dedicated number. You can't get numbers from Skype or other VOIP services in Canada because of the required 911 access. 

![texting-1490691_640.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfFFvfA5tf48dbyWdTSQtQYgKAHRKkPyQF3RFmnNSg5Ms/texting-1490691_640.jpg)

So I looked into it. Amazingly, I was able to get a free number for my local area code and it would work whenever I was connected to a wifi network. Which was most of the day. The cost for calling in Canada? **Free!**. They make their money from ads on the app and if you want to text it costs $2 a month. I use iMessage and Hangouts to communicate with people so I don't need it. 

This is not an advertising post as I get no money from Fongo for this. What is surprising is that so few people know about this and I'm sure the big telecommunications companies don't like this at all. If you don't need a number that needs 24hr access to a network this is a great deal. The only times I am off the network is in between wifi spots and if someone calls me during that time I have a free voice mail service. I love it and I save $720 a year! There are many other similar apps in the Apple store and Android play store that caters to American locations also.

**Edit: Save $720 a Year not Month!**