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49 thoughts on “Comments up until May 3, 2007

  1. Jamieson says:

    Can you text message from a computer to the 7-11 Speak Out phone?
    What is the email format?
    Thanks for your help.
    Great website too.
    Mrs. Jamieson

  2. pat bridle says:

    Is the web browser service on the phones ONLY for emailing, or can I also open Yahoo web pages & check stock prices & pay bills on it? If I can do all that, how much does checking stock quotes cost?

  3. Peter says:

    Re: text messaging to a 7-Eleven phone through the Internet.

    No, at this time it is not possible. There is no web form to send text messages to a 7-Eleven phone from what I know. I’ve even tried using the other providers’ services to send text messages to 7-Eleven phones but this does not work.

    Re: web browsing

    Web browsing on cell phones is typically quite expensive, but I do not know the exact 7-Eleven costs. Your best bet would be to call customer service at 1-866-310-1023 (and then let me know what they say!). Yeah, that’s a bit of a cop-out answer, but if we can all share our information about the service (which is the point of this website), we can build (and maintain) a comprehensive FAQ…

  4. pete says:

    I phoned cust. svc; there’s NO internet access now, not even for Email. I wasn’t asking you about text messaging, but about Email. It’s too bad, but they’re working on it.
    I got used to Telus’ web access (100 sites @ $10/mo unlimited use) until they started OVERCHARGING me EVERY MONTH from $10 to $100, for 2 years, EVERY MONTH, even though I callede them EVERY MONTH about it & argued with them each call for 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours!!!! Even their email stopped working 7 they never did anything about it, in spite of my phone calls & Emails to them. Telus started out OK, but now they are CORRUPT, PERVERTED FRAUD ARTISTS.

  5. ron says:

    i’m on the rogers network with a motorola v635 any idea if it needs to be unlocked? i now in the faq you said in likely you wouldn’t have to unlock it. just wanted to make sure before switching or deciding

  6. Peter says:

    I can’t say 100% that it will work (nor would 7-Eleven, probably), but in the forums that I’d read (redflagdeals.com mostly) and from personal experience, all unlocked phones on the Rogers networked have successfully worked with a 7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless SIM card, no unlocking necessary.

  7. Peter says:

    Nope — only a monthly 99-cent 911 fee is deducted from your account. After purchasing a card, you have 90 days to activate it (add it to your account) and then 365 days from the activation date to use the money up. The 99-cent 911 fee is deducted only from money already in your account (in other words, a card retains its full value as long as it is activated within 90 days).

  8. Alan says:

    Q.5 Receiving messages are not free, 5 cents each.

    Q.22 Only Regers locked phones work. All other locked phones have to be unlocked before using Speakout service.

  9. Kat says:

    I bought a 7-Eleven phone last week and have been using it since then without problem. I was a Rogers customer for a few months, but they SUCK!!! So I took my Sony Ericsson K790a and put the 7-Eleven sim card in it…flawless! It copied my contacts from the phone and came with a CAN$10 credit. PLUS, the real offer was a CAN$50 prepaid card (it’s a voucher with a pin number), so at the end the 7-eleven Nokia phone I bought at CAN$99 (not considering taxes) cost me only 39 bucks! And the Nokia equipment is still pretty decent, I’m keeping it for emergencies. Now, I can’t wait to have internet access! Since Rogers charged me up to 400 dollars for internet once, I wasn’t using the service anyway. I was another one who believed in one of those internet packages that are a rip off. And then they have the nerve to ask you why you are leaving them and try to convince you not to do so!!! I prefered to pay the fine for breaking the contract, long term, it will save me lots of money and headaches…Thanks for this site. Now, 7-Eleven give us internet please! You will get TONS of new customers after that! 🙂

  10. Peter says:

    Thanks Alan:

    “Receiving messages are not free, 5 cents each.”

