Wind is showing ‘encouraging’ signs, says Wireless Intelligence, while Mobilicity and Public Mobile have modest sales. However, another analyst says those two startups are doing better.

Wireless startup Wind Mobile has signed up about 100,000 subscribers in just under seven months of operations, an industry analyst estimates, suggesting early teething problems haven’t hindered its debut.

“It’s expected they crossed the 100,000 mark some point around the beginning of July, maybe the first week or two,” said Will Croft, an analyst with British-based Wireless Intelligence, which tracks wireless carriers around the world. It is also a unit of the GSM Association, an industry group for carriers using the GSM/HSPA wireless standard.

At the rate that Canadian mobile wireless service providers are popping up and offering new deals to consumers, you’d think the battle to bend the ears of cell phone users – and open their wallets – has gone to the dogs.

Well, hotdogs at least, in the case of major wireless company Rogers Communications Inc. and Egyptian-backed upstart Wind Mobile of Toronto.

This week’s person to know is Anthony Lacavera, the Chairman of WIND Mobile.

What’s next in store for WIND?

WIND will continue to rally for increased wireless competition in Canada and are doing everything we can to give Canadians the kind of wireless service they want and deserve. We recently launched in Vancouver and we will continue to build out the network in each of our Home Zones. Right now our goal is to strengthen our existing network so we’re adding towers everyday.

Back-to-school season is the new Christmas for Canada’s cellphone providers, but although this September will see plenty of giving and receiving, no one expects the affair to be festive.

The wireless industry is preparing for its most disruptive back-to-school period ever as companies prepare to defend their existing bases of cellphone customers and win new ones during the industry’s most crucial sales season. The mayhem has already started and, especially at the low-priced end of the market, it is only going to intensify.

“It’s ‘go’ time now,” said Ken Campbell, Wind Mobile’s chief executive officer. “We’ll see where the dust settles.”

Canadian wireless startup, Wind Mobile, is extending its $150 porting credit to Bell and Telus subscribers, so as to encourage an influx of new customers from all three major Canadian carriers.

The $150 credit was initially available only to Rogers Wireless customers, and was seen as preemptive counterstrike against Rogers’ forthcoming discount brand, Chatr. Now that Wind has made its point, however, it makes competitive sense to extend the offer to as many people as possible.

Wind Mobile has backed off targeting Rogers with a promotion that seeks to lure its customers specifically, with Bell and Telus now included in the deal.

The upstart wireless carrier on Thursday announced a promotion that offered Rogers customers — including those on its Fido and yet-to-be-launched Chatr brands — a $150 credit for taking their business to Wind. The deal, a continuation of a promotion previously aimed at all three major carriers, is intended to alleviate the early termination fees some customers face when cancelling their existing contracts.

Wind Mobile will be announcing today a retail distribution agreement with Value Mobile locations in the GTA. There will be 4 locations in total that are specifically targeting “newcomer communities”:
- York Gate Mall, Etobicoke – 1 Yorkgate Blvd
- Malvern – 31 Tapscott Rd, Unit T41B
- East York – 45 Overlea Blvd, Unit 161
- Cedarbrae – 3495 Lawrence Ave East

Startup wireless companies continue to expand their subscriber bases, one by expanding distribution, the other by tweaking its plans.

Wind Mobile is expanding its retail presence in Toronto by hooking up with Value Mobile, which has outlets in four shopping malls. Value Mobile, which used to be called Cellular Point,already sells phones and connectivity to Bell Canada’s Virgin line, Telus’ Koodo and startup Mobilicity.

“A compelling part of Wind Mobile’s value is the control offered to mobile consumers including the freedom to choose international calling plans,” said Bobby Maker, CEO of Value Mobile, said in a statement. “Value Mobile is here to stay and we’re delighted to partner with Wind Mobile who will also have sustainability in the market for generations to come.”

While Mobilicity has decided to launch a lawsuit against Rogers for its Chatr brand, WIND Mobile is taking a different approach.

With WIND doing relatively well on the customer satisfaction front, the provider has decided to fire up a brand new campaign designed almost exclusively at pulling subscribers away from Rogers and its various in-house brands.

The promotion offers $150 credit when customers from Rogers, Fido or the soon-to-launch Chatr bring their numbers over to WIND. Applied in $25 installments over six months, the promotion starts in September and is for customers who sign up for WIND’s “Always Talk or Always Shout” plan.

There are a number of rumours out there about how many customers have signed up with WIND: 75,000, 90,000 and 100,000. Yesterday I caught up with Chairman of Wind Mobile Tony Lacavera and he avoided giving me exact numbers but did state an official announcement will be made within 30-60 days.