WIND Mobile: Over 2,500 Unlocked iPhone 5 Users Using the Network

WIND Mobile is openly welcoming unlocked iPhone users with AWS models to their network and has plans to bring the iconic smartphone to its network, despite its relatively small user base of 650,000, reports the Globe and Mail.

Earlier it was reported WIND Mobile is starting a promotion targeting new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c owners to switch to their network, by enticing $500 worth of credit.

WIND Mobile’s chief financial officer Brice Scheschuk, told the Globe and Mail’s editorial board on Monday the iPhone 5 is a popular device on the network:

“There has been a reasonable movement, particularly from Apple, to [allow customers to] buy unlocked phones and bring them wherever you want to go – which has helped us,”

“We have over 2,500 iPhones on the network now – and that’s [iPhone] 5s only.”

“You’re north of $100 a month with an incumbent with an iPhone almost no matter what you do. We are well below half that,”

Other carriers are seeing similar trends, as WIND Italy has about 5 percent of its 20 million users bringing over 1 million unlocked iPhones to the network.

As for trying to get on Apple’s radar and sell the iPhone, company CEO Anthony Lacavera said they “are working on that,” but in the big picture the carrier is just too small in Apple’s eyes:

“We are working on that,” Mr. Lacavera said. He later added: “We don’t exist to Apple. We’re so small … There are some significant commitments that need to be made. So, we are working on alternate sources for it.”

WIND Mobile has already stated it plans to bid on the upcoming wireless spectrum auction for the coveted 700MHz airwave.

How to find out if your iPhone 5 is an AWS model? Here’s how:

Tap Settings > General > About and check if your serial number ends with any of these four-digit combinations:

FH19
FH1C
FH1D
FH1F
FH1G
FH1H

If your AWS iPhone 5 is currently locked to Rogers, TELUS or Bell, you’ll have to pay to get them to unlock it (Rogers: $50; TELUS: $35; Bell: $75), which they will do after 90 days. Once your contract is over (or you buy it out), you will be able to hop over to WIND Mobile’s network.

Of course, WIND’s network doesn’t have LTE speeds, but the shortfall is covered by the fact your wallet saves every month compared to similar iPhone plans with the Big 3. Are you currently using your AWS iPhone 5 on WIND Mobile or any other AWS wireless entrant?

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