Xtreme2001
Dec 11th, 2006, 06:19 AM
I'm trying to weigh the differences for both pay as you go plan offered through Virgin mobile (which uses Bell network) 'S' plan and Rogers (not sure which plan yet).
There was a lengthy comparison made by another user (forreal) about the two plans (see below), but i'm wondering if someone can still assist me.
I will be primarily receiving text messages, and both services are free incoming. I'd like to take advantage of Roger's 1cent/evening/weekends, but I typically work 2 weekends out of themonth, so i'm not sure if it's worth it and should just go with the all-day plan for 25min and 15/cent there after.
Here is where I try to rationalize it further. Rogers charges you .50/month for SAF ($6.00/yr). If I were to incorporate that $6.00 into Virgin's plan, that would be an extra 24 calls, or 24minutes long distance (25/cents minute x 4 x 6). If I don't use the phone all that much, the Virgin plan would be best because I could save $6.00.
- Virgin does NOT charge for users leaving voicemail, Roger's does. I don't see myself using voicemail and would leave it off if I have Rogers, but if I need to, Roger's fees will add up because they charge you local rate for the other party leaving the message. Both companies allow you to check messages from a lanline for free. Otherwise you're paying local fees
-If someone calls you from out of town, regardless where you are, Rogers does not charge you additional long distance, it's your local rate, however, Virgin charges you local rate plus long distance rate of 0.25/min. So actually, it's .50/minute if you want to call or receive any long distance calls. If you're in another city and call that local city number, it's still the same local charge for both at the local rate.
***Here's where I use the $6.00/year savings from Rogers and apply it. For those times I need to send/receive a long distance call, I would have 24 minutes extra/year. I'm not sure if i'll ever use it that much. I 'think' I may, but this is where I'd like to have others opinions. My other option is to buy a longdistance phone cards. I typically keep my conversations to a minimum (2minutes tops).
-Rogers uses GSM network. Range for both networks are so really close.
I read in rogers payg that if you place a call your minutes will start deducting once you press okay, that includes the ring time. Does this apply for Virgin?
If that person takes 40seconds to answer their phone, through Rogers, that'd be alot of wasted minutes simply because the person did not answer. Does Virgin do this as well? or is it when you actually pick up the phone or when the other party picks up?
-My choice for the rogers plan would either be the all-day (All Day Plan*** 25¢ for the first 5 minutes15¢ after that) or 1cent/evening/weekend (1¢ Evenings & Weekends Plan** 39¢ 1¢ 8pm-8am evenings and all weekend)
If I use the telephone for two minutes, the all day plan wouldn't benefit becase you need to talk for at least 5 minutes, where as I could dollar-cost-average it and on the weekends/evenings when I use it, I would save $$ by only spending 1cent.
This is so stupid. I can't believe I went into this much depth. All for a stupid payg phone.
If anyone has any useful information that I missed and would help ease my decisions please post it. I hate fine print and seem that I've been finding alot of it, which has made my decisions tougher.
Thanks for any help.
"Rogers PAYG
Rogers's website seems strangely quiet about their 1-year $100 voucher, but you can buy it pretty much wherever Rogers Wireless products are sold (it doesn't seem to be available online). Since I'm only considering what's the cheapest for very light users, I don't mention Auto Saver (which requires a minimum topup of $20/month) and the $1 a Day E&W Plan.
1. All Day Plan is 25¢/min. for the first 5 minutes in a day, 15¢/min. after that. E&W Plan is 1¢/min. during nights and weekends, 39¢/min. during daytime weekdays. Each plan's minimum topup per month doesn't apply while you're on the 1-year voucher.
2. Besides the 1-year $100 voucher, there are $10, $20, $30 & $40 topup cards that last for 30 days. The longer expiry date always takes precedence. For example, if you topup with a 30-day card when you're only half way through the 1 year, your expiry date is still 1 year from when you activated the 1-year voucher.
3. You are charged airtime for receiving voicemail messages except for messages from other PAYG users. You are charged airtime for retrieving messages, but here's a "secret"--you are not charged airtime for retrieving messages if you dial one of Rogers's Voicemail Retrieval Numbers from a landline.
