Hi all, We have certainly discussed the other providers. As I may have to use them for the phone I am considering, was wondering if anyone has a stance? Karen
We are on Virgin. Has good coverage across the country. Reasonable plans compared to Bell. It uses Bell infrastructure. On Sept 6, 2025, 2:38 p.m., at 2:38 p.m., Karen Lewellen via Talk <talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
Hi all, We have certainly discussed the other providers. As I may have to use them for the phone I am considering, was wondering if anyone has a stance? Karen
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That is wonderful for you. There are only three providers who have the xp3 plus though. On Sat, 6 Sep 2025, Samuel Kaharabata wrote:
We are on Virgin. Has good coverage across the country. Reasonable plans compared to Bell. It uses Bell infrastructure.
On Sept 6, 2025, 2:38 p.m., at 2:38 p.m., Karen Lewellen via Talk <talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
Hi all, We have certainly discussed the other providers. As I may have to use them for the phone I am considering, was wondering if anyone has a stance? Karen
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On Sat, 6 Sept 2025 at 14:47, Karen Lewellen via Talk <talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
There are only three providers who have the xp3 plus though.
You can buy the phone from anywhere, as long as it's unlocked. You will then be able to use a SIM card from just about any provider. -- Scott
well..that depends. because I get some extras 411 directory assistance exemption, in some cases a 20% or more discount on my plan, I am hoping to accomplish both together. Anywhere is a stretch, when I had someone from toronto public library search, their own investigation indicated telus and bell as the only networks supporting the device. That might have come from the manufacture's site though. Karen On Sat, 6 Sep 2025, Scott Allen wrote:
On Sat, 6 Sept 2025 at 14:47, Karen Lewellen via Talk <talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
There are only three providers who have the xp3 plus though.
You can buy the phone from anywhere, as long as it's unlocked. You will then be able to use a SIM card from just about any provider.
-- Scott
On Sun, 7 Sept 2025 at 00:56, Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net> wrote:
because I get some extras 411 directory assistance exemption, in some cases a 20% or more discount on my plan, I am hoping to accomplish both together.
You didn't mention any financial or other incentives when you said only three providers sold the phone, implying that you could only go with three providers in order to use the XP3 Plus phone. I was merely pointing out that an unlocked XP3 Plus very likely would work with any provider that allowed "bring your own" devices.
Anywhere is a stretch, when I had someone from toronto public library search, their own investigation indicated telus and bell as the only networks supporting the device.
I'd be surprised if Rogers and Videotron, and most other providers when traveling, wouldn't support an unlocked XP3 Plus using their SIMs. -- Scott
I have been buying non-carrier phones for well over 15 years possibly as far back as 20. Life for unlocked phones became much easier when everybody moved to GSM now LTE. The thing is that the carriers have multiple frequency bands and the phones also support multiple frequency bands. You just need to make sure that the bands of your carrier of choice and your phone have overlap. I have had Google phones, Samsung phones, Asus phones and LG phones and have had plans with Bell and Rogers so there is no need to buy a phone from the carriers. The last phone I got from a carrier was a locked Bell CDMA phone that had about 60% of the features disabled. That was the last time I made that mistake. On 2025-09-07 09:06, Scott Allen via Talk wrote:
On Sun, 7 Sept 2025 at 00:56, Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net> wrote:
because I get some extras 411 directory assistance exemption, in some cases a 20% or more discount on my plan, I am hoping to accomplish both together. You didn't mention any financial or other incentives when you said only three providers sold the phone, implying that you could only go with three providers in order to use the XP3 Plus phone.
I was merely pointing out that an unlocked XP3 Plus very likely would work with any provider that allowed "bring your own" devices.
Anywhere is a stretch, when I had someone from toronto public library search, their own investigation indicated telus and bell as the only networks supporting the device. I'd be surprised if Rogers and Videotron, and most other providers when traveling, wouldn't support an unlocked XP3 Plus using their SIMs.
