Wind Mobile hits K-W
A new name for cell phones is blowing into Kitchener-Waterloo this August. Wind Mobile, up and running since December 2009, defines themselves to be an established growing brand, whose network, chief marketing officer Scott Campbell claims, was ābuilt faster than anyone else in Canadian history.ā
āWe try to stand out from other companies through a few approaches,ā Campbell said. āFor example, we are the first company to offer unlimited plans at a great comparative price. That and not having contracts is something that a lot of people find appealing.ā
Wind mobileās website slogan reads, āwe are what we believe. We are passionate, focused, and committed to harnessing the power of our customers through the power of our conversations.ā According to Campbell, this mission statement is what other companies are missing.
āWeāve done a great job of listening to our customers,ā he said. āWe listen to what they say and take it into account and itās really made the difference.ā
Danielle Hess, a current Bell Mobile customer and student at the University of Waterloo was excited to hear that WIND mobile was coming to Waterloo.
āI was thinking about switching to Wind actually,ā she said. āI heard they were coming from my friend at UW (University of Waterloo) and he really knows what heās talking about when it comes to phones and those kinds of things.ā
āFrom what I hear,ā Hess continued, āthey just have better service, better phones and rates and I prefer no contracts so Iām interested.ā
Other KW members were interested to hear about Wind but not so much that they would switch their plans. Another Bell customer and Waterloo Collegiate Institute student, Abdul Zahabi said that his plan has been good so far to him but three-year contracts are like, āthree years in jail. ā
āIāve wanted to get out of my contract but itās about $400 for a blackberry and thereās no way Iām paying that,ā Zahabi said.
However, not everyone is ready to jump ship. Michele McFarlane, a Kitchener resident and Rogers mobile client said, āI have no complaints about my plan- I did want to buy out once but it would have cost a lot so I didnāt bother. Iām old school,ā she laughed. āIāll stick with something if I have no major problems.ā
There are however other cell phone companies such as Koodo and Virgin Mobile that also offer no contract plans but in Campbellās eyes, Wind brings a little something extra to the table.
āItās part of our company philosophy to give back to the community,ā Campbell said. āWe do Random Acts of Kindness, which came about the 1st year we were established.ā He continued to explain that workers were ready to start back in 2009 but the opening was delayed and the workers were sent them out to soup kitchens and shelters to lend a hand until WIND mobile was up and running.
āEver since then,ā Campbell said, āgiving back to the community has been part of opening in a new city. For Waterlooās launch, weāre offering a $10,000 community grant, suggested to us by the people of Waterloo. From there, we decide where the grant should go, but it always goes to a good cause.ā
These acts of kindness have potential Wind customers interested. Hess said that she thought these grants looked great on the company and it would be good for the community. āMaking that kind of donation will give them a good public image,ā she said. āI like the idea.ā
McFarlane said that though she likes her Rogers plan the community grant is a great idea, ābenefiting the citizens. It makes a really good impression on me, them donating to a good cause.ā
However, Zahabia mentioned that though itās a positive thing to help people, āitās not making me want to buy their phones any more than before. Iām interested in working product, not how much theyāre donating.ā
Wind mobile has not yet set a specific launch date but it will be sometime in August. To suggest ideas for the community grant, visit Wind Mobile’s Facebook page.