Phones, I am a local and I actually am ignorant about this...

[reinhard]

Okay, so I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but I have a very little understanding how "smartphones" and other fancy phones work.

 

I've been using a vocal-text only phone for years and I think it's time to switch.

 

Right now my father is paying my FIDO phone bills, he was the one who got me the phone when I was a teen. I can't contact him now because he is overseas and extremely busy. So I have turned to the internet (you guys) for help.

Now technically I can walk into the shop and ask them all about this, but I don't want to be judged and look like I've been living in a cave, and I would like any possibility of them trying to scam me into paying for things I don't need because I just know they are going to ask "would you like add this feature to your phone (will not tell you that you have to pay for it) for a limited time?"

 

I may have to get a new contract and setup my own account, but does that mean FIDO will give me a new SIM card? Another thing I am unsure of is that my father once told me that "he added my name to his FIDO account" so that if I need to make changes to my phone, I don't need his name. The reason I brought this up is because I am not sure if I can get my own account if my name is enlisted in his account. If that's not biggie, then please read on.
 

Personally I would like to get an Iphone because I own a Mactinosh and FIDO is doing a 2year tab24 plan and I would like access to the Internet.
 

Now my questions are

1) Do I have to pay extra for Internet if I own a smartphone?

2) My NOKIA has an SIM card. This thing just stores memories like the music files and contact phone numbers right? Because I looking through http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/SmartCard and there are three different ones, but they all cost the same...and so is their descriptions.

 

3) In http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/iPhones#comparison_tab, at the bottom, if any IPhone users could help, what is the difference between a Lighting to USB Cable to a 30-pin cable?

 

4) If anyone could please explain what a TAB24 plan is? Is this http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/MonthlyPlans/Group2 the TAB24 plan?

 

Thank you so much for reading and helping me.

 

[TakeruK]

I may have to get a new contract and setup my own account, but does that mean FIDO will give me a new SIM card? Another thing I am unsure of is that my father once told me that "he added my name to his FIDO account" so that if I need to make changes to my phone, I don't need his name. The reason I brought this up is because I am not sure if I can get my own account if my name is enlisted in his account. If that's not biggie, then please read on.

Not a big deal--you can have your name on more than one account. It's actually better to have your own account at this point instead of having your parents on your account because paying your own bills on time builds credit.

 

Personally I would like to get an Iphone because I own a Mactinosh and FIDO is doing a 2year tab24 plan and I would like access to the Internet.

 

Now my questions are

1) Do I have to pay extra for Internet if I own a smartphone?

2) My NOKIA has an SIM card. This thing just stores memories like the music files and contact phone numbers right? Because I looking through http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/SmartCard and there are three different ones, but they all cost the same...and so is their descriptions.

 

3) In http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/iPhones#comparison_tab, at the bottom, if any IPhone users could help, what is the difference between a Lighting to USB Cable to a 30-pin cable?

 

4) If anyone could please explain what a TAB24 plan is? Is this http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/MonthlyPlans/Group2 the TAB24 plan?

 

Thank you so much for reading and helping me.

That sounds like an okay reason to get an iPhone. However, I just want to point out that iPhones are more expensive and unless you use the Apple Apps such as Mail, iCalendar, etc. you don't really need a iPhone to sync up with your computer well. I have an Android smartphone and a Macbook laptop but I use Google everything, so it's very easy to link my google calendar on my computer with my google calendar on my phone in the same way that a Mac user can link their iCal on the computer and phone. 

 

For your other questions:

 

1. With a smartphone, you do not have to pay extra in order to access the Internet using your phone via a WiFi connection. It basically works just like a computer connecting to a wifi network (well it is a computer!). However, you may choose to add a Data Plan to your service plan (or it may already come with some data; for example the "Data" row in the Tab24 plan you linked is the limit on how much data you can access for free). This allows you to access the Internet through Fido's network and lets you use the Internet without needing to connect to a WiFi network. 

