2 quick questions on e-sim and tv channels

@Cserebogar

Greetings:  I have been here 18 months.  I am not from Canada, but rather from the USA.  I assume you can get the offer I got originally from a company called "Mint Mobile". It isd $15/month if paid for in one year installments (there may be an intro 3 month to try out for $45, which was how I initially started.  It has been perfect for me (as opposed to paying $75 + taxes with t-mobile., which could easily be US$100/month or more.  My esim goes to the.). Like T-mobile, it primarily uses the Vivo network, although I think it can link up to Claro.  It is a straightforward way to get 2-factor authentication if you have bank accounts or even US government websites such as IRS that REQUIRE you to have this type of service available.  Texts are 5 cents each I believe, either incoming or outgoing.  Receiving calls are free, which calls to USA at 25 cents/minute, so you can receive calls on your old number as well.  For outgoing calls, I use Skype for $2.99/month unlimited to USA.

I wish I had had this information.my first 12 months here, I was paying a $50 flat add on for unlimited calls to USA.  Skype will also work off the vivo network as a VOIP call I believe, but I do not make many cals back to the USA from my cell phone.  The other SIM is a physical one (I also have vivo for that, although I wish I had claro, for some reason they keep saying "my cpf was locked" which was BS as I had no problem opening a bank account, or for any other reason for that matter.

It simply was not worth the uphill battle to get claro, although it seems they have a broad and practical monopoly with hotspots in Sao Paulo.  Oh well, not the best idea to be making calls on the street anyways.

I hope this is extremely helpful information.

Roderick

About Sky... I have been here for 16 years (from the UK) and the Sky is a version of the US Sky so it will have several of the shows you need - so long as you pay the price for the package you need. Plus some equipment will record, so make sure you take that option. Be aware that some shows may be in Portuguese but you can have the option to turn on subtitles.

@Cserebogar

Yes. I use a virtual USA/Canada phone number exactly for this purpose. I pay $3 per month which includes unlimited text messages, unlimited chat by text in app of your choice, and 120 minutes voice talk to Canada, USA per month. I can send you a direct message if you like about it. You do not even need an eSim. Its just a voip #. You can even try it out for 30 days to see if you like it. Which banks do you have? I will ask some friends in Canada if they get text from those Canadian banks without issues.

Also you do not even need celular service to use it. WiFi does just fine.

I also have a Brazilian SIM card in my phone for R $30 per month (about $6usd/8cad) which gives me unlimited talk/text to brasil and 25GB data.

*I found this Virtual VOIP, XMPP protocol in the attemp to wean myself away from privacy invasive companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook/Whattsapp, etc.

Skype for me is a no no. It is owned by Microsoft. Whattsapp is Zuck/Facebook. So using any products related to these companies can, or will record, or can/will give your info over to Big Bro.

I now use Signal Messenger app for communicating with friends and family and XMPP Virtual Phone number for everyone else like banks etc.

I was a heavy Google Voice user for about 10 years (but no more) since it was free and good when traveling.

Im very happy with my decisions and am glad to help whenever I can.

I've actually taken the privacy/security road for 3 years now and never looked back.

I met wonderful people that helped me get started and now I am basically able to walk by myself.

I stay connected though to them all as we all need to be a part of a community to improve our life or make it more efficient at least.

@Cserebogar

oh one little kink i had to work out.

On rare occasions you will need to order a special RSA device from banks. It gives you 2FA 6 digit code that refreshes every 30 seconds or so. You can use it worldwide and the battery lasts about 5 years.

@Cserebogar

While in Brazil, I only use a pre-paid Claro SIM and phone. I do all of my Itau and Santander banking on that phone using their Aps. When I leave Brazil, I stop paying Claro and I lose my Claro phone, however, that phone and my Aps work just fine on the internet in my US home, without phone service.