Wouldn't porting to voip.ms (8.75 $US) be a better option?
Best Buy
Fido 3GB LTE Data Plan $15, 2 year contract + LG G Pad IV 8" free + 100 CAD gift card
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- Balzard
- Deal Addict
- Oct 31, 2010
- 1904 posts
- 1508 upvotes
- bylo
- Deal Expert
- Jan 7, 2002
- 29711 posts
- 29133 upvotes
- Waterloo, ON
If I understand their pricing model, that would also incur ~$10/year to maintain an account. Then there are per-minute charges if you want to make calls on that number.
With Fongo $25 gets you the port, no recurring charges, free calling to Canadian numbers, and no deactivation for non-use. So if you plan to park a number for about two years or more then Fongo seems to be a better bet. If you plan to make Canadian calls then break-even is even shorter.
The analysis becomes more complex if you want to send/receive texts, foreign calling, etc. for which both voip.ms and Fongo charge extra.
veni, vidi, Visa
- atlantic_man
- Deal Addict
- Mar 12, 2007
- 1333 posts
- 543 upvotes
- Kingston
- jaswest2754
- Member
- Aug 12, 2016
- 379 posts
- 272 upvotes
I think most people are not looking for continued use of the number and it’s more for the killing of a line and then don’t care what happens post line closure to that number.bylo wrote: ↑ If I understand their pricing model, that would also incur ~$10/year to maintain an account. Then there are per-minute charges if you want to make calls on that number.
With Fongo $25 gets you the port, no recurring charges, free calling to Canadian numbers, and no deactivation for non-use. So if you plan to park a number for about two years or more then Fongo seems to be a better bet. If you plan to make Canadian calls then break-even is even shorter.
The analysis becomes more complex if you want to send/receive texts, foreign calling, etc. for which both voip.ms and Fongo charge extra.
- bylo
- Deal Expert
- Jan 7, 2002
- 29711 posts
- 29133 upvotes
- Waterloo, ON
As always with such comparisons, what something costs depends on how [much] it's used. For cancelling an account with no further need of the number then voip.ms seems better.jaswest2754 wrote: ↑ I think most people are not looking for continued use of the number and it’s more for the killing of a line and then don’t care what happens post line closure to that number.
veni, vidi, Visa
- Balzard
- Deal Addict
- Oct 31, 2010
- 1904 posts
- 1508 upvotes
Yes, that's why I was suggesting voip.ms.jaswest2754 wrote: ↑ I think most people are not looking for continued use of the number and it’s more for the killing of a line and then don’t care what happens post line closure to that number.
- bylo
- Deal Expert
- Jan 7, 2002
- 29711 posts
- 29133 upvotes
- Waterloo, ON
jaswest2754 wrote: ↑ I think most people are not looking for continued use of the number and it’s more for the killing of a line and then don’t care what happens post line closure to that number.
That may not be the case here since Fido's plan is data-only. Porting just to "kill" a line may not be such a good idea if people plan on using a VoIP service to continue making calls and exchanging texts. In that case my original suggestion to use Fongo will be less expensive than voip.ms, especially over the 2-year duration of the contract. Also many people who subscribe to Fido's "free" tablet promos use the tablet on WiFi and put the SIM in their smartphones. There's lots of discussion on how to use Fongo and similar services, as well as voip.ms in the various threads that exist about Fido's 3G/$15 "naked" data plan as well as their various "free" tablet promos.
veni, vidi, Visa
- Balzard
- Deal Addict
- Oct 31, 2010
- 1904 posts
- 1508 upvotes
Since it's almost impossible to get only the Data plan now, the workaround is to signup for a voice plan too, but only to cancel that voice plan by porting that number afterwards. And I think the cheapest way to do so is by porting to voip.ms. You obviously wouldn't port out the number associated with the Data plan, or it would cancel the very plan you wish to keep.bylo wrote: ↑ That may not be the case here since Fido's plan is data-only. Porting just to "kill" a line may not be such a good idea if people plan on using a VoIP service to continue making calls and exchanging texts. In that case my original suggestion to use Fongo will be less expensive than voip.ms, especially over the 2-year duration of the contract. Also many people who subscribe to Fido's "free" tablet promos use the tablet on WiFi and put the SIM in their smartphones. There's lots of discussion on how to use Fongo and similar services, as well as voip.ms in the various threads that exist about Fido's 3G/$15 "naked" data plan as well as their various "free" tablet promos.
- Fire
- Deal Addict
- Dec 1, 2002
- 2461 posts
- 949 upvotes
- Halton
Call fido store, I just did 2 days ago.Balzard wrote: ↑ Since it's almost impossible to get only the Data plan now, the workaround is to signup for a voice plan too, but only to cancel that voice plan by porting that number afterwards. And I think the cheapest way to do so is by porting to voip.ms. You obviously wouldn't port out the number associated with the Data plan, or it would cancel the very plan you wish to keep.
- MegaSilver
- Deal Addict
- Nov 14, 2006
- 2637 posts
- 2979 upvotes
- Niagara, ON
I am 2 for 2 at Costco with signing up. #NeverGiveUpBalzard wrote: ↑ Since it's almost impossible to get only the Data plan now, the workaround is to signup for a voice plan too, but only to cancel that voice plan by porting that number afterwards. And I think the cheapest way to do so is by porting to voip.ms. You obviously wouldn't port out the number associated with the Data plan, or it would cancel the very plan you wish to keep.
- darknight
- Jr. Member
- Nov 12, 2004
- 104 posts
- 10 upvotes
- Vancouver
The rep is mistaken. Its a one time activation fee of 25, 15 per month fee. The tablet is regular 336. Subsidy is 336 which equates to 0 upfront cost to you. Should you cancel at any time durimg the 24 month term than you are charged 14 per month remaining in the contract.
