Is PetroCan a better deal in the long term if you're using long distance? Maybe, but it will be a long long time before it evens out when you take into consideration the current promotion SpeakOut is doing now.

For example, if you buy $100 worth of airtime and a Nokia 1208 from Speakout it will cost you $100 + tax (because of the current promo). Buying the same phone and airtime from PetroCanada will cost you $149 plus tax. So, the savings from PetroCanada will at least have to be more than $49 over time for you to break even.

If you're going to be using the phone somewhat frequently, you're going to be buying either the $75 or $100 top-ups from Speakout. So the effective rate for local calls will be the same (no savings there). As well, since Speakout 'increases' your balance by 25% when you buy $75/$100 airtime cards, the effective rates for long distance and the 911 fee are lower than the posted rates.

Long Distance

Reg. SpeakOut rate $.45/min
Effective SO rate for $75/$100 cards $.36/min
PetroCanada Mobility rate $.30/min

So, you'll be saving $.06/min in long distance

911 fee

Reg. Speakout rate $.99/mth
Effective SO rate for $75/$100 cards $.80/mth
PetroCanada MObility rate $.99/mth

In this case the Speakout rate when you purchase $75 or $100 cards is better. Since the difference in the 911 fee is so small, we'll ignore it.

With PetroCan you'll be spending an extra $49 in order to save $.06/min on your long distance rates. In order to break even, you'll have to use 817 minutes of long distance over the long term just to break even.

You'll have to make a lot of long distance phone calls for this to make sense. And even then, you'll be better off just buying those long distance phone cards from the corner store. And probably getting a monthly cellphone plan with more minutes from another company.

If you're a moderate user, then it will take quite a while to break even, so it's probably not worth it.

And if you're a very light user, even if you buy only $25 top-up cards, it will still take you forever just to break even.

And, if you work it out with the Nokia 2760 flip phone, it works even better in Speakout's favour.

So, with this current promotion, Speakout is a better deal.

Current Promotions and Special Offers

* Save $25 on the Nokia 2760 or the Nokia 2630 mobile phone with a minimum $50 airtime purchase

Just check the PetroCanada Mobility website to make sure.

http://retail.petro-canada.ca/…../2303.aspx

Manager at a downtown Petrocanada said the company is planning to introduce a promotion in october to superseed 7-11 speakout service.