Shaw getting into the Wireless Industry

[Azure]

Shaw Communications could be moving up its mobile wireless launch from late 2011 on increasingly competitive offerings from rival providers, executives said.
The Calgary-based company gave a short response Wednesday during a conference call when asked if it would be accelerating its mobile launch in certain markets next year.
“I don’t know if we can really divulge that right now, but it’s a good question,” chief executive Jim Shaw said.
Shaw said it was leveraging a 3.4-million customer base and diverse products to make headway among established wireless competitors such as Rogers, Bell and Telus.
“We are not just a (cable,
Internet, telephony and mobile) play. We are way more than that if you include satellite, all the specialty channels,” Shaw said. “We have a lot of tools in the tool belt.”

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/enterta...#ixzz0sOuqz4hi

Oh this is some sweet news. More competition in the mobile industry.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

I have been told by some sources, that they are waiting to be the first 4G provider in Canada, no sure what that entails.

[Joborule]

Cool beans. But they'll properly keep raping us on the prices like everyone else.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

lol, it'll be a little while longer before anything concrete happens. I can't see them making 2011. 2012 is a more feasible deadline.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Cool beans. But they'll properly keep raping us on the prices like everyone else.

Shaw doesn't do contracts, so it will be more like Wind I am guessing.

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

lol, it'll be a little while longer before anything concrete happens. I can't see them making 2011. 2012 is a more feasible deadline.

On what do you base that guess?

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by Rathji

On what do you base that guess?

I work in the industry.

[SebC]

If I can get what I'm getting now plus a $5 bundling bonus, that's enough to make Shaw worthwhile.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

I work in the industry.

well i work at Shaw, and i can tell you wireless is a lot closer than most people think. also the Shaw's are adamant that their no contract style of pricing will not change with the release of wireless, and are trying to "blow people out of the water" with the types of plans available

[FlamesPuck12]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

well i work at Shaw, and i can tell you wireless is a lot closer than most people think. also the Shaw's are adamant that their no contract style of pricing will not change with the release of wireless, and are trying to "blow people out of the water" with the types of plans available

Well if there not doing any contracts for wireless, doesn't that mean the customers have to pay full price for the phones?

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

I work in the industry.

People in Shaw seem to think it is a lot closer than you think.

edit: I see Hemi beat me to it

Originally Posted by FlamesPuck12

Well if there not doing any contracts for wireless, doesn't that mean the customers have to pay full price for the phones?

Yes.

No contract also means that they need to remain competitive on pricing and service or people walk away.

These savings and service will probably make a phone that you paid for out of pocket cost less in the long run than they crap they shovel down your throat now for a 2 or 3 year contract. The only exception to this would be very cutting edge, high end, expensive smart phones.

Its exactly the same thing now with our big 3 providers in Calgary. If you don't have a contract and call and ask about getting a better plan because another provider has a special of the month, you pretty much get that better rate, no questions asked because they know you can walk away and get a free phone with that same rate and they won't see another dime from you for 3 or more years.

This same principle will probably give Shaw incentive to offer deals on phones that are locked to their network. Even without an actual contract, good pricing, and good reliable service will keep a customer long enough to justify a pretty good discount on locked phones.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Rathji

This same principle will probably give Shaw incentive to offer deals on phones that are locked to their network. Even without an actual contract, good pricing, and good reliable service will keep a customer long enough to justify a pretty good discount on locked phones.

Hmm... that kind of changes how I fell about the NDP proposal to force them to unlock phones at the end of your contract. How would it apply in this situation?

[Table 5]

Anything that provides more competition for the Canadian cell industry is good thing. No offense, but you guys have the most ######ed cell phone networks/plans I've ever seen.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

well i work at Shaw, and i can tell you wireless is a lot closer than most people think. also the Shaw's are adamant that their no contract style of pricing will not change with the release of wireless, and are trying to "blow people out of the water" with the types of plans available

What do you do at shaw, if you don't mind me asking? Because this is not in line with what we are hearing. If you want, PM me.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by Rathji

People in Shaw seem to think it is a lot closer than you think.

edit: I see Hemi beat me to it

Who have you heard from at shaw? Are they part of their wireless division? If you're not comfortable in revealing too much, you can PM me.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

well i work at Shaw, and i can tell you wireless is a lot closer than most people think. also the Shaw's are adamant that their no contract style of pricing will not change with the release of wireless, and are trying to "blow people out of the water" with the types of plans available

Are they going to only be in the major cities, or will they try to compete with Rogers, Telus, Bell directly, and get service going in rural areas too?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Anything that provides more competition for the Canadian cell industry is good thing. No offense, but you guys have the most ######ed cell phone networks/plans I've ever seen.

But we do have good service at least.

Here in Alberta anyways.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Azure

Are they going to only be in the major cities, or will they try to compete with Rogers, Telus, Bell directly, and get service going in rural areas too?

well normally Shaw has always gone with staged releases, hit the big cities first then work their way through the rural areas. but nobody is gonna buy a cell phone that stops working once you leave calgary, so they're gonna have a full network up at launch. they might only offer the service to certain residents at launch so as to not overload the network right off the bat, but it won't be like digital phone where some areas have taken years to get hooked up

[Azure]

Well, Wind Mobile has service in rural areas though, but its almost like roaming in the US. Huge downfall for them.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

Who have you heard from at shaw? Are they part of their wireless division? If you're not comfortable in revealing too much, you can PM me.

Just someone who has been in the general meetings.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Just someone who has been in the general meetings.

General meetings in 2006 proclaimed "cell phones soon!"

Granted they are closer now, with towers and spectrum.