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WIND Mobile Launches Toronto Stores
Wind Mobile launched in Toronto this morning making today a momentous day for anyone, myself included, who has ever cursed their Rogers bill, lamented Bell's pricing plans, or liked Telus' cute animal commercials more than their customer service. There is now a fourth wireless carrier as WIND Mobile (see rate plans) launched today and unveiled two new stores in Toronto (a third will open later at Queen and Spadina) plus Kiosk locations in select Blockbusters.
The first retail location to launch was at 207 Queen's Quay West in Toronto. It opened at 10am this morning, and shortly after they posted a photo of their first customer (wonder if he gets free service for life?).
The Queen's Quay location this morning was the definition of a zoo. A long line of customers (at least, potential customers) waited patiently outside while media took photos, videos and interviewed several bystanders.
They also released details of their devices (including the BlackBerry Bold 9700) and services including free WIND-to-WIND calling and no monthly service charges.
WIND says their mission is to create the most unforgettably positive customer experience in Canada. Which, for a wireless company, seems like a very lofty goal (I can count on one hand the number of times I've been pleased with customer service from my wireless carrier). But they seem to be taking the right steps - they have a devoted customer service Twitter stream, and an extensive FAQ page (including whether you can ask Santa for a WIND phone for Christmas).
If you're like me you're probably wondering where the heck this major mobile player came from. Owned by parent company Globalive, WIND's fate in Canada seemed precarious when the CRTC blocked its launch due to too much foreign ownership. But Industry Minister Tony Clement overturned the CRTC's ruling - and even though WIND was in mobile limbo for a while, it put the time to good use. The team of 400 spent the time doing random acts of kindness all around Canada.
WIND offers prepaid and postpaid accounts, and with either option there are no contracts. That's right, I said NO CONTRACTS. Oh, and they're giving new customers a month of their voice plan fees for FREE. We have a breakdown of the pricing plans, and you can check out WIND Mobile on Twitter and at their retail locations in Toronto.
WIND has also begun their advertising campaign in order to try to woo customers to their no-hidden fees plans. Here's a couple of clips from YouTube:
I know I'll be sticking with Rogers until WIND offers the iPhone (I'm beyond the point of addicted). So how 'bout it Toronto - will you be switching to WIND?
Previously: Wind Mobile Pricing Plans
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However, data that doesn't include overage charges is nice, albeit limited to bandwidth available.
These guys have a long way to grow.
* Calls to anywhere in Canada or the U.S. (all destinations): 25 cents/minute
* Any calls to you: 25 cents/minute
* Data: 10 cents/25 kB
Granted this is because they have to buy usage of the Rogers network out there, and their network will expand quickly, but still that's insanely expensive. Accidentally download a podcast using tethering outside the 'Home Zone' and that's $200.
Re: iPhone. The current iPhones don't support the frequency (1,700Mhz). T-Mobile USA is getting it next year and uses the same frequency as WIND so it's probably in the pipeline.
WIND's Toronto "Home Zone" Coverage: http://bit.ly/5osnmv
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koodo#TAB
Long payoff, but better than nothing and encourages loyalty (if the plan prices didn't already)
<b>Bad things about Windmobile</b>
- new services aren't necessarily sure things
- foreign ownership rules were circumvented to allow this (they aren't a canadian company)
- they're too pretty
- the low prices aren't sustainable
- what's coverage like? is reception any good?
We've all griped for years about having to lock into contracts with Rogers, TELUS and Bell. Now, someone comes along that offers a BlackBerry cheaper than the other 3 sells it for ON A TWO YEAR CONTRACT with no obligation or commitment, and we now gripe because the phones are too expensive.
You can't have it both ways folks!
Rogers still charges at least 30 cents/minute for any overages...
I fail to see how that is even a *problem* with Wind's pricing given the current competition.
And: "Too pretty"?
Industry Minister Tony Clement said Wind Mobile is Canadian.
CRTC, which has a sordid history of supporting whatever Rogers/Bell/Telus wants said it's not.
Hmmmm..........
You're right Serb, the 25 cent per minute bit really isn't that bad. However, you literally will be paying that everywhere the second you leave the GTA. At least with the Big 3, you can go anywhere in Canada and still make local calls and send texts within your included plan, no fees apply. So there's a big hit there.
