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Cellular Phone Forum / Providers / Fido / May 2004Just say "NO" to Telus, if they come 'a callin'
If this takeover bid goes through, we fido customers will face the prospect of getting new phones which may or may not match the quality of the GSM fido phones we presently have. I shutter at my next suggestion, which would be to unlock our GSM phones, and switch to rogers. Let me first state, I am no fan of rogers, and their service. However, with some high priced fido phones, we can get them unlocked and then just go on the rogers system. Some of us have two or three fido phones, due to the great deals fido has offered in the past. The idea of losing fido as a provider stinks, and I hope the government won't allow telus to let this offer go through. But, just in case it does, and to keep our present GSM phones, the only route would be to unlock them, and move over to (and I hold my nose when I say this) to Rogers. Telus may offer fido subscribers new phones, if we come aboard, but I doubt the phones will match the higher priced fido phones we have already. Or, if Telus does offer us free exchange on phones, the catch will be to take a three year term offer to get a decent phone, or a cheap phone trade in with a new subscription. So, keeping your fido GSM phone can only be accomplished by having it unlocked, and switching to Rogers.(again, holding my nose) I swore I'd never deal with Rogers again. But, quite frankly, I think GSM is better than the system Telus offers. Either way, the whole idea of losing Fido as our main cell provider stinks, and even though I know that's the nature of the business, it still stinks. Many of us have been with fido from the beginnning, and weathered the ups and downs of this upstart company who has really lead the way from the moribund state of cell phone providers in the past when fido was first launched. (clearnet was also an upstart, but couldn't hang on) Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue on. Rogers has gotten MUCH better. Your best bet though would be to get a phone with 1900/850. In fact lots of Fido phones already have both bands which is a bonus. I would hate to see Fido go but Rogers is actually a really good option these days. Good luck! > If this takeover bid goes through, we fido customers will face the > prospect of getting new phones which may or may not match the quality [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue on. Agreed. While I've only experienced their prepaid offering I've been very impressed with their service. The coverage is great, in urban areas and especially outside of urban areas (assuming you've got an 850 capable model). On prepaid they offer online account logging and access, a great feature, something Fido should have done LONG ago. I'm far from a fan of Rogers, and my dislike of them was the reason it took me so long to switch, but so far I've had NOTHING bad to say about Rogers. Fido on the other hand is getting more and more annoying, they call my house at least once a day (because my prepaid account with them is about to expire), they never say anything (I of course don't pick up) and they offer no way to remove your number from their list. Very annoying. If Fido does disappear I certainly won't be shedding a tear. 4 years ago I probably would have, but today no longer. TTYL > Rogers has gotten MUCH better. Your best bet though would be to get a phone > with 1900/850. In fact lots of Fido phones already have both bands which is [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > > > Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue on. Fido bills by the second. The best way to get the most out of my 100 day minuites, no one else does that. What will telis do with FIDO's GSM towers? > Agreed. While I've only experienced their prepaid offering I've been very > impressed with their service. The coverage is great, in urban areas and [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > > > > > > Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue on. If you are so annoyed with Fido and don't want them to call you, why don't you just cancel your account and keep your Rogers phone/account? > Agreed. While I've only experienced their prepaid offering I've been very > impressed with their service. The coverage is great, in urban areas and [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > > > > > > Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue on. Umm, because that's what I did??? FWIW the "latest" round from Fido is calls every single day from them, begging me to come back. Sad really... > If you are so annoyed with Fido and don't want them to call you, why don't > you just cancel your account and keep your Rogers phone/account? [quoted text clipped - 65 lines] > > > > > > > > Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue on. You are a freak of nature. What's sad is that you have nothing better to do but hang out here conplaining about a company you no longer have any invlovement with. > Umm, because that's what I did??? > [quoted text clipped - 84 lines] > > > > > Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue > on. > Rogers has gotten MUCH better. Your best bet though would be to get a > phone with 1900/850. In fact lots of Fido phones already have both > bands which is a bonus. I would hate to see Fido go but Rogers is > actually a really good option these days. Good luck! Rogers has given me poor service and ignored me, threatened to send my account to a collection agency on my