4. 15¢ to send text messages, free to receive.
5. 50¢/month 911 fee, or $6/year.
6. The cheapest PAYG phone on their website is the Nokia 3220iM for $69.99 with $20 airtime and 30 days of unlimited text messaging. You can buy the SIM by itself for $25. But who cares, right? You can look for a cheap Rogers or unlocked GSM phone, or a cheap Rogers SIM card (sometimes preloaded with PAYG airtime), here or at Howard Forums or eBay.
7. Rogers uses its own network, of course.
Other perks include free incoming calls from other PAYG users and you are not charged long distance for incoming calls while you're outside your home area (see the last few posts here). Plus, out of the four prepaid providers that I mention, only PAYG currently has WAP (mobile internet).
Virgin Mobile Canada
All their plans and fees are listed here, except for the charges related to VXL, their portal for downloading their over-priced ringtones and such. Again, since I'm only considering what's the cheapest for very light users, I take into account their basic "S" plan only.
1. 25¢/min.
2. $15, $25, $50 & $100 topup cards with varying expiry periods. The minimum you need to topup each year is $100, either by using one $100 card that lasts for 365 days or four $25 cards that last for 90 days each (technically, 4 X 90 days is not quite a year). The longer expiry date always takes precedence (like PAYG).
3. You are not charged airtime for receiving voicemail messages, and you are not charged airtime for retrieving voicemail messages if you use a landline.
4. 15¢ to send text messages (5¢ to another VMC phone), free to receive.
5. No monthly 911 fee. They're the only prepaid provider without this fee.
6. The cheapest phone on their website is the Nokia 2125i for $69. It comes with $10 airtime. Check Future Shop and Best Buy every week because one of VMC's phones is usually on sale. Out of the four prepaid providers mentioned, only VMC is not GSM (i.e., no SIM card, so your choice of phones is limited to what VMC offers).
7. The coverage is based on Bell's network.
VMC also has a referral system set up, so if a VMC user refers a new customer, both will get a $10 "Kickback." Ask for a referral here or at Howard Forums and VMC users will be beating down your door in a heartbeat. "
There was a lengthy comparison made by another user (forreal) about the two plans (see below), but i'm wondering if someone can still assist me.
I will be primarily receiving text messages, and both services are free incoming. I'd like to take advantage of Roger's 1cent/evening/weekends, but I typically work 2 weekends out of themonth, so i'm not sure if it's worth it and should just go with the all-day plan for 25min and 15/cent there after.
Here is where I try to rationalize it further. Rogers charges you .50/month for SAF ($6.00/yr). If I were to incorporate that $6.00 into Virgin's plan, that would be an extra 24 calls, or 24minutes long distance (25/cents minute x 4 x 6). If I don't use the phone all that much, the Virgin plan would be best because I could save $6.00.
- Virgin does NOT charge for users leaving voicemail, Roger's does. I don't see myself using voicemail and would leave it off if I have Rogers, but if I need to, Roger's fees will add up because they charge you local rate for the other party leaving the message. Both companies allow you to check messages from a lanline for free. Otherwise you're paying local fees
-If someone calls you from out of town, regardless where you are, Rogers does not charge you additional long distance, it's your local rate, however, Virgin charges you local rate plus long distance rate of 0.25/min. So actually, it's .50/minute if you want to call or receive any long distance calls. If you're in another city and call that local city number, it's still the same local charge for both at the local rate.
***Here's where I use the $6.00/year savings from Rogers and apply it. For those times I need to send/receive a long distance call, I would have 24 minutes extra/year. I'm not sure if i'll ever use it that much. I 'think' I may, but this is where I'd like to have others opinions. My other option is to buy a longdistance phone cards. I typically keep my conversations to a minimum (2minutes tops).
-Rogers uses GSM network. Range for both networks are so really close.
I read in rogers payg that if you place a call your minutes will start deducting once you press okay, that includes the ring time. Does this apply for Virgin?