Additionally, let's talk about those Blackberry and HTC users on data intensive smarthpones. First, I believe the only place you'll even get 3G speeds is in Toronto, falls back to 2G EGDE when you leave. Which is fine if that's the only place you will ever be. However, the second you leave, you're going to be charged over $4 per MB of data when away from the city. Compare that to the Big 3 where your data bucket applies nationwide! So please tell me why I would pay $450 for this incredible Blackberry when the second I leave the city, it turns into a paperweight running on a 2G network at $4/MB.
There's definitely some plusses to WIND. But if you plan on going away to university in a smaller town, or going to the cottage on the weekend in the summer, look elsewhere.
And there expansion plans for 2010. Leaves something to be desired.
Best. blogTO. comment. ever.
$45 plan. Unlimited nation wide calling. Unlimited txt (Canada & US) Caller ID, missed call alerts, call forward, call conferencing, call waiting, call hold. Plus Voicemail...
Add $35 for unlimited data including tethering.
First month free No contract, no SAF, no 911 charges
If they get the Nexus One. I'm goneeeeeeeee from Fido for life.
In regards to 450$ for the non contract price, Rogers offers the 9700 for 250 on a three year contract (with 400$ ECF fee) or 600$. I'm with Telus so my phone was 250 on a three year (with no max 20$ per month ECF) I cant wait till my contract is up.. although my moblie phone plan is sweet since its a retention plan.
Josher is right about BB and compression though. Working at RIM I learnt the one huge unmarketable advantage is that BB's encrypt and compress making their data usage so much less than competitors.
People regularly compare us to Europe or Asia or even the US. It's not a fair comparison because we're a country the size of Europe or the US and a substantial fraction of the size of Asia. With 33 millino people. The compared landmasses have populations where the US at 300 million - 9x our population is the low end. Even Southern Ontario, our most densely populated heartland, is relatively sparse relative to much of Asia.
There are very substantial infrastructure costs associated with operating in Canada due to the size of the country; large swaths of the country are served by towers that serve a couple hundred residents at most.
Plus we are a highly regulated business climate where two of the three major companies are descended from government owned utilities; regulation is not only at the federal level but also many provinces are very stringent- in Saskatchewan the government utility still essentially has a monopoly.
We don't get the nice phones - partly because of disagreements over technological standards obviously - but also because we as a society are not willing to pay upfront for nice phones. We amoritize a $300 piece of equipment over three years. There are also questions of demand, once the technonerds have their expensive toys the general population is just not that interested in the expensive gadgets. A lot of phone users are of the "just a phone, nothing more" variety.
Yes, we pay more. It seems like gouging. But is it really?
Anyways, my last two phones were the Nokia 7380 bough on Ebay and the Iphone pickup from the states a month after it's initial launch. Both phones were unlock and so I'm now leaning towards the Nexus One.
Wind is trying to set a new standard for wireless service in Canada. It's ain't perfect but it's definitely better.
The big three haven't shown any good faith to their customers in ages: still with the system access fees, charging for basics like caller ID and text messaging.
When rogers dropped it's SAF they increased base prices, that's a slap in the face if I've ever seen one.
I had Fido drop my monthly plan by 25 dollars when I called to cancel my contract. Had to pay 300 and 200 dollars to terminate my recent contract. Its still worth it. 45 dollars for unlimited voice is an excellent deal. Plus, no contract.
http://unlockingabc.blogspot.com/2010/01/wind-mobile-compatible-phones.html
http://bit.ly/wind-vs-rogers
On the low end, it's questionable whether or not you'll save money, but on the mid- to high-end, you'd definitely save enough money to pay for the phone upfront if you had to pick a new plan today.
Wind is a pain! I signed up on Boxing day and am still waiting for them to make my number active. They have already ported it from Rogers and have yet to make it work on their network. Result - I am without a phone. Sucks big time!
RS
However, I don't recommend signing up until March at the earliest if you're someone with zero patience and/or expect WIND to behave like Rogellus, who've had a 20-year head start (and still experience many network problems!). If you're going to join WIND now, you better be prepared to report bad coverage areas/technical issues a couple times a week.
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Thanks for reading this. You guys are great.
somebody
Do what's good for you.
Wind is good for me.
i m really intrested in wind
its the only network with no confusion and is always telling the truth
last time i went to pay for my cell phone at roger they told me i calld egypt
when i only call canada, usa, and europe
i always youse good call when calling usa and europe
but its so weird the accuse u 4 calling a place where u would never wish 2 call
if wind reduce thier price i ll think about perchesing a black berry. $$smilz$$
Believe me, Bell, Rogers and Telus don't need defending. They need taking down.