Anyone have experience with Fizz mobile?

A friend of mine was hard hit with the recent 3G sunset on his
7-eleven Speakout account. He was using a 3G-capable phone for
that too - he just used it for texting so that was perfectly
fine.

The 7-eleven speakout plan offered a one-time low fee (not a
top-up) that could be used for up to a year. And each time
that was topped-up, the remaining balance simply rolled forward
and the "yearly" clock was reset for another 365 days.

Not a bad deal. Voice was like 35cents per minute, but text was
the primary use.

But Speakout is closing operations. So.. a scramble was
underway to find a good cheap alternative.

Fizz was one that he discovered. Minimum with no data, just
text = $12/mo. Still, at $144/yr that seems much, to me.

Anyway.. the Fizz site lists several "partner" outlets to
obtain a SIM card. Circle-K was the best partner for his area.
He spent time visiting the one in Gravenhurst (Ontario) today
(a 66km trip) ..but, no Fizz there! ..and then down to the
three listed in the area a bit further south at Hwy11 and Hwy12
- two of the three did not carry Fizz! He got the card at the
remaining one he checked.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: (2:221/1.58)

On 07 Aug 2025, August Abolins said the following...

Anyone have experience with Fizz mobile?

I don't have experience with Fizz directly, but I do have experience with Freedom Mobile. Fizz is Freedom's flanker brand (like Koodo is to Telus, Fido is to Rogers, etc).

Freedom worked fine while I was in one of their main coverage areas, but driving between towns & cities was hit or miss. Even between where I live in Binbrook over to Hamilton I'd often hit a dead zone. Another time I was driving to St Catharines on Highway 20 and while I have "service" (bars showing on my phone) I wasn't able to use data for about 20 minutes until I got to an actual Freedom zone.


One thing to keep in mind with Fizz is to make sure that his address is in Fizz's coverage area:

"The majority of your usage (calls, texts and data) must be done on the Fizz network.

We reserve the right to interrupt or block access to our network of partner providers if you use your mobile service primarily on their networks for 3 consecutive payment periods."

Check his address (or where he'll be using the service most) here:

https://fizz.ca/en/coverage#map


Both my parent's places (Bracebridge & Utterson) are outside of their subscription areas, so they aren't able to switch to Fizz (the website wouldn't even let them sign up with their home addresses).


Jay

... I'm going to make a prediction - it could go either way

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Northern Realms (1:229/664)

Hello Jay!

** On Friday 08.08.25 - 06:47, you wrote to me:

Fizz is Freedom's flanker brand (like Koodo is to Telus,
Fido is to Rogers, etc).

Ah.. Interesting.

One thing to keep in mind with Fizz is to make sure that
his address is in Fizz's coverage area:

"The majority of your usage (calls, texts and data) must
be done on the Fizz network.

We reserve the right to interrupt or block access to our network of partner providers if you use your mobile service primarily on their networks for 3 consecutive payment periods."

Outch. My friend's primary location is just north of Utterson
and west of Huntsville.

That's terrible if they penalize people if their devices reach
a "partner provider" better.


--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: (2:221/1.58)

Hello Jay!

** On Friday 08.08.25 - 06:47, you wrote to me:

On 07 Aug 2025, August Abolins said the following...

Anyone have experience with Fizz mobile?

I don't have experience with Fizz directly, but I do have
experience with Freedom Mobile. Fizz is Freedom's flanker
brand (like Koodo is to Telus, Fido is to Rogers, etc).

Flanker branding is quite the concept. Seems like Rogers has
at least two: Fido and Chatr.

Bell has Luckymobile.

Bell seems to also have Nonamemobile - which steers you to
PCmobile when you sign up!

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: (2:221/1.58)

On 18 Aug 2025, August Abolins said the following...

Flanker branding is quite the concept. Seems like Rogers has
at least two: Fido and Chatr.

Bell has Luckymobile.

Bell seems to also have Nonamemobile - which steers you to
PCmobile when you sign up!

Flanker brands that I know about:

Bell: Virgin Mobile & Lucky Mobile
Rogers: Fido & Chatr
Telus: Koodo & Public Mobile
Videotron: Freedom & Fizz

And then there's the concept of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) and resellers where they're owned & operated by 3rd party companies and use the Big 3's networks:

Rogers:
- 7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless
- Good2Go Mobility
- Wundle Mobile

Bell:
- PC Mobile/No Name Mobile
- Execulink Mobility*
- Quadro Mobility*

Telus:
- Cogeco Mobile
- CTExcel Canada
- Wightman Mobility*
- DCI Wireless

* These carriers do operate their own smaller/regional networks and use a larger carrier for roaming.


Jay

... I was fired from the keyboard factory. I wasn't putting in enough shifts

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Northern Realms (1:229/664)