Wind Mobile is Canada's newest wireless carrier

By Gadjo C. Sevilla

The Government of Canada has varied a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision regarding Globalive Wireless Management Corp., a Canadian-owned and controlled company. Globalive's Wind Mobile is poised to challenge Canada's wireless provider Rogers, Telus and Bell.

“This is a new day for wireless in Canada. This holiday season we will start to provide Canadians with the competitive choice that they want and deserve,” said Anthony Lacavera, Chairman of Globalive and WIND Mobile. “We thank the Government of Canada for a decision that will serve the best interests of Canadian consumers.”

The variance is effective immediately so that Wind Mobile can enter the wireless telecommunications market without delay.

“Globalive is a Canadian company, and meets Canadian ownership and control requirements under the Telecommunications Act,” said the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry. “We take this decision very seriously. It is based on the application of these requirements to the facts in this case.”

"Our goal has always been greater competition in the telecommunications industry, which leads to lower prices, better service and more choice for consumers and business,” said Minister Clement.

Chris Robbins, chief operating officer of Wind stated the following on the company's website.

"Over the weekend, you can stop into one of our Toronto or Calgary area Blockbuster (video) locations to say congratulations in person and sign up to join the conversation if you haven’t yet. Like Ken said at our press conference earlier today, our plan is to have lots of WIND mobile phones under the tree for the holidays."

It is certainly starting to get interesting in the mobile carrier space in Canada. First the announcement of Bell and Telus' HSPA and GSM networks and now the entry of a fresh player that's determined to shake things up. Hope this results in better pricing and service for Canadian consumers down the line.

Below is a leaked list of services and correspinding prices from Wind Mobile. We are liking, no Loving their data  and laptop plans.

Pricing and Features

Chat: $15 per month
Unlimited WIND to WIND calling (Canada wide)
Unlimited incoming text
100 province-wide voice minutes
50 text messages

Always Talk: $35 per month
Unlimited WIND to WIND calling (Canada wide)
Unlimited province-wide calling
Unlimited incoming text
50 outgoing text messages

Always Shout: $45 per month
Unlimited Canada-wide calling
Unlimited incoming /outgoing text messages
Voicemail

Data Plans
Infinite Mobile: $35 per month (used with any voice plan)
Unlimited internet for phones (tethering too)

Infinite Laptop: $45 per month
Unlimited internet for USB data sticks

Possibly there will be a web on your phone only type data plan for $10/mn.

BlackBerry data plans
Social BlackBerry: $10 per month
Unlimited instant messaging, Facebook and MySpace.

Infinite BlackBerry: $35 per month (used with any voice plan)
Unlimited internet for BlackBerry

Addons:
Voice: 10c Per Minute with the $15 plan
SMS: 10c each
MMS: 20c each
Voicemail: $5

Long Distance:
$20 for unlimited North America