{"id":68786,"date":"2025-03-15T17:00:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-15T17:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2025\/03\/15\/three-months-with-public-mobile-glad-i-switched\/"},"modified":"2025-03-15T17:02:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-15T17:02:02","slug":"three-months-with-public-mobile-glad-i-switched","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2025\/03\/15\/three-months-with-public-mobile-glad-i-switched\/","title":{"rendered":"Three months with Public Mobile: Glad I switched"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I made the swap to Public Cellular again in early December 2024, and up to now, I\u2019ve been fairly happy with the service.<\/p>\n

Public Cellular is owned by Telus and runs on the Vancouver-based nationwide telecom\u2019s wi-fi community. Whereas Public is technically in the identical tier as Rogers\u2019 Chatr and Bell\u2019s Fortunate Cellular, one factor that stands out about Public is that it gives 5G information speeds whereas others solely provide 4G.<\/p>\n

That was what initially drew me to Public Cellular. The 5G information, coupled with the worth pricing, made it a prime contender for me throughout Black Friday once I was on the hunt for a brand new wi-fi supplier.<\/p>\n

Why I left Koodo<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Previous to Public Cellular, I used to be with one other Telus flanker model, Koodo. I wasn\u2019t dissatisfied with Koodo\u2019s service, particularly since I used to be nonetheless rocking one of many supplier\u2019s 5G plans from before it stopped offering 5G<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I additionally had a Koodo perk that boosted 5G data speed from the default 250Mbps speed cap to 500Mbps<\/a>. Whereas that technically meant my Koodo information was sooner than my Public Cellular information, I haven\u2019t observed a lot of a distinction in real-world use. I\u2019m additionally unsure I ever hit the 500Mbps cap once I was with Koodo.<\/p>\n

Anyway, I finally determined to go away Koodo as a result of it hiked prices in October 2024<\/a>. I wasn\u2019t notably happy that my invoice went up by $5\/mo, particularly once I knew there have been higher gives on the best way. So when Black Friday offers arrived, I assessed my choices and selected Public Cellular. I signed up for Public\u2019s $35\/50GB 5G plan with Canada\/U.S.\/Mexico roaming built-in. (On the time of writing, Public had the same plan but with 60GB of data<\/a> accessible.)<\/p>\n

Since making the swap to Public initially of December 2024, I\u2019ve been greater than happy with my service, particularly since I\u2019m saving virtually $20\/mo in comparison with what I used to be paying earlier than. Telephone name high quality has been nice, although I don\u2019t usually place calls.<\/p>\n

Public\u2019s 5G information labored properly in Ontario<\/h2>\n

\"Public<\/p>\n

Additional, information speeds have been glorious. More often than not, I discovered I used to be getting over 150Mbps and sometimes I hit (and typically barely exceeded) the 250Mbps pace cap. Whereas 250Mbps may not sound nice \u2014 particularly when many individuals have 1Gbps dwelling web \u2014 I discover that it\u2019s greater than quick sufficient for the issues I truly do on my telephone.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s uncommon that I obtain large information whereas on the go, and I not often use information to stream video, maybe a holdover from the times when carriers provided small information buckets at larger costs. As a substitute, most of my information use is break up between streaming music or podcasts, shopping social media, utilizing Google Maps navigation, and hot-spotting my laptop computer so I can work on the GO practice. All of those actions labored properly, and I haven\u2019t had any points but.<\/p>\n

The vast majority of my information use was concentrated the place I reside in Hamilton, Ont., in addition to alongside my commute to and whereas on the MobileSyrup\u00a0<\/em>workplace in Toronto. Up to now, I\u2019ve observed sign points whereas using the practice with different suppliers, like Rogers-owned Fido. With Public, my connection was robust, secure and usable all the best way from Hamilton to Toronto and again.<\/p>\n

\"Public<\/p>\n

Moreover, Public Cellular labored properly for me once I acquired out of city Ontario. On journeys to go to household close to Newmarket and Orillia, I additionally didn\u2019t have any important points, although, in some situations, my information speeds weren\u2019t pretty much as good as at dwelling. Nonetheless, it was greater than usable.<\/p>\n

