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Not to be confused withChattr.
chatr Mobile
FormerlyChatr Wireless
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryMobile virtual network operator
FoundedJuly 28, 2010;14 years ago(2010-07-28)
HeadquartersToronto,Ontario,Canada
Key people
Shailendra Gujarati (VP)
ProductsAndroidsmartphoneandfeature phones
ServicesGSM,HSPA(includingHSPA+),mobile broadband,SMS,telephony
ParentRogers Communications
WebsiteChatrWireless.com
Chatr at Toronto Pearson Airport

Chatr Mobileis a Canadianmobile virtual network operatorowned byRogers Communications Canadatargeting entry-level customers.[1]It is one of three wireless brands owned byRogers Communications,includingRogers Wireless,andFido Solutions.The provider launched its service inToronto,Ottawa,Calgary,Edmonton,Vancouver,Quebec City,andMontrealunder the nameChatr Wirelesson July 28, 2010.[2]The companyre-brandedto its current name in 2015.

The carrier initially launched by limiting plan features to only specific regions of Rogers' network, dubbed "chatr zones". The company now offers coverage for most urban areas ofCanada,[3]and additional plans for certain cities.[4]

Network

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See also:Rogers Wireless § Networks

The chatr network includes coverage comparable to other major Canadian wireless carriers.[5]It previously had "local talk zones," whereby calls not made in-zone were billed as roaming calls. It now offers Canada-wide calls from anywhere. Only the carrier's least expensive subscription plan lacks unlimited Canada-wide Talk as a feature.

As of 10 March 2020, new customers activating a Chatr line on a Nation-Wide Plan are provisioned to the LTE network. Existing Chatr customers were also migrated over to the LTE network.

2022 outage

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Main article:2022 Rogers Communications outage

In July 2022, as part of the Rogers Communications outage, many Chatr customers experienced issues with (and in some cases complete cessation of) their mobile services. The issue was eventually resolved on July 8, and compensation was promised to customers.[6]

Services

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Price plans

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Chatr offers plans ranging from $15 to $70, most of which include unlimited Canada-wide calling and international SMS texting. Included mobile data ranges from 0.5GB to 20.0GB per month (depending on plan) at3Gspeeds; once data allowance has been exhausted, subscribers may continue using data at no extra charge (albeit at much reduced speed) or may optionally purchase more data until their next anniversary date.[7]

Sometime after February 2018,[8]chatr's Regular Plans briefly offered a $10/month plan (50 minutes/50 texts) from August 2018[9]until March 2019[10]which was discontinued by June 2019,[11]after which the cheapest plan was instead $15 for 100 minutes / unlimited texts.

Account and SIM expiration

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Announced 22 May 2019, on 22 June 2019 is a scheduled changed to the terms of service so that inactive accounts (and their sim cards) would expire after 90 days inactivity instead of the previous policy of allowing 180 days inactivity before pruning them. Money on the account less than the amount required to buy a new month of service would be lost, whereas previously the account would not be closed unless $0 remained on it.[12]

Common features

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All Chatr plans include unlimited incoming texts,call display,call waiting,call forwardingandgroup callingfeatures. Features specific to each plan are listed below:

  • The base plan: $15/month "100 minutes of Outgoing Talk and Unlimited Text" plan includes 100 minutes of outgoing calls and unlimited incoming calls, as well as unlimited incoming and outgoing SMS to Canada, the US, and internationally.
  • The Data and Unlimited Texting Plan: $25/month includes Unlimited Incoming Calls, Unlimited incoming and outgoing SMS to Canada, the US, and internationally and 500MB of Data.
  • The Unlimited Talk and Text with Data Plans: $35/month "Unlimited Canada-wide Talk & International Text + 2.5GB of Data", $40/month "Unlimited Canada-wide Talk & International Text + 5GB of Data", $50/ Month "Unlimited Canada/US Talk & International Text + 10GB of Data"
  • Signing up for Auto Pay gives you an additional 2gb on $25-$70 Plans and 250mb on $15 plans

Services not included in some plans

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Extra charges for additional features in each Chatr plan are as follows:

  • A 40¢ per minute voicemail retrieval charge is charged on the $15 plan, which is waived on other all higher plans.
  • US calls cost 40¢ per minute on all except the $55 and $70 plan.
  • Data Plus can be added to the $25, $35, $40, $50, $55 plans, in denominations of 2GB for $10 when you run out of data to a maximum of 5 times

Products

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Phones

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When Chatr was launched, it initially only soldfeature phones.It began introducingsmartphonesin conjunction with its launch of mobile data in 2011, although feature phones continue to make up a significant portion of the company's phone offerings. Additionally, Chatr SIM cards allow other GSM-based handsets to be used.

Currently available devices are made bySamsung,ZTE,Motorola,Alcatel.[13]In 2018, Chatr also added devices from Samsung to its line up along with one device from Huawei.[14]Chatr formerly gave each phone a nickname (for example, "The Performer" or "The Steal" ) until its rebranding in 2015.

