So I'm thinking...

Wind is GSM, but they utilize the 1700mhz frequency so there won't be the same open market for handsets that you find for Rogers or AT&T (well, not immediately anyway). The only other carrier that I'm aware of that also uses this frequency is T-Mobile in the US. I guess potentially we could hack/unlock t-mo phones and use them on the Wind network. Then again, this might not be a cost effective choice, and there have also been rumours that Wind plans on controlling access to their network via IMEI. This last point is only based on a leak from a powerpoint that Globalive has denied as being authentic though, so it may have no basis in reality.

@re4real
That powerpoint was a fake. Also not all T-Mobile phones would work, only T-Mobile's 3G phones would work.

@Ron

I know Wind denied all knowledge of it and therefore most people have jumped on board with the "it's a fake" idea, but last time I checked there was still speculation that it may have been "faked" intentionally to gauge public response. Has there been an update regarding that that I've missed, proving that it really was fake?

Regardless, it is still not beyond the realm of possibility that Wind could try to lock down their network to accept their own phones. We're all hoping they won't do that, but it entirely possible that they will.

You're right re: t-mo 3G phones only. I should have said that outright; thanks for the correction :)

@ru4real

From what I read on that thread their were a few people who proved that it was fake and it was just a guy with too much time. We'll I could be wrong.

@Ron if you're referring to the big thread on HoFo, I read through every post just last week and didn't see any proof that it was just some guy that made it up. :dunno:

This slideshow is complete crap. Of course, most of you already know that.

Instead of asking me, I suggest GlobalWireless7 ask the "why would I waste my time doing all this" question to the same folks who mock up fake iPhone pictures and boxes. They'll have the answer.

1. The EXIF data on the pictures shows them *ALL* being taken at 5:13:40 pm GMT on May 1st, 2009. That's one mighty fast slideshow.

2. The coverage maps show "initial launch coverage" of such megalopolises as The Pas, Manitoba (population 5,500), Port Hope Simpson, Labrador (population 500), and Dawson Creek, British Columbia (population 11,000). Not to mention "expanded coverage" a year later to places such as Wapusk National Park in Manitoba (presumably to cater to the much under-served polar bear demographic), the upper reaches of northern Labrador (obviously to provide critical service to the annual seal hunt), and Rankin Inlet (the Rankin Family have some serious pull at Globalive). Don't forget the continuous coverage from Thompson, Manitoba to Hudson Bay. Do I really need to go into the absurdity of all of these coverage choices?

3. For a company who's publicly voiced it's disdain for contracts time and time again, doesn't it seem a bit fishy to see them embraced so enthusiastically here?

4. Someone else pointed out that the $15 US roaming plan is actually more expensive than paying by the minute. I'm guessing someone in product marketing at Globalive would have caught that before putting it on their product roadmap. Or maybe they're relying on the folks here at Howardforums.

5. The "dying" CDMA reference. Well, firstly, UMTS *is* CDMA based, 95% of normal customers don't understand or care, and as everyone on this board knows, Bell and TELUS are well on their way to launching their own UMTS networks. Jointly. Not only do they both have much deeper pockets than Globalive, they are splitting up the country to concentrate their efforts and capital in the most efficient way possible, allowing them to cover more of the country, more quickly.

6. Exclusive T-Mobile USA roaming? And why would T-Mobile USA want this exactly? Let's see, dump 99% of potential roaming revenue from Canada so "GlobalWireless" customers can pay less while roaming in the US? Even when Microcell was around, and T-Mobile had an equity position in the company, roaming was still $0.20 per minute (US) and it wasn't exclusive. Their 1700MHz network is irrelevant. T-Mobile doesn't cover all the current MSA's they have in 1700MHz, and they won't as they aren't licensed to.

7. Unlimited minutes and unlimited incoming? Really? Why call these out separately.

...but with all that said, thanks for putting this together, GlobalWireless7! It was a fun read!

post: 250
pg 17 by techMology

Why do they choose 1700? Why not just go with the standard 850, 900, 1800, 1900? Then we could easily get any of the new quad band GSM phone and don't need a specific phone for Wind.

Standardization make life easy for consumer. Most developing nation are uniform in only GSM but I don't get why some developed nation have all kind of different technology going on. It will be much easier for consumer if we have one same network so we can easily buy our own phone and switch to any provider that provide better services.

The service provider don't have to worry about it if they are competative enough in providing better service. In most country that I analyzed, end of the day, the net churn is close to zero if the service provider is competent and there could be more than two/three competent provider. However the Darwinian rules will make sure that the providers who are not competent will be filter out by market competition in the free economy.