Despite some
last-minute drama with the government, Canada's WIND Mobile has launched today, bringing to the table an interesting new low-cost competitor to the nation's giant incumbents, Rogers, Bell, and Telus. Though its network -- based on
last year's AWS auction -- lacks the footprint of the bigger guys, the pricing is pretty compelling: its $15 voice plan offers twice the minutes of low-cost competitors Koodo and Fido (which are really just fronts for Telus and Rogers, anyway) and CAD $35 (about $33) wins you unlimited data on your BlackBerry. Speaking of BlackBerrys, WIND is rolling out the
Bold 9700 as one of its launch devices alongside the HTC Maple (known as the
Dash 3G in the States), the Samsung
Gravity, the Huawei U519, and the E181 USB modem. Service is only live in Toronto and Calgary at the moment, but the limited distribution doesn't seem to be holding people back -- WIND's site has been up and down all morning.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted December 16th 2009 2:03PM
I really do hope that WIND has a positive influence on pricing and competition in Canada. Current cell plans are just insane.
@Raven
Rogers buys them out, and things go back to "normal" in 3.....2....1...
@roman1290
Except they can't sell anything until 2013 or 2014, so 4 years of a good carrier at least.
@Apocrypha
I really hope this shows Canadians that we don't have to put up with silly contracts and outrageous fees.
I've always wondered how all three (3) carriers were able to charge system access fees and have ridiculous contracts and penalties when they are in fact competing against each other... hum..... it raises many questions..
@roman1290 They aren't going to get bought out anytime soon, they are backed by an international carrier Orascom that is much bigger than Rogers.
@Raven
If only they sell the iPhone, I'd switch immediately.
@roman1290 I don't think so. If you look at Orascom, both the telecom and construction arms, their total value (assets included) is about 2-3 times that of Rogers. Part of me is happy that we do have legislation in place to protect domestic enterprise...the other part - you know; the one that gets screwed every month - not so happy.
Unlocked Nexus One (hopefully) + $35 unlimited data = WIN
@roman1290
I'm waiting for this and service in Waterloo...
@roman1290 This is what I yearn for in my deepest slumber :(
@roman1290
or Nokia N900...
@roman1290 Wind currently doesn't allow you to bring your unlocked phone over. Really hope this changes SOON, because I want to use a Google ADP-1 on their network so bad.
@roman1290
Exactly what I've been thinking once I heard about the Nexus. Unlimited data for $35 can't be beat. Slap that with the Nexus and it's over. Really hope we see it come out in North America and not just the US. 2010 Q1 I hope...
@roman1290
My thoughts exactly!
@Plazmic Flame I just hope they cover more than Toronto and Ottawa first. The nearest tower to me is over 300 KM away! Another thing I'm hoping, though not being over-obsessed with is that Rogers will take notes. They could easily throw a few things out there to make them popular (Pay-as-you-go data similar to Virgin USA's Broadband2Go would keep me as a customer).
a mighty wind is blowing
I'm completely missing the point/meaning of the picture. What the ???
Pic reference: A Mighty Wind.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310281/
@Alan Strangis Cool, thanks.
**frantically looks for contract documents to see fees for leaving current network to join wind**
Can I bring my phone along? GSM?
@3Stars If it will operate on the 1700/2100MHz band, sure.
It's Koodo, not Koodoo.
@Gad Get Indeed it is!
Yay for Christopher Guest!
F U Rogers and Belus. Smell the Wind. That low price plan looks good for the casual user.
Does this mean I could use an N900 (900/1700/2100 MHz bands) on Winds' 3G? I really want an N900 (OR and HD2) and I don't want to wait till they make the US one.. ya kNOw? with 850 and the other band for GD Rogers Wireless.
If someone could let me know props.
@Rooboy Yes Roo, that's correct! Including the N900 and the upcoming Nexus One among many more to come! And vice versa with T-Mobile USA.
@SParklingCYaNide Thanks ! That's unreal, hopefully their 3G doesn't suck like I hear T-Mobs does.. :)
@Rooboy T-Mobiles 3G is very consistent and fast. The only thing that people complain about is comparable coverage but that's been changing everyday.
