WIND smartphone plan comments please

[Oldfart]

I am thinking of switching from Fido to wind. I would gain an unlimited data plan and save $15 monthly.
Does anybody have experience with wind, either positive or negative?
My reception area is Lougheed Town Centre.

 

[P3t3rp4n]

Make sure you're always in a wind zone. Besides that I've heard no faults besides spotty service and outages in non wind zones.

 

[eagleroamer]

I was on Wind years ago, now I'm on Mobilicity...both uses the same technology; signal strength and penetration is weaker than Rogers and or Telus. For example if you are in a concrete building (downtown vancouver) and in a toilet stall (surrounded by metal walls) you can't get internet. I don't take Canada Line, but I've been told you don't get a signal underground. No phone coverage in parts of UBC. Driving from Vancouver to the border....you also lose coverage ...somewhere near Ladner area. I don't know anything about the BBY area...don't drive out there much. The positive...plans are cheap. During a holiday
promo, aprox 5 years ago....sign on to a everything plan...unlimited, phone,text,data for $25 per month and I am still paying $25 per month, today.

 

[Riza]

Well my experience with Wind was not a good one. Mostly because Richmond has such spotty coverage at my house. If I wasn't in the living room next to the window standing on one leg "no service". For me that's not acceptable. For others possibly not a big deal. Downtown had 0 problems and not sure about on Canada Line but doubt it. For me no coverage means I am off work lol.

Oh ya, for the money you can't beat the plans especially if there is a promo on.

 

[Frank Dux]

I'm on Wind and their coverage is shit, even downtown on street-level. Expect to lose signal in any mall or sports arena, even losing roaming. When you have signal, calls and texts are fine but MMSs are sketchy and data speeds are slow. (I have a very current Android phone)

But yes, the price is amazing. Basically unlimited everything for $40/month. I cut my phone bill in half switching from one of the big three. Plus, if you go to the US their roaming plan cannot be beat - $15/month add-on for unlimited roaming in the US. You can't get that for $15/day with any of the other providers.

If you are ok with having to hop on free wireless all the time because your data reception is shit (e.g. you have Shaw wi-fi or work in an office with wireless), Wind is the way to go. If you use a lot of mobile data I would recommend sticking with your current plan, especially if it's only saving you $15/month.

 

[Oldfart]

Thank you to all who provided input.

 

[FoxyWest]

ive been with all cell phone companies, so far ive liked chat'r alot... i just didnt like how they didnt have data... now they do, not unlimited like wind, but 2gb which is fine when im not in wifi.

alot better service, when your not in the chatr zone u pay extra but at least the service still works. not one problem in vancouver since i been on it....

 

[summerbreeze]

found all the plans have some local reception problems, wind and the other tier 2 providers a bit more I suppose

roaming fees and international rates very good, the tier 1 guys really gouge on roaming fees when you travel especially on data plans

switched over to wind a number of years ago with personal plan then when another promo came along for unlimited voice and data including anywhere in north america for $40/month, switched my business plan over as well

a few complaints about connectivity from time to time but overall, data, txt, voice it is peace of mind not to be paying 3 times more per month for basic and coming home to a $600 roaming charge for 4 days in a US city

when going to asia or europe, get a second phone with local plan and forward to that phone when in country, cost about $100 per year for the plan but will save on the roaming charges

 

[superman88]

I switched from Telus to Wind and cut my bill by more than half. Internet is a bit slower, but everything else is more or less the same where I'm at. I do understand there are deadspots so you have to be careful.

The danger with the other providers is the limited data. You could burn through your alloted data quickly if you stream a lot of video and then you're paying through your teeth. One question I have though for long-term Wind users is if the internet slows down significantly after 5GB and if I should get the 10GB add-on for an extra 10 bucks.

There always seems to be a catch when they say "unlimited" anything.

S88

 

[Sphubby]

ive been with all cell phone companies, so far ive liked chat'r alot... i just didnt like how they didnt have data... now they do, not unlimited like wind, but 2gb which is fine when im not in wifi.

alot better service, when your not in the chatr zone u pay extra but at least the service still works. not one problem in vancouver since i been on it....

FYI Chatr is aka Rogers Same towers, network, same coverage. Just shows you if they really want to they can give us a good service for a good price and not rip us off left right and center.

SPH

 

[Oldfart]

Koodo is owned by Telus. They use the same coverage equipment as Virgin. Both have clearer coverage and faster internet than wind.

 

[apl16]

Hmmmm.....last I heard, Virgin was bought out by Bell in canada

 

[yazoo]

Wind will roam onto one of their partners when you are outside their coverage area. For the longest time they roamed onto Rogers, but recently they've been roaming onto Telus. There is a hard switchover, meaning if you are one the phone with someone on the highway when you leave Wind's coverage area and switch to roaming on Telus, your call will be dropped.

I was in the interior for a few days, and only made a couple of calls, 10-20 mins of Skype, GPS for a few hours, facebook and web, my roaming costs were under $5, so I was happy.

Wind works for me as I am almost always in their area and have good coverage at home and at work, but yes, I've noticed in Richmond I sometimes see I'm on Telus.

 

[Larry Storch]

Whats really bothering me is: Why is eagleroamer trying to get internet access in a bathroom stall in the first place

For example if you are in a concrete building (downtown Vancouver) and in a toilet stall (surrounded by metal walls) you can't get internet.

 

[sdw]

Whats really bothering me is: Why is eagleroamer trying to get internet access in a bathroom stall in the first place

I always take calls from telemarketers and political canvassers in the bathroom. There is that moment when the phone person realizes that they are hearing water tinkle into the bowl and it's especially satisfying to have that moment of shocked silence when there is that solid splosh. "are you in the bathroom?" "could I call back at a better time"

 

[nickcan]

Some of you guys have an addiction if you are concerned about saving $10-$20/month on your phone bill then blow $300-$500 with an hour of services with an SP.
Not worth it, I prefer having better reception and best phones.

 

[summerbreeze]

reception is not the only consideration

can get any phone to work with several of the tier 2 providers

$20/month times 36 month plan adds up not to mention the roaming charges (some of us travel)

as usual, different priorities define value otherwise in an open market there would not be the diversity of service

 

[pinky2]

if your work for, or have ever worked for the City of Vancouver, have a pay stub or an employee number, or are comfortable walking into a Rogers office and declaring you do/have worked for the city, there is something you should know about.

3GB of data, unlimited Canada talk and message for $60 per month. the plan is worth (the clerk told me) $90 per month.

i have worked for the city, but the clerk never asked for proof. i told her i freelance with them, could produce an employee number if asked and simply, she did not ask.