WIND Mobile Financier Regrets Entering ‘Protected’ Canadian Mobile Market

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Oh, they'll start doing that, once they are provided with a reason to (competition). Profits of these Telcos are disgusting - not to mention, Telus probably has the largest advertising budget of any company in Western Canada. Period.

I can't imagine why they'd need it considering they've been basically recycling the old Clearnet commercial for the past 10+ years.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I can't imagine why they'd need it considering they've been basically recycling the old Clearnet commercial for the past 10+ years.

I mean how expensive can it be getting some random exotic animals to do silly things. Find a catchy tune and voila. The only cost probably is buying commercial time but with their profits probably pennies.

[FurnaceFace]

Up until March I was a happy 7-11 pay as you go customer spending a whopping $60 a year (yes, a year). Due to work factors I wanted something with data and Wind pushed all the right buttons for me. It was unlimited everything for a set $35/mo forever. My use case is one where I really only care about coverage in the city and the odd time out to Canmore. In my case, Wind is perfect.

Regarding their phones, Wind doesn't offer the most amazing ones, but are getting better as long as you don't need Apple. I ebayed a T-mobile Samsung Vibrant and use that. It was rather painless to get it setup and on Wind. I'm happy with the phone and was fine paying $300 outright for it.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

I mean how expensive can it be getting some random exotic animals to do silly things. Find a catchy tune and voila. The only cost probably is buying commercial time but with their profits probably pennies.

Totally OT, but I would love to sit in on one of their marketing meetings and see how they come up with the idea for their next set of commercials. It'd be awesome if all they do is spin two wheels, one for random animals, and one for random songs.

[octothorp]

Here's my question about WIND: with the upcoming spectrum auction, is there a chance that WIND will be able to buy up a spectrum that would allow them to support iPhones, or does it not work that way? Or would I need to just wait until Apple releases an iPhone that works on an AWS network (which may never happen)?

I'm really impressed with their plans, and if they supported iPhones, I'd dump Rogers in a heartbeat.

[Azure]

I think once T-Mobile gets the iPhone, Wind will be able to get it too.

No idea when that will happen though.

[kukkudo]

Dont expect an AWS iphone for a while if ever, as a former employee I can tell you expansion etc is have been at a halt for more than a year.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Azure

I think once T-Mobile gets the iPhone, Wind will be able to get it too.

No idea when that will happen though.

Unless an AWS version of the iPhone is made, Wind won't get it.

Wind has set aside money for the spectrum auction, hopefully the CRTC sets aside spectrum for the upstarts.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I can't imagine why they'd need it considering they've been basically recycling the old Clearnet commercial for the past 10+ years.

Telus runs more commercials on TV, Radio and other media more than any other company in Canada.

I would bet coin on that. You can't escape that monster.

TV time ain't cheap.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Dont expect an AWS iphone for a while if ever, as a former employee I can tell you expansion etc is have been at a halt for more than a year.

Originally Posted by Azure

I think once T-Mobile gets the iPhone, Wind will be able to get it too.

No idea when that will happen though.

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Unless an AWS version of the iPhone is made, Wind won't get it.

Wind has set aside money for the spectrum auction, hopefully the CRTC sets aside spectrum for the upstarts.

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/01/11/ne...-t-mobile-cmo/

There has been rumours in the past that Apple has been considering developing an iPhone that is AWS compatible – unfortunately it’s never surfaced. Special thanks today goes out to Neville Ray, CTO of T-Mobile USA, for resurrecting the rumour by saying that he’s seen Apple’s next chipset and that it could bring the “revolutionary” device to their network. According to a report in CNET, Ray stated that “The next chipset will support AWS. The challenge that existed in the past will go away”. Of course, nothing is final and Ray noted that it’s up to Apple make the deal happen. For us Canadians, an AWS iPhone would certainly bring good news to Wind Mobile, Mobilicity and Videotron.

This would be huge news for Wind Mobile. A lot of users seem uninterested in switching to Wind until they get iPhone.

To me, the current newest iPhone isn't the best on the market, but Apple has a huge fan base that follows their products and a lot of people who just think the iPhone is the best no matter what. Don't want to turn this into that discussion though... but would be a good thing for Wind if an AWS iPhone comes out.

[OldDutch]

I agree. An AWS iPhone would mean lower rates for everyone. A vast majority of iPhone users can get away with Wind's restrictions and save a bundle too. The only way for the telcos to compete would be to drop prices to stop the customer bleeding.

I would be one of those people going to Wind with my unlocked iPhone on day one for sure. One year on Wind would almost pay for an unlocked iPhone itself.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Up until March I was a happy 7-11 pay as you go customer spending a whopping $60 a year (yes, a year). Due to work factors I wanted something with data and Wind pushed all the right buttons for me. It was unlimited everything for a set $35/mo forever. My use case is one where I really only care about coverage in the city and the odd time out to Canmore. In my case, Wind is perfect.

Regarding their phones, Wind doesn't offer the most amazing ones, but are getting better as long as you don't need Apple. I ebayed a T-mobile Samsung Vibrant and use that. It was rather painless to get it setup and on Wind. I'm happy with the phone and was fine paying $300 outright for it.

