So Wind Mobile opened it’s doors in Calgary and Toronto already for a few weeks now (as of December 16, 2009). They’re partnering up with Research in Motion (the Canadian golden child and makers of Blackberries) to offer heavily discounted Blackberries.
The Big Three (Telus, Rogers, and Bell) don’t seem too scared yet because Wind Mobile still needs to build their towers and expand their coverage network. What does that mean?
It means that right now if you call from Calgary to Vancouver, you either wouldn’t be able to, or you would get a roaming signal/ roaming fees (25 cents a minute… ouch!). Basically if you’re with Wind, you’re limited to calling people in Toronto or Calgary.
Edit: Jan. 18, 2010: Angry Chinese Driver who has written the motherload-of-all-comments-ever and has firsthand experience with Wind Mobile (he’s been following them from Day One and he’s a happy customer) asked me to edit the above statement to: you can call anyone in Canada (and the US, unlimited with a $10 add-on) as long as you’re calling FROM Toronto or Calgary, though with coverage expansion you will eventually be able to do it FROM Vancouver, Ottawa, Halifax, etc… Same goes for data.
Check out Wind Mobile’s voice plans here
Check out Wind Mobile’s add-ons here (data, voicemail, long distance etc.)
Hmm… since i just LOOOVE Pros and Cons lists, I’ll make one of Wind Mobile:
PROS:
- You can buy the cellphones/ smart phones at cost which means….
- You’re not locked into a ball and chain two or three year contract
- You can have unlimited data for $35 a month
- Wind Mobile won’t charge you system access fees
- They won’t charge you for the emergency 911 fee, or any incoming text or long distance calls
- The first month is free!
- Caller ID is included in their plans
- They have an unlimited voicemail (unlimited voicemail??) for extra $5 a month
- They have an unlimited data plan for $35
- 50 outgoing texts are included every month (but…50 is a bit chintzy, no?)
CONS:
- You’re buying cellphones/ smart phones at cost ($500 for a phone??)
- Right now, coverage is only limited to Toronto and Calgary
- They only have like.. 4 phones for sale right now (Blackberry Bold 9700, HTC Maple, Samsung Gravity 2, and the Huawei U7519) but I guess you could use your own unlocked phone
- The company is growing so fast that there are is not enough employees to keep up with troubleshooting, marketing, sales etc.
- Apparantly there are lots of dropped calls (doesn’t surprise me since they don’t have that many towers)
- If you call away from your “HOME” area, you’re charged big time (25 cents per minute!)
I think we can just wait and see. My recommendation? Let this company sort out its growing pains, and see in a few months time. I would not recommend jumping ship just yet (at least before you speak to your “BIG THREE” customer service reps!)
I was THISCLOSE to renewing my contract for another three years with Telus to get the iPhone (I was almost going to succumb to paying $399 for it if I didn’t have to be locked down for another three years). When the CSR told me that I would be tied down for another three years, I just decided I would wait another five months to get the promotional pricing and see what my options are then. The Telus CSR I talked to didn’t seem too bothered. The “Big Three” seems to be unfazed. I guess Wind Mobile will really have to revolutionize the market, instead of focusing on marketing.
Who knows, maybe Wind Mobile will “flow with the wind” and land here in Vancouver to further drive the price of data and minutes down…. hopefully Wind Mobile won’t be a sinking ship and be “gone with the wind”…get it?
Sorry, had to throw that in there.
For those of you in Calgary and Toronto, have you been switching over to Wind Mobile?
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Check out other posts related to this topic:
Telus, Rogers, and Bell better watch out, Wind Mobile is here
You might also want to check out these posts:
- Telus, Rogers, and Bell better watch out! Wind Mobile is Coming to Town!
- Step-by-step Guide on How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Contract
- Negotiating with Rogers Wireless- Head to Head Battle!
Tags: bell, cell phone, fido, mobile, rogers, telus, wind mobile
Hi, this is Mary and I work for Rogers. Your blog post raised some interesting points – you really did your research! There’s a few points that I thought are worth adding to this discussion, which may be of interest to you and your readers.
