Category: Mobile

A cheap cell phone provider with no commitments is Public Mobile. For its inexpensive plans and friendly customer support, Public Mobile has received accolades.

In this article I will examine Public Mobile’s plans, coverage, customer support, and features in my review. I’ll contrast it with other Canadian wireless providers as well.

What Is Public Mobile?

Public Mobile is a prepaid, self-care mobile brand based in Canada. It was launched in 2010 and was part of some Canadian mobile providers that started in 2009 after an initiative by the federal government to promote competition within the mobile wireless sector. 

Public Mobile is one of Canada’s most popular providers of prepaid wireless networks.

Who owns Public Mobile?

Telus officially purchased Public Mobile in October 2013 and now operates as a mobile virtual network operator on the Telus mobility network. 

The company is now owned by Telus, making it a subsidiary of Telus. It was relaunched to the public under a beta program with free SIM cards being offered to the public.

The original network CDMA of public mobile operated independently without using another carrier’s network. The company has its coverage network centered around Toronto, GTA, and Montreal.

Public Mobile has its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its website is www.publicmobile.ca/en/

Public Mobile Can Be A Worthwhile Choice Under These Conditions:

• If you already own your phone outright
• If 4G speed up to 100 Mbps fulfills your requirements
• If you are tech-savvy enough to handle your account online and address minor troubles

However, Public Mobile May Not Be The Best Fit In The Following Situations:

• If you intend to use the service while roaming in the US
• If you require multiple numbers to be under one account and bill.

Services Offered By Public Mobile

As a telephone company, Public Mobile offers several products to its customers. The main products offered by the company are:

• HSPA
• LTE
• Mobile broadband
• SMS
• Telephony

Where To Buy Public Mobile SIM

If you change your network to Public Mobile, the next step will be finding a SIM card to buy. 

You can get a Public Mobile SIM card to purchase in several places. The purchase can be made both online and offline. 

The SIM card can be purchased from local convenience stores or online retailers. 

You can get a Public SIM card that fits your budget and needs, and you will also be able to take advantage of the several benefits of using the services offered by Public Mobile.

Users must have a working SIM card in their cell phones with their previous provider’s account still active before receiving and responding to an SMS. 

Users should ensure to replace their old SIM card with the new Public Mobile SIM card they just purchased when they receive the SMS message.

Buying A Public Mobile SIM In Canada

You can buy your Public Mobile sim card on their official website. After purchasing, the card will be delivered to you.

There are also other places to buy a Public Mobile sim card. All you have to do is visit their Store Locator and type in your location, and you will find the closest retail store around your area or near you.

The SIM cards can also be purchased from retailers and local places such as newsstands, post offices, grocery stores, gas stations and electronic retail vendors.

What Is A SIM Card?

A SIM card is a small card that allows owners to get connected to a cellular service provider. 

These small cards are inserted into a user’s mobile device, and through them, users get the necessary connections to provide the user with the cellular network.

How To Activate Public Mobile SIM Card

Activating your new Public Mobile SIM card can be done quickly. One must insert the new SIM inside his mobile device and switch it on. 

After the phone is switched on, they follow the instructions to activate the SIM card. 

Once the SIM card has been activated, the user can make calls and send SMS messages. 

They can also access an internet connection and surf with their favorite browsers. 

Users must ensure that the mobile device they insert the Public Mobile SIM is compatible with the Public Mobile network.

Users may also access additional features such as visual voicemail, international calling network, etc. 

However, one must activate the Public Mobile SIM card after purchasing it before accessing all these unique and hidden features.

What Network Does Mobile Public Use?

Telus Mobility now owns Public Mobile, which operates on the Telus 4G LTE network.

How To Port Your Number To Public Mobile

You can port your number from your current network over to Public Mobile. 

This process can take about two hours to complete. Porting a landline number can take up to three business days before the porting process is complete. 

You may also experience mixed services while the process is ongoing until it is completed.

Several prepaid accounts can be ported. However, the service must be active when porting their number. 

Numbers cannot be ported to an existing line. The porting will only work when activating a new line with a carrier.

Here Are Some Things To Know Before Porting Your Number To Public Mobile

• Porting can be done only by authorized account holders
• Porting cannot be done between two Public Mobile numbers
• Previous accounts should be active before the porting process works. The previous account would then be automatically deactivated after the process is done
• You should check your old information since it has to be correct before the porting process can be completed

Here Is How To Port Your Number To Public Mobile

Please Follow the Simple steps below:

1. Send the word ‘PORT’ followed by a ‘space’ and your ten-digit phone number to 1900. (Please make sure that the word port is all in capital letters)
2. The UPC will then be received by SMS on the mobile device of the subscriber

Below is an SMS you can expect to receive from Public Mobile.

Phone numbers can be changed up to 4 times every 30 days after the number has been activated. Please follow the steps below to change or port a phone number.