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-- Alvin Starr || land: (647)478-6285 Netvel Inc. || home: (905)513-7688 alvin@netvel.net ||
On 9/7/25 22:28, Alvin Starr via Talk wrote:
Life for unlocked phones became much easier when everybody moved to GSM now LTE.
I have never had a locked phone and I've been buying them for 30 years. The way to avoid locked phones was to buy them separate from a contract. I don't think locking was even possible with the 1G analog phones. In fact, they could be switched between the A (Rogers) and B (Bell in this area) carriers. The reason for locking was so that people wouldn't buy a "cheap" phone on contract and then try to take it with them to another carrier, before they finished paying for it. Those contracts were an expensive way to buy a phone and fortunately those days are long gone.
On 2025-09-07 22:40, James Knott via Talk wrote:
Life for unlocked phones became much easier when everybody moved to GSM now LTE. I have never had a locked phone and I've been buying them for 30 years. The way to avoid locked phones was to buy them separate from a contract. I don't think locking was even possible with the 1G analog
On 9/7/25 22:28, Alvin Starr via Talk wrote: phones. In fact, they could be switched between the A (Rogers) and B (Bell in this area) carriers. The reason for locking was so that people wouldn't buy a "cheap" phone on contract and then try to take it with them to another carrier, before they finished paying for it. Those contracts were an expensive way to buy a phone and fortunately those days are long gone.
Walk into Costco or BestBuy or your local mall. there are lots of people selling phones with and without plans. The carriers still appear to want to give you a discount on a phone if you buy it with a plan. Part of their pitch is that is looks easier to shell out hundreds of dollars a month for a plan instead of lashing out $1000 or more for a phone today. Its like automobile financing. Way back in the mists of time........ The original analog phones may have been portable between carriers and I don't remember the deal when I got my first brick phone. But at some point Rogers moved to GSM and Bell went with CDMA so that if you had a Bell phone you could not use it on a GSM based carrier. The reason I got the CDMA phone was because of the data features of CDMA but strangely those features were turned off in the Bell provided phone. Much to my displeasure. I eventually bought a CDMA PCMCIA card for my laptop. -- Alvin Starr || land: (647)478-6285 Netvel Inc. || home: (905)513-7688 alvin@netvel.net ||
On 9/7/25 23:08, Alvin Starr via Talk wrote:
But at some point Rogers moved to GSM and Bell went with CDMA so that if you had a Bell phone you could not use it on a GSM based carrier. The reason I got the CDMA phone was because of the data features of CDMA but strangely those features were turned off in the Bell provided phone. Much to my displeasure.
My 2nd phone was on Rogers, but used IS-136, which they had before GSM. There was supposedly a cable for it that could be used to use the phone as a dial up modem. However, I never saw that cable and it was an extra cost service. As for CDMA vs GSM, that's just incompatible, not locked. It would be locked if you couldn't take a CDMA phone from Bell and use it on Telus.
On 2025-09-08 10:09, James Knott via Talk wrote:
On 9/7/25 23:08, Alvin Starr via Talk wrote:
But at some point Rogers moved to GSM and Bell went with CDMA so that if you had a Bell phone you could not use it on a GSM based carrier. The reason I got the CDMA phone was because of the data features of CDMA but strangely those features were turned off in the Bell provided phone. Much to my displeasure.
My 2nd phone was on Rogers, but used IS-136, which they had before GSM. There was supposedly a cable for it that could be used to use the phone as a dial up modem. However, I never saw that cable and it was an extra cost service. As for CDMA vs GSM, that's just incompatible, not locked. It would be locked if you couldn't take a CDMA phone from Bell and use it on Telus.