If that person takes 40seconds to answer their phone, through Rogers, that'd be alot of wasted minutes simply because the person did not answer. Does Virgin do this as well? or is it when you actually pick up the phone or when the other party picks up?
-My choice for the rogers plan would either be the all-day (All Day Plan*** 25¢ for the first 5 minutes15¢ after that) or 1cent/evening/weekend (1¢ Evenings & Weekends Plan** 39¢ 1¢ 8pm-8am evenings and all weekend)
If I use the telephone for two minutes, the all day plan wouldn't benefit becase you need to talk for at least 5 minutes, where as I could dollar-cost-average it and on the weekends/evenings when I use it, I would save $$ by only spending 1cent.
This is so stupid. I can't believe I went into this much depth. All for a stupid payg phone.
If anyone has any useful information that I missed and would help ease my decisions please post it. I hate fine print and seem that I've been finding alot of it, which has made my decisions tougher.
Thanks for any help.
"Rogers PAYG
Rogers's website seems strangely quiet about their 1-year $100 voucher, but you can buy it pretty much wherever Rogers Wireless products are sold (it doesn't seem to be available online). Since I'm only considering what's the cheapest for very light users, I don't mention Auto Saver (which requires a minimum topup of $20/month) and the $1 a Day E&W Plan.
1. All Day Plan is 25¢/min. for the first 5 minutes in a day, 15¢/min. after that. E&W Plan is 1¢/min. during nights and weekends, 39¢/min. during daytime weekdays. Each plan's minimum topup per month doesn't apply while you're on the 1-year voucher.
2. Besides the 1-year $100 voucher, there are $10, $20, $30 & $40 topup cards that last for 30 days. The longer expiry date always takes precedence. For example, if you topup with a 30-day card when you're only half way through the 1 year, your expiry date is still 1 year from when you activated the 1-year voucher.
3. You are charged airtime for receiving voicemail messages except for messages from other PAYG users. You are charged airtime for retrieving messages, but here's a "secret"--you are not charged airtime for retrieving messages if you dial one of Rogers's Voicemail Retrieval Numbers from a landline.
4. 15¢ to send text messages, free to receive.
5. 50¢/month 911 fee, or $6/year.
6. The cheapest PAYG phone on their website is the Nokia 3220iM for $69.99 with $20 airtime and 30 days of unlimited text messaging. You can buy the SIM by itself for $25. But who cares, right? You can look for a cheap Rogers or unlocked GSM phone, or a cheap Rogers SIM card (sometimes preloaded with PAYG airtime), here or at Howard Forums or eBay.
7. Rogers uses its own network, of course.
Other perks include free incoming calls from other PAYG users and you are not charged long distance for incoming calls while you're outside your home area (see the last few posts here). Plus, out of the four prepaid providers that I mention, only PAYG currently has WAP (mobile internet).
Virgin Mobile Canada
All their plans and fees are listed here, except for the charges related to VXL, their portal for downloading their over-priced ringtones and such. Again, since I'm only considering what's the cheapest for very light users, I take into account their basic "S" plan only.
1. 25¢/min.
2. $15, $25, $50 & $100 topup cards with varying expiry periods. The minimum you need to topup each year is $100, either by using one $100 card that lasts for 365 days or four $25 cards that last for 90 days each (technically, 4 X 90 days is not quite a year). The longer expiry date always takes precedence (like PAYG).
3. You are not charged airtime for receiving voicemail messages, and you are not charged airtime for retrieving voicemail messages if you use a landline.
4. 15¢ to send text messages (5¢ to another VMC phone), free to receive.
5. No monthly 911 fee. They're the only prepaid provider without this fee.
6. The cheapest phone on their website is the Nokia 2125i for $69. It comes with $10 airtime. Check Future Shop and Best Buy every week because one of VMC's phones is usually on sale. Out of the four prepaid providers mentioned, only VMC is not GSM (i.e., no SIM card, so your choice of phones is limited to what VMC offers).
7. The coverage is based on Bell's network.
VMC also has a referral system set up, so if a VMC user refers a new customer, both will get a $10 "Kickback." Ask for a referral here or at Howard Forums and VMC users will be beating down your door in a heartbeat. "