• Tap on the ‘plans and addons’ tab
• Now tap on ‘change phone number.’
• Choose the new phone number. You can also transfer a wireless or wireline phone number from a different network provider

This is the same process when porting a number from Telus Prepaid, Telus Postpaid or Koodo. 

If you decide to port your phone number from Public Mobile to another carrier, an SMS message will be sent to ensure that you are initiating the porting process. 

This is usually done to ensure that fraudulent activity is not occurring on the subscriber’s mobile device. Public Mobile will send you an SMS that will read as follows:

“Public Mobile message: We’ve received a request to transfer this phone number to another service provider. To approve this request, please reply ‘yes.’ If you did not request this transfer, please reply ‘no.’ Please note that you must respond within 90 minutes. The request will be automatically canceled unless we receive a response within this time. For any issues with this number transfer, contact our Porting Team. Thank you”

Public Mobile VS. Kodoo

Feature	Public Mobile	Koodo
Network Coverage	Utilizes TELUS network	Utilizes TELUS network
Plan Options	Prepaid only	Prepaid and Postpaid
Price	Generally lower-cost plans	Slightly higher cost plans
Data Speed	Up to 4G LTE	Up to 4G LTE
Customer Support	Community-based support forums	Phone, chat, and in-store support available
Roaming	Limited international roaming	International roaming available
Extras	Fewer additional features	Additional features available

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The prepaid SIM card one can get now is from Telus Mobility, the parent company of Public Mobile. 

Telus offers the best-prepaid cards in Canada based on its pay-as-you-go deals and those from other wireless service providers.

This means that getting a Public Mobile SIM card is one of the best ways to access the Telus Mobility network so you can enjoy all the great benefits of Telus.

We hope this article on Public Mobile has been beneficial, and you can now decide if you want to port over to Public Mobile. For Public Mobile alternatives in Canada, you can also check out Freedom Mobile.

Freedom Mobile Inc. is a wireless telecommunications provider based in Canada. 

Freedom Mobile accounts for about 6% of the total market share of the Canadian wireless sector. 

Its presence is mainly seen in urban areas such as Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. 

The wireless service provider is also Canada’s fourth biggest wireless carrier. 

Freedom Mobile has more than 2.2 million subscribers as of 30 November 2022.

Between 2009 and 2016, Freedom Mobile was known as Wind Mobile. Freedom Mobile was one of the wireless companies founded in 2008 after the Canadian introduced an initiative to encourage competition among wireless network providers in the country. 

It was one of the wireless carriers launched. The others are Mobilicity, which was later purchased by Rogers Communications, and Public Mobile, which was later acquired by Telus. 

You can check out more about Public Mobile here.

The wireless provider company was founded in 2009 by Anthony Lacavera’s Globalive and currently has its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

What Is The Freedom Mobile Website?

The company’s website is www.freedommobile.ca

Who Owns Freedom Mobile?

Quebecor currently owns Freedom Mobile in Canada. Quebecor acquired Freedom Mobile in 2023. 

The company employs more than 1,200 people in its various offices across Canada. 

Freedom Mobile also has partnerships with other network providers in Canada, such as Bell, Rogers, and Telus. 

These partnerships are aimed at helping Freedom Mobile provide coverage for its users in areas outside of its network.

Services Offered By Freedom Mobile

As a wireless service provider, Freedom Mobile’s services are geared toward the telecommunication needs of its customers. 

Below are services provided by Freedom Mobile to its 2.2 million subscribers.

• LTE
• HSPA
• HSPA+
• IP relay
• Mobile Broadband
• SMS
• TDD operator
• Telephony

 Products Offered By Freedom Mobile

Apart from the wireless service Freedom Mobile offers, there are some products the company offers. Below are some of the products sold by Freedom Mobiles to its customers.

• Feature phones
• Android smartphones
• Apple smartphones
• Blackberry 10 smartphones
• Windows smartphones
• Modems
• Mobile broadband

Areas Newly Added To The Freedom Mobile Network

Below are the recent areas in Canada that have been added to the Freedom Mobile network coverage.

• Cranbrook
• Lethbridge
• Nanaimo
• Medicine Hat
• Prince Rupert
• Vernon
• Courtney-Comox
• Kamloops
• Campbell River
• Penticton
• Kelowna

People living in these areas will surely get excellent network coverage from Freedom Mobile.

What Is Freedom Nationwide?

Freedom Mobile subscribers who travel outside of Canada, outside of Freedom Mobile’s network coverage, will be connected to any partner network providers such as Rogers, Bell, and Telus. 

Users will notice that their smartphone wireless provider indicator now reads ‘Nationwide.’ This will let them know they have been connected to a partner network provider.

Connecting to a partner network provider allows users to access their ‘Freedom Nationwide,’ which will be part of their plan. 

However, they will have less data to use when connected to a partner network than on Freedom Mobile’s leading network. 

The quality of service and data may also vary, depending on the kind of network partner they get connected to. 

It will depend on technical capacity, device capabilities, terrain, weather conditions, and foliage.