Regarding unlimited data plans – 95% of customers will end up paying for unlimited data they won’t use, rather than selecting a plan that makes more financial sense and fits their needs.
Plus, unlimited data isn’t actually unlimited because there are usage charges that can really add up $$. At Rogers we have a single nationwide data zone, so you can use your data anywhere with no extra charges.
You mentioned paying for cell phones at cost price. We’ve done that math – with Rogers you pay $226 for a Blackberry Bold 9700 and in 24 months you’re eligible for a subsidized upgrade to another device. With WIND, you pay $509 for a BlackBerry on day one and have no upgrade path.
Plus, Wind doesn’t offer bundles on TV, phone, wireless and Internet. With Rogers, customers can save over $25/month by bundling their products.
I hope I added some “value” here
Take care,
Mary
http://www.twitter.com/rogersmary
Hi Mary,
Thanks for your comment. Regarding the usage charges pertaining to unlimited data plans, you mean usage charges from roaming?
I guess the wireless provider one chooses depends on how frequently you would want a new phone. I think a two year contract can be reasonable, however, I feel that three years is tooo long (especially with all the new technology out). Who knows, maybe there will be a new iPhone 3Gsquared or a Blackberry storm 3 in the works! =)
I think if Wind had the at cost price of their phones, AND they had markedly decreased rates for their wireless services, then it would make some sense.
I believe that it is only in Canada that we have the ‘contracts’ and the subsidized prices for phones. I don’t believe our neighbours down south have this, or am i mistaken?
Also, unless you use your data to tether your laptop, lets say, I think if you have internet at home, most people don’t use that much data. Apparantly the blackberries compress data so you would only use about 100MB a month. iPhones on the other hand, average a monthly use of 400MB.
Thanks for taking the time to reply to my comment!
Yes, I was referring to roaming in relation to data. With Wind, data is limited to your footprint so you can expect data chargers to incur outside those zones. With Rogers, there is just one single nationwide data zone so you can use your data plan anywhere with no extra charges.
As for the contracts, they tend to be common in other markets as well, including the United States. It’s a way for customers to get the phone they want without having to make a big investment when they start their contract.
Take care and have a great weekend
-Mary
Thanks for your clarification @RogersMary.
While I appreciate the fact that Mary from Rogers takes the time to defend her company’s viability on various blogs (I only wished I had that level of customer service, or else I wouldn’t have left Rogers for WIND), she makes several misleading/misinfored statements (as do you, young!
:
-HANDSETS:
It is unfair to compare WIND’s no-contract price of the Bold to Rogers’ subsidized three-year contract price. Rogers = $599, WIND = $450. Sure, you may even get the Bold for free from Rogers, but you end up paying much more over the 24-36 months of its lifetime due to plan commitments, thus making a “big investment”. With WIND, you can upgrade/change your phone anytime without restrictions on price, unlike with Rogers. It is a well-known practise of the Big Three to artificially inflate the no-contract price in order to give you a “deal” on the contract price, or else WIND is offering their phones for less than cost.
As well, WIND is going to introduce a Koodo-like tab system so you don’t have to drop $450 all at once.
Furthermore, check out this report (http://www.gsmworld.com/newsroom/press-releases/2009/3448.htm), which predicts that over 177m AWS phones will be in use by 2013. Handsets are limited now, but the N900 (and potentially the Nexus One, as well as an AWS iPhone) is coming exclusively to WIND very, very soon. AWS is the future, which is why Rogers, Bell, and Telus all have their own 1700mHz frequencies ready to be deployed — when that happens, and it will, it’ll be possible to use a WIND phone on any network.
-PLANS:
If you try to grasp the feedback surrounding WIND’s plans, you’ll notice that it’s overwhelmingly WIND vs. discount carriers such as Fido, instead of Rogers. WIND wins, simply put — they can best even the “cheapest” of carriers. Don’t forget that Rogers continues to charge an SAF under a misleading different name, and that all the voice add-ons can make a $25 plan turn into $60 a month (as mine did). With WIND, you pay $45 maximum for everything voice.
