• Carriers

    Visible+ Cyber Monday Deal 

    by
    frail
    Published on 11-23-2023 03:09 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. From The Forums,
    3. Carriers

    https://bestmvno.com/daily-deals/vis...0-off-iphones/

    On Monday the 27th 35FLASH gets you the Visible+ plan for $35 for life.

    ...there will be a special offer available exclusively on Cyber Monday, 11/27/23. The Cyber Monday featured offer will be that Visible by Verizon will offer you their flagship unlimited plan, Visible+ for $35/month for life. The plan is normally priced at $45/month. A promo code will be required to get the offer, and that code is 35FLASH.
    14 Comments

    Verizon Nets 100K in Q3 

    by
    frail
    Published on 10-24-2023 08:39 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. News,
    3. From The Forums,
    4. Carriers

    Lost 51K consumer side, made up for it on business side:

    Verizon continued to emphasize improvements in its overall financial performance as it once again lost customers in its Consumer group in Q3 2023, which were offset by gains in the Business group.

    Granted, the loss of 51,000 subscribers in the Consumer group was not as bad as the year-ago quarter, when it lost 189,000, or even the prior quarter, when it lost 136,000.

    In the Business segment, Verizon added 151,000 in Q3, which was an improvement over the 144,000 net adds in Q2. That also gave Verizon the bragging rights to 100,000 total postpaid phone net additions for Q3 2023 when combining Consumer and Business segments.
    More...
    10 Comments

    Visible Calls Out Metro on Their "Yada Yada" Marketing 

    by
    frail
    Published on 10-04-2023 05:20 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. News,
    3. From The Forums,
    4. Carriers

    From Fierce Wireless:

    Metro by T-Mobile’s “Nada Yada Yada” campaign, unveiled August 22, was primarily aimed at big cable providers like Comcast and Charter Communications for smacking wireless customers with “exploding bills” after their promotions are over.

    But Verizon’s Visible prepaid brand is the one that's striking back, calling out Metro by T-Mobile for “glossing over the disclaimer details” and making claims about selling wireless without the “gotchas.”

    According to Visible, Metro by T-Mobile is the one doling out the “gotchas.” The spot is viewable here.

    "Visible has nothing to hide," said Verizon Value President Angie Klein in a statement. "When we see other brands claim they have no 'yada, yada, yada' – but we know they do – we have to call BS on their 'BS-Free Promise.' If you want real transparency, simplicity, and honesty from your wireless carrier, Visible is the only choice. And who better to help tell that story than Jason Alexander, someone who made 'yada, yada, yada' famous."
    More...


    4 Comments

    Using an Ubigi eSIM in Japan 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 05-01-2023 11:31 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    Not today, Bell!

    I'm back from 9 days in Tokyo, and can report great success with a pair of Ubigi eSIMs, installed on an unlocked Pixel 4a and 6a.

    I set up both phones before we left, and switched the APN info right before we took off from Toronto. When we landed, my girlfriend's 4a connected almost immediately, and my 6a quickly followed after a restart. By the time our plane reached its arrival gate we were both good to go.

    One added perk that I didn't realize about eSIMs is that you can use them simultaneously with your home network. Since incoming texts are free even while roaming, I was able to see a message from a family member and respond by email — using the much cheaper data provided by Ubigi.



    Some random speed tests conducted during my trip. Service was 4G rather than 5G but speeds were perfectly fine, even for real-time navigation. The few low numbers above were almost all recorded at Narita Airport.



    Our 10 GB each turned out to be plenty for 9 days abroad. We did connect our phones to the hotel's WiFi but probably didn't need to.

    I chose Ubigi for this trip based on recommendations from reddit. For other destinations you can consult the esimdb and get the best/cheapest data for where you want to go. Another perk of eSIMs is that you can install multiple profiles (depending on your device), even if only one can be active at a time.

    My brother's family also visited Japan earlier this year, and paid their provider's "roam like home" rate of $16 CAD per device per day — almost ten times what we paid per device with an eSIM. It was pretty great to not be ripped off by a Canadian carrier for once!

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    10 Comments

    T-Mobile in talks to buy Mint 

    by
    frail
    Published on 01-11-2023 05:08 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. News,
    3. From The Forums,
    4. Carriers

    Mint Mobile, which is partly owned by Ryan Reynolds, might be acquired by T-Mobile.

