Solo Mobile
 |
|
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Mobile virtual network operator |
| Fate | Only existing customers grandfathered; unsold stock transferred to Bell Mobility and Virgin Mobile Canada |
| Founded | 2000 (as Solo Prepaid) 2005 (as Solo Mobile) |
| Headquarters | Canada |
|
Key people
|
Walter Van De Vijver, CEO |
| Products | Feature phones and smartphones |
| Services | Postpaid and prepaid cellular service |
| Parent | Bell Canada |
| Website | www.solomobile.ca |
Solo Mobile was a mobile virtual network operator in Canada started by Bell Mobility in 2000. Historically, Solo was considered a discount wireless brand, offering low price monthly plans with some unlimited options in certain cities. Its products and services were only sold in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. The brand ceased advertising towards new customers since November 2011, and new activations were officially discontinued on May 17, 2012.
Solo Prepaid was launched in the summer of 2000 as Bell Mobility's prepaid brand in Ontario and Quebec. The company boasted a 1¢/minute rate. Postpaid services were later added as well. In 2003, the company offered a free prepaid phone and up to $45 in credits to Fido customers who traded their Fido phone and prepaid credits and switched to Solo. A unique "Lunchtime & After School" prepaid feature was available, which offered unlimited local calling from 12h to 13h and 15h to 17h. The brand was temporarily withdrawn from the market after the launch of Bell Mobility prepaid services. The SoloMobile.ca domain name was registered by Bell on December 17, 2004 with the Canadian Internet Registration Authority. It would not feature content until the following year.
On June 13, 2005, content was put on the SoloMobile.ca website, but Bell waited until July 25 of that year to announce the brand via a press release. The carrier would launch the following week, on August 1, and organized a Solo Mobile / Eckored tour that began in the middle of that month to promote its brand across the four provinces it served. Admission was free, and the tour featured four female solo singers including Keisha Chanté.
At launch, Solo Mobile offered a very simple lineup, consisting of only one phone with two choices of plans. The phone was the Sanyo 2300, with a flip design available in pink, blue, silver or graphite. Customers could activate it on a monthly plan or on prepaid, pay-per-use rates. In both cases, SMS, mobile broadband, Caller ID and one ringtone per month were all complimentary features offered at no additional charge to Solo customers.
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Wikipedia