My post about phones yesterday came from my intent (a resolve!) to compromise and subscribe for 3 months, so I can talk to my girlfriend while she's away doing field work for the summer. I have a Google Nexus One intended for WIND Mobile's 3G in Canada, but can go with 2G GSM with Rogers or Fido, so I'm limited to those two if I want to avoid getting a new phone.
My goal was just to achieve effectively unlimited calling with one other person in Canada. After talking to both of them, I've concluded that they're insane. From activation fees to nickle-and-diming of basic features to complex long distance incoming/outgoing systems to weird calling zones to fine print additional regulatory fees to wow. Just wow. Ultimately, it would cost me almost $50 a month for the simplest plans that would let me talk to my girlfriend this summer, and her phone's number would even be local!
At home, we have a Vonage home phone-type plan, which for $30 gives me effectively unlimited long distance across North America, most of Europe, and most other developed countries, including call display, voice mail, and basically everything I can think of. Last summer, I worked in Toronto and I went with WIND Mobile, and for flat rates I had a healthy amount of data and unlimited calling and features and, wow. Such glee.
For now, I will just try to schedule myself to be around during good periods for calling (evenings, be at home a little for lunch). It will require more discipline, and I do want to talk with my girlfriend, but money is quite tight and I don't deal with extortionists. I eagrely look forward to the expansion of VoIP services on smart phones. I'm looking forward to Google Voice eventually coming to Canada (hahaha), or to Vonage providing a carrier-and-facebook-independent voice app (over wifi), or to the expansion of WIND to the Guelph area (probably not before at least mid-2012, soon before I finish). Rogers and Fido have left me feeling ill. I remember my girlfriend finding Koodo better, but really, how do so many of you tolerate cell phone companies? "I need it" is not true. Stop pretending it is and stop wasting your money. I wish consumers could be effectively mobilised to boycott this insanity. Ah well. The future will be better until we destroy ourselves :D
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