Virgin Mobile Launches in Canada
01-Mar-2005, 08:55 AM
#1
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Virgin Mobile Launches in Canada
Just wondering what you guys think of virgin mobile launching in canada.
I for one was sort of looking forward to see what kind of stuff they offered, but dissapointingly they
a) are on the Bell network (so not GSM) (haha sorry Jay)
b) only have 3 handsets available
c) only have pay as you go available
http://www.virginmobile.ca
It's an interesting concept, to market exclusivley to the younger population, however they claim their target market is 12 - 30... I don't know many 30 year olds, or hell even 20 somethings that use pay as you go cell phones.
but maybe i don't get out enough...
Here's some other links
Globe and Mail Link
National Post Link
either way it's nice to see some competition, even tho virgin uses the bell network, and bell owns shares in it.
What we need is another company, 3 isn't enough, they can keep us hostage with their rediculous pricing... we need pricing like they have in the states...
I for one was sort of looking forward to see what kind of stuff they offered, but dissapointingly they
a) are on the Bell network (so not GSM) (haha sorry Jay)
b) only have 3 handsets available
c) only have pay as you go available
http://www.virginmobile.ca
It's an interesting concept, to market exclusivley to the younger population, however they claim their target market is 12 - 30... I don't know many 30 year olds, or hell even 20 somethings that use pay as you go cell phones.
but maybe i don't get out enough...
Here's some other links
Globe and Mail Link
National Post Link
either way it's nice to see some competition, even tho virgin uses the bell network, and bell owns shares in it.
What we need is another company, 3 isn't enough, they can keep us hostage with their rediculous pricing... we need pricing like they have in the states...
01-Mar-2005, 09:06 AM
#4
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yeah, like i think Bell had pay as you go and you could pay monthly for unlimited evenings and weekends and stuff... this seems horribly expensive...
... 10 cents a minute is hella expensive and that's the best deal if you go 'monthly'
Virgin Canada Website
Talk more, pay less
With Virgin Mobile, you get great rates – all the time! Calls are just 25¢ per minute for the first five minutes each day, and 15¢ per minute for the rest of the day! And your balance lasts for 120 days. So go ahead, talk cheap. And a little dirty, if you want to.
Talk more, pay less
With Virgin Mobile, you get great rates – all the time! Calls are just 25¢ per minute for the first five minutes each day, and 15¢ per minute for the rest of the day! And your balance lasts for 120 days. So go ahead, talk cheap. And a little dirty, if you want to.
Virgin Canada Website
Hey Big Talkers!
Prices get even better with a $25 “Monthly Pass”. Calls are just 20¢ per minute for the first five minutes each day, and 10¢ per minute for the rest of the day! Plus, we’ll automatically top up your phone with your $25 each month for you! So put your feet up and chat – just remember that your $25 Monthly Pass Balance expires every month if you don’t use it.
Hey Big Talkers!
Prices get even better with a $25 “Monthly Pass”. Calls are just 20¢ per minute for the first five minutes each day, and 10¢ per minute for the rest of the day! Plus, we’ll automatically top up your phone with your $25 each month for you! So put your feet up and chat – just remember that your $25 Monthly Pass Balance expires every month if you don’t use it.
... 10 cents a minute is hella expensive and that's the best deal if you go 'monthly'
01-Mar-2005, 09:09 AM
#6
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no monthly payments, unless you count the 'monthly pass' crap.
strictly pay as you go, and according to what i've read (gotta love boring classes) they have no plans to expand to the monthly plan market. They believe the pay as you go segment is underdeveloped and has much potential because current companies don't make it look 'cool' enough...
i never knew a plan could be cool
strictly pay as you go, and according to what i've read (gotta love boring classes) they have no plans to expand to the monthly plan market. They believe the pay as you go segment is underdeveloped and has much potential because current companies don't make it look 'cool' enough...
i never knew a plan could be cool
01-Mar-2005, 10:25 AM
#9
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Posts: 15,801
It sucks how there only prepaid. Competition is always good.
Oh yeah, no more $45 Unlimited Local Calls. City Fido is no longer unlimited, they are shrinking the calling area, and only allowing 750 minutes on new activations.
Oh yeah, no more $45 Unlimited Local Calls. City Fido is no longer unlimited, they are shrinking the calling area, and only allowing 750 minutes on new activations.