    The two companies are apparently in talks about a potential acquisition, according to Bloomberg.
    https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/11/2...ed-by-t-mobile
    12 Comments

    Cricket Ends Speed Caps, Opens Up 5G Access 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 10-29-2021 09:30 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    Some breaking news of interest from Android Police this morning:

    The company has limited most customers' LTE download speeds to just 8Mbps for the longest time. Now, that speed cap has been lifted for those on the 2GB ($30/mo. for a single line), 10GB ($40), and Unlimited ($55) tiers. Furthermore, these customers will also now be able to access AT&T's 5G network — nationwide low-band and "5G+" millimeter wave in limited locations — bringing these plans in line with the Unlimited + 15GB Mobile Hotspot ($60/mo.) selection. This does mean that most of them will need to purchase a new device to take advantage of the next-gen grid, but at least there will be 13 phones to choose from unlike just the one that was available when the Unlimited + 15GB Mobile Hotspot plan was updated last year to include 5G access.
    AP also notes that speeds are subject to traffic management at any time.

    Source: Android Police

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    61 Comments

    Virgin Mobile is Now Virgin Plus 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 07-20-2021 03:35 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    I feel like this is more of a PSA than actual news. Nevertheless... Bell's Virgin Mobile has officially re-branded to Virgin Plus. Why? Well, it makes sense to ditch the 'Mobile', as the sub-brand now offers broadband internet and — I didn't actually know this — TV services in Ontario and Québec. As for the rest of Canada:

    Virgin Plus Members across the country will continue [to] enjoy offerings like Sweet Pay, a payment program that allows Members to pay for their phones over the course of 24 low monthly payments. They will also experience easy account management by using the company's award-winning app, which allows Members to easily pay bills, track data usage, and seamlessly manage add-ons. And of course, Virgin Plus will also continue to provide Members with new and hot Member Benefits like food, fashion and entertainment deals; and VIP money-can't-buy experiences.
    There really isn't anything more to this, but for the words of others on the exact same subject see immediately below:

    Source: CNW Release via iPhone in Canada, Mobile Syrup

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------

    Nokia 2720 V Flip Phone Coming to Verizon 

    by
    frail
    Published on 05-13-2021 06:19 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Devices,
    3. News,
    4. From The Forums,
    5. Carriers



    Nokia is bringing the 2720 V Flip to the US via Verizon. The "smart feature phone" running KaiOS comes with 4G and Google Assistant and will be available on May 20th for $79.99.



    Info and full specs at Nokia

    Via: Nokiamob.net
    8 Comments

    Ericsson Update Causes Rogers Outage 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 04-18-2021 08:00 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    Canada's largest mobile network has, for many, been down for most of the day. Now we finally know why. Here's Jorge Fernandes, Rogers CTO, to explain what happened:

    We have identified the root cause of the service issues and pinpointed a recent Ericsson software update that affected a piece of equipment in the central part of our wireless network. That led to intermittent congestion and service impacts for many customers across the country.
    When his post was published, Fernandes said it would take "several hours" to get the network back to full service. Hopefully by the time you read this all will be well.

    Source: Rogers via iPhone in Canada

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    6 Comments

    Proper MVNOs Finally Coming to Canada? 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 04-15-2021 05:40 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    Breaking news from the CRTC:

    The CRTC today announced that certain telecommunications providers will be able to access the wireless networks of Canada’s dominant providers to offer Canadians more choice and affordable options.

    As a result, regional providers that invest in network infrastructure and spectrum will be able to offer competitive services to millions of Canadians as mobile virtual network operators in areas where competition is limited. These companies have already been contributing to greater competition and helping to lower prices.
    Bell, Rogers, SaskTel and Telus have been asked to file proposed terms and conditions for access within 90 days. This is going to be interesting...

    via Mobile Syrup

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    6 Comments

    Celebrate the Year of the Ox with a Reasonably-Priced Phone Plan 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 02-02-2021 03:00 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    Koodo has fallen in line with fellow Big Three second-stringers Fido and Virgin—each is now offering a monthly data bucket of 10GB for a very reasonable (for Canada) $50. And as an added bonus you also get phone service and texting, too!