You are right in GSM vs CDMA is not a locked issue. I had not intended to make that implication but I guess I did. I could use the phone on the Telus network but that was roaming. The phone had been "modified" by Bell to disable some features and other features were hard wired into the Bell network. At the time Telus was not an option that I knew of. So it may have been possible for the phone to have been removed from the Bell network and added to the Telus network but the firmware wired features would have still been setup for the Bell network. The downside was that the phone was deliberately crippled by Bell and that was something that was not easily fixed. I guess if the phone was locked or not depends on your definition of "locked". -- Alvin Starr || land: (647)478-6285 Netvel Inc. || home: (905)513-7688 alvin@netvel.net ||
Is this not part of why the cRTC made it against their policy to sell a locked phone anymore? Bell or some other company hard wiring or turning off features. Not to mention consumers paying a grand for a smart phone only to be unable to keep that phone if they left? Karen On Mon, 8 Sep 2025, Alvin Starr via Talk wrote:
On 2025-09-08 10:09, James Knott via Talk wrote:
On 9/7/25 23:08, Alvin Starr via Talk wrote:
But at some point Rogers moved to GSM and Bell went with CDMA so that if you had a Bell phone you could not use it on a GSM based carrier. The reason I got the CDMA phone was because of the data features of CDMA but strangely those features were turned off in the Bell provided phone. Much to my displeasure.
My 2nd phone was on Rogers, but used IS-136, which they had before GSM. There was supposedly a cable for it that could be used to use the phone as a dial up modem. However, I never saw that cable and it was an extra cost service. As for CDMA vs GSM, that's just incompatible, not locked. It would be locked if you couldn't take a CDMA phone from Bell and use it on Telus.
You are right in GSM vs CDMA is not a locked issue. I had not intended to make that implication but I guess I did.
I could use the phone on the Telus network but that was roaming.
The phone had been "modified" by Bell to disable some features and other features were hard wired into the Bell network.
At the time Telus was not an option that I knew of.
So it may have been possible for the phone to have been removed from the Bell network and added to the Telus network but the firmware wired features would have still been setup for the Bell network. The downside was that the phone was deliberately crippled by Bell and that was something that was not easily fixed.
I guess if the phone was locked or not depends on your definition of "locked".
-- Alvin Starr || land: (647)478-6285 Netvel Inc. || home: (905)513-7688 alvin@netvel.net ||
On 2025-09-08 10:34, James Knott via Talk wrote:
On 9/7/25 23:08, Alvin Starr via Talk wrote:
I eventually bought a CDMA PCMCIA card for my laptop. I just tether my computer or tablet to my phone. I have plenty of data on my plan.
At the time phones did not have wifi and I am not really sure that wifi was a thing at the time. There may have been tablets but they would have been 5KG and need an electrical cord. When was the last time you saw a PCMCIA slot in a computer? Alvin Starr || land: (647)478-6285 Netvel Inc. || home: (905)513-7688 alvin@netvel.net ||
Hi Scot, To be forthright, the incentive are only important where getting the phone in person is concerned. because most devices can cause me physical harm, i. e. android, more current voiceover, I cannot in fact buy a phone anywhere. Instead I must buy a phone where it can be tested, and if dangerous not end up coming home with me. so, at least where getting this phone is concerned, it means where I can stand in a store..although so far learning where all this can be done firmly for telus is proving a challenge. I almost got this phone when a bell customer, or its prior edition, meaning I feel it safe enough to test again in person. Kare On Sun, 7 Sep 2025, Scott Allen wrote:
On Sun, 7 Sept 2025 at 00:56, Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net> wrote:
because I get some extras 411 directory assistance exemption, in some cases a 20% or more discount on my plan, I am hoping to accomplish both together.
You didn't mention any financial or other incentives when you said only three providers sold the phone, implying that you could only go with three providers in order to use the XP3 Plus phone.
I was merely pointing out that an unlocked XP3 Plus very likely would work with any provider that allowed "bring your own" devices.
Anywhere is a stretch, when I had someone from toronto public library search, their own investigation indicated telus and bell as the only networks supporting the device.
I'd be surprised if Rogers and Videotron, and most other providers when traveling, wouldn't support an unlocked XP3 Plus using their SIMs.
