LandlineFREE - Dropping Ma Bell For Good

Alternate Title: How can WIND benefit me, even if they don't cover my area?

Many people won't live in areas initially covered by WIND. Firstly, read my guide about WIND Mobile service/coverage areas, it's actually much more than just Toronto and Calgary. Secondly, if you live even close to these areas, don't sign a long contract with Bell/Rogers/Telus, because WIND will likely be expanding to your area soon.

Based on WIND's "careers" page, it would appear that the next areas for roll-out of service are: Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa.

There are a couple of ways that WIND Mobile, and other new entrant Canadian Cell Phone Providers like Public Mobile and DAVE can help you, even if they're not covering your area right now.

1. Cheap High-End Phones

These new service providers require new phones. Sure, some of these new phones will be cheap and practical, but the problem is that users migrating from other networks will have to dump their perfectly good old phones. For example, the iPhone and most BlackBerries will not work on WIND, nor Public Mobile. Many people who currently have an iPhone will dump their perfectly good iPhone in order to switch to WIND Mobile or Public Mobile.

The same situation is true with most Blackberies, LG, HTC, Samsung, Sony, etc. phones

These individuals will sell their perfectly good phones on sites like Ebay, Kijiji and Craigslist, and a deal will be had for those that are stuck on Rogers/Bell/Telus.

2. Cell Phone Service Contract/Plan Transfers

Many people in areas that are covered by WIND are stuck in 1, 2, or even 3 year contracts. They're going to want out and will want to switch to WIND or Public Mobile. Let's say that these people are paying $60 per month, while WIND is offering a comparable service for just $40 per month. By switching to WIND, this hypothetical individual in Toronto could save $20 per month, but they're stuck with Rogers for another year. This person could make a deal with you (either between friends, or an actual contract transfer) to give you $120 up-front to takeover their contract. Now you're both paying the equivalent of $50 per month for the same service. Now you're getting service that would cost you $60 per month for $50 per month, and you're allowing for some lucky soul in Toronto to dump Rogers where they belong.

This is what I plan on doing:

I have a Nokia E63 and live in an area that won't be covered by WIND (for now).

My brother has an iPhone, which won't work on WIND and lives and works in Toronto, so WIND will satisfy his requirements.

I'll sell my E63, and take over his iPhone plan, so he can now sign up for WIND and save huge money. I'll get a free iPhone in exchange for taking over his contract, which is  a better deal for me than signing up for an iPhone directly.

Make sense?

Check this website again, as I will be setting up a system for facilitating such contracts between individuals stuck in contracts that live in areas serviced by WIND and those that live in non-covered areas willing to take over a plan for a free.

4. Increased Cellular Phone Service Price Competition

Firstly, the big 3 cell phone providers, Bell, Telus and Rogers will likely try to keep their prices high in areas that WIND/Public Mobile don't cover, but they won't be able to do this 100%. For starters though, they already charge different prices in different provinces, so expect to see more competition in Alberta and Ontario in the coming months, and continuing high prices in other places like BC, Manitoba and Montreal until these new companies enter those areas.

Hopefully, the increased competition will still benefit those that can get Bell, Telus and Rogers, but not WIND, but not if the big 3 can help it.

If Bell, Telus and Rogers drop down their prices to match/exceed WIND, because this is the first time they'll be exposed to real competition, be careful. Try to go with the new provider, simply because if everyone goes to Bell/Telus/Rogers, WIND will go bankrupt, and then we'll end up right back where we started: high prices, no competition. Support the scrappy up-start, they've already come a long way.