 

2. I am pretty sure you will need a new SIM card. All three cards you linked to are the same, just different sizes for different phones. Usually if you open a new account and buy their phone, they might include the SIM card for free (but $10 is the right price and is not very much).

 

3. I am not 100% certain but there really isn't a difference, it's just a way to connect your phone to your computer/charger. It seems like the new iPhone 5 has a "lightning" port (same type of port that is on the newer mac laptops) while the older iPhone 4 uses the 30 pin port, which is the kind of port that is on my old iPod. Ultimately, it will make no difference because the real use for the cable is to connect your phone to your computer/charger and I don't think it makes sense to worry about what else you could use the cable for. 

 

4. Tab24 (or Tab36) is basically a 2 year contract plan. If you get your phone on a Tab24 plan, for example this one (http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/iPhones#iphone5c_tab), you only pay $130 out of the full $599 right now. The difference, $599-$130, is $469, which will go on your Tab24 account and decrease each month in 24 equal steps. After 24 months, the Tab24 account will clear and you are eligible to sign another 2 year contract and get another discount on the phone. This is the standard 2 year contract plan, except with one difference. In the past, a contract usually means you can't change your phone until the 2 years is up. However, on the Tab24 plan, you can get a new phone whenever you want by paying whatever is left on your Tab24 account. e.g. if you want a new phone after 1 year, you pay the remaining balance on the Tab24 account (i.e. $235 in the above example) and then it is like you start over--you can get another discount on a new phone and sign a new 2 year contract. Obviously, the most cost effective thing to do is to use your phone until it completely dies, but the option is there for you to get a new phone.

 

I don't know what the penalty for ending a Tab24 contract early--probably paying the remainder of the phone cost (or the full price). Anyways, I think it is a decent plan if you are planning to sign a long term contract as it gets you a nice phone for pretty cheap. Otherwise, you should look into other less restrictive pricing plans/providers!

[reinhard]

1.  However, you may choose to add a Data Plan to your service plan (or it may already come with some data; for example the "Data" row in the Tab24 plan you linked is the limit on how much data you can access for free). This allows you to access the Internet through Fido's network and lets you use the Internet without needing to connect to a WiFi network.

 

Limit on how much data I can access for free? Like downloading stuff? Serving over the net doesn't require data now does it? Like checking the bus schedule, google map, or email shouldn't require any of that right?

 

 

 

 

I am not 100% certain but there really isn't a difference, it's just a way to connect your phone to your computer/charger. It seems like the new iPhone 5 has a "lightning" port (same type of port that is on the newer mac laptops) while the older iPhone 4 uses the 30 pin port, which is the kind of port that is on my old iPod. Ultimately, it will make no difference because the real use for the cable is to connect your phone to your computer/charger and I don't think it makes sense to worry about what else you could use the cable for.

 

I was just worry that I might purchase a phone that I can't connect it to my computer lol

 

 

 

Tab24 (or Tab36) is basically a 2 year contract plan. If you get your phone on a Tab24 plan, for example this one (http://www.fido.ca/w...es#iphone5c_tab), you only pay $130 out of the full $599 right now. The difference, $599-$130, is $469, which will go on your Tab24 account and decrease each month in 24 equal steps. After 24 months, the Tab24 account will clear and you are eligible to sign another 2 year contract and get another discount on the phone. This is the standard 2 year contract plan, except with one difference. In the past, a contract usually means you can't change your phone until the 2 years is up. However, on the Tab24 plan, you can get a new phone whenever you want by paying whatever is left on your Tab24 account. e.g. if you want a new phone after 1 year, you pay the remaining balance on the Tab24 account (i.e. $235 in the above example) and then it is like you start over--you can get another discount on a new phone and sign a new 2 year contract. Obviously, the most cost effective thing to do is to use your phone until it completely dies, but the option is there for you to get a new phone.