01-Mar-2005, 12:31 PM
#12
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Originally posted by DoubaD
oh, and i recieve free text messaging, if it isn't important i just get text messages from whoever's on msn
oh, and i recieve free text messaging, if it isn't important i just get text messages from whoever's on msn
01-Mar-2005, 01:02 PM
#13
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Hey what does Bell Care...?? we get money from them for them using our network. bell is all about the large corporate accounts... let someone else go after the young'ins
See Virgin mobile is hugely successful in europe where pay as you go is a much larger success, why? because landline fees for local calls are high enough that pay as you go cell phones are cheaper.
so virgin is trying to launch that here. on the plus side they use the CDMA network in europe they use the GSM network. they tend to use the prevalent technology in an area when they go in. europe is mainly GSM where north america is mainly CDMA.
on the plus side since technically it's just a re-branded bell cell phone you'll be able to roam anywhere a bell prepaid customer can roam.
as for market size of the pay as you go plans... bells prepaid platform (no longer in use) was nicknamed freepaid because it would go down so often everytime it went down prepaid customers would get to make free calls.and this is true of most carriers prepaid systems and so they for the most part don't push it because the monthly plans (or postpaid) are much better revenua sources for the companies.
See Virgin mobile is hugely successful in europe where pay as you go is a much larger success, why? because landline fees for local calls are high enough that pay as you go cell phones are cheaper.
so virgin is trying to launch that here. on the plus side they use the CDMA network in europe they use the GSM network. they tend to use the prevalent technology in an area when they go in. europe is mainly GSM where north america is mainly CDMA.
on the plus side since technically it's just a re-branded bell cell phone you'll be able to roam anywhere a bell prepaid customer can roam.
as for market size of the pay as you go plans... bells prepaid platform (no longer in use) was nicknamed freepaid because it would go down so often everytime it went down prepaid customers would get to make free calls.and this is true of most carriers prepaid systems and so they for the most part don't push it because the monthly plans (or postpaid) are much better revenua sources for the companies.
01-Mar-2005, 01:32 PM
#14
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from what i read, Bell's just hoping Virgin doesn't cannibalize it's customers, cuz in essence (even tho pay as you go isn't a huge revenue stream) it would still be a loss..
I just don't know if it will be a huge success here, even in the US they have 3 million subscribers... but that's only 1% of their population when you look at it from that point of view...
I guess if u don't do alot of commuting or traveling and can get by with a pay as you go phone then go for it, it's supposed to be way cheaper than all the plans other service providers currently have....
Jay, i thought GSM was big in the states...
(
did you know say 'on the plus side' very often? 
)
I just don't know if it will be a huge success here, even in the US they have 3 million subscribers... but that's only 1% of their population when you look at it from that point of view...
I guess if u don't do alot of commuting or traveling and can get by with a pay as you go phone then go for it, it's supposed to be way cheaper than all the plans other service providers currently have....
Jay, i thought GSM was big in the states...
(
did you know say 'on the plus side' very often? )
01-Mar-2005, 02:16 PM
#16
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on I don't say it often enough I was making up for all the times i've been negative... 
As for GSM in the States Spirit and Verizon the 2 largest carriers in the states are both CDMA companies...
GSM is popular everywhere except north america so a much larger customer base hence why the get the "cool" new phones first.
I don't think bell will be all that worried abotu the stripping of customers due to the way it's all set up (but I can't say anymore) whats cool is in the future you'd be able to move phones between Bell and Virgin... most CDMA companies don't allow this
As for GSM in the States Spirit and Verizon the 2 largest carriers in the states are both CDMA companies...
GSM is popular everywhere except north america so a much larger customer base hence why the get the "cool" new phones first.
I don't think bell will be all that worried abotu the stripping of customers due to the way it's all set up (but I can't say anymore) whats cool is in the future you'd be able to move phones between Bell and Virgin... most CDMA companies don't allow this
01-Mar-2005, 03:03 PM
#17
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I met Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Group owner) at their office today (work on the same floor as Virgin Mobile).
Cool guy...and their cell phone plans seem very good for the pre-high school and emergency cell phone users. All the features includeing voicemail and textmsg'ing and call ID are included. No system fees either. I'd recommend it...
Plus their receptionist is a crazy hottie and is wearing a nurse outfit with a push-up bra today!
Cool guy...and their cell phone plans seem very good for the pre-high school and emergency cell phone users. All the features includeing voicemail and textmsg'ing and call ID are included. No system fees either. I'd recommend it...
Plus their receptionist is a crazy hottie and is wearing a nurse outfit with a push-up bra today!
01-Mar-2005, 03:45 PM
#20
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I tried for pics but it's a little crazy inside...
well, I know this isn't as good as a pic of the nurse but heres the office (I was hoping to get a pic of her thru the window at least)...
I'll try another day...
well, I know this isn't as good as a pic of the nurse but heres the office (I was hoping to get a pic of her thru the window at least)...
I'll try another day...