Mary may try to make the case that unlimited plans won’t be used by “95% of customers” (citation, please?), but there’s a reason why carriers in Europe, Asia, and even the US offer them. AT&T and Verizon are currently in a price war for the cheapest unlimited plans!
Data is a completely different story — WIND’s marketing strategy is aimed at high-end, data-heavy users, not the casual surfer. That said, they ARE planning to introduce a mid-level data plan.
One more thing: with WIND, you have absolute freedom to pair a handset with a phone; let’s see Rogers allow you to have a prepaid $15 voice plan and no data with the Bold 9700, or any smartphone.
-COVERAGE:
Ah, yes, coverage. As a loyal WIND subscriber and fan, I will be the first to admit that WIND has experienced problems with coverage, and that their coverage areas are limited. However, it is completely unreasonable for Mary to exploit that as unyielding fact.
First of all, within the first two weeks, WIND coverage for me went from no signal half the time and 80% of calls dropped to 99% signal uptime and 3% of calls dropped — certainly comparable, if not better, than what I had with Rogers. Today, a month after launch, I get a random signal cut out maybe once a week, if even, and a dropped call when said signal cut out occurs. I bounce around the GTA from Mississauga to Downtown to Oshawa — pretty much the entire GTA coverage map.
As for the coverage area itself, what can one honestly expect for a brand-new company on a brand-new network? I am disappointed that Mary chose her words to imply that WIND’s unlimited data isn’t unlimited, when really it IS unlimited if you are within the coverage area, which is expanding as fast as possible. Edmonton and Ottawa will be included in “Home Zone” next month, and Vancouver a few months later, and coverage will be coast to coast (sans Quebec, where I hope they have a roaming agreement with Videotron) within a few years. It would be interesting to see what Mary admits about how long it took Rogers to achieve true coast to coast network coverage.
Complaining about the lack of coverage area while WIND is just starting out and Rogers/Bell/Telus have had a two-decade headstart is akin to 20-year-old me complaining that my baby cousin cannot write a lengthy dissertation about the merits Keynesian economics in a capitalist society, let alone form basic words — therefore, she must be doomed to failure forever, right?
With regards to roaming, the Rogers equivalent would be long distance, especially relevant since they have shrunk their local calling area (WIND’s local calling area is EVERYWHERE they have coverage!). Calling Toronto to Pickering, just a 20-min drive, will cost you your minute (which is normally $0.15-0.25) PLUS $0.35 long distance, so you’re already paying MORE than WIND’s roaming rate. And what if I was in sunny California? I’m still paying $0.25 a minute with WIND versus much, much more with Rogers. No matter how it’s spun, WIND’s roaming is still cheaper than Rogers’ long distance.
-CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Amusingly, I see that Mary fails to mention even once her company’s customer care, possibly because it is severely lacking in the “care” section (reference: http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/business-reviews/cellular-telephone-equipment-and-supplies/rogers-wireless-in-toronto-on-17608). The main reason I eagerly switched from Rogers to WIND was due to the fact that I had repeatedly horrible experiences dealing with customer service reps, even in situations where Rogers was at fault. WIND has promoted and continues to adhere to the philosophy of meaningful “conversations” and “listening” to fans, critics, customers, and employees. Within four weeks, I have received four calls from WIND employees asking if I’m still happy with the service, and what feedback I could give them to assist them in continually improving. I’m thrilled. Though not without their faults (see: port blocking issue), WIND still impresses by responding quickly (see: unblocking ports within 24 hours!).
And you’re right, young, as the company expands it will lose its personal touch; but look at the other carriers, are they any better? At the very least, WIND has the attitude of constant improvement and self-betterment, rather than merely trying to sell you a phone and a plan.
