Best Cell Phone Service?

[Iamrobot85]

Hey guys,
I am thinking about getting a cell phone in Canada.  I was wondering what your experiences with cell phones in Canada are.  How do they differ from cell phone plans in America?  Which is the best service provider? 

If it makes a difference, I am in Calgary, Alberta.

[doctorkb]

Fido has done me well.  Good coverage, awesome prices.  The only downside is that it is Rogers -- and Rogers sucks.

[newtone]

Rogers is ekdam rapchik....great service and you could get an excellent reception even is places other carriers fail

[Love_Young]

Well I think that might depend upon region.
I know that here Rogers is not a company you want to go with if you live out in the more rural areas because you won't get a signal.
Bell I hear is pretty good. Hubby and I are with Telus and we have had some things happen before like occasional dropped call, bad signal, etc but I suppose that again that can depend upon where in a building you are if your talking while in one, if you live in more of an urban/rural area, etc. Over all, we have only had those things happen like twice and we have been with them for almost a year so in a way I would still recommend Telus as a good company. But just look at what you are looking for in a provider, where you live, what friends/family say and you should find one that suits you.

[QCSunshine]

We used to be with Telus, but switched to President's Choice last fall. They have a pre-pay phone with no contract, and ended up being less expensive than what we were paying for Telus.

[doctorkb]

Just to add a little more:

Telus, Bell and Koodo all use the same towers.  The only way the reception will change between those three is with different handsets.

Rogers and Fido are the same company and use the same towers.  An iPhone with Rogers will work as well as an iPhone with Fido -- and with Fido you'll pay about half of what you would with Rogers for the same service.

Those are the big players.  For a complete list, you can see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_mobile_phone_companies

QCSunshine: you should have the same coverage as before, also -- PC uses Bell's network.

[QCSunshine]

Yes, our coverage is fine, we just switched because our previous plan was just so very expensive and we were tired of being tied to 3 year contracts. We feel much better now... 

[FleetingDasein]

As long as you stay away from Rogers, you'll be fine. I've had many terrible experiences with Rogers... I'm glad I switched not too long ago. Right now, I'm with Koodo/Telus, and it's been great!

[wes786]

Totally depends on the area you live in....They is no such thing a good cell phone provider, they are all the same.

In my immediate family we have Rogers, bell, fido and Telus and none of them have any issues but as soon as you move city to city they all give hard time. So basically it depends how far away you are from the towers. If I were you I would get FIDO they have unlimited incoming an outgoing with unlimited worldwide text for $45 so you wouldn't need a landline. Check to see how fido signals are in your area. I have been using Rogers for the last 10 yrs with no issues...

[Tiggilicious]

We had all 3.  Best was Telus and Bell.  Rogers was terrible for the many cross canada  trips we do, a lot of dropped calls and no signals (rogers would even let us know they had no towers in some towns of about 5000)

[shiftpro]

FYI Telus has monopoly in the communications industry and guess what they are an American owned company. Just another one of our
lame governments sell-outs. Telus owns the entire infrastructure and sells their use to all the other companies. So generally you will get
the best deal with them but sometimes other companies like Fido scoop up deals provided by Telus just for the sake (I believe) to create
competition in the field and/or to keep this fact hidden from the general public.
I don't like dealing in my Canada with an American/NWO company but don't know of any alternative.

[doctorkb]

FYI Telus has monopoly in the communications industry and guess what they are an American owned company. Just another one of our lame governments sell-outs. Telus owns the entire infrastructure and sells their use to all the other companies.

You are dreaming!

1. Telus has no such monopoly.  They USED TO have a monopoly in Western Canada on the copper that's in the ground, but that has been eroded by various play-fair legislation and reciprocal contracts, not to mention VOIP.  Bell has the exact same situation in Eastern Canada!

2. Telus originated as a crown corporation in Alberta, where it was not "sold out" but rather divested into a private corporation.  They bought BC Tel as a "merger of equals" -- BC Tel was *never* government-owned.  You should quit pointing those fingers -- trying to stir up junk around the government with the upcoming election is not appropriate.

3. Telus is NOT American owned -- at least not in terms of voting shares.  See http://about.telus.com/investors/en/faq.html#10 for information about the Canadian-ownership restriction.

So generally you will get the best deal with them but sometimes other companies like Fido scoop up deals provided by Telus just for the sake (I believe) to create competition in the field and/or to keep this fact hidden from the general public.

You're full of strange facts today!  Telus RARELY has the "best deal" -- even when we're talking about the landline system in Western Canada, they are under so much additional regulation as the incumbent telco that they have to ask for CRTC permission to LOWER their rates!

I don't like dealing in my Canada with an American/NWO company but don't know of any alternative.

Believe me, having spent a fair bit of time in the US, we'd be MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better off if our telcos could be American.

[kelKel]

Fido has done me well.  Good coverage, awesome prices.  The only downside is that it is Rogers -- and Rogers sucks.

I've been with Fido for over 10 years and I agree Rogers sucks (I work for them).

[Tiggilicious]

I've been with Fido for over 10 years and I agree Rogers sucks (I work for them).

LOL! I know someone who works at the Rogers store too and he doesnt use their service due to their service issues.

[shiftpro]

You are dreaming!

1. Telus has no such monopoly.  They USED TO have a monopoly in Western Canada on the copper that's in the ground, but that has been eroded by various play-fair legislation and reciprocal contracts, not to mention VOIP.  Bell has the exact same situation in Eastern Canada!

2. Telus originated as a crown corporation in Alberta, where it was not "sold out" but rather divested into a private corporation.  They bought BC Tel as a "merger of equals" -- BC Tel was *never* government-owned.  You should quit pointing those fingers -- trying to stir up junk around the government with the upcoming election is not appropriate.

3. Telus is NOT American owned -- at least not in terms of voting shares.  See http://about.telus.com/investors/en/faq.html#10 for information about the Canadian-ownership restriction.

You're full of strange facts today!  Telus RARELY has the "best deal" -- even when we're talking about the landline system in Western Canada, they are under so much additional regulation as the incumbent telco that they have to ask for CRTC permission to LOWER their rates!

Believe me, having spent a fair bit of time in the US, we'd be MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better off if our telcos could be American.

Well thanks for straightening me out there DrK.
I'm not so sure that I'm dreaming and/or you know better but your post has inspired me to look deeper, once again.

I never mentioned anything about BC Tel and I'm aware they were not owned by the BC government.

My sister in Toronto has been digging around now for some time to learn who owns Bell and so far has come up with nothing.

I get offers all the time from other companies but they never beat what Telus is offering, at least what I'm seeing.

And what is wrong with pointing fingers at the government? Upcoming selections or not...