Hi, I got a call from a Shaw telemarketing rep the other day offering me Shaw Digital Phone "Lite" with 4 calling features (no voice mail but call display, call forwarding, 3-way calling, and one other) with no long distance included for $29.95 / month. This was not an introductory offer but a new "Lite" package aimed at people who don't use much long distance. LD rates are 4-cents per minute. She could not clearly tell me what my local calling area was considered to be however. I'm in North Van.

I can't find any info on this package anywhere! Does anyone else know anything about it? Is there more info somewhere and I'm just missing it?

I just got off the phone with shaw and downgraded to that package. He said it only launched last week and will be on the internet soon. He said it includes call display,call return, 3 way calling, and call foward. no call waiting or voicemail. If i want those features it will cost 5.65 a month. and when teen ring is avalible it will be $3.95 a month. and they are adding call screen in the near future and it will be included at no extra cost. so yeah this plan does exsit. and only 29.95. thanks

Thats good.

BTW with POTS providers you can get long distance from various providers.
What about cable VOIP can you get Long Distance from something else for that plan.

Any bundling with that?

thats with bundling if you dont have any other shaw services you can get shaw digitla phone lite for $34.95 a month.

Personally thats not that great of a plan.
$20 for basic landline with POTS
Your just getting a few calling features for that $10

And they cut out a big feature.. Call Waiting.

Honestly it should be $30 stand alone and $20-$25 with bundling.
just imo.

Check this new offer from MTS, includes voice mail , caller ID etc and unlimited LD 27/7 in US and Canada $40/mth.

http://www.mts.ca/portal/site/mts/menuitem.a275cbc6dbb0d4e50e14081031248a0c/?vgnextoid=da53c5dc1db8e010VgnVCM1000000408120aRCRD&vgnextchannel=13cacc878fc81010VgnVCM1000000408120aRCRD&section=4

Im not going to deal with mts. They have rude customer service and you have to pay a lot for service calls. so imho shaw is a way better value for your dollar.

Im not going to deal with mts. They have rude customer service and you have to pay a lot for service calls. so imho shaw is a way better value for your dollar.

I'm not entirely sure of your logic here - you'd pay more money for less services just so you don't have to deal with service calls that (most likely) you'll only have to deal with on average once every 3-4 years? Odd indeed. But hey - enjoy your service.

As far as I know, you can't use 3rd party LD companies with Shaw Phone. Anyone comment on that?

I am totally anti MTS from the start. And if they had VOIP numbers in my area I would completely disabandon from MTS.

I have Express Vu for TV, Internet from Cable, Cell from Rogers, MTS landline and Call Display and Call Waiting ($35, that angers me so much how much they ding me for calling features that I absolutely have to get from them).

I have my long distance with Primus. I am waiting for the day my cable co offers digital phone. Then I will finally be rid of the clutches of MTS.

Me to have had AWFUL customer service.. I have some stories but will not go into detail now (lets just say I have been hung up on and sworn at)

you'll only have to deal with on average once every 3-4 years? Odd indeed. But hey - enjoy your service.

As far as I know, you can't use 3rd party LD companies with Shaw Phone. Anyone comment on that? I had a lot of problems with mts thats why I went to Shaw phone. and Im not sure if you can use 3rd party long distance providers, Im sure you can. and I have had Shaw digital phone for 17 months and have not looked back Thanks.

So for this $30 plan in Manitoba at least for $10-$25 more you get Unlimited US/Canada, 1000 Intl. LD, and Call Waiting and Voice Mail.

and Im not sure if you can use 3rd party long distance providers, Im sure you can.

That makes sense - you aren't sure, but you are?

When I was with Shaw, they had AWFUL customer service for their internet tech support. It drove me away, and only the greatest of deals would lure me back. If you've had the same experience with MTS, I guess I can sympathize, but again MTS has been excellent with me.

I really don't understand why Shaw would eliminate Call Waiting on this deal along with the LD. Odd.

I have great service with MTS and as far as I know the majority of their customers are pleased. This does not mean that Westman guy didn't have a problem. Anyone that I have dealt with, including technical support has been very good and friendly.

Personnaly I don't have a "hate on" for any particular company as in this day and age I am sure that no company would want to present a bad image to the customer. Our family buisness has always done well with MTS and I tend to stick with suppliers that have served me well over the years. There are always some people (including my family) who are always switching providers to save a penny here and there. Most have not been satisfied. IMO there are people who will never be satisfied.

I am one of those people who likes to spice up my providers. But I will NEVER go back to MTS after the way I was treated.

It looks like it will take my cable co a long time to get the phone up so I may goto VOIP but maybe look into (if they have this) a unlimited line with a Wpg number for calling out. And a 1-800, toll free VOIP number for people to be able to call me for free.

To save the "no local numbers available'

Thats how bad MTS treated me, I am looking into spending like $70 a month with a VOIP setup to escape them.

so yeah this plan does exsit. and only 29.95. thanks

Any idea what they consider your local calling area? Obviously with the old $55 plan all of NA was considered your local calling area... now what?

Its just your area ,you should call shaw and ask them where you can call in your area. for me in Winnipeg I can call Winnipeg, Oakbank,Stonewall (i think stonewall) and a few more places.

Well I am pretty sure they would simply just match the phone companies numbers for your region.

They would take your number like 204-555, then they would say MTS is giving: 555,556,557,558,559, & 560 to that region then they would click those up as local.

I am pretty sure they would do that.

Any idea how much lond distance is...if you use a little - is it 3 cents a min? or what?

Shawguy -

LD rates are 4-cents per minute.

Yeah I think that is a reasonable rate, the best rate I have ever seen is 3.5 cents

I got more imformation on Shaw digital phone lite. The csr I talked to said it will launch on monday December 4 and will be on shaw.ca. thanks