Wind offers subsidy ‘pay-off promise’

Wind Mobile is promising to cover the remainder of its “tab” customers’ device subsidies after 24 months, the company said. Under Wind’s tab model, customers can receive up to a $300 subsidy on a new handset device when they sign up for mobile services. Wind reduces how much the customer owes on that device subsidy by an amount equal to 10 per cent of their wireless service bill each month. Customers can also cancel their service with the company at any time without incurring additional charges by paying off the remaining balance. In a release Thursday, Wind said it was launching a “24-Month Pay Off Promise” that will see the company waive any remaining device subsidies customers owe after 24 months of service. Under the CRTC’s wireless code, released in June and applicable to new contracts starting in December, wireless carriers are required to let their subscribers cancel their service after 24 months without incurring a cancellation fee. Wind, which is controlled by Globalive Wireless Management Corp. while Amsterdam-based VimpelCom Ltd. has a non-controlling a 65 per cent equity share, is currently considering options to sell the company, with U.S. carrier Verizon Communications Inc. and equity firms Accelero Capital Holdings and Birch Hill Equity Partners Management Inc. considered as potential suitors. Under the company’s tab program, a customer that received a $300 device subsidy would have to spend an average of $125 on their wireless services each month to pay off that subsidy in 24 months. Wind also said Thursday that it was launching a new, promotional plan for the back to school season that offers unlimited data, province-wide talk and global text messaging for $33 per month.

Wind offers subsidy ‘pay-off promise’

Brief | August 9, 2013

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us