 

Ah okay, so that means that in that link for example. In addition to my regular phone bills, I have to pay about $19.54 each month?

 

 

So if I get a phone like http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/iPhones#iphone4S_tab, where the prepayment is $0, then how much do I pay each month...? Am I asking a really stupid math question despite the fact that I am getting a math degree...?

 

EDIT: It says it's actually a "Smart plan", whatever that is, I assume it is the same? There is also a TAB24 MAX plan, is that what you use?

Edited May 6, 2014 by reinhard

[TakeruK]

Limit on how much data I can access for free? Like downloading stuff? Serving over the net doesn't require data now does it? Like checking the bus schedule, google map, or email shouldn't require any of that right?

All of that requires data, unless you have downloaded the bus schedule or email while you were connected to a WiFi network and then looked at the already-downloaded afterwards. Think about it this way: your smartphone is basically a computer. If you do anything that your normal computer would require an Internet connection to do, then you will need to use data on your smartphone (unless you are connected to a WiFi network). Of course, traditional phone functions like voice calls and texting use the standard cell tower network and are charged separately from data.

 

I was just worry that I might purchase a phone that I can't connect it to my computer lol

 

That's a valid concern. I never connect my smartphone to my computer (but I could easily do so if I wanted to even though it's an Android phone and my computer is a Mac) because everything syncs via Internet / the cloud. If I make a change to my calendar on my computer, it instantly updates on my phone. If I start writing an email in Gmail on my computer and then have to go, I can finish writing it on my phone. Or, if I take a picture with my phone's camera, with the Dropbox app, it automatically appears on my computer, without having to connect anything. Of course, all of these functions use Internet, so it will cost "data" unless you set your apps to only sync when you are connected to a WiFi network.

 

Ah okay, so that means that in that link for example. In addition to my regular phone bills, I have to pay about $19.54 each month?

 

 

So if I get a phone like http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/iPhones#iphone4S_tab, where the prepayment is $0, then how much do I pay each month...? Am I asking a really stupid math question despite the fact that I am getting a math degree...?

 

EDIT: It says it's actually a "Smart plan", whatever that is, I assume it is the same? There is also a TAB24 MAX plan, is that what you use?

I don't use a Fido plan anymore (I'm in the US now, so no Fido!). My family had used Fido in the past but basically most of these plans are just the same! 

 

For the phone you linked, it appears that if you get it with a 2 year contract (Tab24 with a "Smart Plan"), then you pay $0 for the phone. This means if you agree to be a Fido customer for 2 years, you do not have to pay any money at all for the phone--you just have to pay for the plan. 

 

Here are the plans: http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/MonthlyPlans/Group1

 

Note that a "Smart Plan" just means you pay an extra $5 per month (for no added benefit). So basically, this is a sneaky way of charging you 24 months x $5 = $120 for the phone. However, from your link, it looks like the price for your phone with just a Tab24 plan is $150, so you still save $30 this way (but due to the way they display the pricing, it sounds like you are saving $150!).

 

From the plans page, it seems like the cheapest plan is $34/month and you get 200 minutes and 50 MB of data. If you are very careful with how you use data, this is enough for just checking email and loading websites without a ton of images etc. assuming that you can connect to WiFi at school and at home. But if you want to use your smartphone's data plan more extensively, I would recommend the 300MB plan or 500MB plan ($39/month and $44/month respectively).

 

So with the $5 extra for the Smart plan, your plan cost will be from $39-$49 per month, plus whatever fees they might have (not sure if there are any--ask the people in the store to break down all your costs for you). 

 

PS. The "MAX" plans are just even more expensive plans ($80/month or $85/month) with a lot more minutes and data in exchange for saving even more money on the phone. It's really only useful for someone would spend that much money on a monthly plan anyways, but it is neither available nor necessary for the phone you linked.

