Wireless Canada

Welcome to Wireless Canada!

2010-01-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Wireless Canada!

This site was created to inform Canadians on the different mobile services offered by different companies. We hope to guide you in your purchase and allow you to purchase plans your really needs, maybe without scams like hidden charges.

Here are the companies we cover:

Bell Mobility
Solo Mobile
Rogers Wireless
Fido
Telus
Koodo
Virgin Mobile

There will be some posts on cellular technology or alternatives.We talk for example of the iPhone by Apple, Google Android or BlackBerry by RIM (an Ontario company).

About 3 companies, except Videotron (only in Quebec), should soon be introduced to the number of companies offering mobile services.

Public Mobile
Mobile Wind
Mobilicity (Dave Wireless)

Indeed, the posts will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each mobiles companies. It is important to read our descriptions, but never forget to always read contracts before signing.

Comments are more than welcome! Enjoy your visit!

iPhone, Android, Blackberry... ?

2010-01-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

To see a comparison of the market share of key models and OS, please click on the graphic above.

iPhone 4G (Apple)

The iPhone is certainly the best known of smartphones. Available first at Rogers / Fido across Canada, it is now also sold by Bell and Telus. This phone was developed by Apple in California and is now the most popular of all mobile phones in the world!

The iPhone is closely connected to the iTunes Store, which can be used to buy songs or to obtain thousands of different applications. However, the iPhone is extremely expensive, both to purchase (199 $ or 299 with a 3 year contract) and monthly (65 or 85 $ / month depending on package)

Advantages:

Prestige linked to the reputation of the phone
Very large quantity of applications (approx. 100 000)
Several accessories compatible

Disadvantages:

Huge cost to purchase
Monthly cost prohibitive

Android (Google)

The biggest difference between Android and the iPhone is how they are created and thought. First, the iPhone is a the telephone and the software that composes the phone itself. Neither can be sold separately, compared to Android.

Indeed, Android, is a software that can be installed on more mobile, just as Windows is on PCs. Google does not develop any phone (except maby the Nexus One), but Android has presented several manufacturers. The advantage is the wider distribution of software through several different cellphones by others companies like Samsung (Omnia or Galaxy), Sony (Xperia) or HTC (Dream, Magic or Diamond).

Android is now available at Rogers, Bell and Telus and is accessible anywhere in Canada where facilities exist.

Google has taken care to optimize its services, including research on Google, GPS powered by Google Maps, GMail, etc. To download various applications, Android connects itself to Android Market, which is the equivalent of the iTunes Store

Advantages:

Great models offers
Easy to use, with good features
Relatively low cost to purchase and plan similar to "normal" cellular
Software that anyone can edit as needed

Disadvantages:

"Only" 20 000 applications

BlackBerry (RIM, Canadian company)

The BlackBerry, created by the Ontario company Research in Motion, is the main model in the business world. According to RIM, in November 2008,the BlackBerry had about 21 million users worldwide. In June 2010, RIM has announced they sold up to 100 millions BlackBerry due to record sales (they sold 11,7 millions BlackBerry in the first trimester).

The leading models are PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), so phones that contain everything a worker in the business may need: email, address book and phone numbers, etc.

Click here for the playlist of their advertising on their official YouTube channel

Advantages:

Many models to suit your needs and your budget
Easy to use, with good features
Relatively low cost to purchase and package similar to cellular "normal"

Disadvantages:

Less customizable than the iPhone or Android, probably cause the BlackBerry are not "toys" (even if they contain some games, they principally contains apps for business workers).

Official Websites

New mobile operators

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Videotron (A subsidiary of the media conglomerate Quebecor)

Videotron has already launch a mobile service. This company has recently establish a roaming agreement with Rogers wireless service provider, under which Videotron will roam exclusively on the Rogers network across Canada to guarantee a nationwide service. In july 2008, Videotron officially acquired spectrum licenses for advanced wireless services from Industry Canada auction. The licenses cover Quebec, Toronto and south-east Ontario. The network is expected to be fully operational in fall 2010 in the province of Quebec.

The advantage of Videotron will be "all-in-one" packages. If you're planing to add the Videotron's mobile service to your Television, Telephony and Cable package, it's strongly suggested to wait until they launch their new 3G+ mobile service, probably in fall 2010.

The Videotron's Coming Soon website.

Wind Mobile

Wind Mobile, the brand-new Globalive Wireless name, has already announced their plans. They offer plans that compete with Koodo, Fido, Solo Mobile and Virgin Mobile, but really cheaper.

Let's compare rapidly. A voice plan (15$) with Wind Mobile offers two times more minutes than Fido and for an limited time you have unlimited text around Canada. Moreover, there is no contract with Wind Mobile.

Wind Mobile is or will be available all around Canada except in Quebec.

Official website

Public Mobile

The operator Public Mobile is offering two different plans. First, for 24$ a month you have unlimited talk. If you add 16$ you may have unlimited talk and unlimited text. This is not for everyone but can be useful for people who want all unlimited.

For know they are only available in Toronto and Montreal.

Official website

Mobilicity (previously DAVE Wireless)

Mobilicty are only available in the area of Toronto. They have announced plans to launch service around Canada. They are supposed to be available at Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver in late 2010.

Mobilicity did not acquired spectrum in Quebec.