    -Is this from the brochure or can you confirm you’ve been charged? I’ve been getting free incoming messages for a few months, and another visitor phoned them up to confirm and they said yes, free incoming messages

  11. Michele Coo says:

    I purchased the 7-Eleven Nokia yesterday but only received $10.00 airtime. The staff @ 7-Eleven in Kelowna had no idea about the phones they had stored under the counter. I had to push them to look. Apparently, they have a deal for April 2007 offering $50.00 air time, as well as the $10.00 already loaded. Do you know when this ‘deal’ expires ? I’d call them but fear they are a bit dim. There are very few 7-Elevens in Kelowna.
    Thanks for the info..I was looking for just this type of service !

  12. Gopher Guts says:

    Michelle, did they eventually give you the extra $50 airtime?

    There should be a display case (probably empty) in the same place as all the various time cards they sell.
    Above the case should be some hanging laminated sheets with the current promotions. At my local store, the top one was “$50 airtime with any Speakout phone purchase”, with a picture of the latest flip-phone.

    A few pages deeper was the April 2007 sheet, showing an extra 275 minutes ($50) for ALL Speakouts, not just the one on the top page. I had to show the various pages to the clerk, who thought all the promotions had ended. Once we cross-referenced them, he agreed and I got the phone + $50 bonus time.

    PS: the April promo is to the end of April, of course. But they may decide to extend it (again), or they might have a different (maybe even better) promo, or maybe none at all.

  13. John says:

    Is there a number that you can call from a landline in order to pickup voicemail without using up the minutes on your cell phone.

  14. Peter says:

    You should be able to call your cell phone number (with your cell phone off) from a landline, then press # when you hear your voice message.

    You can also call 604-318-1753 from Vancouver and 416-270-5706 in Toronto.

  15. Ken says:

    I just picked up a Nokia flip from the 7-11 store near my work. I was a little suspicious when the box wasn’t factory sealed. After using it for 5 minutes on a local call it gave me a balance of $1.26 (when it should have come with a $10.00 airtime credit). So back to the store it goes…

    Ken..

  16. Gopher Guts says:

    None of them are “sealed”. Call customer service (numbers in #2 above) and explain it to them. Often the system thinks the account has been “activated” months ago, and starts the .99/mo 9-1-1 deductions. Might have been someone turning it on as a test, or their system hiccupped. I hear they’re quite nice about resetting the account (but only once, okay). (PS: Did you get your bonus $50 time?)

  17. Ken says:

    Gopher>> I was ready to give them the benefit of the doubt until I looked at the “dialled” list. There was 5 calls made on March 1st and 2nd on this phone (I only bought it a few days ago). Someone had gone to the trouble of resetting the timer, but didn’t bother to delete the dialled calls list.
    My guess is that someone bought this phone and then returned it and then they sold it to me…
    I’ll be going back to the store on Saturday,so I’ll keep all of you posted. To make matters worse, I never got the $50.00 air time. I went there and specifically asked them about the airtime credit. They told me that there was no such promo. I decided to buy the phone anyway since the airtime rates were such a good deal.

  18. Gopher Guts says:

    Did you see my reply to Michelle? They should have the hanging sheets at your store too, so dig through them.

  19. Ken says:

    so.. long story short, I went to the store. The Asst Manager was there and she couldn’t figure out what happened. But, I got my money back for the phone and the extra credit that I bought (but never used).

    So everythings good on my end.

  20. Coshi Thaya says:

    Hey all,
    I just called 7-11 customer service to get talk to a rep about switching. I am currently a FIDO prepaid customer.

    I inquired about the incoming text message cost and he confirmed that is was 5cents per message. Not free.

    Also, I asked for a website where I could get more info on the phones offered (since I have to buy one), and he gave me Petro Mobility’s website. He then confirmed that these are the same program. However, you can only use mins you buy at a petro location with a petro account and the same for 7-11.
    The website he gave me (www.petro-mobility.com) does not seem to work though. But I think this is what he meant: http://retail.petro-canada.ca/en/mobility/2303.aspx

    The $50 airtime depends on the location you buy it. The location must have the promo going. He said this promo lasts till May 7 and again depends on location. Also the promo amount $10 (+ $50 with promo) will last 30 days.