I couldn't agree more. In December, I got a pay as you go data stick/wifi router and for the price of gourmet venti coffee, I get daily internet everywhere I go on my iphone and tablet.

I'll probably end up paying $100/year for internet access that's comparable in speed to my AT&T 3G in the States...which probably isn't saying too much. But it's what I'm use to.

[Blaster86]

Switched to Wind, absolutely love it. Convinced a friend to switch, she got screwed.

Some bad employees at the Wind stores in Vancouver. I had to request a new salesman when I got mine because of his refusal to straight answer questions and evasive nature when asked about coverage. She had a similar problem but didn't ask for a new salesman.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Switched to Wind, absolutely love it. Convinced a friend to switch, she got screwed.

Some bad employees at the Wind stores in Vancouver. I had to request a new salesman when I got mine because of his refusal to straight answer questions and evasive nature when asked about coverage. She had a similar problem but didn't ask for a new salesman.

would you mind elaborating how you almost got screwed and how she did? Is her place of living and/or work in a coverage area? I have been looking a wind since my contract with bell ran out

Thank you!

[Blaster86]

We were both concerned about coverage. The thing about WIND, as I was told, is that the deals are really really good, but coverage is very poor at this time. So I started asking about that before I moved on to which phone or deal I was interested in.

The guy I dealt with kept trying to change the topic. He was giving vague answers to questions that were very specific, kept trying to talk about the phones that they had and how good their reception is which has nothing to do with WIND's coverage zone. It got to the point where I got frustrated since all I'd been able to get from him is that "You get coverage in Vancouver and some suburbs." When I had asked him specifically about New West and Surrey and he replied "You get coverage in some suburbs, yes." And he was rather rude and agitated about it. It was at this point that I asked to be served by someone else who was more willing to be specific (he also pointed out the Holiday Miracle Plan was still in effect which is gonna save me about $15 a month and a better phone than I was going to get).

My friend had a similar experience without getting a new salesman (apparently after talking to her, it may have been the same guy I got). He was elusive and cryptic. She lives in Coquitlam and when she asked specifically like I did, got the "Works in some suburbs," response which she took as "Coquitlam is a suburb you have full coverage in." Except it isn't and when she got home to use her phone was in a WIND Away zone. She was rightfully pissed, though it is partly her fault for not being more direct she shouldn't have to try and decipher what a salesman means imo.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

We were both concerned about coverage. The thing about WIND, as I was told, is that the deals are really really good, but coverage is very poor at this time. So I started asking about that before I moved on to which phone or deal I was interested in.

The guy I dealt with kept trying to change the topic. He was giving vague answers to questions that were very specific, kept trying to talk about the phones that they had and how good their reception is which has nothing to do with WIND's coverage zone. It got to the point where I got frustrated since all I'd been able to get from him is that "You get coverage in Vancouver and some suburbs." When I had asked him specifically about New West and Surrey and he replied "You get coverage in some suburbs, yes." And he was rather rude and agitated about it. It was at this point that I asked to be served by someone else who was more willing to be specific (he also pointed out the Holiday Miracle Plan was still in effect which is gonna save me about $15 a month and a better phone than I was going to get).

My friend had a similar experience without getting a new salesman (apparently after talking to her, it may have been the same guy I got). He was elusive and cryptic. She lives in Coquitlam and when she asked specifically like I did, got the "Works in some suburbs," response which she took as "Coquitlam is a suburb you have full coverage in." Except it isn't and when she got home to use her phone was in a WIND Away zone. She was rightfully pissed, though it is partly her fault for not being more direct she shouldn't have to try and decipher what a salesman means imo.

I had on ok salesperson at the Richmond Mall outlet. She was relatively new and had to go to her supervisor a lot but she was a lot better than the phone reps (from the Philippines?).

The phone reps kept directing me to the website to complete the credit card transaction even though the reason I phoned was the website wasn't able to take my CC transaction. Very frustrating for them and me. I was loath to do it but ended up going to the mall which worked out.

Also the same rep set my dad up with a new nexus phone and tethered it to his playbook so he was happy.

I guess it just depends on who you get and just have to suffer adequate to poor customer service for the good deals.

[Blaster86]

And now I've been had! My first Wind bill was $51 instead of $40 before tax as advertised. GG

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

And now I've been had! My first Wind bill was $51 instead of $40 before tax as advertised. GG

Did you get the classic Wind Away charges?

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

And now I've been had! My first Wind bill was $51 instead of $40 before tax as advertised. GG

No need to worry. It's the partial month since you signed up, plus the next month (I think everyone pays for the coming month on Wind). My first bill was for $49.

I really like Wind so far in Calgary. I don't get signal at work but no one else does (Rogers or Telus), but I get signal in the atrium on the way in that others don't get.

[Tinordi]

Wind user.

Have the $40 all in unlimited plan. Sure it kind of sucks when you leave the city. But I spend 95% of my time inthe city and it isn't worth doubling my bill for an extra $480 a year to check facebook when I go to Squamish.