How does it work?
At Ice Wireless, we’ve kept our cellular service as simple as possible.
First of all, we don’t believe in locked-in, long term service contracts. So when you sign-up we don’t lock you in for years at a time. Our customers stay with us because they want to, not because they have to.
Here, everything is up front. You choose your plan, add your minutes, and then decide if you want to add-on options like call waiting or unlimited text messaging. That way, you know exactly how much you’re spending because it’s all right there in front of you with no hidden charges and no shocking bills at the end of the month. Let’s go through it – Ice Wireless is as simple as 1 2 3!
In Step 1, you choose your plan. Basically, to keep your service working, you pay a $25 monthly fee to get on the network.
In Step 2, you add your minutes. Local calls during evenings and weekends are completely free, it’s just the weekdays that you have to pay for, and even then, it’s just $5 per hour!
In Step 3, you pick your options such as call waiting or unlimited text messaging, which range from $5-10 per month.
Then you’re done!
Yes, it’s really that simple: a $25 basic monthly fee + $5 per hour with free evenings & weekends + whatever options you decide to add to your plan.
To find out more, check out our Rate Calculator, which will do this all for you automatically. Check out how much you’ll save by switching to Ice Wireless today!
For information about our range of products and services, our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are designed to help. If you have a query or problem that is not covered here, please contact one of our Customer Service Representatives here.
When do your free evenings and weekends start?
Our free evenings are 7:00pm – 8:00am.
If you want your free evenings to start at 5pm on weekdays it is just $7 extra.
Weekends start at 7:00pm on Friday and end on 8:00am on Monday.
All local calls are free during those time periods.
If I disconnect my cell phone, is there a charge for me to connect again?
No, we don’t charge you to connect or disconnect your cell phone service. You can come and go at any time for free.
Does Ice Wireless have contracts?
No, Ice Wireless does not use long-term service contracts. Our customers stay with us because they want to, not because they have to.
How do I pick my number? Can I keep my existing number?
Unfortunately, you cannot keep your existing number. When you sign up, our customer service representative will provide you with a phone list, and you may choose your new cell phone number from that list.
When are you getting caller ID in Inuvik and Behchoko? Why does your office number show up on my phone?
Caller ID functions in Yellowknife only. For Inuvik and Behchoko, there are currently interface issues with other networks so that our office number will display on their Caller ID.
We are sorry for any inconvenience. We recommend that other network users save our office number in their phone, so that if they get a call from an Ice Wireless phone they will know not to return the call to our office.
Will SMS text messages show up on Caller ID?
Yes, SMS text messages will show the message sender in all cases, even if it is a message from another network.
How do I switch to Ice Wireless from my existing network?
If you have signed a long-term service contract with another carrier, you will have to buy your way out of the contract. You will also need to buy a new cell phone.
Can I use my existing phone on your network?
No, you can’t your existing phone on the Ice Wireless network. You will have to come in to our office to buy a new phone. The reason for this is that mobile phone networks in Canada make it common practice to lock their phones to their networks, meaning that you cannot use their phones with any other network. This is one more way that they keep you as a customer.
At Ice Wireless, we sell all of our phones UN-locked, so that if you decide to change networks, you can do so and still keep your phone. So once you buy an Ice Wireless phone you can take it with you outside of the N.W.T. to southern Canada, the U.S.A., or anywhere else in the world you want, and simply swap out the SIM card at the back to use your phone. Your phone is activated as soon as it recognizes the new chip.
Where can I use Ice Wireless phones in Canada?
Currently, Ice Wireless phones will work in Inuvik, Hay River (Coming Soon), Yellowknife, and Behchoko. You can call anywhere in the world from these locations. Ice Wireless customers can also now roam on the Rogers Wireless Network!
If you want to go outside of these areas you will have to insert the SIM card of another network in the back of your phone to get cellular service. You can see our NWT coverage map here.
What is the difference between GSM and CDMA?
In cellular service there are two main competing network technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).
GSM, being an international standard, is better suited for national and international roaming, provided you own a quad-band cell phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). On a GSM phone your account information along with your contact list and other personal data are stored on a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) which is a small chip you can freely remove from your phone. When you get a new mobile device, you can simply insert your SIM card into it and it will work with your current account information and contact list. If you travel to another country, it is also possible to purchase a prepaid SIM card which you can use to avoid roaming fees. To upgrade your phone, you simply swap the SIM card in the back. The chief GSM carriers in the United States are Cingular Wireless, recently merged with AT&T Wireless, and T-Mobile USA.
CDMA on the other hand is a mostly North American technology that was established earlier than GSM. It is currently making progress in other parts of the world, but the coverage is still limited compared to the GSM technology. Support for CDMA is virtually non-existent in Europe because the European Union mandates the sole use of GSM. On a CDMA phone, your account information is programmed into your cellular phone. If you want to change your phone, you have to contact your carrier and have them reprogram your new phone. You will also need to re-enter your contact list and calendar information into your new phone. Essentially to upgrade a CDMA phone, the carrier must deactivate the old phone then activate the new one. The old phone becomes useless. CDMA phones are not usable internationally. CDMA networks support over 270 million subscribers worldwide. Major CDMA carriers are Sprint PCS, Verizon and Bell mobility Telus.
Multimedia messages, video, high-speed Internet access, digital camera and PDA functions can found on both technologies.
What is a SIM card?
A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card is a tiny removable chip that fits into the back of your phone that allows phones to be instantly activated, interchanged, swapped out and upgraded, all without carrier intervention. The SIM itself is tied to the network, rather than the actual phone. Phones that are card-enabled can be used with any GSM carrier. CDMA carriers do not use SIM cards. They require proprietary handsets that are linked to one carrier only.
By purchasing a SIM card with minutes and a local number in the country you are visiting, you can make calls against the card to save yourself international roaming charges from your carrier back home.
Will my Blackberry work on your network? Do you have internet or data capability?
No, we do not currently have internet or data capability. Blackberry phones will work, but their internet will not function. Ice Wireless plans to upgrade our system to include internet and data in the future.