    Virgin Mobile kicked things off over the weekend, with Fido joining in yesterday and Koodo today. It's all to mark the Lunar New Year (Year of the Ox), which begins this Friday, February 12th. Hopefully these offers will stay on the table until then.

    Some specifics: Fido is offering up to $188 in bill credits and additional savings, Koodo will give you 888 free long distance minutes to select Asian countries and Virgin bumps up those long distance minutes to an even thousand.

    I myself have enjoyed service on all three of these carriers, with cost being my only complaint. When you consider that Bell, Rogers and Telus proper are all now charging $80/month for only 15GB of data (previously $75/month for 20GB), these new year promotions are pretty decent in comparison.

    Sources: Fido, Koodo, Virgin Mobile via Mobile Syrup (1) (2) (3) (4)

    AT&T: 5G iPhone launch might be "meh"; also working on 6G already 

    by
    frail
    Published on 09-21-2020 01:53 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. News,
    3. From The Forums,
    4. Carriers

    ... Still, while AT&T is positioning its company around wireless and high-speed broadband, Apple’s 5G iPhones, expected to be announced in October, may not be the major event many are expecting. Economic challenges during Covid-19 quarantines may cause fewer people to upgrade immediately, said McElfresh. If you’re not in a hurry to upgrade to 5G, McElfresh shared some additional news -- AT&T engineers are already working on 6G.
    More at CNBC (paywall) and MacRumors
    4 Comments

    Verizon Acquires Tracfone 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 09-14-2020 01:45 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    NEW YORK – Verizon (NYSE: VZ) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with America Movil to acquire Tracfone, the leading pre-paid and value mobile provider in the U.S. The acquisition expands Verizon’s portfolio into the value segment, bringing enhanced access to its industry-leading wireless network and comprehensive suite of mobility products and services to a new customer base [...] The consideration for the transaction will include $3.125 billion in cash and $3.125 billion in Verizon common stock, subject to customary adjustments, at closing.
    Discuss the news on the Tracfone forum here, or the Verizon forum here.

    Source: Verizon Press Release via The Verge

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    3 Comments

    Telus Lights up 5G in Five Cities 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 06-17-2020 07:40 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    Telus has joined Bell and Rogers in bringing 5G service to select markets in Canada. From their official release:

    VANCOUVER – TELUS announced that it is rolling out its first wave 5G network in Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, and the Greater Toronto Area, and will continue to expand to an additional 26 markets across Canada throughout the remainder of the year.

    TELUS also announced today it has selected Samsung as a network infrastructure partner, with the goal to provide transformational 5G mobile services for Canadians. TELUS previously announced it is also working with Ericsson and Nokia as partners in building its 5G network.

    Businesses, consumers, and students with 5G network access will experience a network with peak speeds reaching up to a blistering 1.7 Gbps [...]
    5G-enabled devices already available from Telus include the LG V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen, the Moto Edge+ and the Samsung Galaxy S20 series. Like Bell and Rogers, 5G on Telus will cost nothing extra until March of 2021; from then on you'll be expected to pony up an additional $15/month for the privilege.

    Source: Telus (1) (2) via Mobile Syrup

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    25 Comments

    Bell Lights up 5G in Select Markets 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 06-11-2020 03:30 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    Looks like Bell has beat out Telus to become the second Big Three carrier to offer 5G service in Canada. As of this morning that service is now live in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal. Never mind that this country's official 5G spectrum auction has been postponed until 2021; Bell is using their existing AWS spectrum to bring 5G to their customers right now—provided, of course, that they're using one of the three currently-supported handsets:

    LG V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen
    Motorola Edge+
    Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

    If you've got one of these devices (and live in one of the aforementioned markets) you can enjoy free access to Bell's fifth generation wireless service... until March of 2021, when the privilege will set you back an additional $10 CAD/month.

