WIND Mobile launches in Canada, T-Mobile gets a spectrum buddy

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]

[Viakenny Posted Dec 16th 2009 6:32PM]

@Valicore yes, Globalive, WIND Canada's parent company, is controlled by Orascom Telecom, the parent of WIND Italy and WIND Greece.

[cmajewsk Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:24PM]

I like BGR's pic better...http://bit.ly/7HUUNA

[jimr1234567890 Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:35PM]

I like there data plan and the explanation of 'Unlimited' data:

Fair Usage Policy for data: To support unlimited data usage for everyone on our network, we have a Fair Usage Policy. If you exceed 5GB of data usage within any given month, we won’t cap your usage but we may slow your speed so that all Customers can better share the network and enjoy quality access to the Internet. This will likely only happen if you use file sharing software or download large files from the Internet. Media streaming contributes to the use of bandwidth and may, if left permanently on, inadvertently drive usage beyond 5GB in a month.

[David G Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:41PM]

For a company called WIND Mobile they sure do have a lot of string instruments.

[Hazdaz Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:50PM]

Hearing about these prices up in Canada proves to me even more how much we are getting raped down here in the US for our mobile service.

[Corazu Posted Dec 16th 2009 5:21PM]

@Hazdaz
You're kidding me right? We're strangers to a free cell market, this Wind is new to us up here. We've been stuck with the Big 3 conspiring and price-fixing the market with no respect for the consumer market at all. And the CRTC allowed them to do it because they're outdated and useless.

You have plenty of choice and far better mobile plans in the US, don't even start.

[Hazdaz Posted Dec 16th 2009 5:36PM]

@Corazu

I'm trying to find a semi-recent map of the world which listed out cell phone costs and unfortunately I can't locate it right now.

However I didn't recall seeing Canada being vastly more expensive than what the US was paying - however I do recall that we (US) were both way slower but also more expensive than most other 1st-world nations.

If Canada is even more expensive, than that's pretty sad, but I definitely consider around $40/mo voice or around $90/mo for voice and data to be ridiculous... especially when you consider how slow it is. And that is why I absolutely refuse to pay that much. There might be some limitations on WIND's $15/mo voice plan but the price sure as hell sounds great.

[Shlooky Posted Dec 16th 2009 5:37PM]

@Hazdaz

I pay $55 a month with Bell, both voice and data

[Hazdaz Posted Dec 16th 2009 5:45PM]

@Shlooky

$55 for EACH or $55 total, because if it's total, you are going to have to explain how come you pay so little. My AT&T Voice and TXT plan comes out to almost that much and I don't have ANY data.

[Shlooky Posted Dec 16th 2009 6:00PM]

@Hazdaz

Check out bell.ca and look under combo phone plans and combo iphone plans.
Cheers!

[Hazdaz Posted Dec 16th 2009 6:17PM]

@Shlooky

I think Corazu should be looking at that site - he's the one claiming that Canada has high cell phone prices... I personally would be all over the deal that you mentioned if it was available down here.

[Shlooky Posted Dec 16th 2009 9:10PM]

@Hazdaz
Hehe I know, everyone is so quick to bash here. Since Bell turned it's HSPA network on, they have been offering great plans and phones, and apperantly they just launched the Nokia N97 and Samsung Galaxy Android phone.

[justmoe1 Posted Dec 16th 2009 11:28PM]

@Shlooky there currently is no 55.00 plan and none of the data plans offered come close to fido/rogers. i pay 30.00 for 6gb tethered. which is also better then wave as it caps at 5gb.

[Diggs Posted Dec 17th 2009 4:24PM]

@Hazdaz

I'm paying about 100 bucks a month (after taxes and fees) for my iPhone data and voice plan with Rogers. My friend pays about 80 a month for his Palm Pre through Bell.

[lerxst Posted Dec 17th 2009 11:40PM]

@Shlooky Why don't you show us exactly what you get for that $55. Eff all I'll bet.

[Shlooky Posted Dec 16th 2009 5:35PM]

So they are selling phones outright
They offer ok plans
Only available in Calgary and Toronto (for now)

Unfortunately those buying phones from Wind will have to be city dwellers because the minute they leave the city or travel, they are out of luck, same thing happened to Fido before being bought out buy Rogers.
I am with Bell now, and the only thing I hope for is to drive pricing down.

[Fanboi Posted Dec 16th 2009 5:39PM]

Are these guys affiliated with the Italian Mobile company Wind

www.wind.it

They have the same logo

[Viakenny Posted Dec 16th 2009 6:35PM]

@Fanboi yes. WIND Canada is owned by Globalive, 65% owned by Orascom Telecom, who owns WIND Italy and WIND Greece.

[bollocks Posted Dec 16th 2009 9:55PM]

I was excited about it until I heard that they will have 3 year contracts, why is a 3 year contract acceptable?

[ryguy81 Posted Dec 16th 2009 10:17PM]

@bollocks

They don't have them

shop.windmobile.ca/ProductCatalog/WhyWIND/

6. Contracts
Um. We don't have them.

[lizardboy Posted Dec 16th 2009 10:34PM]

Until they start covering Muskoka and other parts of cottage country I don't think this will be viable for my family. However, I am very much impressed by the idea of free province wide calling from WIND's HOME zone even if the HOME zone is still too small. Rogers charges long distance even when you're still on their network. A pain when you're away at school.

[Diggs Posted Dec 17th 2009 4:07PM]

Let's hope that WIND forces the others to lower their data plans. More competition is definitely welcome.

[lerxst Posted Dec 17th 2009 11:42PM]

@Diggs Exactly! You don't have to leave anyone. You can use Wind as leverage. I will. As soon as the Milestone launches up here the call will be simple: please refer to Wind mobile for my voice plan. Data? I'll give you $15/mth for 1GB. Oh and drop the handset by $200. I'll get it, guaranteed.

[Pies Posted Dec 17th 2009 6:33PM]

Why do you keep referring to this kind of plans as "unlimited"?