Mobilicity launches with unlimited plans, limited coverage

Mobilicity, the-carrier-formerly-known-as Dave Wireless, has finally opened for business in Toronto and hopes to be competitive across the country.
During a launch event in one of Mobilicity's pilot stores last week, the company revealed its competitive rate plans, initial selection of handsets and devices as well as its coverage area for voice and data.

Mobilicity debuted in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) after two years of negotiations and spending $243 million to acquire 10MHz of new wireless spectrum covering 16.1 million people in 10 of Canada's largest cities.

"Mobilicity is the new entrant with the unlimited 3.5G network that Canadians, not only deserve, but have been waiting for," said Chairman John Bitove. "Mobilicity gives consumers everything they're used to in wireless - except a large bill full of surprises every month," he added.

Bitove and Mobilicity President and CEO Dave Dobbin showcased Mobilicity's lineup of six handsets and smartphones, including the HTC Snap and BlackBerry Bold 9700. Mobilicity's feature phone, meanwhile, the Nokia 5230, is priced at $169.99 and is bundled with a free Nokia Bluetooth Headset. A $99.99 data stick was also presented for unlimited mobile Internet access at $40 a month.

Note that Mobilicity's network, like rival upstart Wind Mobile, is very similar to UMTS-AWS system of T-Mobile's in the US, so technically Mobilicity should work fine with handsets that work on T-Mobile and Wind Mobile.

Also unveiled were the company's six pay-in-advance, unlimited plans:

- unlimited North American text plan at $15/month
- unlimited local talk plan at $25/month;
- unlimited local talk & text plan at $35/month; and
- unlimited global text, talk, North American long-distance and data plan (with voicemail, call forwarding, three-way calling and call waiting) at $65/month.

All Mobilicity plans include free caller ID, Mobilicity to Mobilicity calling and do not require a contract or credit check.

Mobilicity claims a first in North American wireless long-distance service: $20 unlimited monthly add-on bundles for affordable and convenient direct-dial mobile calling to East Asia and South Asia.

"Mobilicity's pay-in-advance, unlimited plans are designed for city-based consumers who want to use their wireless phones as much as they want without counting minutes or waiting until after 6 p.m.," said Dobbin.

Mobilicity will roll-out its service in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa later this year.