All in all, and I apologizing for writing an essay, WIND is not for every Canadian consumer on the market; they just happen to offer plans with great value if you ARE the type of user who enjoys freedom from counting usage and concerns about overage fees, the freedom to use any compatible handset on any plan,and the freedom to have a real chat with customer service reps as friend and not foe. Whether you sign with them or not, it is imperative to have patience and give them the same opportunity afforded to Rogers, Bell, and Telus to expand and stabilize before writing them off as nothing but a brief gust of hope.
One last thing: don’t forget that WIND refuses to employ contracts, meaning that subscribers can jump ship ANY TIME (or the flip side: they can change their voice and data plans anytime). When Rogers locks you down to a three-year plan, they can (and do) change the terms as they wish due to unmentioned clauses in the contract, while you’re forced to accept them without any escape. We consumers should stop accepting the fact that one must threaten the retentions department to get a cheaper plan, and start to embrace carriers such as WIND for offering the exact same value-packed plans to everyone.
I’m not here to pick a fight, rather I believe that readers are entitled to both sides of a story. I would be honoured to hear a response from Mary, and any critics of WIND.
And young, stick to your current contract on month-to-month for a little longer, or switch to WIND then switch back at anytime. Another three-year contract is a long, long time.
Cheers,
ACD
Since I basically wrote an essay above, I figured I’d turn it into a proper blog post: “In Defence of WIND: Every Rebuttal Ever”, which attempts to neutralize all criticisms of Canada’s newest and fourth national carrier.
http://angrychinesedriver.com/2010/01/18/in-defence-of-wind/
BTW, young, I would like to suggest that you edit the sentence “Basically if you’re with Wind, you’re limited to calling people in Toronto or Calgary” because it’s inaccurate; you can call anyone in Canada (and the US, unlimited with a $10 add-on) as long as you’re calling FROM Toronto or Calgary, though with coverage expansion you will eventually be able to do it FROM Vancouver, Ottawa, Halifax, etc… Same goes for data.
Cheers,
ACD
AngryChineseDriver´s last blog ..In Defence of WIND: Every Rebuttal Ever
Hey ACD,
Thanks for your detailed analysis. I especially liked the comparison to:
“Complaining about the lack of coverage area while WIND is just starting out and Rogers/Bell/Telus have had a two-decade headstart is akin to 20-year-old me complaining that my baby cousin cannot write a lengthy dissertation about the merits Keynesian economics in a capitalist society, let alone form basic words — therefore, she must be doomed to failure forever, right?”,
which is very true. It IS like comparing a 20 year old to a newborn baby and expecting the world from them.
It’s good to have someone who uses Wind tell us its virtues first hand. They don’t have Wind out yet here in BC, but I am looking forward to them coming. You’re right, another three year contract IS a very long time, and I have been debating whether or not to renew again…contracts really do suck.
Also, good to know that Wind’s roaming works out cheaper than Rogers (I didn’t know they shrunk their local calling area).
A few months out west to Vancouver? Hopefully by the summer we’ll have Wind here.
I DO like that they have a forum and are very responsive to suggestions.
Thanks again for your comment,
youngandthrifty
PS I like Toronto too. You know the Vancouver vs Toronto debate is “hot”. To be diplomatic here, both are “best cities in Canada” in their own respects. =)
Just trying to present a fair defence of WIND given that I’ve followed them from Day One, and signed up with them the second they officially launched!
Vancouver is slated to have a June launch, and I think they delayed because of many teething pains experienced in Toronto and Calgary (Toronto is near flawless now, but Calgary still has problems). And with a geography like BC, there are many more physical challenges (weather, altitudes, etc.) to towers and reception stability.
If you really want/need a new phone, you CAN sign a new contract then initiate a “transfer of responsibility” to someone else so that you can leave without incurring any ECFs (I wrote a guide on that, too, on my blog). Or if you don’t want the hassle, just hang in there for a little longer on month-to-month. Trust me, I feel freed from chains now that I’m with WIND and can do anything do my plan anytime I want!
P.S. I’m a born and bred Torontonian…and Vancouver kicks my city’s ass any day: scenery, shopping, cars, food, culture, people, standard of living, EVERYTHING. I love it, and it probably helps that I had one of the best times of my life in Van last year.