SIM cards

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SIM cardsfrom Chatr (available inMini,Micro,andNanosizes) are compatible with anyGSMorHSPA+device, such as those designed to be used withRogers Wireless.This includes devices from Rogers itself, plus itsmobile virtual network operatorssuch asFidoand7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless.Around June 2017, many retailers stopped advertising Chatr's $10 SIM card, and began offering it for sale online at Chatr's SIM card page.

Controversy

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Several controversies regarding Chatr received mainstream media coverage. The company received two accusations of breaching theCompetition Actin Canada.[citation needed]

Fighter brand

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Chatr has been accused of violating theCompetition Actbecause it is afighter brandcreated by Rogers.[15]Some years ago Chatr's pricing policy closely reflected that ofWind Mobile.Mobilicity's former chairman, John Bitove, said that "[Rogers is] leveraging the other parts of their business to kill the competition […] If they succeed in killing us off there's no question they'd kill the Chatr brand off".[16]Moblicity was later purchased by Rogers and incorporated into Chatr.

Advertising claims

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Shortly after its launch, Chatr published many advertisements claiming that their network has "fewer dropped calls than new wireless carriers." Following a complaint by wireless carriers Wind Mobile and Mobilicity, the Federal Competition Bureau has asked the Ontario Superior Court of Justice under the Misleading Advertising Provisions of the Competition Act to order Rogers to:

  1. Stop Chatr's advertising campaign
  2. Pay a 10-million dollar penalty
  3. Pay restitution to any customers affected by the misleading claim
  4. Send out a corrective notice to inform the public about the issue

The Bureau has accused Rogers of:

  1. using misleading advertising to promote its talk-and-text service Chatr... "
  2. having "...no evidence support[ing] Chatr's claim that their customers will experience fewer dropped calls than they would with new rival wireless carriers..."
  3. directly breaching Section 78 of Misleading Advertising Provisions relating to "False or Misleading Representations and Deceptive Marketing Practices"

According to the court documents from the preceding, the bureau found that, on average, there is no significant difference between the number of droppedcallson Chatr and new carriers. Furthermore, in the cases ofOttawaandToronto,new carriers experienced slightly fewerdropped callsthan did Chatr.[17]

  • Jul 9, 2010: Mobilicity made several claims against Rogers revolving around the upcoming launch of Chatr. "If Rogers launches Chatr in the manner that's been speculated, it's clear that the Competition Act will be violated,"John Bitovetold reporters from his Toronto office.[18][19]
  • Nov 19, 2010: TheCompetition Bureauof Canada is seeking a $10-million penalty, the highest possible penalty from the country's largest wireless player after a two-month investigation into claims that Rogers had been making since late July.[20]
  • Aug 19, 2013: The Court dismissed the misleading advertising portion of the case against Rogers.
  • Feb 21, 2014: Court orders $500,000 administrative monetary penalty in Rogers-Chatr matter.[21][22][23]

Advertising

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Chatr Wireless' slogan is "No worries, talk happy." During theChristmas and holiday season,the slogan used instead was "No worries, gift happy." Both resemble the name of the songDon't Worry, Be Happy,and a whistled version of this song is used in Chatr commercials.[24]The slogan is now "Let's Get Going."[25]

In 2017, Chatr was awarded two silverCASSIESadvertising awards, in the categories of Brand Reawakening and Targeting.[26][27]

Retail presence

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A sign of Rogers, Fido and Chatr atShoppers Drug Mart

Best Buy,Costco,London Drugs,Tbooth,Walmart,WirelessWave,andWireless Etc.sell Chatr prepaid products and top-up cards, as well as inexpensiveSIM cardswhich allows any unlocked GSM phone with 850/1900 mHZ frequency to be activated on the Chatr network. Additionally, Chatr once ran its own self-brandedretail stores,consisting of a network ofkiosksfrom which customers could purchase phones, accessories, plans, top-ups, and more. Almost all of these have either closed or have been converted to WOW! mobile boutique stores, which provide services for several carriers, including Chatr. Earlier, all seven Chatr kiosks inMontrealwere converted to Fido kiosks in May 2012. This did not affect the third-party retail presence of Chatr in Montreal.[28]In Fall 2016, Chatr converted 54 Mobilicity stores and kiosks to Chatr-branded locations.[29]

WhileShoppers Drug Martcarried onlyRogers Wirelessprepaid phones at one time, the stores temporarily partnered with the network operator to carry both prepaid and postpaid products and services for Rogers and its two other brands,Fidoand Chatr. There was an in-store display, showcasing many of the phones available. As of March 2011, however, Shoppers stores ended their partnership. They only sell prepaid top-up vouchers for these providers.

