
Canada's Public Mobile -- one of the wireless start-ups to benefit from the country's
AWS spectrum auction -- has started detailing its launch plans this week behind its contemporaries at
WIND Mobile and
Mobilicity. These guys are being totally forthcoming about the fact that they're targeting the lower end of the market, a segment they claim to be "underserved" by the big guys (we're sure Koodo, Fido, and Virgin would all disagree) -- even going so far as to make their launch announcement in an area of Toronto ominously described as "hardscrabble." So what's the deal? Stores are open immediately to the tune of 15 in Toronto and another 10 in Montreal, the only markets Public Mobile says it's going to target for now, with service launching in mid-May to the tune of CAD $40 (about $39) a month for unlimited talk and text. That's great pricing, but obviously, great pricing means nothing without a great network to go along with -- so we'll see how this shakes out in a few weeks' time.
When are the Canadian networks going to get their act together and offer country-wide long distance included? Domestic long distance has been standard in the US for at least 5 years.
@weekilter
Wind mobile is offering that option as long as you call within a Home Zone. Also, public mobile has a promotion that guarantees free Canada long distance for life if you register now.
Things are changing my friend, it just really really sucks that it's taking this long