http://www.ottawacitizen.com/E.....story.html

Just wanted to give you an update and confirm some of the information you have been given.

SpeakOut wireless airtime can still be purchased from any 7-Eleven location across Canada. For SpeakOut users residing in Ottawa only, if there is not a 7-Eleven store in a location convenient for you to top up your airtime, you will be provided with the option to transition your service over to two different prepaid cellular providers starting November 1st, 2009.

For SpeakOut users who choose to transition their service, there will be no loss of airtime, no cost to transfer and the airtime expiry will stay the same. Please note, once you transition your service, the next time you top up your airtime you will be subject to the shorter expiry dates offered by the alternate providers.

For those users who choose not to transition their service to one of the alternate providers, your SpeakOut service will continue to work as normal and your airtime will still be valid. You will just need to find an alternate way to purchase airtime, ie. travel to the next closest store. Online options are currently being explored, but there is no definite date at this time for when this will be offered.

SpeakOut users residing in Ottawa can call customer service at 1-866-310-1023 or dial 611 from their SpeakOut handset (free call) starting November 1st, 2009 for complete details and to transition their service.

So if I want to switch to Petro-Canada Mobile, can I keep the phone I bought at 7-11 or do they only transfer the airtime/phone number?

The same phone works on both SO and PCM since they're both on the same network.

Also, I'm curious about one thing: the phone we buy at 7-11 is a 613 area code phone, if we call Gatineau with area code 819, is it considered a local call by Speakout?

Local. See the area code grid in FAQ #3. Same applies to PCM.

Also, I'm curious about one thing: the phone we buy at 7-11 is a 613 area code phone, if we call Gatineau with area code 819, is it considered a local call by Speakout?

mac said:

Is there any plans for 7-11 to provide on-line airtime purchases like Petro-Can does?
This would probably keep alot of us on the SO plan.

I received this message from askspeakout yesterday when asking them about online purchase of airtime:

7-Eleven has elected to sell all Ottawa locations to Quickie Stores and as SpeakOut Wireless does not have an alternative method of selling airtime for the Ottawa customers, we have arranged with Petrocanada to offer any Ottawa SpeakOut customer the option to switch, at no cost to the customer. In addition customers will be given a second option offered by Quickie Stores "Good 2 Go Mobile". All remaining SpeakOut airtime will be transferred to the new brand of your choice.

You may call SpeakOut customer service by dialing 611 on your handset; navigate to customer service to discuss your options by pressing 1 on your handset to be connected to an agent.

We are working on an online solution but it will not be ready until March 2010.

askspeakout

So if your airtime will last until March, maybe you might want to risk the free option to switch and wait to see if the online solution does come for SO.

Is there any plans for 7-11 to provide on-line airtime purchases like Petro-Can does?

I haven't seen any "predictions" about it on this forum. Worse, if SO had plans to offer online airtime management you'd think they'd have done it when 7-11 decided to close their Ottawa stores. So, I'd guess there are no near term plans to do it. (I think that's a shame since it would make everyone's life easier.)

IOW, don't panic