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Fido Solutions, formerly known as Microcell Telecommunications is a Canadian cellular telephone service provider. Fido was the first carrier in Canada to launch a GSM-based network and the first wireless service provider in North America to offer General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) on its network. Since November 2004, Fido is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rogers Wireless. Fido ranked the "highest in customer satisfaction among contract service providers" in Canada according to the J. D. Power and Associates 2007 Canadian Wireless Customer Satisfaction Study.[1]
[edit] Background
The original development of Fido was funded in part by T-Mobile International. In November 2004, Microcell was bought out by the other competing GSM carrier, Rogers Wireless, for an estimated $1.4 billion. The company's name was changed to Fido Solutions shortly thereafter. Fido has retained its data roaming service with T-Mobile.
[edit] Network
The Fido network originally ran on GSM 1900 and offered coverage in major urban areas in Canada. Since the acquisition of Fido by Rogers Wireless in 2004, Rogers integrated the networks, giving Fido customers additional coverage and access to GSM 850. Fido customers can access the full Rogers Wireless coverage area by adding an "expanded network" option to their plans at a cost of $5 a month. With this option roaming charges are waived when placing a call on the Rogers network, which would otherwise cost 30 cents per minute.
[edit] Services
Fido was the first Canadian mobile service provider to bill airtime by the second, as opposed to the more traditional per-minute scheme used by other providers. Clearnet Communications joined the Canadian Wireless Market with an Urban Focus similar to Fido and also offered per second billing. Shortly after the introduction of Fido and Clearnet, Rogers AT&T(now Rogers Wireless), Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility also started offerering per-second billing. Telus acquired Clearnet in 2000 and the 3 Major Cellular Providers in Canada reverted back to per-minute billing in the Summer of 2002. In 2007, Solo Mobile began directly competing against Fido and are also bill by the second. In fact, Solo Mobile mirrors almost every plan and aspect of Fido.
Fido is currently the only company to offer an Over-the-Counter exchange for phones that fail during the manufacturer's one year warranty period. Fido also formalized the upgrade process for newer phones by offering "FidoDollars", equivalent to 5% of customer revenues (rounded down to the nearest dollar), which can be redeemed against the purchase of a new handset at any time even when purchasing a phone with a new agreement. Fido dollars can be used when renewing service with a new agreement. They are also the only company to include a "minute tracker" system free of charge with every monthly plan, which sends a text message to customers when they reach 75% and 100% of their included minutes.
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