The Unofficial Speak Out Wireless Canada Consumer Page - Topic: Huawei Ascend Y215

46jimbo on Huawei Ascend Y215

Tue, 13 May 2014 11:10:23 -0700

You seem to be a smartphone newbie, so permit me to offer a few tips.

First thing, turn off data if you aren't needing it. You will blow through your 100 mb in no time otherwise. Does your phone have a pull-down menu when you drag your finger down the screen from top to bottom? If so, the data on/off symbol on the top row is the up and down arrow.

Secondly, a data plan is only giving you access to the internet when you are out and about. All providers are giving you the same thing. Telus is no different from Speakout (Rogers). The only difference is how much you are paying for in your plan.

Your smartphone is really a small computer tablet. You will do most of your interesting stuff over wifi. The data plan only helps you to connect when you are away from wifi. Use it sparingly.

Make sure that you have mae the settings in Playstore to only update your apps over wifi. You definitely don't want this to happen when you are on data! Better yet, set it to update manually. Updates can bog down your phone

PeterB on Huawei Ascend Y215

Tue, 13 May 2014 09:19:58 -0700

Well, the phone arrived yesterday . I don't know if it is me, the phone or the service provider, or maybe all three but I don't really see that I can see or do more with this phone than with my flip phone . To use just for sending, receiving and checking messages, in fact , it seems to be a lot more complicated than my flip phone was . Maybe I just haven't had time yet to fully learn its operation ? I also can't justify keeping the Data Plan once the free three months are up. Somehow I still feel that one could see and do more with a Smart Phone using Telus as the service provider but Speak -Out has the advantage when it comes to price though . What are others thoughts on this ?

46jimbo on Huawei Ascend Y215

Fri, 09 May 2014 07:00:55 -0700

The Y300 can be found at FS and BB and also Loblaw's for $79 and is often on sale. I got mine around Xmas for $49. They are prepaid phones for Bell/Virgin, so you have to get them unlocked. I got that done on eBay for $5.

As for getting a new launcher, you have to go to the Playstore, which is Android's 'App Store'. You register with a gmail account. Just search for Nova Launcher in the Apps section and install it. It's a free app.

Now, when you press the Home button, a pop-up will appear asking you which launcher you wish to use. Make sure you put a checkmark in the box to 'Set as default' and select Nova Launcher.

You might also want to watch this video:

bridonca on Huawei Ascend Y215

Fri, 09 May 2014 01:58:25 -0700

Speakout has a history of carrying older, crappier phones. The margins are better, and customers, for the most part, do not care. At least at one time, the phones were cheap.

The Y215 is a functional phone, but too many corners were cut to make using it a satisfying experience. It should be a $40 phone.

The Y300 is a rather usable smart phone, corners have be cut to reach a price point of course, but nothing too drastic. It is newer than the Y215. Speakout does not carry it because they have a warehouse of Y215 phones they have to shift first. Speakout sells a lot of SIM cards, so they do not have to worry about carrying the latest and greatest smart phone. Selling phones is no long a bulk of their business.

PeterB on Huawei Ascend Y215

Thu, 08 May 2014 21:00:52 -0700

Which is the newer phone the Y215 or the Y300. If the Y300 is the newer phone then why does Speak-Out carry the older version instead of the new version ? How exactly would someone replace the stock launcher with the Nova Launcher ? Sorry but I don't know much about these Smart Phones because this would be my first one .

46jimbo on Huawei Ascend Y215

Thu, 08 May 2014 08:00:18 -0700

Some of us purchased the Huawei Y300, which is a superior phone but still could be laggy. We found the stock launcher was very clunky and seemed to slow the phone down. But by replacing it with Nova Launcher from the Playstore, it greatly improved the phone's performance. So you might give that a try.

PeterB on Huawei Ascend Y215

Wed, 07 May 2014 17:09:02 -0700

One person who purchased this phone, on this forum , is satisfied with the phone , so this is a bit of encouraging news, lol ,nervously

PeterB on Huawei Ascend Y215

Wed, 07 May 2014 16:50:26 -0700

It's too late now because I ordered it already . I'll let you know how it turns out . When I wanted to order the Data plan from Speak Out they wouldn't provide any help at all because the phone wasn't from them and this is the reason that I felt it would be better if the phone was also from the cell phone carrier so they would provide help . I did read some pretty bad reviews though but I am keeping my fingers crossed that it isn't THAT bad ?

bridonca on Huawei Ascend Y215

Sun, 04 May 2014 17:10:34 -0700

If you do get the Y215 from Speakout, you get an overpriced, cruddy phone. Your call. I would personally get a better phone, even if you have to provide your own tech support. Rogers phones work right out of the box. Just add a Speakout SIM card, and that is it.

PeterB on Huawei Ascend Y215

Sun, 04 May 2014 12:03:18 -0700

I know this but if the phone is not from them ,then they will not help with any issues .

iamdrumming on Huawei Ascend Y215

Sat, 03 May 2014 16:59:37 -0700

You don't necessarily have to buy a phone from SpeakOut. An unlocked phone, or one that's locked to Rogers should work.

PeterB on Huawei Ascend Y215

Sat, 03 May 2014 14:41:54 -0700

Should I get this Smart Phone now or wait to see if and when a newer phone is sold by 7-11 Speak Out ? Is there any word on a newer phone coming out and when would this be ?