-- Scott
On Sun, 7 Sept 2025 at 22:32, Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net> wrote:
so, at least where getting this phone is concerned, it means where I can stand in a store..although so far learning where all this can be done firmly for telus is proving a challenge.
I went to the Sonim web page for the XP3plus. https://www.sonimtech.com/products/phones/xp3plus That page listed Bell and Telus under the heading "Find your Sonim XP3plus carrier". Clicking on the "Visit carrier" link for Telus on that page took me to a Telus "out of stock phones" page that said: "This phone is no longer available" https://www.telus.com/en/mobility/phones/sonim-xp3plus So, you are probably out of luck if you want to "try before you buy" an XP3plus from Telus. Clicking on Sonim's XP3plus "Visit carrier" link for Bell took me to a Bell support page for the XP3plus. That page didn't appear to have any links or information on how to purchase one from Bell. https://support.bell.ca/Mobility/Products/Sonim-XP3-Plus I then started from Bell's main page and worked my way through to the Sonim brand phones they were offering. Two phones were listed; the XP Pro 5G and the XP5plus (no knobs). The XP3plus was not listed, so it may be that Bell also currently doesn't sell the XP3Plus, meaning you couldn't "try before you buy" from Bell, either. Again, it's likely that if you obtained an unlocked XP3plus from somewhere else that you could still use it with Telus, Bell or most other providers but finding a way to try one out first may prove to be difficult. -- Scott
Hi Karen So sorry to hear that some phones cause you harm. I normally use a headset or put it on speaker to keep it away from me as before when I had it by my ear, I would get a headache around that ear - it felt like I was getting baked in that part of my head! Good luck on your quest to get a good phone! Sam On Sun, Sep 7, 2025 at 10:32 PM Karen Lewellen <klewellen@shellworld.net> wrote:
Hi Scot, To be forthright, the incentive are only important where getting the phone in person is concerned. because most devices can cause me physical harm, i. e. android, more current voiceover, I cannot in fact buy a phone anywhere. Instead I must buy a phone where it can be tested, and if dangerous not end up coming home with me. so, at least where getting this phone is concerned, it means where I can stand in a store..although so far learning where all this can be done firmly for telus is proving a challenge. I almost got this phone when a bell customer, or its prior edition, meaning I feel it safe enough to test again in person. Kare
On Sat, Sep 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM Samuel Kaharabata via Talk < talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
We are on Virgin. Has good coverage across the country. Reasonable plans compared to Bell. It uses Bell infrastructure.
Just in case anyone needs a refresher.... There are four companies that own cell towers in this region. Each of them operates under three different brands to offer the illusion of widespread competition. Each tier has its own marketing, features and characteristics, but there is fairly little difference between The Big Three within each tier. Videotron is a relative newcomer and a little different; they got Freedom by acquisition, Fizz fairly new and being aggressively marketed, and their flagship brand is Quebec and eastern Ontario only. Bell Telus Rogers Videotron Budget Lucky Public Chatr Fizz Mid-tier Virgin Koodo Fido Freedom Corporate Bell Telus Rogers Videotron - Evan
On Sat, 6 Sept 2025 at 16:39, Evan Leibovitch via Talk <talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
There are four companies that own cell towers in this region. Each of them operates under three different brands to offer the illusion of widespread competition.
Bell, at least, has more than three brands. They also own PC Mobile (which I switched to recently) and No Name Mobile. -- Scott
Does not lucky belong to bell as well? As a backup, I got a wireless phone base that lets me connect my analog better sound quality phone to it, while it holds a sim card. That one is PC mobile as well. While texting has never really been my thing, its fun figuring out how to use the commands for things like three way calling that work differently command wise on a cell phone. Karen On Sat, 6 Sep 2025, Scott Allen via Talk wrote:
On Sat, 6 Sept 2025 at 16:39, Evan Leibovitch via Talk <talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
There are four companies that own cell towers in this region. Each of them operates under three different brands to offer the illusion of widespread competition.