Official website

Koodo

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Koodo Mobile is a subsidiary of Telus founded in 2008. Kood was founded to provide cheaper services, per-second billing and no hidden fees. Their target audience are students or people who do not want to spend a fortune on a cellphone as Solo Mobile, Fido or Virgin Mobile.

With Koodo Mobile, you do not sign normal contracts. For more information about this, click here: Koodo Tab.

Since early October, Telus owns, in partnership with Bell, a HSPA network in order to offer the iPhone and other smartphones. For now, nothing indicates that Koodo will offer the iPhone. Recently, Telus told the decision of sharing their HSPA network with their subsidiary wasn't taken yet.

Even if Koodo didn't propose awesome models, Koodo propose, for instance, the LG Shine, the LG KEYBO, the Samsung Slyde and the Samsung Intensity.

Benefits

Per-second billing
No hidden charges (access charges Network + 911)
No activation fee
2 year contract or prepaid cards

Disadvantages

Less professional than Telus or Mike (The Business line of Telus)
Has only few models of cellulars

Telus

2009-12-20T09:20:00.000-08:00

Telus Canada is a company based in Burnaby, British Columbia. Founded in 1999 with the merger of Telus Alberta and BC Tel, Telus is now the second largest telecommunications company in Canada after BCE (Bell). Telus create Koodo in 2008.

Since early October, Telus owns, in partnership with Telus, a HSPA network in order to offer the iPhone and other smartphones.

Benefits

Coverage across Canada

Disadvantages

Expenses system access fee ($ 35 more to signing the contract)
Hidden fees (from 7 to 10 dollars more per month than the price proudly displayed)
Charge per-minute (If you talk 10 seconds, you pay for one minute)

Fido

2009-12-19T16:24:00.000-08:00

Fido is a mobile phone company with headquarters in Montreal. This Quebec company was bought by Rogers Wireless in mid-2000, making it is subsidiary.

Fido is mainly specialized for provide cheaper services, no hidden fees and the first in Canada providing per-second billing. As a subsidiary of Rogers, it uses its network and serves the Apple iPhone and phones with Android.

Fido has been named "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Postpaid Wireless Service” in 2007 by JD Power and Associates.

Benefits

Per-second billing
No hidden charges (access charges Network + 911)
No activation fee
2 year contract or prepaid cards
Fido is the only company to warn you, by sending you an alert, when you use 75% of your minutes and 100%
Fido dollars (5% monthly fee are processed in Fido dollars that you can exchange for getting accessories)

Disadvantages

Less professional, don't offer any business solution

Rogers

2009-12-19T15:40:00.000-08:00

Rogers Wireless (formerly known as Rogers AT &T Wireless) is a major Canadian cellular company. In 2004, Rogers Wireless has purchased Fido who became its subsidiary.

Rogers was, for a limited time, the only company (with its subsidiary Fido) to offer Apple iPhone in Canada. It is also no longer the only company to offer phone powered by Google's Android system.

Benefits

Exclusive brand phones, including Sony Ericsson, often shared with Fido.

Disadvantages

Expenses system access fee ($ 35 more to signing the contract)

Hidden fees (from 7 to 10 dollars more per month than the price proudly displayed)

Charge per-minute (If you talk 10 seconds, you pay for one minute)

Virgin Mobile

2009-12-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

Virgin Mobile is a brand used by many mobile phone service providers operating in many countries, like in the United Kingdom, India, Australia, Canada, South Africa, the United States, France and Canada. Virgin Mobile has been created to provide cheaper services, per-second billing and no hidden fees.

Bell Mobility acquired Virgin Mobile Canada in May 2009 for $ 142 million.

Since early October, Bell owns, in partnership with Telus, a HSPA network in order to offer the iPhone and other smartphones.Virgin Mobile Canada is supposed to launch iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in Virgin Mobile Retail Stores and online in Canada in the coming months, as announced here.

Benefits

Per-second billing
No hidden charges (access charges Network + 911)
No activation fee
2 year contract or prepaid cards

Disadvantages

Less professional than Bell
Has only few models of cellulars

Solo Mobile

2009-12-19T07:55:00.000-08:00

Solo mobile (or SoloMobile) is a subsidiary of Bell Mobility. Solo has been created to provide cheaper services, per-second billing and no hidden fees. Their target audience are students or people who do not want to spend a fortune on a cellphone.

Since early October, Bell owns, in partnership with Telus, a HSPA network in order to offer the iPhone and other smartphones.
Unfortunately, nothing indicates that Solo Mobile will offer the iPhone in the next months. However, another subsidiary of Bell, Virgin Mobile, should offer the iPhone.

Benefits

Per-second billing
No hidden charges (access charges Network + 911)
No activation fee
2 year contract or prepaid cards

Disadvantages

Less professional than Bell
Has only few models of cellulars

Bell Mobility

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Bell was founded by the inventor of the first practical telephone Graham Bell.

Bell offer many cellular with many companies, as LG, Motorola, Nokia, Kyocera, Samsung* , Sanyo, Palm*, RIM (Blackberry), HTC.
*Bell has signed exclusivities with these brand.

Benefits

Bell gives you access to Canada's largest 3G network.
Exclusivities for cellulars
Possibiliy of combination with Bell ExpressVu, Bell Internet and Bell Home Phone

Disadvantages

Hided prices ("taxes" add to your monthly service, from 7 to 10 dollars)
Per-minute billing (you talk 10 second, you pay for one minute)
Connection charge (35 dollars, once, when you active it)