CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A small Charlottetown business is giving cellphone users another option when it comes to purchasing a package.
Device Doctors, a mobile phone repair shop on St. Peters Road, just signed a contract with Telus Communications Inc. to provide Public Mobile plans to customers.
Public Mobile is a Canadian, self-serve, pre-paid mobile brand which is owned by Telus. It is one of several new Canadian cellphone providers that started in 2009-10 after a federal government initiative to encourage competition in the wireless sector.
Public Mobile is also available through Walmart.
“This is a cheaper option for people that might find that they’re paying a lot more for the same thing than Public Mobile would offer,’’ said Cory Rusk, owner/operator of Device Doctors. “The only difference is that Public Mobile doesn’t carry cellphones so you bring your cellphone in and we can hook you up with a plan and the plans range anywhere from $15 up to $50 a month.’’
Rusk said the Public Mobile packages are either competitive or better than what cellphone users are getting from the big carriers like Bell, Rogers and Eastlink.
Rusk said the main reason why they looked into hooking up with Public Mobile was to help out their customers, some of whom said they were paying as much as $300 a month.
“We looked at it and wondered why? Why are they paying this much money when there is another option?
So, Rusk pushed forward to see if Public Mobile would accept going outside big box stores like Walmart so he could help out his customers.
Customers who already have cellphones can purchase SIM cards at Device Doctors. The shop also carries new and used cellphones.
Device Doctors has been helping people find a plan that’s right for them dating back to their days on Kent Street. And, the business has sold some 1,000 SIM cards.
Now, they’re an authorized reseller for Public Mobile.
“People can come in and get plans whereas they couldn’t before.’’
While the money for the plan goes to Public Mobile, Device Doctors receives a payment for every customer it signs up.
