Follow Us
Solo Mobile to offer 6 plans plus prepaid turbo sticks?
Yesterday we let you know that Solo Mobile is apparently going to get a complete re-brand/re-invention of their offerings, mainly to compete against the new entrants and Rogers new discount brand “Chatr”. If Bell is investing millions back into Solo Mobile then we are on the verge of some heavy and heated wireless battles. Honestly, when was the last time you heard of somebody buying a Solo Mobile device? The governments goal of having more wireless competition is certainly having an effect in Canada. Things are changing and thanks to our tipster here’s and update on Solo:
- The Brand and Logo will remain the same.
- All retail locations will undergo a complete aesthetic overhaul.
- Plans that are being put together will be $10, $20, $30, $40, $50, $60 and will have feature add-ons very similar to the Mobilicity pricing grid.
- Solo will be launching prepaid turbo sticks. Pricing has yet to be negotiated, but will likely be the same as Virgin’s prepaid broadband stick.
- Solo will be canning most of its current handset line up and the new lineup will offer decent handsets.
This all actually makes Solo sound really good! Six various price plans, new devices, prepaid turbo sticks. I’m loving how pressure is somewhat forcing the carriers to be more competitive. The end result – hopefully – is more options, better devices and lower prices. We’ll have more info on this soon…
UPDATE regarding HSPA: Our tipster let us know that “For now it will be half and half because Solo doesn’t offer prepaid sims and that’s a market we still cater too. However CDMA will be phased out sooner rather than later. Fyi, contrary to the common belief, many Solo locations still do relatively well, averaging about 50 activations a month.”
Discussion
24 comments for “Solo Mobile to offer 6 plans plus prepaid turbo sticks?”
Post a comment
Post a comment
- Mobile News
- Airtel Wireless
- Bell Mobility News
- Chatr
- Fido News
- Globalive News
- Koodo Mobile News
- Mobilicity
- MTS Allstream News
- PC Mobile News
- Petro-Canada Mobility
- Primus Wireless News
- Public Mobile
- Rogers Wireless News
- SaskTel News
- Shaw
- Solo Mobile News
- Speak Out Wireless News
- Telus Mobility News
- Vidéotron Wireless News
- Virgin Mobile News
- WIND Mobile
- Reviews – Carrier
- Reviews – Manufacturer
- Various News
How is it more competition if it belongs to an incumbent?
Like or Dislike:
1 
2
Ian, a couple of questions to ask from your tipster:
Is the network going to be HSPA? I noticed you mentioned Solo will be scrapping their current lineup of phones.
Where are they going to be? Their current footprint, or will they relocate to “be in line with their competitors”?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Solo Solo
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If it is HSPA and not CDMA, then we got a winner.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Hmmm, that could be interesting actually. Solo actually had some decent plans, they were just held back by their mediocre selection of phones. Chatr’s initial lineup looks like a lineup of 2-3 year old prepaid phones, so if Solo does promise better phones, it might pique a lot more interest than Chatr and, if they include data for pre and post paid plans, provide a serious threat to Wind and Mobilicity. Bell tested the waters with Prepaid Blackberry Plans already so that may be a good fit for Solo. Time will tell I guess
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Actually, I just noticed that they are in four provinces, including Quebec. What I’m thinking is if they keep their current footprint and adopt Wind’s style of “Home Zones” (where users can use their phones in any home zone), AND move on to the HSPA network, they may have a REAL winner.
Something much, much better than Rogers’ Crapper. This will be a true rebranding for Solo.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I’d consider this MAJOR competition if the new “Solo” was on it’s existing footprint, but in that scenario, Bell would be shooting themselves in the foot. It’ll most likely be in WIND home zones.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yeah I couldnt see Solo being exclusively HSPA(yet)…they will pretty much have to hold onto a couple CDMA phones until they figure out a 3G solution for prepaid customers, which, frankly, will be a good chunk of their clientele.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ian, more questions for your tipster:
When is Solo going to re-launch? before or after the Chatr’s launch?
Where is Solo going to provide its services? Only in the big cities?
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I highly doubt they will use HSPA off the get go if they are to adopt the wind/moblicity style to cellular service. The CDMA network is paid off and wouldn’t cost more to operate unlimited calling on their network the HSPA is still new and being a better and faster network they will leave it for their premium brand customers for Bell and middle class customers Virgin.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
They are already HSPA… I have a solo sim in my iPhone. They gave me unlimited calling in canada! For only 80 bux a month I have unlimited data and calling and texting! =D To everywhere in the world!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
My friend is still with Solo. I’m just texting him about this news.