Sadly, I haven\u2019t ventured outdoors of Canada but this 12 months. I usually go on a pair work journeys to the U.S. every year, so subsequent time I\u2019m overseas, I\u2019ll take a look at out the roaming options and write about that have. With out testing, although, I can spotlight the advantages of built-in roaming: massive financial savings. Koodo prices $14\/day for U.S. roaming, and with my work journeys lasting on common three to 5 days, that\u2019s $42 to $70 saved.<\/p>\n

RCS issues<\/h2>\n

\"RCS<\/p>\n

Whereas I typically had a very good few months with Public, not the whole lot was excellent. I solely had one important subject \u2014 Wealthy Communication Providers (RCS). RCS, for these unfamiliar with the time period, is Google\u2019s replacement for the SMS and MMS texting standards<\/a>. It additionally recently expanded to iPhones with iOS 18<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After switching to Public Cellular, my RCS chats turned considerably much less dependable, and I\u2019ve had a number of incidents the place I didn\u2019t obtain texts, or messages I despatched didn\u2019t undergo. Nevertheless, I\u2019m unsure whether or not in charge my issues on Public, Koodo, Telus, Google, or Apple.<\/p>\n

This subject primarily occurred between my spouse and me \u2014 she makes use of an iPhone with Koodo and I exploit a Pixel. Again once I was on Koodo, we didn\u2019t have any points with RCS, the issues began after I moved to Public. Proper after the swap, there have been a number of days the place my RCS was completely damaged, however after some Googling, I used to be capable of repair it by clearing information within the Messages app.<\/p>\n

Regardless of that repair, I nonetheless have intermittent issues with RCS and I haven\u2019t been ready to determine whether or not it\u2019s a problem with Public, whether or not one thing broke once I switched from Koodo, if there\u2019s an implementation subject someplace in Telus\u2019 community, if it\u2019s an issue with Apple\u2019s integration, or if it\u2019s Google\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n

Nothing is ideal<\/h2>\n

\"Public<\/p>\n

Whereas that was the one actual downside I had, there are a few different caveats value highlighting which may influence Public\u2019s suitability for some individuals.<\/p>\n

First, Public Cellular doesn\u2019t promote telephones, so for those who\u2019re seeking to get a brand new telephone from a service, Public gained\u2019t be an incredible match for you. (That mentioned, I\u2019d strongly suggest comparing the cost of an outright phone purchase<\/a> with a Public plan to the price of financing the identical telephone from a service. There\u2019s an opportunity it\u2019ll be cheaper to purchase it outright and get an inexpensive plan from Public.)<\/p>\n

Subsequent up, Public Cellular has restricted buyer help choices in comparison with different suppliers. It\u2019s largely arrange as a self-serve mannequin utilizing the Public Cellular app. Koodo doesn\u2019t have an app to check with, however Public\u2019s app may be very corresponding to Koodo\u2019s self-serve net portal. The Public app lets me handle and alter my plan and add-ons, view my utilization, fee historical past, make adjustments to my account, view my rewards and extra. Talking of rewards, Public has a points program<\/a>, which is good, although many long-time Public prospects have been frustrated by recent changes to the rewards program<\/a>. Prospects earn factors by means of referrals and by paying their invoice, and might spend factors on invoice credit, add-ons and extra.<\/p>\n

When you do need assistance, prospects are directed to make use of Public\u2019s help paperwork and group boards to kind out points. Past that, Public gives a customer support chat possibility and the power to submit service tickets. The restricted help choices could be a giant turn-off for some prospects, so it\u2019s value flagging it.<\/p>\n

\"Public<\/p>\n

This additionally implies that switching to Public Cellular may be completely finished on-line from the consolation of your private home, for good or in poor health. I already wrote about my experience switching to Public<\/a>, which was typically easy however with a number of hiccups.<\/p>\n

Total, my expertise with Public Cellular has been fairly constructive up to now. It\u2019s not an ideal service \u2014 does such a factor even exist in Canada? \u2014 but it surely does provide higher worth plans than most different suppliers. When you\u2019re superb with a few of the trade-offs, like slower 5G speeds or restricted buyer help, then Public is a implausible possibility and can seemingly prevent some cash in the long term. I\u2019d suggest Public to any value-focused Canadians in search of 5G plans with built-in roaming and who have already got a smartphone they need to hold utilizing.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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