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Your cost per month.
October 1, 2009
4:03 pm
byron
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I am spending about $24 a month right now. Previously it was down around $12-$15 but work has caused me to use my phone a bit more recently. I'm surprised 7-11 is moving towards .25 cents/min (IF that's true) even for $75-$100 pre-paid users because looking at Fido's prepaid I can buy a $20 voucher good for 1 month @ .20 a minute. Even buying $20+$10 top-up for two month is .25 min. Why front $100 to buy the same thing for $20 and $10 at a time?

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

October 2, 2009
7:15 am
Jamesey
Alberta
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Forum Posts: 127
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August 31, 2009
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I spend about $100 a year on two phones. We also have a VoiP line and good old POTS line at home which we use for LD and longer calls.

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.

October 2, 2009
8:44 am
Walter_Wpg
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>>> Thoughts? Also, curious as to how much most people spend here a month on their SO.

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!

October 2, 2009
10:20 am
czg416
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September 30, 2009
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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.

October 9, 2009
11:45 am
snardos
Guest
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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.

October 9, 2009
3:41 pm
byron
Guest
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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!

October 27, 2009
5:51 pm
5STar
Guest
Guests

if ure costs are at or above $25 per month, try taking over someone's contract. Alot of them are out there that are loaded with "Retention/loyalty" features that are not available to new customers.

Cheers

October 30, 2009
12:45 am
Bailey
Guest
Guests

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?

October 30, 2009
6:45 am
turboguy
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October 16, 2008
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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.

October 30, 2009
2:03 pm
phones2
Guest
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One more subtle point about the monthly plans: Any long distance call (sending or receiving) is charged extra, even if one has lots of unused minutes. In contrast, in the prepaid scheme, they are subtracted from the existing credits.

November 2, 2009
10:21 pm
Livi
Guest
Guests

SO is great
my sister got pre paid from telus and they charged her like so much extra
you say it will cost 17.50 for speakout
thats sounds good to me because some months i'll use 5 minutes and some i'll use 50
thanks for your help
do you know if so will get new phones>?
thanks

November 4, 2009
2:58 pm
chiewable
Guest
Guests

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.