AngryChineseDriver´s last blog ..In Defence of WIND: Every Rebuttal Ever
@ACD,
I was reading that you were the 2nd ever subscriber to Wind Mobile! That’s amazing- dedication no doubt.
Thanks for the info re: June launch in Vancouver. I’m excited because that’s exactly 2.5 years into my contract (ready to bargain for contract and/or get the hell out and hang with Wind Mobile). Hopefully by that time, they’ll get the iPhone on board. If so, I’m sold.
Hahah dang, Vancouver kicks Toronto’s ass for food. Vancouver’s pretty damn awesome for food and scenery. A lot of people drive fancy cars here too. I liked Toronto’s work ethic and skyscrapers, and that street you can cross on all four corners is pretty cool (is that Queen) AND you have muchmusic– we tried to have muchmusic here and it failed. Lol, not to add fuel to the fire, but did you here about the Coors Light ad campaign? It was pulled shortly after, not to worry.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/08/18/brewer-pulls-beer-ad-that-mocked-cold-toronto.aspx
Haha, just goes to show that Coors Light was spot on…we can’t even take a joke!!
I thought it was a funny ad, self-deprecatory humour is a sign of confidence. If we’re badass Toronto, WHO CARES what others think!
P.S. The four-way crosswalks are at Yonge & Bloor, and Yonge & Dundas. They are sweet.
AngryChineseDriver´s last blog ..In Defence of WIND: Every Rebuttal Ever
Mary’s been left speechless apparently. After all, there’s only so much you can say to defend a company like Rogers.
Notice the strategy. Mary goes out to denigrate what Wind offers rather than talking about what Rogers offers. That’s why she does not talk about the peddling minutes buckets that Rogers offers but rushes out to suggest that most customers won’t use their unlimited minutes enough to make it worthwhile. Really?
Right now Rogers offers you 350 daytime minutes to get you from 7am to 9pm of each weekday under the $35 personal plan. That’s about 16 mins per weekday to cover 14 hours. Maybe Mary really has no need for human contact, but for the rest of us 16 mins per day for 14 hours is not sufficient. The overages add up quickly. Why bother with the hassle of looking at your watch or worrying about minutes when for the same price you can have unlimited voice. And Wind will toss in province-wide long distance, Caller ID, free incoming texts, 50 outgoing texts, and unlimited in-network calls (Wind-2-Wind). Try pricing all that out on Rogers and see what you get….and then Rogers still dings you with overages on top!
As for the price of the phone, everybody fixates on the $450 Bold. The lowest price of admission on the Wind ride is the price of the $130 Huawei. What you save on overages alone compared to Rogers will quickly pay off the price of that handset.
@Keith lol, 16 minutes per weekday to cover 14 hours. Way to break it down– that sounds like crap! Honestly, who really can wait until 9pm for unlimited calling? That IS inhumane! By the time you call anyone to REALLY talk, then they’re getting ready for bed or something.
Are you with Rogers right now, Keith? Because if you’ve been a subscriber for some amount of time, you can call and bitch about their service and they’ll try and give you something a bit better. Depending on what they offer, they might not make you “sign another contract”.
Being a new subscriber to any cell phone giant (with the exception of Wind, it seems) sucks balls because you don’t get the “loyalty department” working on your side.
And ain’t that the problem…you have to moan and bitch to get a decent plan. I was on RFD yesterday and some guy was selling a $22 Rogers plan with pretty much EVERYTHING on it that you could ever want. It was $22 because he had about seven different credits to bring the price way down.
Why doesn’t your company actually be competitive and offer that (maybe not $22, even $40 would be MORE than reasonable) to all customers, Mary?
WIND has no contracts. Therefore, it’s WIND who needs to fight tooth and nail for YOUR loyalty, not the other way around.
Sheesh. I am so glad I ditched Robbers.
AngryChineseDriver´s last blog ..Some Chinese Impostor Discussing WIND with Toronto’s Own rgbFilter