    He also said that refills of less than $100 will last 180 days and not 365.

    I’m a little down on the 5 cent incoming text message deal but I’ll be saving $$ anyways.

    So once I find a way to use my remaining FIDO $$, ill be switching over to 7-11 Speak Out.

    Coshi.

  21. Gopher Guts says:

    > “I inquired about the incoming text message cost and he confirmed that is was 5cents per message. Not free.”

    Call him back and ask for his Speakout cell number so you can visit one of those “free SMS” websites and send him 5000 unsolicited spam text messages every day for the next 5 years.

    > “He also said that refills of less than $100 will last 180 days and not 365.”

    Unless they’re about to change (wouldn’t be surprised), that’s Petro’s expiry policy, not 7-11’s.

    Says so quite clearly on the 7-11 page (link in section #1 of Contact Information at top of page).

  22. Jozef says:

    Hi boys,
    does anybody know what is real coverage for Speakout within Ontario? Somebody said it was like former Fido ( in January ) and other source said in April it was like regular Rogers. Is anybody using this network out of former Fido area and is able to use Speakout for 20c/min from there? I mean not long distance.

  23. Joe Joe says:

    If I have Telus pay as you go (prepaid), I can port my number over to 711 speakout? Can someone please confirm this.

  24. mike says:

    A manager from one of the 7 eleven stores in Toronto told me that they will be selling the Motorola Razr next week (May).
    He wasn’t sure what they will be selling it for. Does anyone else have some info on this?

  25. Kate says:

    I like your website Peter – lots of useful stuff. I have a phone that I discontinued the Telus package on. It does not have a phone number, just a paper weight at the moment. Can I use it with the SpeakOut pay as you go program?
    Thanks Kate

  26. Peter says:

    I guess that all depends on whether your Telus phone will take a SIM card. If it does, then yes. But if it doesn’t (and that’s what I suspect) then… no 🙁

  27. Marcel says:

    Hi,

    I just called the customer service line. They told me that beginning May 1st they will be reinstating the buy $100 airtime and get a free phone promotion. I think he said it will run until July.

    Thanks for the website.

    Cheers,

    Marcel.

  28. tk says:

    > “Also the promo amount $10 (+ $50 with promo) will last 30 days.”

    – The promo amount $10 alone already lasts for 365 days.

    – There is no fee to port your number from other service (I’d talked to Customer Service).

    – International text message charged 25 cents per message.

    I’m currently with 7-eleven plan (for about 2 weeks), and very happy with it till now.

  29. Alan says:

    If you put a 7-11 SIM in a Rogers phone is it still possible to add airtime? I have used TuVo during my stays in the US and while their SIMs will work in any unlocked GSM phone it’s not been possible to add airtime unless the SIM is in the original TuVo supplied phone.
    Another question. What is the phone number that should be in the Text Msg Sending Profile? The Message Sending Number. I have +1 705 796 930(?). That’s Ontario…I’m in BC.

  30. Peter says:

    You should have no problem adding money to a 7-11 SIM in a Rogers phone — that’s what I’ve been doing.

    As for the Text Msg Sending Profile, I have no idea what that is for… I’ve never needed that setting for sending or receiving messages. Maybe someone else can provide some insight?

  31. Tim Riley says:

    Does anyone had any luck calling up customer service to have the boxed 7-11 phone # changed to an Atlantic Canadian (ie. 902 Halifax) area code? My brother in Ottawa is hoping to get a 7-11 prepaid phone for our mom in Halifax, as there are no 7-11’s out in Nova Scotia. Thanks.

  32. Tim Riley says:

    Sorry, one more question: Is the limitation of 7-11’s Nokia 1112 not being able to roam in the US a limitation of the Nokia phone itself, or a limitation of the Speak-out wireless service accessed via its SIM card? (ie. if it’s the phone that’s the problem, could I just switch the SIM card out into my unlocked GSM RAZR and then roam in the US?) Thanks.

