I got bored a while ago and was wondering if I was getting the best bang for my buck for a basic wireless plan with the regular options. I chose specific plans by 3 carriers here in Manitoba, Canada and tried to find similar plans for each. Each carrier had only a dollars in differences for plan price, but cost of hardware was a different story.  I compared the local monopolic MTS Mobility, Rogers Wireless and Telus Mobility. I also used the Motorola RAZR as the test phone as part of this, since it was the only phone on all 3 of the carriers that was anywhere near the same, mainly since MTS does not have any “recent” phones.  The prices may have actually changed since when I did this a few weeks ago. I also chose Manitoba for the test because that’s where I am from and it currently has some of the most affordable calling plans in the country.

MTS Mobility
Manitoba coverage map (PDF)
Technology: CDMA, 1x-EV-DO
Phone: Motorola RAZR V3c
Phone Cost: $79.99
Contract Length: 24 months
Hardware Activation Fee: $35(?)
Early Cancellation Fee: Most likely between $200-400
Plan: Insider Plus Plan
Included in the Plan: 300 anytime minutes, Unlimited Nights and Weekends starting at 6PM on weekdays, free unlimited Mobile to Mobile to other MTS Mobility Customers
Cost per month: $25, $20 if bundled with other MTS services
“Unlimited" Text Messaging cost: $10 per month
Internet Browser: $5/month for unlimited WAP browser
Voicemail/Call Display value pack: $7/month
System Access Fee: $8.95/month
E-911 Fee: Approximately 50c/month

The total monthly bill after the first bill (which includes the Hardware Activation Fee) will amount to approximately $63.79/month, it will be a few dollars less if a bundle is taken with other services (such as MTS TV or Home Phone). The First Bill will be close to $100 due to the Hardware Activation Fee. At times the fee may be waived.

Rogers Wireless
Manitoba coverage map (PDF)
Technology: GSM, EDGE/GPRS
Phone: Motorola RAZR V3t
Phone Cost: $59.99
Contract Length: 36 months
Hardware Activation Fee: $35
Early Cancellation Fee: Between $200-400 depending how long you have been with Rogers with the current voice plan’s contract
Plan: Time Value Evening & Weekend Plan
Included in the Plan: 250 anytime minutes, Unlimited Nights and Weekends starting at 6PM on weekdays, free unlimited local calling to and from Rogers Wireless customers, Fido customers, and Rogers Home Phone customers, although it will not work with Rogers Home Phone customers since RHP is not currently available in Manitoba
Cost per month: $20
“Unlimited" Text Messaging cost: $10/month for 2500 outgoing text messages, $6.67 if combined with value pack
Internet Browser: $5/month for 5MB of WAP data
Voicemail/Call Display value pack: $10, includes Name Display service and WhoCalled
System Access Fee: $6.95/month
E-911 Fee: Approximately 50c/month

The total monthly bill after the first bill (which includes the Hardware Activation Fee) will amount to approximately $55.51/month. The First Bill will be close to $90 due to the Hardware Activation Fee. At times the fee may be waived.

Telus Mobility
Manitoba coverage map
Technology: CDMA, 1x-EVDO
Phone: Motorola RAZR V3c
Phone Cost: $0.00
Contract Length: 36 months
Hardware Activation Fee: $35
Early Cancellation Fee: Which ever is greater: 20 times number of remaining months left in contract or $100
Plan: Super Talk 18
Included in the Plan: 250 anytime minutes, Unlimited Nights and Weekends starting at 6PM on weekdays, free 5PM start time for 1 year
Cost per month: $18
“Unlimited" Text Messaging cost: $10 per month
Internet Browser: $5/month for unlimited WAP data (value pack includes browser)
Voicemail/Call Display value pack: $10, includes 100 text, picture or video messages, unlimited browser usage, unlimited email, instant messaging and chat via browser
System Access Fee: $6.95/month
E-911 Fee: Approximately 75c/month

The total monthly bill after the first bill (which includes the Hardware Activation Fee) will amount to approximately $51.64/month. The First Bill will be close to $90 due to the Hardware Activation Fee. At times the fee may be waived.

Out of all three carriers, the obviously best deal is Telus, with the price of a Motorola RAZR being free with a 3 year agreement (or $49.99 on a 2 year) and the average bill totalling to approximately $52/month, which is nearly $11 less than the bill with MTS. Although Telus’ coverage area is near identical with MTS’ coverage area, the main difference is that outside Winnipeg Telus uses MTS towers, so a Telus customer may not be able to obtain a local phone number in a rural community, unless if Wireless Number Port will allow for it to done.  Rogers’ is in the middle of the road between Telus and MTS, while it is cheaper than MTS in this comparison, their coverage spans less of Manitoba than either carrier.

Recap:
Phone Cost:
Telus: $0.00 - 3 year contract ($49.99 on a 2 year contract)
Rogers: $59.99 - 3 year contract
MTS: $79.99 - 2 year contract

Plan:
Telus: $51.64
Rogers: $55.51
MTS: $63.79