The Spectrum Auction was developed in order to stimulate additional competition for the wireless industry within Canada.  The government wants to be able to get better prices for the consumer, and in addition, more choices.  They also want better services, with the latest cell phone selections and believe that competition will benefit everyone.  With all the new companies entering the market, consumers are already beginning to feel the impact of the additional competition.

Wind Mobile and Public Mobile have already increase their market share, and some relatively new.  Companies such as Mobilicity will be launching their services in the Toronto area very shortly.  Videotron will be will be launching their HSPA network sometime this summer.  Each of these companies will be putting the pressure on the top three, Telus, Rogers and Bell.  In anticipation of such competition, the big three will also be doing everything they can to make sure their customers stay with them.

The prices have already begun to reduce and some of the fees are either being lowered or eliminated entirely.  The big three are all waving their $35 activation fee and offering free evening services after six clock p.m.  Bell is going to give $150 credit to any Wind customers that come back to them.  In addition, there is a rumor that Fido will be doing the same.  Even though prices are dropping and everyone are getting a lot better deals, you want to make sure that you will not get locked into a three year contract.  This could be the perfect time to purchase an unlocked cell phone to avoid this type of contract.  There had to be some kind give or take with all the price reductions and companies are looking to keep you for longer periods of time.  It will be more important to make sure that you check every provider’s contracts extremely careful and watch out for early termination fees.

WIND is coming to Canada.  You heard that right by the end of the year we should start to see WIND in the major markets (likely Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver) and then general availability in 2010.

Some may have already heard of WIND.  They are big in Italy and Greece and successful in Europe in general.  Globalive, which is the parent company, is hoping to have the same success in Canada as it has in other markets.  Globalive was the winner of last year’s Canadian AWS auction.

This means there will be more competition and hopefully this will lower pricing on plans.  For now we have to wait and see how things change the wireless landscape in Canada.  One downside is for now they will not be available in Montreal or Quebec in general for that matter.