Bell, at least, has more than three brands. They also own PC Mobile (which I switched to recently) and No Name Mobile.
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On Sat, Sep 6, 2025 at 7:40 PM Scott Allen <mlxxxp@gmail.com> wrote:
Bell, at least, has more than three brands. They also own PC Mobile (which I switched to recently) and No Name Mobile.
Not quite. PC and No Name, just like everything else using those brands (ie PC Financial), are products of Loblaws. Loblaws does the marketing and administration and essentially resells the Bell service. Similarly, Petro-Canada Mobility and the 7-Eleven Speak Out plans both resell the Rogers network. - Evan
On Sun, 7 Sept 2025 at 01:08, Evan Leibovitch <evanleibovitch@gmail.com> wrote:
PC and No Name, just like everything else using those brands (ie PC Financial), are products of Loblaws.
Similarly, Petro-Canada Mobility and the 7-Eleven Speak Out plans both resell the Rogers network.
I stand corrected. The bottom line is that phone plans are also available beyond the three each that those owning the towers provide. Each of these plan providers has its own SIMs and plan features and costs. I wanted to point this out to others who might have thought that the brands you listed were the only ones available. -- Scott
On Sat, 6 Sep 2025 14:38:06 -0400 (EDT) Karen Lewellen via Talk <talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
Hi all, We have certainly discussed the other providers. As I may have to use them for the phone I am considering, was wondering if anyone has a stance? Karen
Karen, Telus my cellphone provider. I have no complaints about them. I have not dealt with other companies. They don't sell cellphones any more. The last time my phone died, I had to buy a new one from Samsung and bring it to Telus to be set up. Perhaps this is a good thing from your point of view. -- Howard Gibson hgibson@eol.ca http://home.eol.ca/~hgibson
On Sat, Sep 6, 2025 at 2:52 PM Howard Gibson via Talk <talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
[...] Telus my cellphone provider. I have no complaints about them. I have not dealt with other companies.
They don't sell cellphones any more.
Are you sure about that? <https://www.telus.com/en/mobility/devices/category/phones?sessionFlow=consumer&linkname=Phones&linktype=ge-meganav> - Evan
On Sat, Sep 6, 2025 at 2:38 PM Karen Lewellen via Talk < talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
As I may have to use them for the phone I am considering, was wondering if anyone has a stance?
I've used all four at one time or another. Rogers, Bell and Telus are all roughly equivalent, and within the tiers I mentioned they are fairly competitive. That is, Virgin Fido and Koodo are very similar in plans and features with each other, as are Lucky, Chatr and Public. Here are their main differences IMO: - Level of support. The Corporate plans all offer access to human support staff and a nationwide network of storefronts and kiosks. At the other extreme are the budget services such as Public which have zero human contact; all transactions are done online and support is provided by a user community (that is incentivized to help with discounts). - Phones and bundles. The top tiers will have all the flagship Apple and Samsung and Pixel toys first. At lower tiers you will see the Motrolas and Samsung A-series and TCLs and brands you don't recognize, and they are fine with you bringing in your phone and they just set up the SIM card. While only Bell Mobility (not Virgin or Lucky) will sell a Sonim <https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Products/Sonim-XP5Plus> phone as part of a service plan, I believe it is supported on all Canadian carriers if you buy it elsewhere (worth confirming before you commit). - Call tower locations. For many people this may not matter but there are certainly spots in the city in which one carrier has distinctly better coverage than others because of where it has its towers. There are apps and websites that show tower location maps, and the relative strength closest to you might be a factor when choosing. I use Freedom which has fewer towers than the Big Three but one is close to my house and coverage elsewhere is good enough. - Evan
participants (7)
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Alvin Starr -
Evan Leibovitch -
Howard Gibson -
James Knott -
Karen Lewellen -
Samuel Kaharabata -
Scott Allen