[reinhard]

All of that requires data, unless you have downloaded the bus schedule or email while you were connected to a WiFi network and then looked at the already-downloaded afterwards. Think about it this way: your smartphone is basically a computer. If you do anything that your normal computer would require an Internet connection to do, then you will need to use data on your smartphone (unless you are connected to a WiFi network). Of course, traditional phone functions like voice calls and texting use the standard cell tower network and are charged separately from data.

 

But the data usage is dependent on where and what WIFI I am using right? So if i am at school, I can still use the 50mb, but it's just slower right? Or is the disadvantage here is that I may use this on the street and if the WIFI is weak, then it would

be difficult to do things like checking the bus schedule?

 

 

That's a valid concern. I never connect my smartphone to my computer (but I could easily do so if I wanted to even though it's an Android phone and my computer is a Mac) because everything syncs via Internet / the cloud. If I make a change to my calendar on my computer, it instantly updates on my phone. If I start writing an email in Gmail on my computer and then have to go, I can finish writing it on my phone. Or, if I take a picture with my phone's camera, with the Dropbox app, it automatically appears on my computer, without having to connect anything. Of course, all of these functions use Internet, so it will cost "data" unless you set your apps to only sync when you are connected to a WiFi network.

 

Oh but I think all I will only do when I hook my phone up to my computer is exchange music files or image/video files. I don't think the data thing is a concern. I don't have much experience with apps and I reckon most are games, which I don't play anyways.

 

Note that a "Smart Plan" just means you pay an extra $5 per month (for no added benefit). So basically, this is a sneaky way of charging you 24 months x $5 = $120 for the phone. However, from your link, it looks like the price for your phone with just a Tab24 plan is $150, so you still save $30 this way (but due to the way they display the pricing, it sounds like you are saving $150!).

 

Wait did you mean,

 

Link 1: http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/iPhones#iphone4S_tab (the link I gave you)

 

Link 2: http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/iPhones#iphone5c_tab (the link you gave me as the example, should note that FIDO just update this page...how convenient of them to ruin this discussion for me).

 

For the no added benefit part, I think according to the description, I get another $5/50 MB (for the cheapest plan) or did I misread their misleading ad?

 

 

PS. The "MAX" plans are just even more expensive plans ($80/month or $85/month) with a lot more minutes and data in exchange for saving even more money on the phone. It's really only useful for someone would spend that much money on a monthly plan anyways, but it is neither available nor necessary for the phone you linked.

 

Okay totally not touching this!

[TakeruK]

But the data usage is dependent on where and what WIFI I am using right? So if i am at school, I can still use the 50mb, but it's just slower right? Or is the disadvantage here is that I may use this on the street and if the WIFI is weak, then it would

be difficult to do things like checking the bus schedule?

If you are using WiFi, then you are NOT using your "data plan". Your "data plan" is used when your phone transmit data that is not a phone call or text message while not connected to a WiFi network. So if you only plan on using your phone's data features while at home (on WiFi) or at school (on WiFi) then you don't even need a data plan (or maybe a minimal one to check the bus schedule when you are at the bus stop).

 

Wait did you mean,

 

Link 1: http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/iPhones#iphone4S_tab (the link I gave you)

 

Link 2: http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/iPhones#iphone5c_tab (the link you gave me as the example, should note that FIDO just update this page...how convenient of them to ruin this discussion for me).

 

For the no added benefit part, I think according to the description, I get another $5/50 MB (for the cheapest plan) or did I misread their misleading ad?

I meant Link 1. There is no added benefit to the SMART plan other than getting a bigger discount on the phone (but then you pay most of it back during the 24 months). 

 

To clarify, here is a page for the smart plan rates. Note that the # of minutes and amount of data is the same, except the monthly price is higher and the phone discount is also higher. http://www.fido.ca/web/page/portal/Fido/MonthlyPlans/Group2

 

I think at this point, you have a good working knowledge and you can probably go into the store and ask them some questions without sounding like someone they can rip off. Remember that you don't have to agree to anything in your first visit. Just come in, talk to them, get some questions answered and a quote. Then go back home, look up some plans, compare to other providers (maybe go talk to them too) and then make a decision.

