Introducing 7-Eleven SpeakOut Wireless in Canada

[l0thar]

Modie, that is indeed interesting news.

Rogers hosting their service is kind of surprising, but maybe they had no choice - the CRTC might frown on them if they refused or just dragged their butts to make SpeakOut give up.

Rogers seems to have a 1 year credit deal for some new phones, but I don't think they are offering 1 year topup expiries at all - that would cannibalize on some of their 'monthly plan' sales.

Competition is good for us consumers.

[Modie]

Good point 10thar about the CRTC I didn't think of that. What I was thinking actually is that maybe Rogers gets a nice chuck of money for use of the network or a bite of the profits.

BTW Speakout CS also said if you have an old gsm phone and the ESI # is compatible they can send out a sim card for that phone. I forgot to ask how much that was but I will find out because it would be perfect for my mom.

This is excellent for prepaid customers. Hopefully VM will follow the 365/day.

[l0thar]

Aah, they will sell SIMs, some people were wondering about that - good news.

Is that Customer Support number public knowledge, can you post it here possibly? Might help someone with questions that the little info out about their services can't answer.

[Modie]

Aah, they will sell SIMs, some people were wondering about that - good news.

Is that Customer Support number public knowledge, can you post it here possibly? Might help someone with questions that the little info out about their services can't answer.

The CS number was hard to find. I actually found it on the US site by clicking the manuals for one of the phones.

The number is 1-866-310-1023 and it's US customer service based so I got 2 different answers when asking about the SIM cards. One guy said yes if the IMEI# was compatable and the other didnt know and was going to call me back.

Their CS doesn't compare to VMC....Never got the call back.

[l0thar]

Ah, thank you, Modie - that might be helpful for someone interested in SpeakOut!

^--- Just noticed my new user title - Phone Collector! lol, sounds right, we are now in our 3rd cell in the house.

[DonnaS]

Is Roger's GSM?

[l0thar]

Is Roger's GSM?

Yes, both Rogers and Fido run on GSM networks.

[ShaTR]

so lemme get this strait, its 20c a min, and runs on rogers networks, and min don't expire for a YEAR. hmm, i just found my parents new plans they both use maybe 50 min a month. lol (benz phone is TDMA. will only work with rogers, so the rents are kinda locked to them)

[l0thar]

Yeah, this would be a good deal for your parents, IF SpeakOut allows them to bring their phones in. Try calling the Customer Service that Modie discovered and asking about buying a SIM card for their phones to switch networks.

[ShaTR]

mmm, wait, does it have to be GSM. cuz the benz phones are TDMA. i hope they'll register TMDA phones on their network, but i have a bad feeling about it. How about roger's new 100 dollar top up. is it possible to purchase that (either with teh phone package or without) and apply it to a TDMA 'Pay as you go' line???

[LDN2012]

365 DAYSSSSSSSSS EXPIRY!!!!!! o well lol Virgin's 120 is more than enough

[DerekToronto]

I picked one up today for a gift and I find the phones are unlocked!

[mosquito_R]

I picked one up today for a gift and I find the phones are unlocked!

Alright! While it's not hard to unlock a Nokia, 7-11 does present a good way to get a cheap and durable backup phone - the 1100. So, did you get the 1100 or the 3120? I'm thinking of getting a 1100 - nothing fancy, just something to bash around.

As for coverage, the Alberta and BC coverage areas are only FIDO's original footprint - i.e. lower mainland BC and bits around Victoria, and Banff, Calgary, Edmonton and Hwy 2 in between for Alberta. The Ontario coverage map looks better in comparison.

[DerekToronto]

Nokia 1100. This phone is solid!

[TKAY]

wow tempting, I wish I could buy an account, use any GSM phone. But I'm chained to VM for the long run