said by jfmezei :

It is technically false to state we only have one GSM supplier in Canada.
»www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo···ca.shtml

Microcell's network still exists. ( 302-37 ) It is just that very very very few antennas still offer any channels with that network ID. But the Microcell network still exists in tables and roaming systems because Fido still sells ist phones with Fido sim cards with teh Microcell network ID as "home" network. (and a patch to make the Rogers network appears to be "Fido" on the phone.

Icewireless operates un Yukon and Northwest territories. Correction, they don't seem to have presence in Whitehorese anymore.

And Dryden Mobility is about to go live.

said by jfmezei :

Neither Rogers nor Fido prevent you from using your own GSM phone on their network. The nature of GSM and roaming basically prevents them from doing that.

So if you buy a truly unlocked Iphone in europe (some countries legally prohibit locking of phones), you can bring on on rogers territory and insert any rigers or fido SIM card in it. Fido offers non-contract deals, so you can use that.

Until Apple sells fully featured unlocked Iphone not tied to any network, I won't touch it. Remember that networks not only lock the phone to their network, but also tailor down the available optiosn/menus on the phone. When you get the real unlocked phone, you get all the features advertised by the manufacturer.

When you get an iphone that has been unlocked, you only get the ability to change SIM cards, you do not get the original system software, you are still stuck with the tailored down software of whatever network the phone was originally locked to.

said by jfmezei :

Neither Rogers nor Fido prevent you from using your own GSM phone on their network. The nature of GSM and roaming basically prevents them from doing that.

So if you buy a truly unlocked Iphone in europe (some countries legally prohibit locking of phones), you can bring on on rogers territory and insert any rigers or fido SIM card in it. Fido offers non-contract deals, so you can use that.

Until Apple sells fully featured unlocked Iphone not tied to any network, I won't touch it. Remember that networks not only lock the phone to their network, but also tailor down the available optiosn/menus on the phone. When you get the real unlocked phone, you get all the features advertised by the manufacturer.

When you get an iphone that has been unlocked, you only get the ability to change SIM cards, you do not get the original system software, you are still stuck with the tailored down software of whatever network the phone was originally locked to.

said by milnoc :

...Get a decent plan and a cheap phone from another supplier, then switch SIM cards.

Is it that simple?

said by sbrook :

BUT if the Canadian DMCA ONLY WORSE goes through then doing that would be illegal too. Digital locks and all that.

said by Shark_615 :

You will get hosed on the cancel fee.

said by brad :

Price does not mean anything to me when the phone does not work as the coverage was so shitty outside of the down town area!! I want a cell carrier with a good network, not a notwork.

said by Maynard G Krebs :

There has to be some Competition Bureau rule about this.

Imagine that you move to Canada with your unlocked GSM phone (common in Europe and Asia) and are told that your ratified GSM standard-meeting phone capable of use on the Rogers/Fido network is not allowed to be used under the same terms and conditions as a phone that Rogers supplies.

Hell, it could even be *exactly* the same model number and they'd still screw you on the data plan.

The government really screwed up when Fido was taken over by the banks. They should have allowed T-Mobile or somebody else from outside Canada to buy Fido and force the domestic companies to be honest (if that word could ever be used in connection with ANY telecom / cable company in this country), and competitive (I know, again with the pipe dreams).

I think that the CRTC should void Rogers rights to the airwaves for 3 months as a penalty. Bye bye Ted.

I'm sure that Ted would like to prevent anyone from accessing the internet at home via Rogers Hi-Speed unless you bought your computer from him too.

said by adisor19 :

WTF !? Fido was garbage ?!! Wow, talk about ignorance.

Fido was the ONLY carrier to offer :

1) CityFido = unlimited local calling for 40$ a month including the SAF !! No other carrier has offered unlimited calls ever since, and this particular plan was instantly killed by Robers as soon as they bought Fido.

2) Unlimited Data for 50$ !! I do mean UNLIMITED DATA here. You could put your SIM card in Any GSM device including DATA cards and enjoy unlimited DATA even in the states for that price. Again, NO carrier has offered something even close to this in Canada with no restrictions like Fido did.

You need to rethink before you spew BS like that again. Fido was the best carrier in Canada. In fact, they were the ONLY GSM carrier long before Robers saw the light and switched to GSM as well.

Adi

said by brad :

I'll consider GSM when there are viable options that do not completely suck. Oh wait, there are none and never have been. Fido was and is complete garbage.

said by Rogers :

Cant do that they have IME Filtering for there data plan. All NON-Rogers Phones aren’t able to use the good data rates. It cost about $15CND per MB on a NON-Rogers branded Phone.

said by adisor19 :

We don't have another freakin supplyer !! What Karl forgot to mention is that since 2004, when Robers bought out Microcell/Fido, we now only have 1 (ONE) GSM provider in Canada. This is essentially a MONOPOLY as no sane consumer would ever consider a freedom restricting CDMA provider.

Argh !!!!

Adi