Videotron launches new mobile service on the fastest network and introduces
unprecedented offerings
- Unlimited free local and long-distance calling between millions of Videotron customers across Québec
- The broadest urban zones covering the largest number of municipalities
- illico mobile featuring the widest selection of local content and stunning video quality
- 4 handsets in Canada for the first time, including the first Garmin phone in Canada and the Nexus One
- First in Canada to offer Android 2.2
- Best Blackberry plan for small business
- No-commitment plans with Videotron's unique 30-day money-back guarantee
MONTREAL, Sept. 9 /CNW Telbec/ - Videotron is pleased to announce the eagerly awaited launch of its state-of-the-art HSPA+ mobile communication network. Videotron's 3G+ service will afford Québec consumers and business access to the latest technology at last and provide superior value for the money.
"We asked our customers about their needs when it comes to mobile service," said Robert Dépatie, President and CEO of Videotron. "We listened to them and we got the message. Today, we are coming out with new, easy-to-understand plans that deliver more and suit every need.
"Videotron's 3G+ service reflects the goal we have pursued throughout this project: providing the best possible customer experience through one-stop shopping to make life easier for consumers. Not only is our offering highly advantageous in this respect but it is particularly attractive for our existing customers, who can get exceptional rates. We remain true to our policy of offering substantial discounts to customers who choose our service bundles."
SERVICE OFFERINGS
Infinity at the best price!
As of today,
Videotron is offering simple, economical mobile communication services
with a full range of residential and Business plans. For example, the Infinite
Québec plan includes unlimited local and long-distance
calling anywhere in Québec regardless of the other party's telephone
carrier, starting at $49.95 per month. For only $6.00 more, customers
can add unlimited emails and messaging anywhere in Québec.
All plans include free unlimited local and long-distance calls between residential and business customers with mobile or cable telephone services from Videotron.
The largest urban zones
The Infinite
urban zone plans, another innovative
component of Videotron's new mobile service, offer unlimited calls
within the zone. Videotron's urban zones are by far the largest of any
service provider.
For example, the Montréal zone extends from Rigaud in the west to L'Assomption in the east, and from Saint-Sauveur in the Laurentians in the north to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in the south, an area of approximately 3,200 km². The Québec City urban zone covers the area between Portneuf to the west, Montmagny to the east, Stoneham to the north and Laurier-Station to the south, covering approximately 5,700 km².
Attractive options
Videotron is also offering
the industry's most advantageous call management and messaging options,
an important consideration for mobile phone users, who typically add
options to their plans. For example, customers will be able to send up
to 500 messages (counting SMS, MMS and emails) for just $5.00, 2,500
messages for $10.00 and unlimited messages for $15.00. Customers will
also be able to add extras such as voice mail to their plans for $4 per
month for the first option and $2 for each additional option.
The fastest high-speed mobile Internet network
Videotron's
mobile Internet key will support data transfer speeds of up to 21 mbps
over Videotron's 3G+ network, the fastest network around according to
our current analyses. The network will eventually rev up to
lightning-fast mobile speeds of up to 42 mbps, thanks to Dual-Carrier
HSPA+ technology.
Something for everyone: 12 handsets, including 4 firsts
Videotron
has also lined up a selection of best-in-class handsets to meet every
need. All will support access to illico mobile and remote programming of
the customer's personal video recorder. Customers will be able to choose
among the most advanced mobile handsets on the market, including the Google
Nexus One (HTC), which is being offered by an operator for
the first time in Canada, making Videotron the first Canadian service
provider to carry a handset loaded with the Android 2.2 Froyo operating
system; the Nuvifone A5, the first Garmin phone in
Canada, with free traffic info and alerts included for three years; the Motorola
XT720 and the entry-level Huawei U3200.
Videotron is also the only industry player to offer a 30-day full satisfaction or money back guarantee. Customers are not required to make any commitment.
Largest selection of French-language and local content
Customers
will enjoy one of the richest selections of mobile content in Canada,
particularly for French-language and Québec content. After launching
illico web in June 2010, Videotron is now launching illico mobile,
giving customers access to 1,000 hours of free content, a catalogue of
nearly 2,000 television programs and series, 28 television channels, 10
of them live, and 45 Galaxie music channels. "Our new mobile service
will quickly become a major platform for the dissemination and promotion
of Québec culture," said Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of
Quebecor Media. Videotron's mobile shop will carry nearly 30,000 items
(music, ringtones, wallpapers, games, etc.).
NETWORK COVERAGE
Videotron's new mobile
network is now up and running across Québec. Service plans are available
to customers in the greater Montréal and Québec City areas, and in some
municipalities in between, as of today.
Customers in the Sherbrooke, Mauricie, Saint-Hyacinthe and Beloeil areas will be able to sign up for service in October 2010. Service will be rolled out to Mont-Tremblant, Drummondville and Victoriaville by year's end, making it available to the bulk of Québec's population.
"We want to offer our service to as many Quebecers as possible and we expect to be able to serve almost our entire potential customer base by 2011, including the Saguenay / Lac St-Jean region at the beginning of the year and Gatineau / Ottawa in the spring," said Robert Dépatie. "I urge people to find out about our service plans before renewing their agreement with their current carrier. They won't regret it!"
Massive project
Finally, Robert Dépatie noted
that designing and building out a new mobile communication network of
this scale within such a tight time-frame was no mean feat. "Today's
announcement caps a $1 billion investment that has created over 1,000
jobs. I thank our people for all the effort they have devoted to this
project. The result, the creation of a new 3G+ infrastructure in two
years, attests to the expertise we have developed in multiplatform
integration and the depth of our 40 years of experience in
communications technology."
Videotron Ltd. (www.videotron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company engaged in cable television, interactive multimedia development, and Internet access, cable telephone and wireless telephone services. Videotron is a leader in new technologies with its interactive Digital TV service and its broadband network, which supports high-speed cable Internet access, analog and digital cable television, and other services. As of June 30, 2010, Videotron was serving 1,781,500 cable television customers, including 1,142,000 subscribers to its digital service. Videotron is also the Québec leader in high-speed Internet access, with 1,201,700 subscribers to its cable modem service as of June 30, 2010. As of the same date, Videotron had activated 87,000 handsets on its wireless telephone service and was providing cable telephone service to 1,065,300 Québec households and organizations. For the fifth consecutive year, Videotron was named Québec's most respected telecommunications company by Les Affaires magazine, based on a Léger Marketing survey.
For further information:
Note to media
Full technical specifications and speaking notes are available online at www.webcast.videotron.com
| INFORMATION: | Élodie Girardin-Lajoie Tel.: 514 380-7772 | ([email protected]) Mobile: 514 516-7772 |
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