How To Know If Your Phone Is Compatible With Freedom Mobile’s Network

When one looks at the website of Freedom Mobile, it says that compatibility with data speeds or network technology varies depending on the device. 

So it does not matter whether your smartphone is an Android or an IOS phone. 

It is better to check to see if your device will be compatible with Freedom Mobile before you make any moves.

To check if your mobile device is compatible with Freedom Mobile, please follow the steps below.

1. Dial *#06# to check the IMEI number of your mobile device
2. Now, go to the Freedom Mobile website and enter the IMEI number of your mobile device to see if it compatible with Freedom Mobile
3. After the website has confirmed the compatibility, you can then order a SIM card online
4. After the SIM card has been delivered, you can then go ahead and activate your Freedom Mobile account.

How To Top Up Freedom Mobile

We always love to stay connected with our loved ones all the time. It does not matter what time of the year it is; being able to stay connected with loved ones is what everyone wants. 

Due to this, being able to top up your Freedom Mobile easily is worth knowing. 

You can top up your Freedom Mobile device at several outlets online. Recharging online is much faster and easier in Canada. 

Below are the steps in topping up your Freedom Mobile on Ding.

1. Go to the Ding website online
2. Choose the amount you prefer to send
3. Enter a phone number
4. Make payment by using any of the supported payment methods
5. Receive your top-up right away

And you are done with the online top-up of your Freedom Mobile device. Payment methods are supported by VISA, MasterCard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

How To Check The Balance On Freedom Mobile?

Checking your balance on Freedom Mobile is relatively easy. All you have to do is to dial *123#. You then follow the prompts to get your balance checked.

What Network Does Freedom Mobile Use

Freedom Mobile uses several networks when subscribers travel outside of Canada. 

These networks are provided by their partners. Networks used by Freedom Mobile are:

1. Rogers Wireless
2. Bell Mobility
3. Telus Mobility

These are the networks used by Freedom Mobile inside Canada. Apart from these, Freedom Mobile is also on the AT&T Mobility network in the United States of America. 

This means that when subscribers travel outside Canada to the USA, they will be connected by AT&T, the network partner of Freedom Mobile in America.

How To Setup Freedom Mobile Internet Data

If you cannot set up the internet on your Freedom Mobile device or are new to using smartphones and do not know how to set up your data, there is no cause to worry. 

Setting up the data on a smartphone is a relatively easy task. All you have to do is make sure that the smartphone can access the internet. 

After ensuring your smartphone can access the internet, you follow the simple steps below to show you exactly how you can set your data settings up and start browsing in no Tom. Please follow the steps provided below.

• Go to phone settings and tap on ‘wireless & networks
• Now tap on ‘more’ and select ‘mobile networks
• Now, make sure that ‘data enabled’ has been checked
• Now, tap on ‘access point names’ and create a new APN by tapping on the menu and choosing ‘new APN.’
• After creating new APN settings, save it by clicking on ‘save’ in the menu, and you are done

Your Freedom Mobile data should be working now, and you will be able to access your internet in no time.

How To Load The Freedom Mobile Data Plan

If you want to check your mobile data plan and purchase data on Android, the steps below will aid you in the right direction. 

These are short, and you will finish it in no time.

1. Go to your settings and tap on Google
2. Tap on ‘mobile data plan.’ This will allow you to check your data plan. You will be able to see your current data plan status shown at the top
3. Now, under ‘buy data,’ choose the offer that suits you and tap on ‘buy.’

You are now done loading your data on your Freedom Mobile device.

How To Activate Mobile Data On Freedom Mobile Device

To activate your smartphone’s mobile data, you first have to insert the SIM card inside the smartphone. Now switch on the phone and follow the steps below.

1. Go to ‘settings.’
2. Tap on ‘mobile data.’
3. Check whether the ‘mobile data’ has been toggled on. If it is not, then tap on it to switch it on

How To Cancel Freedom Mobile

If you want to cancel your Freedom Mobile subscription, it is easy. Call the network provider’s customer care service by calling 611 from a Freedom Mobile device. 

If you are not holding a Freedom Mobile device, you can call by dialing 1-877-946-3184.

The monthly service fees for the plan you are on will be stopped after the date of cancellation, and there will be no refund granted to you for any payments you may have already made.

How To Cancel Freedom Mobile Online

You can cancel your Freedom Mobile subscription online by adjusting it from your billing management page. Please follow the steps below to get this done.

1. Open your browser and go to https://freedom.to/profile
2. After the page loads up, click Account management.’
3. From here, you can now cancel your Freedom Mobile subscription by setting it to ‘cancel.’ 
4. And you are done. You have now successfully canceled your Freedom Mobile subscription online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Freedom Mobile is one of the most extensive wireless network providers in Canada. 

As we have seen, the company provides wireless network services and technological products to its customers. 

In this article, we have touched on several things users can find helpful in using Freedom Mobile.

Let us know how helpful the article has been. And also if you are not interested in Freedom Mobile, or you want to port from Freedom Mobile, then you can read our guide on Public Mobile, which is also one of the best networks in Canada.