By Shruti Shekar Yahoo Finance Canada
Calgary-based telecom carrier Shaw Communications has announced it will launch Shaw Mobile, a wireless service for B.C. and Alberta customers who will be able to add up to six mobile lines to their internet service. Unlimited talk and text will cost no money per month, while customers wishing for data can add $45 per month for 25GB.
Paul McAleese, president of wireless at Shaw, explained during a press briefing that customers who add a phone line will use Wi-Fi when at home and will automatically connect to one of the 450,000 Shaw Wi-Fi hotspots in Western Canada when not at home. There is a $20 activation fee per line, he said.
Regular rates for Shaw Fibre+ internet plans start at $60 per month to $125 per month, according to information on the carriers’ website.
McAleese added that customers wishing for data can either pay $10 per gigabyte or add $45 for 25GB. Speeds are throttled if customers go over their data and they will not be charged an overage fee. Customers will also be notified if they are about to reach their data limit, he said.
Customers are required to go to one of the 19 retail stores that will have this offering, he said, adding that 12 new stores are opening in the coming weeks.
“We are in a stressful economic environment in Western Canada,” McAleese said. “What a better time to launch a high-value plan when people are most financially stressed. We think we can really help Canadian consumers and it’s a wonderful bundle.”