Globalive Wireless Management Corp. has launched a new website that invites Canadian cellphone customers to identify the characteristics of the ideal wireless company.
Toronto-based Globalive is looking to take on Bell, Telus and Rogers—the major players in the Canadian wireless market—by attracting 1.5 million customers to a new Canadian wireless network it plans to have operational by next spring.
The company recently won spectrum—the airwaves over which cellphone networks operate—in an Industry Canada auction designed to open up the domestic wireless market to more competition.
It’s believed Canada’s wireless landscape faces a shakeup over the next couple of years with the potential addition of Globalive as a national player and the addition of several regional cellphone providers offering consumers more services, options and lower charges.
CEO Anthony Lacavera said Globalive will use pre-paid cellphone plans to attract customers, and he is currently raising private capital and will consider partnerships to get his new wireless brand off the ground.
In Quebec, Globalive is locked out for the time being because Montreal-based cable and Internet provider Vidéotron Ltd., owned by Quebecor Inc., scooped up all of the spectrum bandwidth in the recent auction. Vidéotron is planning to become a major cellphone player in that province and will appeal to Quebec consumers with its homegrown brand.
Lacavera also said he wants to build a different kind of company and is seeking input from Canadians about their cellphone plans.
The primary venue for this discussion is WirelessSoapbox.com, a site launched yesterday where consumers can vent their frustrations and sing the praises of various aspects of their current cellphone plans, hardware and service.
By late Thursday afternoon, dozens of comments had already been posted. “Look at what Telus, Bell and Rogers are doing right now. Do the exact opposite, and you should be a success,” said one. “Cheap US roaming, like Fido had in the beginning,” said another.
In addition to a chat forum—where Lacavera himself will be a regular contributor to the discussion—the website includes a blog, surveys, polls and RSS feeds.
WirelessSoapbox.com will also be promoted on the social media sites Facebook and Twitter.