@Rooboy Technically, I believe you could. Administratively, Wind won't let you for the moment. http://www.windmobile.ca/support/faq/phones-wind/#question-1
This is probably because they're worried people would try to use unlocked Rogers 850/1900 phones.
@Rooboy Technically, I believe it's possible. Unfortunately, Wind won't let you use a phone they don't sell at the moment. http://www.windmobile.ca/support/faq/phones-wind/#question-1
I think it's to prevent people from trying to use an unlocked Rogers (850/1900) phone, which wouldn't work at all for them.
@j0no Dammit. The post didn't show up despite multiple reloads until after I posted again. D:
@j0no I noticed how the first question says you have to buy their phones so you can come and go as you please, but further down it says their phones are locked into WIND.
WTF? how can I come and go if it's locked into them only?
I was really hoping they would just let me keep my current phone for the time being until something like the Milestone or Nexus One comes along.
@decypherSMC They run on SIM cards, just get a quadband/worldwide phone...
1) Buy and activate their cheapest phone currently offered (they have SIM cards, activate that with the phone)
2) Get "unlocked quadband/worldwide 'phone X'" and swap the SIM
I'm running an HTC Touch Pro2 on Rogers (on a Pay+Go SIM), with internet (not the data plan). But I had to buy a rogers phone+SIM, activate those, and swap the card to my TP. Thus I avoided having to pay a data plan (and a physical plan/contract) with them. With the WIND, I can see the scenario different, as it's, "just get my current phone working on your network already" (counting it does have radio for their frequency)
Finally some more carrier in Canada's network that isnt owned by Telus, Bell, or rogers
Welcome to the game Wind!!! I think you're going to be bringing some really interesting things to shake up the Canadian telecoms industry!
That being said I live in the USA but its really Exciting to see this happen, WHoot!
The most exciting part is that it could enable N900 goodness! I'm not unhappy with Rogers but I do want an N900... And coincidentally I am not on contract.
Imagine that...free Market competition.
Has anyone used Wind's price plan to negotiate something better out of the big 3? Thinking about terminating early or bargaining for something.
@decypherSMC : I'd like to know this too. If you could argue with Rogers/Bell etc that their rates are ridiculous compared to Wind, can you work something out.
Example: I pay $35 a month for 150/1000 daytime/evening minutes, plus $12 for voicemail/caller ID and 125 texts. Add to that ~$8 for services charge, I'm stuck with a $55 /month plan + taxes.
With Wind, unlimited province-wide calling, unlimited text and caller ID only runs me $40 a month.
@decypherSMC
People are already report that the big 3 have plans to counter the launch of WIND. Best thing to do is to just call them up and find out. I think someone mentioned Fido offering a "Nobel Peace" plan or something, lol. Don't know the legitimacy behind that but I'm sure they are reacting and offering.
@iamnotafish Called Rogers up yesterday. The guy I talked to said he had never heard of Wind Mobile, and said well we don't offer anything cloes to what I was talking about and I said fine I'll cancel my plan. Got put on hold for awhile and then the woman that finally came on chatted with me about my plan and minutes and what Wind had and then knocked off some money from my bill (lowered my value pack from 12 to 10 and waived the system access) so instead of 40.70 it's going to be 31.75 and apparently now I have 2500 text messages or something. We'll see how it goes when my bill arrives.
I thought Canada had Eh-T&T already.
@supremehustle Really? :)
@supremehustle We don't need more shit up here.
@benjgvps isnt rogers a AT&T ?
If you never leave the city I could see how Wind could be attractive....otherwise, for the 99% of the rest of us, the "roaming" charges are going to completely kill the bank account.
Not to mention the fact that Canadian cell phone companies still charge domestic long distance.
Wind is a step in the right direction in a situation that requires a huge leap.
@ryleyinstl
Just like Fido prior to Rogers... most who used Fido were urbanites who rarely left the city. Roaming minutes made up less than 5% of usage. In my case in 5 years i had 23 minutes roaming on Telus
WIND? I don't see a single oboe.
Looks more like STING to me.
Is this WIND connected to the Italian provider Wind?