Wind Mobile is now Freedom Mobile

[tknguyen]

Lol random but.. just wanted to share. Looks like Wind is stepping up their game now? I am still glad I've switched to PM anyway 🙂

[dohadotahmed]

I was a wind customer long ago. Then switched to mobilicity for more then a year finally they bought by rogers. Finally I switched to pm during fall promo and so far very happy still paying more but great service, coverage and great community people. Thanks pm community.

[ckl]

@johI'm happy with PM as well. Of the very few occasions where I've had problems, a simple private message to the moderators like @Shazia_K prompted a quick a courteous reply. Often, by the time I read the reply, the issue is already fixed. 

[ckl]

"$40 is a promo price for 12 months, then 45$/mth.  As well, full speed data goes down to 3 gb as of Feb 1 2018.  Devil is always in the details, lol!"

that's typical Shaw tactic. The real Wind Mobile back when I initially joined in 2010 or so would never have done this.

[ShawnC13]

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@kav2001c wrote:

Hey did you see? Wind (Freedom) called us out!

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@Alek wrote:

In the conference call, CEO Alek said that they "lost customers due to the aggressive and irrational $40 rate plans with 4GB of data". Alek continued on, "fortunately, these irrational plans have been pulled from the market so we should see numbers increase again"

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@kav2001c  Good thing our plans are for 90 days and $120 for 12gb not like  those irrational $40 4GB plans

[Jonavin]

If anything, his comments just means that Freedom will continue to push the price up. They have to realize they can't do that without a solid network.... not a "we'll be better one day" network. 

[kav2001c]

Hey did you see? Wind (Freedom) called us out!

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@Alek wrote:

In the conference call, CEO Alek said that they "lost customers due to the aggressive and irrational $40 rate plans with 4GB of data". Alek continued on, "fortunately, these irrational plans have been pulled from the market so we should see numbers increase again"

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[kav2001c]

@Jonavin yeah but still 5000 in a month is quite substantial

I am also very curious to see other carriers port out numbers for last quarter

[Jonavin]

@kav2001c At least 6 of those 5000 I know of personally. I am surprised it's only 5000.

[kav2001c]

Not that happy it appears

Freedom lost nearly 5,000 for Q4

I am guessing most of them are now on Public 

[makkahn28]

I noticed that Freedom Mobile has a Catchphrase similar to Koodo

Choose Happy= Koodo

Choose Freedom

[Jonavin]

I actually had Shaw cable way back before they sold it off to Rogers. So I am aware how they fo business. In fairness to them, I actually got better cable service with them than with Rogers in the years following the buyout.

Not to say Telus is much better. At least they tolerate PM running lean and low cost. Hope this never change. As a former Clearnet customer, the future got a bit unfriendly after the buyout.

[kav2001c]

@Jonavin I was saying that for a while over there

Its like most of the posters are Ontario based so I think they are not really familiar with how Shaw works

I think these new plans are a big jolt since many people hung onto grandfather plans hoping for the best

I suspect their main strategy from website is the "congestion free LTE network"

I think they will avoid congestion by keeping most users data use really low

For someone currently on Robellus it might be an attractive plan

But those of us on flankers like Public won't jump ship

[Jonavin]

@kav2001c That is true. They've never done that before. I think the move to "Freedom Mobile" is a sure sign that SHAW has taken over.

[kav2001c]

@Jonavin to be fair it is *usually* the big3 that raise prices

This direction is a new one for Freedom

I see the other boards seem really upset

Lots of people wishing they had jumped ship for the Public plans now

[Jonavin]

And you wonder why people kept on asking if the PM promo plan price goes up after 90 days. It's because a lot of other carrier brands do this.

[bar0460]

$40 is a promo price for 12 months, then 45$/mth.  As well, full speed data goes down to 3 gb as of Feb 1 2018.  Devil is always in the details, lol!

[kav2001c]

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@majsiddiqui wrote:
What Public Mobile and WIND Mobile had in common - leadership.

Freedom Mobile to offer $40 plan with unlimited North America calling and 6GB of LTE data. Is this true?

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/wind-mobile-lte-freedom-1.3860232

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Its false

Check the fine print

Plan is really 3GB 

Promo will expire

[joh]

When I called to cancel my Wind service in August, loyalty dept. csr asked why I was cancelling.  I told her about a request I kept calling and asking about during the 8 months I was with Wind (which they continuously said could not be done) and about problems connecting online.  Well she replied that she can and will do what I previously requested (unbelievable).  I said too late.  Then she tells me Wind will have LTE service in fall 2016 (not late 2017) and my connection problems would be history (not competely but almost).  I hesitated for a moment but said no, I'm still leaving. 

Glad I did!  I would have been livid that my expensive iphone would've been useless and my plan would have to change to access LTE.  Funny how Wind (Freedom) announces this just after PM promo ends.

