PCS Phone Service in the Toronto Area

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PCS Phone Service in the Toronto Area

This is a collection of information gleaned from service providers' web pages, still under construction but up-to-date as of July 1st, 1998.

For much gorier detail, see the following guide.

Service Providers

Bell Mobility
Rogers Communications Inc.'s Cantel AT&T
Clearnet
Microcell Communications, Inc.'s Fido

Airtime Rates

		Bell		Cantel				Clearnet				Fido
PCS Minutes per month		100	250	100	500 off-peak	250	250+200 off-peak	100	100	300	600	100	400
Dollars per month		$25	$50	$19.95	$35.95	$49.95	$59.95	$20	$30	$60	$120	$20	$40
First local incoming minute		free		free		?		normal				normal
Analog minutes		?		?		?		included				$0.20
Extra PCS Minutes	Weekday	$0.25	$0.20	$0.40	$0.30	$0.20		$0.20	$0.20	$0.15		$0.20
	Evening	$0.10		$0.10					$0.20	$0.15
	Weekend	$0.10		$0.10					free
	Birthday	normal		normal				free
Long Distance minutes	Ontario	$0.20		?		?		$0.20				$0.15
	Canada	$0.20										$0.20
	U.S.	?										$0.20
Billing by the second		?		yes		?		yes				yes
Caller ID		$2.95/month		free		?		free				$3.00/month
Caller Pays		$2.95/month		?		?		?				?
Call Forwarding		free ($3.00/month to ring first)		?		?		$3.00/month for 500 calls $0.25 per additional (includes Conference Calls)				free
Call Waiting		free		?		?		free				free
Conference Calls		free		?		?		See Call Forwarding				free
Customer Service		24-hour		?		?		24-hour				24-hour
Detailed Billing		free		free		?		free				free
Fax Messaging		$3.95/month		?		?		$8.00/month				$7.00/month (includes Voice Mail)
PCS Roaming		?		?		?		1998/Q3				free
Text Messages (receive)		$5.00/month		?/month for 100 messages $0.10 per additional		?		$5.00/month for 100 messages $0.10 per additional				free
Text Messages (send)		not available		?/month for 100 messages $0.10 per additional		?		$5.00/month for 100 messages $0.10 per additional				$2.00/month
Voice Dialling		$2.95/month		?		?		?				?
Voice Mail		$4.95/month		?		?		free				$2.00/month

For $9.95/month, Bell Mobility offers packages of Caller ID, Voice Mail and any one of Fax Messaging, Text Messaging or Voice Dialling.

Handsets

Note: Clearnet also offers a combination PCS phone and two-way radio under the name of Mike, which is not described here.

Bell Cantel Clearnet Fido
Model Nokia 2160 Ericsson DF 388 Nokia 2190 Ericsson 388 Nokia 6190 Nokia 9000i
Digital Protocol ? ? CDMA GSM
Analog Protocol no yes yes no yes yes ?
Price ? ? $149.99 $50 $75 $250 $1500
Weight 224 g 179 g 241 g 223 g ? ? ? ?
Chip Fee $35 ? included $25
PCS Talk Time
hh:mm ? 01:15 03:28 04:00 01:50 02:20 05:00 ?
PCS Standby Time
dd:hh:mm ? 00:22:00 02:20:00 02:12:00 01:01:00 01:04:00 11:00:00 ?

	Bell	Cantel	Clearnet	Fido
Model		Nokia 2160	Ericsson DF 388		Nokia 2190	Ericsson 388	Nokia 6190	Nokia 9000i
Digital Protocol	?	?	CDMA	GSM
Analog Protocol	no	yes	yes	no	yes	yes	?
Price	?	?	$149.99	$50	$75	$250	$1500
Weight	224 g	179 g	241 g	223 g	?	?	?	?
Chip Fee	$35	?	included	$25
PCS Talk Time hh:mm	?	01:15	03:28	04:00	01:50	02:20	05:00	?
PCS Standby Time dd:hh:mm	?	00:22:00	02:20:00	02:12:00	01:01:00	01:04:00	11:00:00	?

License Fee

	Bell	Cantel	Clearnet	Fido
Yearly	$48	?	n/a	$48
Monthly	n/a	?	$4.50	n/a