Why you should unlock your cell phone

When you purchase your phone through a provider like Rogers or Telus, your cell phone is “locked” to that provider. This means unless you get your phone “unlocked”, you will be forced to use this device only with that cell phone network provider.

Unlocking your phone is perfectly legal in Canada, and many stores offer this cell phone unlocking service.  The main benefit you get with unlocking your cellphone is the ability to use it with any service provider you please.

Having an unlocked cell phone is really useful when traveling to another country. When you have an unlocked cell phone, you are able to use it with a sim card in whatever country you visiting. This will save you hundreds of dollars are prevent you from accumulating roaming service fees when traveling abroad.

 An unlocked cell phone can also benefit you finically in your own country. When you unlock your phone, you have the freedom to use any phone carrier you choose. That means if you are no longer happy with the service you are getting at Rogers, you can easily switch to Wind or another carrier and keep the same phone.

Prices for unlocking a cell phone vary based on your model of cell phone and the network it is locked to. If you need a quote on the price and how long it will take just contact Cell Clinic Vancouver.

Saving Money With a BYOP Cell Phone Plan

The lure of a brand new discounted cell phone with a 2-year contact can be tempting, but is it worth it?

We wanted to do the math and report the details back to you!

We decided to look at buying your own iPhone 5S VS getting your iPhone subsidized by Bell in a 2 year contact.

Situation 1: Purchasing a iPhone 5S on a 2 year contact with Bell.

• iPhone 5S 16GB = $300
• 2GB Data Plan $85 per month X 24 Months = $2040
• Activation Fee $15
• Unlocking Fee $50

Total Cost Plus Tax = $2334

Situation 2: Purchasing an unlocked iPhone 5S from Apple and going on a month-to-month contact.

–  Cost of iPhone 5S 16GB from Apple = $719

• Plan 1 $59 Fido Plan with 2GB data x 24 months $53 per month after 10% BYOD discount: $1274

• Plan 2 $49 Fido Plan with 1GB data x 24 months $44 per month after 10% BYOD discount: $1058

• Plan 3 $39 Fido Smart Plan with 400MB data x 24 months $35 Per month after 10% BYOD discount: $842

  Plan 1 total cost: $1993

  Potential savings vs 2 year contract = $341

  Plan 2 total cost: $1774

  Potential savings vs 2 year contract = $560

  Plan 3 total cost: $1561

  Potential savings vs 2 year contract = $773

  As you can see in any situation, it is almost always more cost effective to purchase your own device and not get it subsidized through a provider such as Rogers or Bell.

Always make sure to run the math before getting tempted into that 2-year contact. Not only will you be loosing money in the long run, you may potentially be tied into something for 2 years that you no longer want to be apart of.

Is Wind Mobile Worth The Cell Phone Plan Savings?

If you have recently been in the market for a new cell phone plan, chances are you have come across the plans offered by Wind Mobile. Currently, there are plans offered by Wind Mobile that start at around $30 a month for virtually everything you need in a cell phone plan. It often seems too good to be true, so we decided try out their services and find out for ourselves.

After a month of using Wind Mobile, we have discovered some true benefits of their cell phone plan and also some potential setbacks.

First off, Wind Mobile offers “unlimited” data for some of their plans. When talking with Rogers and Bell I was assured that after reaching 10GB a month the Wind Mobile service would slow down. This was also confirmed by Wind Mobile themself, but our thoughts were even 10GB of data for under $50 is an extremely great deal.

To test this, we attempted to reach the 10GB threshold during the month of using the Wind Mobile service.  Reaching 10GB of data use in a month was not the easiest thing to do, but we managed to reach it. What we found is that when we approached the 10GB threshold the data service DID NOT noticeably slow down.  Keep in mind we are using this Wind Moible in downtown Vancouver.

As far as the other services such as talk and text are concerned, we did not find any difference in coverage compared to providers such as Bell and Rogers.

Everything was looking great for the Wind Mobile case, until we left Vancouver. When leaving Vancouver, the story was completely different. The service was off and on, and when getting out of the Wind Mobile hot spots, we even found ourselves roaming at some points.

Our final conclusion of the Wind Mobile service is as follows:

If you are using Wind Mobile in Vancouver (especially the downtown core) the service is 5 stars in terms of value. If you are a frequent traveler or live outside of the Vancouver area, we would not recommend you go with Wind Mobile. The service may end up costing you more, due to roaming charges, and the frustration of not getting service in some places is not worth it. Maybe in the future Wind Mobile will expand their coverage reach, but currently the service is only worthwhile in the city of Vancouver, as far as British Columbia is concerned.

Trade-in Old Cell Phones & Tablets for Cash, Gifts or Charity this Christmas

To help families this Christmas, Cell Clinic Vancouver is accepting trade-ins on broken/used mobile devices for cash at nearly twice the value offered by major cell phone providers, and an additional 20 per cent to trade for in-store credit.

Gifts or cash will help families purchase presents this Christmas. We are also encouraging people to use this offer to purchase gifts and donate directly to a charity of their choice such as YWCA, Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Salvation Army, Covenant House, Senior Services Society, BC SPCA, Vancouver Humane Society, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and Kocihta (helping Indigenous youth reach their career potential).

“We want to help charities and families that are in need,” said Alex Dechant, owner of Cell Clinic Ltd. “Many people don’t realize that old cell phones and tablets can be turned into cash or repaired Vs. purchasing a new one. Repairing a new mobile device can save consumers hundreds of dollars, reduce technology’s carbon footprint, and eliminate the need to purchase a phone prior to the end of a cellular contract, or enter into a long-term contract with a mobile provider”, said Dechant.

Cell Clinic provides individuals and corporations with a quick, affordable, and quality phone repair in downtown Vancouver (935 Seymour) that will improve the functionality and life of their current cell phone and tablet. The store also offers gift certificates, refurbished mobile devices, and a variety of mobile accessories such as protection options, cases, Bluetooth speakers, headphones, chargers, etc.