He is going to wait and see what else Solo announces about their rebranding plans before deciding whether to stay with them or not.
His contract with Solo will be up in December.
It will be interesting to see what Solo ultimately announces before they relaunch.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I wouldn’t even know where to find a solo outlet anymore. I thought they’d all but done away with it.
They’ve removed them from the Bell stores that I’ve seen. The 2 Solo kiosks that were near me are no more. The one in the Eaton Centre is now Virgin, and the one in Toronto Life Square (or whatever it’s called now) is just a cell phone accessory place.
Wow, revamped Solo, Chat-r… Leave it to Canada’s wireless industry to find a way subvert real competition. Viva l’oligopoly!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I swear if Solo or any one of the wireless carriers launch a free incoming call service and a validity service in Canada, that wireless carrier will bring a bang in competition. So much competition will arise and will be a great use for economical recovery in Canada.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Again, bell telus & rogers will not really derectly compete with tha new providers or offer unlimted calling plans..
(not any time soon, if ever anyway)
They would loose to much reveniue.
There low budget brands make more sence to compete with wind, public, mobilicity, videotron & maybe shaw…
This is competition.
i Wonder what telus move will be? koodo? or Mike? maybe a forth brand? lol
hope solo keeps there coverage and does not charge out of zone airtime rates
(again that makes no sence & is unrespectible when they have a nation wide network Or Access to Two nation wind networks Actually)
But its a cash grab and i wouldnt expect any less from robelus .
Not to happy to see solo price prepaid data sticks like vergin .
That meens CDMA and 1GB only !
MADD WHACK !!!!!!
Unlimited & HSPA then were talking Bussness .
** i couldnt see mayself joining any provider but wind, mobilicity or maybe shaw When i finally devorce bell and her gold diggin ass **
lol
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It’s funny how ppl will still complain.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
So we have some competition for Rogers Shatr…..
WELLDONE WIND AND MOBILICITY…
and thankyou for forcing 2 of the big 3 to do something new…. For the last 15 years they have done nothing but increase prices….
I just hope Wind and the others can weather this storm… my best wishes are with you guys..
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Awesome. Can’t wait until competition decreases and these plans disappear. The old big 3 vanishing act.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@TCom
yeah. that’ll be great. once the prices go back up, all the people that take these new plans will drop service and we will definitely go back to status quo
you are right.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
nice post. thanks.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
They’ve done it before (City Fido) and they’ll do it again….these companies are not your friends remember. Their executives are going to have to raise the stock price to make money on their options somehow…seems to be raising revenue is a good way to do that after revenues decrease due to Chatr.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Remember – the goal of these companies is to make money, not to give people hand me outs.
if you want to hedge against such risks
1) work harder and study harder to be able to buy things that are NOT a necessity
2) if you believe cell phones are a necessity, then lobby hard to ensure that taxpayer dollars go towards subsidizing carriers for putting investor money into the network – remember, investors have poured lots of money into these companies with the goal of making money – not giving hand me outs
3) start your own wireless company and do something about it. make a network that is unique, perhaps more efficient and therefore less costly to operate which in turn would allow you to charge consumers less. take some engineering courses and become a wireless engineer if you aren’t one already, and try to change the cost structure
until then, stop complaining – rogers, bell are businesses just like everything else out there.
stop whining
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Thats awesome. Im a Solo Mobile customer now and have been for the past year or so. Im happy with the service nothing major but one ive ran into recently.
I bought a blackberry 9000 and was told i could use it on the solo mobile network as long as i have a sim card. Awesome! ..not just yet. When I recieved my blackberry and went to my closest schopping mall (Toronto Eaton Centre) I noticed that Solo is now VIRGIN. and same with every other Kiosk in toronto.
ANYWAYS, my question is.. ARE THERE ANYMORE SOLO MOBILE STORE/KIOSKS AROUND????
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
joseph yes there is a solo kiosk around toronto but your going to have to drive to vaughan mills there is a solo kiosk there infront of winners but they changed into bell but they still offer all solo products and im pretty sure you can activate your blackberry there
Like or Dislike:
0 
0