  33. Kate says:

    I bought the Nokia 1112 yesterday. Talk about easy to get started. It came with the $50 promo amount, and the $10 amount on the phone. Easy to set up the voice mail. Its for my husband who needs a phone for work. However, I think I might cancel my contract with Telus and buy one too. Last month I used the phone for 70 minutes, and on the cheapest Telus plan it still was $43.40 (how does that happen with a “Talk $20” plan)!
    That would be $14 with 7-11. And now I read above that I may be able to port my existing phone number to a Speak out plan?! I have about 9 months left on the existing Telus plan and it would be cheaper to switch over the long term.
    Kate

  34. Peter says:

    Tim: Unfortunately, there’s no roaming in the US (well, yet, as far as we know) so that’s a limitation of the SIM card itself — see FAQ #4. Regarding your Halifax request, I guess you’ll just have to call customer service and ask 😀 (see FAQ #2).

  35. Tim Riley says:

    Thanks Peter! I just called customer service and they said it wouldn’t be any problem to switch to the local Halifax / 902 area code. That’s too bad about the US roaming, but that’s ok – I guess if I’m going to be travelling for longer periods I’ll just get one of those US based SIM cards / service off Ebay before I go!

  36. Alan says:

    Hi Tom R, If you travel a lot in the US how about a US 7-11 phone? I use TuVo for extended US stays, but I might switch to 7-11. For calling Canada I get a 10-10-YAK calling card and use local hospital “courtesy phones”. My wife’s a nurse. We find these phones in surgery waiting areas or near “admitting and/or billing” offices. Most hotels also have courtesy phones. TMobile used to have a month-to-month plan that offered free incoming minutes so a relative used a “ring back” service and all long distance calls were “incoming” at US.03/ minute. Get creative….. like the Dutch guy from ING Direct says “Save your money”. Wait’ll WalMart gets in the game…. .07/min….$3.99 for the phone/SIM and a toaster. alan

  37. Tim Riley says:

    Thanks Alan! Yeah, I currently already have a Tmobile cell plan in the US… this 7-11 phone would be for a family member. I guess if the family member travels for an extended period in the states, I may just get a second ‘family phone’ on my account to give her. We currently use Onesuite both in the US and Canada – rates at 2.9cents a minute in the US and 3.5 in Canada, plus easy access to toll free number with only a small surcharge in the off chance we need to use a payphone to call, which works for us…

    Looking forward to seeing what the May 7-11 mobile promo is going to be! Anyone see anything yet in stores?

  38. Lou Vaccarello says:

    I just purchased the Nokia 6061 for $50 ($75 off) with the purchase of a $100 airtime credit at a local 7-11 in Toronto, today. They do offer the Nokia 1112 for free with the purchase of a $100 airtime credit , though.

    I intend to port my current Rogers cell number to the 7-11 phone, although the customer service person at 7-11 seemed unsure of the correct process and suggested I gather the network password for the cell phone from Rogers.

    Does anyone know the correct process or steps to follow?

    Edit by admin: see this forum topic for your answer!

  39. Lou Vaccarello says:

    Hey, JoeJoe. The telephone came preloaded with $10,00 of air time. I believe that is standard for the 7-11 telephones.

  40. Al says:

    7-11 speakout is the best money can buy in the country of wireless rip off, Canada. I bought a Nokia 1112 with the Dec06 $100 promo, got the phone for free with a total of $110 credit. It was a present (among many others 🙂 for my wife. The phone is small, light, with excelent battery. She doesn’t need stupid features like camera, or a fancy colour display, so the phone was great. We had the same issue with the initial credit (was less than $10), but cust serv adjusted the credit. Contrary to the cust serv from Fido who are all shockingly rude and stupid (I am still on a monthly plan with them), Speakout was great. Even returned a call to tell us fixed the voice mail (there was a glitch). All in all, a great value for the money!

  41. Randy says:

    As per Mike above. $100 deal is back.
    Paid for $100 airtime and got a free Nokia 1112 in Kitchener yesterday. For occasional/emergency use it’s gotta be the best deal going.

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