- Balzard
- Deal Addict
- Oct 31, 2010
- 1904 posts
- 1508 upvotes
Oh, that's good to know!
MegaSilver wrote: ↑ I am 2 for 2 at Costco with signing up. #NeverGiveUp
- Ipadhunter10
- Newbie
- Mar 24, 2018
- 1 posts
Any idea if they have Ipads with fido as well?
- bylo
- Deal Expert
- Jan 7, 2002
- 29711 posts
- 29133 upvotes
- Waterloo, ON
Argue all you want. There isn't a right answer and a wrong answer. There are two different answers that address different needs.Balzard wrote: ↑ Since it's almost impossible to get only the Data plan now, the workaround is to signup for a voice plan too, but only to cancel that voice plan by porting that number afterwards. And I think the cheapest way to do so is by porting to voip.ms. You obviously wouldn't port out the number associated with the Data plan, or it would cancel the very plan you wish to keep.
veni, vidi, Visa
- maverikbc
- Deal Addict
- May 26, 2011
- 1538 posts
- 1228 upvotes
Is this deal still active?
If not, please move this to expired deal.
If not, please move this to expired deal.
Freedom mobile, airbnb, AMEX, Great Canadian Rebates (GCR), Ebates, Top Cash Back, Groupon, Livingsocial, Doordash, SkipTheDishes, Checkout 51, Drop, Stack, Wise, Questrade, EQ, Achieva, PayTM, Simplii and Tangerine customer.
- SaskGopher
- Newbie
- Dec 21, 2011
- 87 posts
- 87 upvotes
- North York
I'm sorry that this is two weeks delayed, but I thought I'd share my good experience with nabbing this deal
Walked into the Best buy at Yonge & Eglington here in Toronto on March 10th since the one in North York didn't have any LG tablets left and wouldn't allow me to sign up and later on return to collect a new stock.
Had a very friendly rep named Catherine (short, asian) handle all the setup. She asked me at first if I'm an existing Fido customer, to which I said "Yes, I've been with Rogers for many years now". She replied "Okay, good" and continued the setup with no further questions asked about my account with Rogers and lack of account with Fido. Perhaps it's just policy to ask, but she clearly didn't authenticate my statement.
She clearly explained all the features of the plan to me, being very diligent to not miss any information and to ensure that I would be receiving the 3GB promo, not the 2GB (a couple of times she contacted another rep on the phone, possibly a Fido employee).
Because she didn't have any new stock of the LG tablet, she offered me an open-box model. To compensate, she added another $50 to the $100 gift card promo (which I never asked about, so that's a huge bonus as well).
Altogether, the process took 40 minutes, and I happily walked out of the store with a new cheap plan, free LG tablet, and $150 gift card (I didn't ask about cashing it out, so for now I'll hold onto it and later on consider exchanging it online). In three months time I'll attempt to get the 100% off offer.
The next day I requested to port my Rogers number over to Fongo. It took about three days and $25, and I was able to use my phone just fine during that entire time. I also added Fongo's 6 month SMS bundle.
So far the Fongo experience on the iPhone has been decent, and completely manageable. Call quality is pretty good. No dropouts, just fuzzy at times when deep within a concrete building, which is totally understandable.
Over time I hope contacts will text me via my iMessage-email-address. Most have been texting my ported-number, which will show up within Fongo. I simply reply to their message through iMessage with my email address, and the conversation continues there. Minor confusion, but they get over it fast.
I would like to thank all contributors who've made it much easier to know how to obtain this deal. I'm so pleased to have a plan that is 50% cheaper while offering 12x the data I had before. Thank you all.
Walked into the Best buy at Yonge & Eglington here in Toronto on March 10th since the one in North York didn't have any LG tablets left and wouldn't allow me to sign up and later on return to collect a new stock.
Had a very friendly rep named Catherine (short, asian) handle all the setup. She asked me at first if I'm an existing Fido customer, to which I said "Yes, I've been with Rogers for many years now". She replied "Okay, good" and continued the setup with no further questions asked about my account with Rogers and lack of account with Fido. Perhaps it's just policy to ask, but she clearly didn't authenticate my statement.
She clearly explained all the features of the plan to me, being very diligent to not miss any information and to ensure that I would be receiving the 3GB promo, not the 2GB (a couple of times she contacted another rep on the phone, possibly a Fido employee).
Because she didn't have any new stock of the LG tablet, she offered me an open-box model. To compensate, she added another $50 to the $100 gift card promo (which I never asked about, so that's a huge bonus as well).
Altogether, the process took 40 minutes, and I happily walked out of the store with a new cheap plan, free LG tablet, and $150 gift card (I didn't ask about cashing it out, so for now I'll hold onto it and later on consider exchanging it online). In three months time I'll attempt to get the 100% off offer.
The next day I requested to port my Rogers number over to Fongo. It took about three days and $25, and I was able to use my phone just fine during that entire time. I also added Fongo's 6 month SMS bundle.
So far the Fongo experience on the iPhone has been decent, and completely manageable. Call quality is pretty good. No dropouts, just fuzzy at times when deep within a concrete building, which is totally understandable.
Over time I hope contacts will text me via my iMessage-email-address. Most have been texting my ported-number, which will show up within Fongo. I simply reply to their message through iMessage with my email address, and the conversation continues there. Minor confusion, but they get over it fast.
I would like to thank all contributors who've made it much easier to know how to obtain this deal. I'm so pleased to have a plan that is 50% cheaper while offering 12x the data I had before. Thank you all.
- carbide
- Deal Addict
- Feb 25, 2015
- 1076 posts
- 1290 upvotes
- NB
Deal expired - G Pad 4 is now $149 on a 2-year contract.
"Stuff should not be multiplied without necessity"