turboguy said:

Bailey said:

I'm thinking of getting a phone with so
if i use 50 min (assuming it will coist 25 cents) and 50 texts a month is so worth it?

That happens to be the $15 monthly plan from Fido and Virgin mobile - 50 mins anytime and 50 texts. Any minutes above that are 35 cents/min. The cost for SO is $17.50 per month.

These plans give you the choice of several phones at heavily subsidized (by you - it's hidden in the monthly cost) prices as low as $0 if you sign up for 2 or 3 year contracts. When the contract term ends, they give you another phone if you renew (after all you paid for it). With SO, you have to pay the full shot for the phone up front.

However, the Fido and Virgin plans do not include caller ID or voicemail. Also, they are monthly plans so you use the minutes or lose them whereas on prepaid plans anything unused roll over to the next month as long as they don't expire (365 days for SO). Also read the really fine print with Fido: it is per-second billing but they charge you as soon as you press send until you press end, even if the number you are calling never answer. Also the other way - if you answer a call the charge starts from when your phone starts ringing.

As mentioned above, SO is the better deal if you are a very light user. Anything more than that, look for a monthly plan.

you also have to factor in the setup costs for fido as well. $35 for a sim card if you dont have one and are using your own phone and $35 activation fee. with SO both those costs are included in the phone purchase which you have the option to sell if you have your own phone.

so by going with fido the $70 (sim and activation cost) it's equivelent to an extra $6/month in the first year.

Bailey said:

I'm thinking of getting a phone with so
if i use 50 min (assuming it will coist 25 cents) and 50 texts a month is so worth it?

That happens to be the $15 monthly plan from Fido and Virgin mobile - 50 mins anytime and 50 texts. Any minutes above that are 35 cents/min. The cost for SO is $17.50 per month.

These plans give you the choice of several phones at heavily subsidized (by you - it's hidden in the monthly cost) prices as low as $0 if you sign up for 2 or 3 year contracts. When the contract term ends, they give you another phone if you renew (after all you paid for it). With SO, you have to pay the full shot for the phone up front.

However, the Fido and Virgin plans do not include caller ID or voicemail. Also, they are monthly plans so you use the minutes or lose them whereas on prepaid plans anything unused roll over to the next month as long as they don't expire (365 days for SO). Also read the really fine print with Fido: it is per-second billing but they charge you as soon as you press send until you press end, even if the number you are calling never answer. Also the other way - if you answer a call the charge starts from when your phone starts ringing.

As mentioned above, SO is the better deal if you are a very light user. Anything more than that, look for a monthly plan.

Cheers

snardos said:

I am using about $12 dollars per month on average. My wife is using close to $30 per month because work keeps calling her on her cell. I looked into getting a plan for her to save money but the cheapest plan that would match what she is using now would end up costing close to $40 once you include caller id and any texting she might do, which is quite a bit.

I've been looking at Fido pre-paid auto-top for $20 a month. Minutes roll over if you top-up before the end of the month and you get a discount on airtime bringing it to 18cents a minute. (17c min if you do $30 a month). Texting is 15/c out though.
You can get sims off ebay or craigslist and my nokia is unlocked so the switch would be cheap.

I did just get my VOIP line going again after moving so hopefully I can lower my costs a bit. It's $2 a month for the number and 2 cents/min across NA and modernized European countries. Amazingly its 1.6c min to call China....cheaper than across the street!

byron said:

Also, curious as to how much most people spend here a month on their SO.

I also have very low usage, roughly $2 -- 2.50 per month (4-6 minutes + 911 fee). It works well as an emergency phone, which is all I need.

I'm at the low end of the usage scale. I buy one $25 voucher and it lasts me the whole year, usually with a few dollars remaining to roll rover. About an equal split between texts and talk-time. Speakout's long expiry on a low-cost voucher is perfect for my needs!

If you're currently running a $25/month bill, it might make sense for you to consider a phone plan from one of the big providers. SO works best as a casual/emergency phone. Once you start using it a lot, costs go through the roof.

Thoughts? Also, curious as to how much most people spend here a month on their SO.