We have been getting a whole lot of questions from you and we want to try to address as many as we can. Below is a list of FAQs that we have gathered over the last little while, along with our answers. We love hearing from all of you and really appreciate your interest in unlimited talk with Public Mobile.
Q: Will your plan include long distance coverage?
A: Yes, we’ll certainly have options available around long distance– whether it is Canada, US or internationally. As we get closer to launch we’ll be sure to communicate the full details of our offer. Right now, we aren`t publicly discussing this information.
Q: Does $40/month include voicemail and call display?
A: We`re thinking of all types of options, including voicemail and call display. However, right now, we aren`t publicly discussing these plans. As we get closer to launch we’ll be sure to communicate the full details of our offer.
Q: Will you have roaming capabilities/US/over seas?
A: Public Mobile’s offer will be $40 flat rate unlimited talk and text. Initially we will not offer roaming but that may be added over time.
Q: I’m looking for a simple data plan along with talk & text.
A: While we are building our network to accommodate data transmission, our initial offer at launch will be an unlimited talk and text plan.
Q: Will you offer more rate plans in the future?
A: At launch, we’ll have our $40 unlimited talk and text plan, and we’re currently looking at more plans to follow.
Q: Definitely no contracts?
A: Definitely no contracts, no credit checks and no surprises.
Q: What will be your primary distribution method?
A: You’ll be able to purchase Public Mobile phones and service through corporate and dealer stores.
Q: Where and when can I purchase this service?
A: As we get closer to launch we’ll be sure to let you know where you can purchase Public Mobile phones and plans.
Q: Will I be able to bring a phone, or will I have to purchase a Public Mobile phone?
A: No, you will not be able to use an old CDMA phone on the Public Mobile network.
Q: Will the Public Mobile phones support other commercially available blocks of spectrum?
A: Our phones are also capable of supporting commercially available PCS (Personal Communications Service) blocks of spectrum, so if you ever need to make a 911 call outside the Public Mobile network footprint, the phone will still place the call.
Q: What regions do your licences cover?
A: Our licence covers southern Ontario and Quebec from Windsor to Quebec City – an area with 19 million Canadians.
Q: Will there be service in places other than Montreal and Toronto?
A: Our initial launch will take place in Montreal and Toronto, with plans for coverage from Quebec City to Windsor in the coming years.
Q: What phone models will you have at launch?
A: We currently have the ZTE C78 up on our website as a phone we’ll offer at launch. We’ll also offer a selection of phones from various manufacturers that we have yet to disclose.
Q: What is G – block spectrum anyway?
A: The spectrum that Public Mobile acquired in the 2008 Spectrum auction conducted by Industry Canada was known as G-Block. The letter is just a way of designating that particular block, and is no different than the A, B, C, D, E or F blocks that were also part of the auction
Q: Why did you go with CDMA technology?
A: GSM and CDMA describe the network technologies that mobile phones work on. Both have proponents that say one is superior to the other. In the case of Public Mobile, we’ll be building our network on CDMA technology because the network is able to handle a greater capacity
Q: Is G band going to work as well as GSM or CDMA?
A: Band (or G-Block) describes a block of spectrum that was auctioned by Industry Canada in 2008, with no difference between G-Band and A, B, C, D, E or F Bands that were also auctioned off. GSM and CDMA describe the network technologies that mobile phones work on. Both have proponents that say one is superior to the other. In the case of Public Mobile, we’ll be building our network on CDMA technology.
Tags: cdma, coverage, distribution, faq, g-block spectrum, licenses, licensing, long distance, mobile, montreal, no contract, offer details, phone support, plan, roaming, technology, toronto, voicemail | Posted in Questions & answers
Thanks for the answers. I’m specially interested to know about a CDMA network having greater capacity than GSM. Is that so? I think that one should chose wording carefully. By now, mostly anyone who has used a mobile phone for a few years knows GSM is the de-facto standard and best choice for phones and worldwide coverage. I’m ok with a CDMA network, but you should clearly state why for Public Mobile goals and objectives. Is too broad of answer otherwise. If operators in Canada and around the world chose GSM I doubt capacity is a problem of concern.
The CDMA air interface technology is a dying technology…Why would you launch a new network with this technology? This is very interesting because the CDMA core network (switch) will most probably not be compatible with the emerging UMTS technology (the current worldwide standard, which uses a GSM based switch…). Then, a few years from now, moving towards LTE which has an OFDMA air interface… I would hope you are prepared for this transition.
Anyways I just wanted to let you know how surprised I am by your choice to go with CDMA when everyone else is retiring those networks. Not only have you selected a dying technology but you will have a lot of trouble getting a good selection of handsets as well (which already happens now).
Good luck with that!
We chose the CDMA network, as it provides the best path for us to LTE (Long Term Evolution), the wireless standard that all carriers are expected to migrate to in the next 5 years.