I'm very happy with PM except for the hiccup concerning fall 2016 promo plan change problems.

[ajanda]

It is only going to be 6GB of LTE Data until Feb 2018. After that its just 3GB of LTE Data. The plan will increase to $45 after 12 months. That is the current Smartphone 45 LTE plan.

[MEU_21]

The lay of the land for mobile operators as of now based on my experience:

Rogers, Bell, Telus - overpriced, you'll find better options elsewhere depending on your use. I had a business account with Rogers that had good customer service. Bell had horrible service for personal and business accounts.

Chatr ($40 Talk, Text 1GB Data plan) - Never had problems with Chatr. Best within zone only, if you don't care for data quality (3G). Outside the zone, roaming is prohibitively expensive. Also has the overall best interantional long distance rates (except the US) from within the zone without need for any add-ons. Ok Roaming internationally - but can be expensive in some jurisdictions. Best for those who stay in the zones of major urban centres and don't leave elsewhere in the province and are happy with just talking and texting and occasional use of overpriced 3G data.

Wind/Freedom ($40 plan post promotion)- Never had problems with Wind's coverage, but I understand if others do. It has more favourable roaming rates outside of their zone than Chatr. Good Canada-wide roaming rates, and interantional roaming add-ons and interantional calling add-ons give good rates. Best for those who are happy with spotty unlimited service and 3G data service within the zone, frequently call outside the province / international from within the zone, and occasionaly travel outside of the zone.

PM - With the recent $120 Promo - (Thanks PM) - Best unlimited provincial plan with the best data rate for data quality. Add-on rates for out of province are good at 3.75 to 4 c/min. Flexibility in out-of province usage is a bonus. Poor selection of international calling at higher rates (3.75c/min on select countries, while Chatr & Wind has dozens of countries listed at that rate or less), so-so US roaming (see my comments elsewhere), no international roaming. Best for those that live outside of urban centres or those that travel throughout the province often, with occasional travel out of province. I call PM my "Ontario" plan and am happy with it since switching. We kept our other phone in our legacy Wind/Freedom plan ($35/m) for international calling and international roaming.

Never had Koodo / Fido / PC Mobile, so I can't comment on those.

[Jonavin]

@majsiddiqui That 6 GB drops to 3GB an dthe plan goes up to $45 after 12 month. That doesn't match PM's plan at all. After 12 months your PM plan will get cheaper even if you don't do referals or autopay.

[majsiddiqui]

@xCameron94x

Wow! So people who bought new unlocked iPhones from Apple store or new unlocked Samsung devices are SOL on Freedom Mobile network.

I was reading the fine print on Freedom Mobile website, and the 6GB data drops to standard 3GB.  I don't think the LTE plans are appealing from Freedom Mobile.

Smartphone LTE Plan

To use Freedom Mobile’s LTE network, you’ll also need our Smartphone LTE Plan, which is available to all customers, even if LTE is not yet available in your area. This plan includes 3GB of data on our network for $45 per month, plus a 3GB bonus data allocation through January 31, 2018; at that time, the data allocation drops from 6GB to the standard 3GB for all customers on the plan.  

[xCameron94x]

@majsiddiqui as long as you get the Lg V20 or a "future ready" phone then yes. 

[majsiddiqui]

What Public Mobile and WIND Mobile had in common - leadership.

Freedom Mobile to offer $40 plan with unlimited North America calling and 6GB of LTE data. Is this true?

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/wind-mobile-lte-freedom-1.3860232

[jeremyesq]

@MyzMc They purposely chose "freedom" because it is a difficult word for most to associate negative feelings with. ie. How difficult is it to say "I hate freedom" or "I don't like freedom"?

[MyzMc]

Personally I don't like the name Freedom Mobile (sounds like they are trying too hard to be American?).  I actually like the name Wind.

[Jonavin]

I'm talking strictly name brand. I knew that PM would be the first to go (sold/bankrupt/whatever) and Mobilicity next, but I would've never guess that the WIND brand would disappear before the Public Mobile brand.

[SRS]

Wind couldnt and still hasnt built a proper 3g network.  Good luck waiting for decent LTE coverage and by the way you need to purchase a new phone on new plans to access their LTE network.  I was a Wind client for 5.5 years with multiple lines, converted all and refered several over the fall promo.  If the PublicMobile promo plan returns I am sure there will be a large response from wind customers.

[ASharpTM]

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@Jonavin wrote:

I'd never thought I'd see this but Public Mobile is now the only brand left from the "new carriers".

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Not sure what your logic here is. Public Mobile is only the same brand in name only. It is a far cry from the company that launched in 2010.

Wind is still the same old company as before with just with a different name now...

If you're strictly referring to name only then sure I guess you're right but that doesn't mean much considering how much things have changed since the company's inception.

[Jonavin]

I'd never thought I'd see this but Public Mobile is now the only brand left from the "new carriers".