This is an overview article on cheap prepaid cell phone plans in Canada

Generally these cheaper providers have entry-level phones, so you won't be able to buy a Blackberry on these plans, or do data. However, with Speakout and Petro-Canada, you can buy an "unlocked" GSM phone (that uses the North American bands 850/1900mhz)and put the SIM card that you purchase into it, and then have a Blackberry running on the 7-11 Speakout Wireless or Petro-Canada Wireless systems. This is not possible with Presidents Choice Wireless.

I have also written an article comparing the prepaid plans by the big cell phone providers, like Rogers, Telus, Bell and Fido here.

If you are looking for information on cheap cell phone plans from Rogers, Bell, Telus, Fido, Virgin providers click here.

Presidents Choice Wireless

Presidents Choice Wireless is sold through Loblaws locations. It works over the Bell network, so you don't really have to worry about being out of coverage area.

Definitely an option for people who use their phones semi-regularly.

• 20 cents per minute.
• $15 and $25 top ups
• no service charges or monthly fee's
• 5¢ to send and receive text messages

Facts Consumers should know (aka downsides):

• 30 and 60 day expiries on top-ups
• Not GSM so the phone won’t work anywhere else and you are stuck with their selection of phones which isn’t pretty.

Click here for the list of the phones available with President's Choice Mobile

Loblaw is campaigning their back to school wireless offer called 2much2miss event, running now. You will get one unlimited text messaging for the first month, $25 start up credit and $10 PC gift card once you purchase and activate the phone.

Presidents Choice Mobile does not provide bills or account balance information (such as detailed billing explaining how it is being used). You can only get a top up card when you go shopping for groceries. Voice messaging capacity is very limited, they claim to have 5 but seldom can you actually store this much. Also when you run out your balance, someone can't reach you or leave a message. You also cannot access your Voice messaging or voicemail inbox at this point. This provider does not verify identity though. Anyone seeking to not leave a trail while running a sketchy business should be satisfied solely with this.

7-11 Speakout Wireless Prepaid Cell Phone Plan

Speakout Wireless is provided by 7-11 convenience stores.

• 20¢/min.
• $25, $50, $75 & $100 top ups that last for 1 year.
• You are charged airtime for receiving and retrieving voicemail messages, plus you're charged even if someone just hears your greeting and doesn't leave you a message.
• 5¢ to send and receive text messages.
• $1.50/month 911 fee, or $18/year.
• The coverage in Canada is Fido's old network. Click here to see the coverage maps.

Phones include Nokia 1112 for $75 and the Nokia 6061 for $125. They come with $10 airtime. You can't buy the SIM by itself.

Click here for the full list of phones  through Speakout Mobile

Speak Out is currently running a Back to School $75 off any phone with the purchase of $100 of air time. It probably does not make sense, depending on your usage, to get the new phone when you think about how $100 worth of added minutes with Virgin lasts a year.

Petro Canada Mobile

Petro Canada Mobile is provided by Petro Canada Gas Stations

• 20¢/min.
• $20, $50, & $75 topups that last for 180 days, plus a $100 top up that lasts for 1 year.
• You are charged airtime for receiving and retrieving voicemail messages.
• 5¢ to send and receive text messages.
• 99¢/month 911 fee, or $11.88/year.
• Covered by the entire Rogers Network

Click here for Petro Canada's List of Phone's

You earn twice the Petro Points when you buy the top ups. Plus, you can get the phone with car adapter for 80,000 Petro-Points

Speakout and Petro Canada Mobility are pretty much the same considering they both use the Rogers Communications infrastructure.

Any minutes added onto a Speakout prepaid phone lasts 365 days whereas Petro Canada mobility minutes only last 180 days

Miscellaneous Info

With PC Mobile (Loblaws) you have to top-up at least every 2 months. With Petro Canada, you can get top-ups that last 6 months or a year. Any SpeakOut top-up lasts a year.

Also, the Speakout and Petro Canada Mobility network (which runs on Rogers) is superior to the President’s choice network (which runs through Bell).

If you are a long distance caller it is suggested you do not call the number directly through your phone when on one of these service providers. Rather, purchase a calling card through providers such as Yak. Yak offers 8.5¢ for long distance within Canada through a toll free number and 3.5¢ for calls through a local access number.