Chatr

Chatr Wireless
Subsidiary
Industry Mobile network operator
Founded July 28, 2010
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Key people
 Garrick Tiplady, Senior Vice President
Products Android smartphone and feature phones
Services GSM, HSPA (including HSPA+), mobile broadband, SMS, telephony
Parent Rogers Communications
Website ChatrWireless.com

Chatr is a Canadian wireless service provider a budget brand targeting entry-level customers.[1] It is the third wireless service network owned by Rogers Communications, after Rogers Wireless and Fido Solutions. The provider launched their network in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and now Montreal (September 16, 2010) and later expanded to more markets. Chatr launched its service on July 28, 2010.[2] Their "chatr zone" coverage is artificially limited to match the coverage of Wind Mobile and Mobilicity, and so using a Chatr phone outside of these zones results in additional charges.[3]

Network

The Chatr network is based on zones, where customers are offered specific services that function only within a certain coverage area. When a Chatr customer leaves their designated zone, services, such as voice minutes and outgoing texts, are available on a pay-per-use basis. Chatr provides only two ways for a customer to find out whether or not they are in a Chatr zone: to check the coverage map,[4] or to check their account balance after making a call. Mobilicity, Solo Mobile, and Wind Mobile, by contrast, offer more ways for customers to tell if they are in one of their carrier's zones.[5]

Products

Chatr mostly sells feature phones, but also carries smartphones. Additionally, Chatr SIM cards allow other GSM-based handsets to be used. Currently available devices are made by LG, Motorola, Nokia, and Sony. Each has a nickname given by Chatr.

Feature phones

Smartphones

Chatr offers Android smartphones from the LG Optimus series: a variant of the LG Optimus One (LG P505) nicknamed "The Social", the LG Optimus L3 nicknamed "The Touch" (both since discontinued), and currently the LG Optimus L1 II "The Steal".

In addition to this, Chatr's has two Windows Phones, the Nokia Lumia 520 nicknamed "The Performer" and the Nokia Lumia 635 nicknamed "The Lightning".

SIM cards

SIM cards from Chatr are compatible with any GSM or HSPA+ device, such as those designed to be used with Rogers Wireless. This includes devices from Rogers itself, plus its mobile virtual network operators such as 7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless.

Services

Chatr offers four monthly plans, purchasable either with prepaid credits, a credit card or a debit card. There is also an option for automatic credit card payments (auto-pay). Unlimited calling features can only be used when a phone call is placed in a "Chatr zone", while SMS text messages and mobile broadband can be used throughout the Rogers network. Except for Chatr's customer service, additional charges apply for any call made or received outside of Chatr's coverage; there is no charge for calls and SMS messages received within a Chatr zone. There is also SMS short code support for messaging via the Facebook and Twitter services, which does not require or use mobile broadband.[6]

All Chatr plans include unlimited incoming calls and texts and the Call display, Call waiting, Call forwarding and Group calling features. Features specific to each plan are listed below:

A ten-message voicemail is available with any plan. The $25 and $30 plans have a 25¢ per minute retrieval charge, while the $35 and $40 plans waive the voicemail retrieval charge.

For an additional fee, one can add mobile broadband to the $35 and $40 plans, in denominations of 200 MB for $10, 500 MB for $15, and 1 GB for $25. Additional data usage cost 10¢ per MB.[6]

Controversy

Several controversies regarding Chatr received mainstream media coverage. The company received two accusations of breaching the Competition Act in Canada.

Fighter brand

Chatr has been accused of violating the Competition Act because it is a fighter brand created by Rogers.[7] Chatr's pricing policy closely reflects that of Wind Mobile and Mobilicity. Mobilicity's 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".[8]

Advertising claims

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 the on average there is no significant difference between the number of dropped calls on Chatr and new carriers. Furthermore, in the cases of Ottawa and Toronto, new carriers experienced slightly fewer dropped calls than did Chatr.[9]

On August 19, 2013 it was announced that the court confirmed that Chatr's advertising of fewer dropped calls, in connection with its 2010 launch, was fair and accurate.

Advertising

Chatr Wireless' slogan is "No worries, talk happy." During the Christmas and holiday season, the slogan used instead was "No worries, gift happy." Both resemble the name of the song Don't Worry, Be Happy, and a whistled version of this song is used in Chatr commercials. Since Chatr started offering mobile broadband, the "Now data happy" tagline accompanies any promotional material concerning such services.

The company also gives out various promotional merchandise, including pens, highlighters, mousepads, water bottles, planting seeds and Chatr-branded orange M&M's. Merchandise is given away both to customers and to non-customers as a way to spread the word about the operator.

Previously, Chatr claimed to have "fewer dropped calls than new wireless carriers." However, the company's parent, Rogers, was subject to controversy for this claim. To promote its network, provided by Rogers Wireless, Chatr now claims that they have "great coverage thanks to tons of network sites."

Retail presence

Chatr products and services were previously available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Chatr has its own retail stores. Additionally, Best Buy, Costco, Future Shop, London Drugs, Tbooth, Walmart, WirelessWave and Wireless Etc - Costco sell Chatr prepaid products and top-up cards.

Former retailers

While Shoppers Drug Mart carried only Rogers Wireless prepaid 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, Fido and 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.

All seven Chatr kiosks in Montreal were converted to Fido kiosks in May 2012. This does not affect third-party retail presence of Chatr in Montreal.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Melanson, Donald (2010-07-02). "Rogers announces plans for budget-minded 'Chatr' wireless brand". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  2. ↑ Mathieu, Emily (2010-07-28). "Mobilicity to take Rogers to court over new discount service". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  3. ↑ chatr wireless - Coverage. Rogers Communications original reason for starting Chatr was in an attempt to compete with new wireless company "DAVE Network". Rogers was successful and left the company in bankruptcy. Retrieved on August 27, 2010.
  4. ↑ MadFerIt2006. "How does one enable only chatr zone coverage". HowardForums Chatr forum. Post 6. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
  5. ↑ nzoka; MadFerIt2006; volodyan. "How does one enable only chatr zone coverage". HowardForums Chatr forum. Posts 1, 6, and 9. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Chatr voice plans
  7. ↑ Moretti, Stefania (2010-07-09). "Mobilicity prepared to take legal action over Chatr". Canoe. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  8. ↑ Marlow, Iain (2010-07-09). "Mobilicity says Roger's chatr may violate Competition Act". FinancialPost.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  9. ↑ Marlow, Iain (2010-11-29). "Comparison of dropped-call data weakens Rogers claims". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  10. ↑ Hardy, Ian. "Rogers re-branding all Chatr Wireless kiosks in Montreal to Fido". Mobile Syrup. Retrieved 2012-07-03.

External links