    Source: Bell Mobility via iPhone in Canada

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    21 Comments

    It’s Official: No Huawei Gear for Canada’s 5G Networks 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 06-03-2020 08:30 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    Just four months ago Telus was naming Huawei as a major partner in their forthcoming 5G network. But as of yesterday that's no longer the case. From their press release:

    "TELUS today announced it has selected Ericsson and Nokia to support building its 5G network, with the goal to revolutionize wireless connectivity for customers."
    The news came only hours after this release from Bell:

    "Bell Canada today announced that Ericsson will provide radio access network (RAN) equipment for Bell's national 5G wireless network..."
    The Swedish company is also supplying 5G gear to Rogers, so it looks like Huawei will not be part of the 5G experience in this country anytime soon.

    Some additional notes: (1) Our government hasn't yet made an official decision on Huawei; (2) Freedom Mobile doesn't use Huawei equipment on their network, either.

    Sources: CBC (1) (2), Mobile Syrup (1) (2) (3)

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    5 Comments

    Verizon adding an addtional 15GB of 4G LTE data for May 

    by
    frail
    Published on 04-23-2020 12:34 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. News,
    3. From The Forums,
    4. Carriers

    Verizon posted the following announcement yesterday:

    04/22 Update:

    Verizon continues to support customers who may find themselves needing additional data in order to learn, work or keep connected during this challenging time. That’s why today, we announced we are automatically adding an additional 15GB of 4G LTE data to consumer and small business* shared data plans, hotspots and jetpacks to be used from May 1 through May 31. There is no action needed as this data will automatically be added to consumer and small business accounts.

    * Includes small business customers with 50 lines or less.
    5 Comments

    How's Everyone Doing With Their Big Three Data Caps? 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 03-31-2020 02:00 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    Not flexing or anything here, just providing a data point with my own usage for my last billing period with Telus.

    The good news? It would seem that 20GB of monthly mobile data is indeed enough for my needs. This includes all app updates, uploads to Google Photos, about a gigabyte of podcast downloads and, my guilty pleasure—and also far and away my biggest consumption of data—a nightly before-bed update of the latest GIFs and memes from Imgur.

    The bad news? I rarely if ever consume video on my phone; for that I have an Android TV box hooked up to my home Internet. So if I had to rely on my mobile carrier for everything, 20 gigs per month likely wouldn't cut it.

    How about you? Is your monthly data allotment enough to get by on? And if you blow past it are your throttled data speeds sufficient?

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    7 Comments

    Rogers Launches 5G Network with Galaxy S20 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 03-06-2020 06:22 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    And access is free, but only until next year.

    Alongside the new trio of Samsung Galaxies—the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra—Rogers is also launching 5G service in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver. Phase one of the 5G rollout (live as of today) is using 2.5 GHz spectrum, with 600 MHz spectrum support coming later this year.

    To access the new network you'll need compatible hardware and a subscription to a Rogers Infinite plan. Oh, and come March 6th, 2021 you'll have to pony up an additional $15/month for the privilege. Because, Canada? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    Sources: iPhone in Canada (1) (2), Mobile Syrup

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    18 Comments

    News Dump: CRTC Hearing on the Review of Mobile Wireless Services 

    by
    acurrie
    Published on 02-20-2020 01:00 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Carriers



    CRTC Hearing #2019-57 is now underway in Gatineau, Quebec, and my news feeds are quickly filling up with posts about it. To share the knowledge with my fellow Canadian HoFoers I'll dump the best of the best here, and will try to limit each post to 8 links or so. Feel free to add your own!

    CRTC hearings could open door to mobile disrupters — and possibly cheaper cellphone rates

    CRTC says concerns about phone bills heard ‘loud and clear’

    About 60 percent of Canadians want MVNOs to have mandated access to Big Three’s network

    Telus sets stage for battle over wireless rate cuts with new pricing pledge

    Telus, flanker brands, claim to exceed Liberal wireless affordability goal

    Rogers Adviser Writes Op-Ed: “No Evidence” MVNOs Will Lower Wireless Prices

    Shaw argues against mandated resale MVNO access, says it would threaten competition

    The LawBytes Podcast, Episode 39: “The Day I Can Offer Service, Prices Come Down” – Elliot Noss on MVNOs and the CRTC Hearing on Wireless Services

    ---------
    Andrew Currie has been blogging about mobile phones since 2001, smartphones (depending on how you define them) since 2002 and smartwatches since 2014.
    ---------
    7 Comments
    Page 1 of 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ... LastLast