Wind Mobile – Rate Plan Comparison
16. Dec, 2009 
10 Comments
Update: Be sure to vote in our Wind data plan poll.
I decided to see just how Wind Mobile’s new offerings stacked up against the competition so I spent some time and did a rate comparison. I compared the 4 companies across two metrics: The power user who wants to really use their device, and to see what they offered for a $40 a month plan.
Power User: Talks a lot, uses a lot of data, and wants a high-end phone. The BlackBerry Bold 9700 was the phone of choice here, and all plans were as ‘unlimited’ as I could get them without purposely getting the most expensive options for the sake of it.
The $40 Plan: With so many options available out there, I spent several hours trying to piece together a fair comparison of plans. I found my job became much easier when I decided on a $40 a month budget and saw how far it could get me with an emphasis on talk and text.
To ensure parity across all plans, I opted for the no contract options on the Bell/Rogers/Telus plans. Also, for tax purposes, I ensured all plans were selected to be in Ontario (5% GST, 8% PST).
Power User – BlackBerry Bold 9700 – No Contract
| Bell | Rogers | Telus | Wind | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan | Uber 60 Fab 5 + Blackberry Social 30 + call display | $45 Personal Voice + 5GB Blackberry Data | Smart 100 PDA | Always Shout + Infinite Mobile |
| Minutes | 600 | 400 | 500 | Unlimited |
| Evenings and Weekends | Unlimited 9pm | Unlimited 9pm | Unlimited 6pm | Unlimited |
| Data | 1 GB | 5 GB | 3 GB | Unlimited* |
| Unlimited Talk | 5 national numbers | 5 national numbers | 5 national numbers | All national numbers |
| Text Messages | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Due now | $677.95 | $621.49 | $734.49 | $508.50 |
| Monthly Payment | $117.91 | $127.58 | $129.95 | $90.40 |
Due Today: Wind looks to win out here with the lack of an activation fee and lower handset prices which lets them offer a lower start up cost. Of course you can do better with the competition if you are willing to enter a contract of 3 years; 2 year contracts don’t help very much.
Monthly: Again, Wind is priced significantly lower than the competition and manages to offer unlimited talk time as opposed to “so much it might as well be unlimited”, and unlimited data. Of course you have to stay close to home in order to do this well for now, but if this describes you, then Wind seems to be your choice.
The $40 Plan – No Contract
| Bell | Rogers | Telus | Wind | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan | Uber 40 Talk and Text | $40 Personal Voice | Phone 40 | Always Talk + Unlimited Text |
| Minutes | 250 | 250 | 250 | Unlimited |
| Evenings and Weekends | Unlimited 9pm | Unlimited 9pm | Unlimited 6pm | Unlimited |
| Unlimited Talk | Evenings/Weekends | Evenings/Weekends | Evenings/Weekends | All provincial numbers |
| Text Messages | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Features | Call Waiting | Conference Calling | Call Forwarding | Call Waiting | Group Calling | Call Forwarding | Voice Mail 3 | Call Waiting | Conference Calling | Caller ID | Missed-call Alerts | Call Forward | Call Conferencing | Call Waiting | Call Hold |
| Monthly Payment | $40 + tax + 911 | $40 + tax + govt regulatory rec fee + 911 | $40 + tax + 911 | $40 + tax |
Monthly: For $40 you definitely get more with Wind. The competitors all offer pretty much identical service here, with Telus offering a slightly more attractive feature set. Wind gives the most extensive feature set and unlimited talk time. I did not include tax, 911 fees, nor a government regulatory recovery fee (Rogers), as it is not entirely clear on the websites as to what is included. Except Wind of course. No extra fees there, so your Wind bill is likely to be a little bit lower than the others.
Is anybody, but anybody, looking to see why Wind doesn’t offer iPhone?
The iPhone isn’t compatible with WIND’s 1700mhz cellular frequency, so they won’t be carrying it unless Apple changes the specs on the device.
Also, the Bell “Uber 60 Fab 5 + Blackberry Social 30 + call display” includes nationwide Fab 5, not local.
Hi ariane: Meraki has it right, the current iPhone hardware isn’t compatible with the 3G AWS band that Wind has license to use.
I do have some information about possible updates to the iPhone hardware which I will post as soon as I get it all written up – hopefully tonight.
Thanks for the correction Meraki. It’s been updated.
You showed the price for the Rogers 5GB plan and then lower said it only gives you 3GB. Probably a typo.
Thanks Sunny. The typo has been corrected.
But when you look at the coverage, Wind only covers pretty much Edmonton and a few surrounds cities, so unless your in the local calling area your screwed. Bell and Telus use alot of the same towers, but Bell overall has the best coverage out of anyone.
Bell and telus dont have a system access fee anymore or 911 fee.
hi…i try rogers ,wind and mobilicity but wind and mobilicity both are the way cheapest……trust me.both has good coverage in only city’s.
the iPhone 4 works with Wind Mobile and Mobilicity….it is capable of using the new spectrum for AWS
Please continue discussion on the forum: link