 

Finally, remember that there may be extra fees added onto these advertised prices (the laws keep changing on what is and isn't allowed so it's hard to keep track). Make sure you ask about all potential fees when you ask for a quoted price. 

Edited May 8, 2014 by TakeruK

[reinhard]

If you are using WiFi, then you are NOT using your "data plan". Your "data plan" is used when your phone transmit data that is not a phone call or text message while not connected to a WiFi network. So if you only plan on using your phone's data features while at home (on WiFi) or at school (on WiFi) then you don't even need a data plan (or maybe a minimal one to check the bus schedule when you are at the bus stop).

 

So I am curious, then just what is a data plan for...? What uses the data plan?

 

Thanks by the way.

[Vene]

So I am curious, then just what is a data plan for...? What uses the data plan?

 

Thanks by the way.

I imagine it's for when you don't have access to a WiFi connection.

[TakeruK]

Exactly--the data plan is used whenever you need to transmit any data and while not connected to a WiFi network. How much data  you need really depends on your use habits. 

 

For example, I know some people that do fine without a data plan at all (saves them a lot of money!). My monthly bill shows that I use about 50MB-100MB of data per month because I spend almost all of my time at home (WiFi available) and at school (WiFi available). Most of my use is when I am out on the weekend, such as looking up traffic/directions to whereever I am going.

 

Some people I know use a lot of data because they are always using their phone (for work or whatever) and definitely will need many GBs of data! 

 

In my opinion, even 50MB of data a month increases the usefulness of your phone by a ton. For me, it's generally true that the places where I have reliable WiFi (home and school), I also have a computer. Without WiFi and without a data plan, your smartphone isn't much more useful than a regular phone and you might as well save the money and just get a "dumb phone".

 

Also, if you are worried about paying too much for things you don't use, consider pay as you go type plans too. If you live in an area with WIND mobile coverage, I think they have some plans as low as $20 for people who don't use a lot of data/texts/calls.

[reinhard]

Hey Takeru, I gotta bug you again.

 

http://www.virginmobile.ca/en/plans/silver.html?itcid=LP:142

 

Do you think the pay per use plan is good? For the data calculator thing, if I download an app from my computer and install it in my phone, I can't get charged right?  Similarly, checking bus schedules on google map on your phone (I think there's an app for this?) doesn't take data right?

[TakeruK]

Hey Takeru, I gotta bug you again.

 

http://www.virginmobile.ca/en/plans/silver.html?itcid=LP:142

 

Do you think the pay per use plan is good? For the data calculator thing, if I download an app from my computer and install it in my phone, I can't get charged right?  Similarly, checking bus schedules on google map on your phone (I think there's an app for this?) doesn't take data right?

 

I don't think it's a good plan, personally. It will cost you $5 per month if you use any data at all and you only get up to 25MB. But if you just pay $5 more for the $34/month plan, you get 50MB included. Basically even if you load up one single webpage or receive a single email, your usage is over 0MB so you will pay $5. 

 

In my opinion, there is no point in getting a $$$ smartphone and then never using any of the data to save just $5/month. If you go with these plans, I would say just go for the $34/month plan and then you can use 50MB. But 50MB is not very much either--you'll have to turn off your data most of the time so that you don't accidentally use your data plan. 

 

As for your app question, yes, if you download it on your computer then you won't incur data charges. However, it's far easier to just set your phone to only download and upgrade apps while on WiFi so that you don't use data. Then you don't have to connect your phone to your computer etc.

 

And for bus schedules, if the app has the schedules saved in your phone's memory so that you just pull up saved data, then it doesn't cost you data. However, many apps will fetch data as you need it to avoid storing a lot of files on your phone. If this is what the app does, then it costs data every time you look it up.