If we take the example of a carrier with 10MHZ that has a customer base using GSM, they’ll need to acquire more spectrum in order to build their LTE network as the full 10MHZ is being used by 5MHZ upstream and 5MHZ downstream channels.
With a CDMA based network using 10MHZ, each of the upstream and downstream channels only require 2.5MHZ, so the transition to LTE can be achieved without purchasing additional spectrum.
Other carriers using this path to LTE include MetroPCS and Verizon in the USA. Carriers in China, India and Indonesia also have significant customer base on networks using the same CDMA technology.
That’s very interesting information, especially for those who learned what we know about GSM vs. CDMA from the Bell/Telus ads touting their new network!!!
But it does seem like a rather risky move considering all the cool phones are GSM phones first and only rarely become CDMA phones. Are you going to be able to survive long enough with a limited selection of phones until you make the transition to LTE?
GSM BETTER THAN CDMA ALWAYS COZ THAT PHONE IF U DON’T LIKE AND NEED ANOTHER1 ..OLD1 CAN B USED WITH ANY OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER AFT UNLOCK IT ..OR MOST PPLZ FROM MY COUNTRY ALWAYS LOOK FOR GSM CELL COZ WHEN THEY DON’T USE IT THEY GIFT SM1 BACK HOME AND GET ANOTHER1..EXAMPLE I HAD VIRGIN CELL I WANTED TO LEAVE VIRGIN AND TRIED TO PORT MY NO TO KOODO BT THEY SAY THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CELL THAT I LL HAVE TO BUY..SO WHAT I LL DO WITH CD MA CELL IF I DON’T GO BACK TO VIRGIN…AND THIS TIME AM USING UNLOCKED CELL THAT WAS WITH FIDO AND SM1 GAVE ME I DID UNLOCK AND NOW SAME AM USING WITH ROGERS….ANOTHER THING CDMA COMPANY LOST MY COMMUNITY AND MOST OF THEM ONLY COZ OF HAVING SERVICE ON CDMA NOT ON GSM .AND I KNOW ITS BIG COMMUNITY…SO THAT’S WHY BELL TELUS VIRGIN CAME WITH GSM NOW COA THEY UNDERSTOOD IT NOW ..I BELONG TO SOUTH ASION COMMUNITY AND EVER1 PREFER GSM AS BACK HOME TOO..SO GSM IS ALWAYS BETTER I HAD PLANNING TO COME TO PUBLIC MOBILE BUT NOW I WONT COZ ITS CDMA..AND IF WIND MOBILE IS GIVING UNLIMITED TEXT TALK AND CID FOR 35$ SO WAY SAME I WILL CHOOSE FOR 40 $INSTEAD OF35$ ..I THINK PPLZ NEED CHEAPER SOMETHING THAN ALREADY IS AVAILABLE IN COMPETITIVE MARKET NOT EXPENSIVE??ISNT IT??LESS PRICE BETTER SERVICE THAN WIND OR DAVE WIRELESS OR OTHERS..SURE I LL COME TO PUBLIC MOBILE..WHY NOT?I CAN LEAVE GSM OPTION IF I GET CHEAP SOMETHING NOT EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER ..WHATEVER ALREADY AVILABLE IN MARKET ..ITS COMPETITIVE MARKET……….
“We chose the CDMA network, as it provides the best path for us…”
-YEA and its the cheapest spectrum available
-anyways best of luck PM
Hi!
i just wanted to know “Does this $40 package charge for incoming calls and incoming text messages?
Hello, I am really happy to see that new company coming on the market. I hoped you guys would sell Nexus One Google phone in Canada as by now nobody selling it in Canada. So as Google announced today that phone is available for purchase in Canadian market I wanted to buy Nexus One and use with PublicMobile but looks like I will not be able as Public Mobile not using GSM technology but CDMA. I might still replace my home phone with your service because I like to have my home phone mobile and maybe use Google phone Nexus One as my second phone cause I just love Google Phone.
Thank you for making flat rate talking available for Canadians!!!
Hello I would like to know if I will be able to call and txt Cuba with your service!
Currently for international long distance calls we are offering a prepaid long distance card that provides great rates.
Cuba does happen to be one of the most expensive places to call due to the connection charges.
We are currently working on international unlimited long distance and text options for Public Mobile. Once we have finalized the details we’ll be sure to let you know.
Hello if I get phone and I live in Toronto but I work in Mississuga I would like to know if I will pay extra for calls from Mississuga to call my friends in Toronto?
I don’t believe that you can call from Mississauga to Toronto for free as on their maps said just Toronto area but maybe I am wrong!
I wish they bring some cool phones
like the samsung omnia or lg lollipop..
i dont know much about cell phone standards but
the thing with gsm is that you can buy phones
from overseas and still use it here no?
if they chose cdma i hope they will bring some nice new
phones even if expensive..
i will switch cuz im frugal but i dont wanna look cheap..
Hi Andrew! You can call from Mississauga to Toronto as many time as you want!
Not if you take the pre-network launch offer. Don’t wait!