Extreme has WiFi, as does the conference hotel, but if you're out on the town or staying somewhere else, you can check here for hotspots at Ile sans fil or here.

Because Montreal is so cosmopolitan, international phone cards are plentiful and cheap.

You can get prepaid SIM cards at Rogers or Fido locations. (I haven't done this personally, but the vendors and locations listed seem reasonable.)

In Montreal, the lowly pay phone is plentiful, cheap, and functional. At least those owned by Bell Canada.

[As of 2005: Verizon Wireless users can ask to go on the "North America's Choice" plan (the customer rep I worked with was able to set me up with it for a week). You lose free in-network calling and have a smaller pool of minutes, but you will not have the ~0.70 (US) /minute roaming charges. You'll need to switch to it and reprogram your phone (*228) before you arrive in Canada. Obviously, a SIM/GSM phone would be simpler. But Verizion's not geared for that.]

Would anyone care to comment on getting a local prepaid SIM card for use in a GSM cell phone? (Don't forget to unlock your phone before arriving.)