final bill, and changed the length of my contract without notification or approval. They even refused to fix some problems because I bought the phone from a third party dealer rather than from their store. Not a chance they will see a $ of my cash ever again, regardless of how wonderful they might have become. Which is a real dilemma since Telus and Bell are not palatable options either. Fido has been rocky at times, but predictable and good value for 7 years. I suspect that would come to an end if Telus is successful. My reaction might be to drop the cell phone completely. Yes, they have. Overall, I would say for North America, Rogers is better. However, I do still prefer the overall network quality of Fido in the areas I have used my phone. I am also with Rogers and interchange my SIM card on my Siemens M55 unlocked and Motorola 720T. The network quality is better with my M55 on Fido. But, everyone's experience will vary. Just one comment. When I joined Fido last year, I was very concerned what will happen with Fido. As time goes on, I see my concerns were validated. So sad, too bad for Fido. : Rogers has gotten MUCH better. Your best bet though would be to get a phone : with 1900/850. In fact lots of Fido phones already have both bands which is : a bonus. I would hate to see Fido go but Rogers is actually a really good : option these days. Good luck! Telus has not said that they plan to convert Fido customers to their current network. If I can read between the lines, I think they are proposing to operate the GSM network at the 2 or 2.5G standards. Beyond that is anyones guess. If this deal goes through, Canadian cellphone consumers will be hurt. Even Telus, Bell and Rogers customers will suffer the decrease in competition. Given a choice between Rogers and Telus, I would encourage you to consider CDMA. Telus may be arrogant but its network is far superior to Rogers and if you have a problem, the Telus CSR is more likely to listen. Brendan > If this takeover bid goes through, we fido customers will face the > prospect of getting new phones which may or may not match the quality [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue on. >Telus has not said that they plan to convert Fido customers to their >current network. If I can read between the lines, I think they are >proposing to operate the GSM network at the 2 or 2.5G standards. Beyond >that is anyones guess. The Telus CFO was interviewed on ROB-TV, when asked about the different technologies of the two companies, he said that as customers tend to get new handsets every two or three years, he expected that the customers would convert over to CDMA over time. He didn't think that the GSM vs. CDMA was a concern at all. He also said that Telus does expect to lose some Fido customers. There's speculation that there will be a bidding war, hence why Microcell stock went up by almost 50% today. Quebecor has been mentioned. Jeff > >Telus has not said that they plan to convert Fido customers to their > >current network. If I can read between the lines, I think they are [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > There's speculation that there will be a bidding war, hence why > Microcell stock went up by almost 50% today. Quebecor has been mentioned. The only palatable options would be for a NON telecom company to buy Microcell, someone who had a vested interest in competition. If Fido is bought by Telus that would be an end to low prices for EVERYONE, not just Fido subscribers. Fido is the only think keeping prices reasonable. The ONLY reason Telus wants Fido is so that they can jack prices up and hold cell phone users hostage in the same way they hold their land line users hostage. > There's speculation that there will be a bidding war, hence why > Microcell stock went up by almost 50% today. Quebecor has been mentioned. Québecor will ruin Microcell just like theur ruined Videotron. Québécor doesn't have the resources to expand the Fido network. When they bought Videotron (against a bid from Rogers), they promised to spend money to make much needed infrastructure improvements (Videotron is unable to carry all current channels). Instead of investing money, Pedalo took money from Videotron to pay for its purchase, cut left and right before he even had an idea of what he had purchased and forced a very long and costly strike just to prove he had gonads againts unions. Twice, he forced implementation of policies before the accounting systems were ready to handle the new requirements (download limits, and merged cable/internet accounts). If the Caisse de Dépot wants to save Microcell, then it should do it by itself, not force Québécor to take on yet another distration with which it has absolutely no experience. >Québecor will ruin Microcell just like theur ruined Videotron. >Québécor doesn't have the resources to expand the Fido network. I think a Quebecor bid for Microcell is extremely unlikely. Péladeau doesn't like loosing money and that's exactly what's going to happen to whoever buys Microcell. The son Péladeau, like his father, is an extremely bright businessman. He's managed to succeed following the same business model that has failed AOL Time Warner and other giants. I doubt that Microcell has the fundamentals to interest him, or most anyone else. My guess is that there will be no competing bid for Microcell and that the Telus bid will go through. JF, are you on Howard Forums? Are you going to the Montreal meet this Saturday, 7:30 at Carlos and Pepe's? We've exchanged so many messages over the years, it