See also

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Other brands owned by Rogers

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References

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  1. ^Melanson, Donald (2010-07-02)."Rogers announces plans for budget-minded 'Chatr' wireless brand".Engadget.Retrieved2010-08-27.
  2. ^Mathieu, Emily (2010-07-28)."Mobilicity to take Rogers to court over new discount service".Toronto Star.Retrieved2010-08-27.
  3. ^Mobile, Chatr."chatr mobile".www.chatrwireless.com.Retrieved2017-05-21.
  4. ^Mobile, Chatr."Cell Phone Plans | Unlimited Talk | chatr mobile".www.chatrwireless.com.Retrieved2017-05-21.
  5. ^Mobile, Chatr."chatr mobile".www.chatrwireless.com.Retrieved2017-05-21.
  6. ^"Retour des services cellulaire et Internet de Rogers".Montreal:TVA Nouvelles.8 July 2022.Retrieved10 July2022.
  7. ^Mobile, Chatr."Cell Phone Plans | Unlimited Talk | chatr mobile".www.chatrwireless.com.RetrievedMay 21,2017.
  8. ^"Great Phones & Plans with Unlimited Talk | chatr mobile".Archivedfrom the original on 2018-02-11.Retrieved2018-02-11.
  9. ^"Great Phones & Plans with Unlimited Talk | chatr mobile".Archivedfrom the original on 2018-08-16.Retrieved2018-08-16.
  10. ^"Great Phones & Plans with Unlimited Talk | chatr mobile".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-03-13.
  11. ^"Great Phones & Plans with Unlimited Talk | chatr mobile".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-06-01.
  12. ^"Terms of Service".ChatrWireless.com.22 May 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 1 June 2019.Retrieved1 June2019.As of June 22, 2019, chatr is changing its policy for inactive accounts. Starting on that date, if your account balance is less than the monthly service fee for your plan and you've reached 3 straight months of inactivity, then your account will be deactivated and you will lose the chatr phone number that you've been using. Any remaining balance in your account will not be refunded. A new SIM card and new mobile phone number will be required to re-activate services. Currently, deactivation will take place if your account remains at $0 for 6 straight months. Please note that as a result of this change, if your account has been inactive for 3 straight months as of the effective date, then it will be deactivated immediately on the effective date. In order to reflect this change, section 3(e) of your chatr Terms of Service will be amended as of June 22, 2019 and will read as follows
    "e. What if I don't use my Service on a regular basis?
    If your account balance remains at less than the amount of the monthly service fee for your Plan for 3 consecutive months, then your account will be deactivated and you will lose the mobile phone number assigned to you. Any remaining balance in your account will not be refunded. A new SIM card and new mobile phone number will be required to re-activate Services. "
  13. ^Mobile, Chatr."Wireless Phones - Cell Phones - chatr mobile".chatrwireless.com.Retrieved19 December2016.
  14. ^"Chatr Reviews - Will Their 'Zone' Plans Work For Me?".Tech Daily Canada.2018-09-01.Retrieved2018-10-12.
  15. ^Moretti, Stefania (2010-07-09)."Mobilicity prepared to take legal action over Chatr".Canoe. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012.Retrieved2010-08-27.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^Marlow, Iain (2010-07-09)."Mobilicity says Roger's chatr may violate Competition Act".FinancialPost.com. Archived fromthe originalon July 11, 2010.Retrieved2011-06-10.
  17. ^Marlow, Iain (2010-11-29)."Comparison of dropped-call data weakens Rogers claims".The Globe & Mail.Retrieved2010-12-04.
  18. ^"Great Phones & Plans with Unlimited Talk | chatr mobile".www.chatrwireless.com.RetrievedMay 21,2017.
  19. ^inc, Canoe."Mobilicity prepared to take legal action over Chatr".canoe.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-08-08.Retrieved2017-05-21.{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)
  20. ^Marlow, Iain; Houpt, Simon (19 November 2010)."'Misleading' wireless ads put Rogers in hot water ".The Globe and Mail.RetrievedMay 21,2017.
  21. ^Canada, Government of Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Office of the Deputy Minister, Competition Bureau (24 February 2014)."Archived — Court orders $500,000 administrative monetary penalty in Rogers-Chatr matter".www.competitionbureau.gc.ca.Retrieved2017-05-21.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^Canada, Government of Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Office of the Deputy Minister, Competition Bureau (27 June 2006)."Penalties imposed by the courts".www.competitionbureau.gc.ca.Retrieved2017-05-21.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^"Rogers fined $500,000 over Chatr ads".CBC News.Retrieved2017-05-21.
  24. ^"chatr wireless brings worry-free unlimited talk and text plans to Montreal -Offering Montrealers a trusted network that works from day one - About Rogers".About Rogers.Retrieved2017-07-16.
  25. ^Mobile, Chatr."Great Phones & Plans with Unlimited Talk | chatr mobile".www.chatrwireless.com.Retrieved2017-07-16.
  26. ^"Chatr Mobile takes home two Canadian advertising awards".Rogers Wireless.2017-03-07.Retrieved2017-07-16.
  27. ^"Cassies 2017 Winners".cassies.ca.2017-02-27.Retrieved2017-07-16.
  28. ^Hardy, Ian (May 7, 2012)."Rogers re-branding all Chatr Wireless kiosks in Montreal to Fido".Mobile Syrup.Retrieved2012-07-03.
  29. ^Behar, Rose (2016-07-27)."Mobilicity begins moving customers to Chatr, offers $10 bonus credit".MobileSyrup.Retrieved2017-07-16.
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