The Unofficial 7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless Canada Consumer Page 
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6:13 am
if u buy a 7-11 speakout sim card can u use different cell phones? what kind of cell phones can u buy? I really dont know a lot about cell phones..
and which of the nokia phones that speak out offers is best?
5:06 pm
According to FAQ #24:
Most have been reported to be unlocked (including the Nokia 1600 and 2670), except for the Nokia 2610. With unlocked phones, if for example, you already had a Rogers phone and swapped the SIM card with the SIM card in the 7-Eleven phone, both phones would still work, as you have simply switched the networks / accounts that they will run on.
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So, Nokia 1600 is the basic unlocked, 2610 is middle range, but locked, and 2670 is the highest phone 7-Eleven offers.
If you don't like any of them, you can use any unlocked GSM phone, or any locked Rogers phone, as Speakout Wireless actually uses the Rogers network (I've heard, anways. you'd probably want to confirm that before buying one)
For me, I bought an unlocked Nokia 6300, got the initial package with the Nokia 1600 for the sim, and sold off the Nokia 1600.
2:25 am
"you can use any unlocked GSM phone, or any locked Rogers phone"
what exactly does that mean? have any examples of phones I can purchase under $120
7:10 pm
Unlocked phones are phones that aren't restricted to specific providers' networks. So, for example, a phone bought under a contract with AT&T would only work with AT&T's network and a SIM card from AT&T, because it is locked. But if it were unlocked it would be able to take any provider's SIM card (fido, rogers, etc) and use their networks.
Locked Rogers phones have been reported to work with 7-11's service, though, so that is the exception. You'd only be able to purchase a phone provided by Rogers wireless second-hand (off ebay or craigslist or whathaveyou), or buy purchasing it through a contract or pre-paid plan of theirs.
If you need a basic phone simply for phone calling, the best deal I know of is 7-11's own promotion where you get 75 dollar credit towards a phone if you purchase 100 dollars airtime. Only a couple stores seem to still have that deal right now, but it'll be coming back in february, so if you can wait, that would be the most affordable option.
Keep in mind that the only way to get the SIM card you need to use speakout wireless is to buy a phone from 7-11 (or buy one second-hand at the ridiculous prices you find online).
1:02 pm
I usually travel to asia alot and they have some wonderful GSM phones that are a couple of generations better than in Canada. I usually look for tri/quad band phone so that it would work in asia and canada. Unlike here in canada, the phones come with a 1-3 year contract so the price of the phones are subsidized thats why its cheaper, but you can get the same phone in asia for about the same price in second hand shops since the phones they offer here in canada is like last 1-2 year model for them.
Another GSM phone is the iPhone from apple if you can afford it.
3:36 pm
You can buy new unlocked GSM phones from places like http://www.puremobile.ca/ for much less than what Canadian carriers charge for locked versions of the same phone, sometimes even cheaper than the subsidized "on contract" prices.
8:04 pm
I looked at Puremobile for an unlocked GSM phone with a 2MPixel camera. I want to use it in France and Spain with their local SIM cards when I travel there next spring. I also saw the same phones used, one with a 8GB card on Craiglist for 1/2 the $. What do I have to watch out for in a used phone like this? (looking at Sony-Ericson 810i -- any other suggestions from users out there?)
I am new to cell phones and cameras, so the SpeakOut or PetroCan deal seems ideal - will let me use phone/practise camera for a few months, then use it in Europe (no e-mail, just call ahead for hotel reservations).
8:54 pm
What do I have to watch out for in a used phone like this?
1. That it works.
2. That it's unlocked.
3. That it's not stolen.
4. That the battery holds a decent charge.
any other suggestions from users out there?
I have a Motorola KRZR that cost $190. Last time I looked there were other Moto models at puremobile for ~$100 but they lacked a camera.
Speaking of cameras, the ones built-in to most phones aren't anywhere as good as a separate camera. I'm not talking just about pixel count but also auto-focus, flash, and other settings. The built-in cameras are good for taking snapshots but not for taking photographs (if you know what I mean.)
12:20 am
Tx Bylo,
Where can I take a used phone to have battery tested and check if it's stolen?
On the camera side, appreciate it may be a compromise, but the Sony is a decent camera, so it'll be that or nothing. I am backpacking 2 months, so want to avoid having too much stuff to forget or have stolen. If I play with it a couple of months and it's crap, then I'll forget it altogether and commit to memory...
8:12 am
Where can I take a used phone to have battery tested and check if it's stolen?
I'm not sure where you would go to test the battery. LiIon batteries deteriorate with time so if the phone is, say 1 year old, then the battery will normally only be able to keep a charge of 70% or 80% of what it could when new.
As for theft, can the owner produce a receipt? Does the receipt show the phone's IMEI number? Here's one link to the blocked number database: FAQs on Mobile Security
On the camera side...
I just wanted to make sure that you understand that the camera that's built into cellphones is a compromise. And as one who's done a lot of hiking in Europe with both a cellphone and camera (and chargers and accessories...), I understand and fully agree with your desire to minimize weight 😉
8:54 pm
Any unlocked GSM phone will do. I put my Speakout SIM card from my Nokia 1600 in an unlocked Motorola RIZR Z3 and started using it right away. Now I got quad band, 2 MP camera, nicer display, etc.
12:16 pm
To those on this forum that were asking about using a Speakout phone in Europe, it won't work.
For various reasons that probably made sense 10-20 years ago, different areas of the world use different GSM frequencies. N.America uses 850 and 1900 mHz while Europe uses 900 and 1800 mHz.
And different GSM cellphones uses anywhere from 2-4 of those frequencies. Generally the higher-end cellphones will be able to use more frequencies. 7-11 Speakout, in an effort to make their phones as inexpensive and accessible to all has decided to go with phones that only happen to use the 850/1900 gsm bands.
So, the Nokia 1600 gets really great reception in N.America, but can't be used in Europe.
