"Fido" has very limited coverage...mostly in and around major urban areas. So if you happen to take a trip up to Muskoka for the weekend...your cell phone isn't going to work much past Orillia.

It really depends on how much you plan to use your phone and if you want any of the "extra" services like text messaging and things like that. Nowadays they're even putting digital cameras into these little devices.

There are simple "pay as you go" packages where you just buy a phone card for a set amount of money or pay by credit card. Or you can go on one of the "plans".

I did that with Telus. It worked really well. With their "talk 50" plan, you get unlimited incoming calls as long as you are in your local zone when receiving the calls. Problem is, Mycroft, from what I understand from earlier, you travel a lot between Kingston and Toronto, no? So wherever it is that you are "local", you will get free incoming calls (plus 500 minutes of local outgoing calls per month) but only when you're in your local area.

However, you CAN get around that by using calling cards. Because as long as you call a number in the same calling zone, it's a local call, whether you're in you cell phone's local zone or not. So for instance, for me, I have a Kingston phone number. My local zone is Kingston and the surrounding area. But when I'm in Toronto, if I phone a Toronto number from my cell, it is also considered local.

However. If you're out of your zone, all incoming calls from anywhere are long distance. So when I'm in Toronto, if someone calls me and I answer it (oh, and you get call display, so you don't have to answer it, you can just immediately call back), then I get charged long distance charges because I'm accepting a call while out of my zone.

Sounds confusing. But unless you've got one or more people that you talk to for hours on end who is long distance, the talk 50 plan is really good because of those unlimited incoming calls while you're in your local area.

It worked for me for months. Unfortunately, though, it doesn't work so great anymore for me, because even using calling cards to make long distance calls, I now use so much long distance time that there's no way to limit it to 500 minutes a month, unless you tell the person on the other end that they have to call you all the time - and most people don't really want to do that unless they have an "understanding" about it. And after you use the 500 minutes, you start paying something like 25 cents a minute for long distance. Oogs.

Oh, also, when you're in the US, even if you make a local call, there's a relatively nasty roaming charge slapped onto your call. I discovered that.

I've seen people use the calling cards. It sounds utilitarian, but it also seems like a hassel going out to get cards all the time.

Is it worthwhile getting text messaging? It's quite popular in Europe where it's a cheaper alternative to local landline calls (which are all tolled, unlike in North America) but hasn't caught on at all here because of our free local calling.

Some people are just into gadgets and features, and it turns them on to have the latest and greatest bell and whistle. Text messaging strikes me as being up their alley, but then I'm not really experienced enough to pass judgement on that feature.

You really have to do some shopping to find out what is best for you. What is within your budget.. do you want a contract? how much are you using your cell? If you go to a mall, the main players will all have booths within crawling distance from each other. Unfortunately, none of the salespeople are really that helpful because they arent enthusiastic about their low wages.

Mention that you are with a company and ask for a corporate discount. No joke. Rogers has a discount for the major firms and don't even bother checking your work ID.

My friend went with FIDO because it is pay as you go and he dosnt use his cell too much. he dosnt feel has to use it, nor does he feel he shouldn't use it. He just uses it you know?

With Bell, they kept giving me a bunch of free perks but once they expired, I would have to cancel myself and sometimes it took a hefty phone bill to figure that out. I am a heavy spender though so I don't mind my finances and I don't get bothered with things like that.

avoid the pay-as-you-go plans unless you plan on using the phone very little. and when checking out prices make sure you see all applicable monthly 'access' fees and such to get the true price. my gf just got a rogers phone. the guy at the shop said it was thirty $ per month. the actual charge comes to 46 or 47 dollars a month.

***had to add***: fido has no contracts and charges by the second

[ 13 April 2003: Message edited by: bakunin ]

quote:

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Telus also has a "talk anywhere" plan - for $30 a month

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I was looking at a brochure from Telus tonight, and I saw the various plans they have. Then I read on, and started to see other charges like a "licencing fee" and a "911" fee, and an instalation fee.....

That's what they call in the business world "low balling". They get you hooked in with an atractive advertised price, then hit you with add ons.

I may still end up going with Telus, but I don't like that kind of crap.

If someone can't tell you how much something costs in one short sentence, then your being played.

[ 15 April 2003: Message edited by: TommyPaineatWork ]

[ 15 April 2003: Message edited by: TommyPaineatWork ]

As for the installation fee - maybe I got a deal, but I had absolutely no fees other than the regular monthly 911 and networking fee. No installation charges, nothing. I didn't even have to pay for the phone, although I'm paying for it now by being locked into a contract.

Wow, that fido deal sounds amazing. I was in Kingston when I got my cell phone deal, and I didn't notice Fido in Kingston. Too bad I'm in the middle of a two year contract with Telus, or I'd consider switching.

Is the service good?

[ 15 April 2003: Message edited by: Michelle ]

I paid about $100 for the phone I have now and spend less than $30 a month on minutes. No contract, no extra fees or add-ons. I use it for short conversations throughout the month (pretty much what I use my regular phone for) and for emergency purposes. It costs the same any time of the day, any day of the week. And it works all over the place, though the minutes get eaten up at a long distance rate if I use it outside the local calling range.

fido will give you a phone for free too.

(they should be paying me for this)

[ 16 April 2003: Message edited by: bakunin ]