would be nice to put a face on the name. Stephan Patterson > to whoever buys Microcell. The son Péladeau, like his father, is an > extremely bright businessman. Sorry, he is runnng is father's empire into the ground. The guy may have experience in printing, but he is clueless in telecom. He puts higher priority on breaking up unions than on ensuring customers are happy. Satellite dishes have been popping up like crazy in montreal for a good reason: Pelado is ruining Videotron with stupid policies that affect customer service. > He's managed to succeed following the > same business model that has failed AOL Time Warner and other giants. Yep, success so good he has begun to shut down printing plants in the USA. And printing was the one area where peladeau the son had any experience in. He overextended his reach big time when he was coerced into buying Videotron. It put a lot of financial strain due to the fact that he overpaid for videotron (just before the .com bubble burst), and he also underestimated the skills needed to run a telecom company. The problem is that with the damage he has done to videotron, and with the size of the québec economy, there is nobody to take videotron off Pelado's hands. > I doubt that Microcell has the fundamentals to interest him, or most > anyone else. My guess is that there will be no competing bid for > Microcell and that the Telus bid will go through. Actually, had Chagnon retained control of Videotron, I think that Microcell and Videotron would have been a good match (recall that prior to Pedalo buying Videotron, videotron had a big stake in Microcell). Consider offering cable for TV and internet, and Fido for "landline" service (City Fido). But in its current state, Videotron wouldn't know what to do with microcell. On 14 May 2004 08:30:59 -0700, lance says... > If this takeover bid goes through, we fido customers will face the > prospect of getting new phones which may or may not match the quality [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > However, with some high priced fido phones, we can get them unlocked > and then just go on the rogers system. Some of us have two or three I agree completely. Unless Telus converts its network to GSM (something they should have done a long time ago) there's no way I am going to stay with them, so Rogers would become an only option. In any case, with less competition there are going to be less and less options for the customer... :( Even today the options are very limited especially if you compare to the service you get in Europe. Honestly though I hope the deal doesn't go through. B.S. Taken directly from Telus web... TELUS offers to acquire Microcell TELUS Corporation today announced a bid to acquire all the assets of Microcell, the Montreal-based operator of the Fido wireless network. The bid underscores TELUS' strategic focus on growing its wireless, IP and data capabilities across Canada, and will speed TELUS Mobility's expansion in the fast-growing Quebec and Ontario markets. A successful acquisition would benefit both Microcell clients - who would be able to access TELUS Mobility's extensive national network, unsurpassed client care and industry-leading wireless products - and Microcell shareholders, who are being presented with an attractive all-cash offer. For more information please read TELUS' press release. >I agree completely. Unless Telus converts its network to GSM >(something they should have done a long time ago) there's no [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >compare to the service you get in Europe. Honestly though >I hope the deal doesn't go through. > I agree completely. Unless Telus converts its network to GSM > (something they should have done a long time ago) there's no > way I am going to stay with them, so Rogers would become an > only option. In any case, with less competition there are Voice quality on Rogers was absolutely terrible when I last used them (October 2003). Even though I hate Telus for other reasons, they have much better voice quality than Rogers.  SignatureSteven Fisher; sdfisher@spamcop.net "Morituri Nolumus Mori." Do you really think Telus will abandon the GSM network that Fido has worked so hard to build? When acquiring a company -- the parent company is paying for assets i.e. the GSM network equipment and Fido's customers. Why on earth would they abandon this? I think Fido will in the medium term continue operating independently as subsidary of Telus. Stop freaking out people. The world is not over. > If this takeover bid goes through, we fido customers will face the > prospect of getting new phones which may or may not match the quality [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue on. Maybe not but there will definitely be rate increases. The first to go would be the per second billing. That would effectively more than double my bill as 95% of my calls are 30 seconds or less. That one feature of FIDO is worth more to me than anything else. I worked for Bell for three years and still found FIDO much cheaper for me. Testy > Do you really think Telus will abandon the GSM network that Fido has worked > so hard to build? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Stop freaking out people. The world is not over. Telus could always sell the GSM infrastructure to another company. Many companies buy other companies to get rid of the competition (which is what I think Telus is doing). I agree with you that part of what Telus is buying is Fido customers. However, if they sell off the GSM infrastructure and force Fido customers to go with their phone technology by offering some sort of inferior phone swap, a lot of knowledgable customers will just switch to Rogers. There are customers who will accept an inferior phone for their Fido phone (if it is in fact inferior). I have an unlocked Treo 600 that I use with Fido (cheapest price I see this phone for on ebay is in the neighbourhood of $700CDN + shipping and I'm not interested in getting a cheap Telus phone thru a swap). I would go with Rogers since they are GSM. I don't want Fido to go out of business because Fido is one of the companies that is breaking the rules (or trying to break the rules). Even if I eventually go with another company because of my needs changing (using the phone while driving between major urban centres, etc.), I would still not want to see Fido disappear. Even if you aren't with them, you have to admire them for offering low priced per second monthly packages and an "unlimited" GPRS monthly plan... as well as CityFido to Vancouver. > Do you really think Telus will abandon the GSM network that Fido has worked > so hard to build? [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > > > Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue on. > Do you really think Telus will abandon the GSM network that Fido has worked > so hard to build? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Stop freaking out people. The world is not over. .... we'll see if Telus is that charitable about keeping fido customers happy if they aquire the company. Companies such as Future Shop were bought out by BestBuy, and were kept intact, so you are correct in assuming that in the medium term, Telus might operate fido as an independant subsidary of Telus. However, just as the spunky, upstart "Clearnet" company became part of Telus big machine, and we as consumers suffered from lack of imagination from Telus and their price plans, I would assume that if Telus takes over fido, the spirit of the upstart Fido company will vanish. They will be subject to new rules and regulations(ie. per minute billing)(ie. no switching from plan to plan without getting hit up for another fee) (ie. long term contracts...yes, I know fido began using them, but longer term phone plans aren't a major part of fido's overal strategy to retain customers) So, no, I was not trying to "freak" people out. However, when the last of the two upstart companies is swallowed up, in the long term, the customer will be the loser. There will be less choice, and less imagination shown in pricing plans. More bottom line profit concern will the name of the game. As for Telus keeping GSM, I doubt they want fido's network equipment for their own, and can easily see off pieces of fido's equipment. Why did Telus pick this week to go after fido's assets. We all know why, it was because fido was about to launch city fido. Telus got nervous, and went on the attack. I admire the spunky, upstart, fido spirit that hopefully will weather this hostile takeover. I sooner be with a company that shows imagination and forsight, then a company like Telus, who's only concern was the bottom line and couldn't give a sweet care about what the consumer wants. > > If this takeover bid goes through, we fido customers will face the > > prospect of getting new phones which may or may not match the quality [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > > > Here's hoping Fido can keep the Telus sharks at bay, and continue on. >Do you really think Telus will abandon the GSM network that Fido has worked >so hard to build? Yes. They can't realistically operate Analog (out west), CDMA, iDEN and GSM networks all at once. Especially not within the spectrum cap imposed by Industry Canada. >When acquiring a company -- the parent company is paying for assets i.e. the >GSM network equipment and Fido's customers. Why on earth would they abandon >this? They can simply resell the equipment to other (US) providers. They're offering to pay a tiny fraction of what Microcell had to spend for the infrastructure. They're not paying the real cost of it, a good deal of which was written off in the reorganization last year anyway. They already offer plans that more or less match those already offered by Fido and they can easily offer new handsets to everyone who signs a contract. They probably won't mind loosing those who don't want to sign a contract and don't want to buy a new handset. Those are not profitable customers anyway. >I think Fido will in the medium term continue operating independently as >subsidary of Telus. In think that you're dreaming. The main reason behind the offer is to get rid of a competitor, one that's already weak and that's undermining the profitability of Telus in Vancouver (and now Toronto) with CityFido. >Stop freaking out people. The world is not over. That much is true. It's only a cellular phone after all. Stephan Patterson > Do you really think Telus will abandon the GSM network that Fido has worked > so hard to build? What has Telus done to Mike lately ? Do you really think Telus would expand Fido's network ? They are going to make offers for Telus CDMA handsets to old Fido customers, and no new handsets available to Fido customers. Within a couple of years, all fido customers will have migrated to Telus. Meanwhile. Telus can use some the Microcell head office/CO infrastructure, any additional tower locations (converted to CDMA), and auction the remainder of the equipment that can't be used on a CDMA network. |
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