Hello any Canadians that are lurking!

This is just a heads up on a limited-time offer by
Luckymobile.ca

Get a cheap phone plan and enjoy 2 GB/mo of bonus data for 6
months with select plans.[1]

Offer ends July 21, 2021.[2]

SIM cars also available at select retailers: Dollarama and Giant Tiger[3]

[1] Limited time offer. One-time $10 SIM Card charge applies.
Up to 12 GB of bonus data with a new activation on a minimum
$35/mo. plan, applied as a 2GB/mo. bonus for 6 months.

[2] SIM card must be activated by August 18, 2021 to redeem your offer.

[3] Now available at Dollarama or Giant Tiger - visit a
Dollarama store or a Giant Tiger store to learn more.

Luckymobile.ca is the self-service/discount subsidiary of
BellMobility.

I'm currently on the $40/mo plan which provides up to 5GB of
data (as well as unlimited Canada-wide talk and unlimited
international texts.)

With this offer, they seem to have provided existing users with
the extra 2GB/mo bonus anyway!

Except for one time when the new billing period started and my
automatic credit card payment didn't register on their system
(which then blocked me from the data service), and another time
when the throttling down to sub 100kbps speed was useless for
most online browsing, I'm fairly happy with Luckymobile.

The throttled-down speeds didn't seem to affect telnetting into
BBSes or accessing FTN networks or reading NNTP-based networks.


--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: (1:396/45.29)

August Abolins wrote to All <=-

With this offer, they seem to have provided existing users with
the extra 2GB/mo bonus anyway!

Nice!

when the throttling down to sub 100kbps speed was useless for
most online browsing, I'm fairly happy with Luckymobile.

I've been with public mobile for a few years now. (Self serve
telus thing) Never had an issue $35 a month 5.5gb of data plus
a bonus gig. Can't see myself leaving anytime soon. ;)

Granted it's 3g speed, but that's fine for me. Streaming works
fine, browsing etc etc. Only time you notice the speed is if you
let the phone update an app over mobile.

Shawn

... Cats are roommates; Dogs are kids!
--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)

Hello Shawn Highfield!

** On Monday 19.07.21 - 09:44, Shawn Highfield wrote to August Abolins:

I've been with public mobile for a few years now. (Self
serve telus thing) Never had an issue $35 a month 5.5gb
of data plus a bonus gig. Can't see myself leaving
anytime soon. ;)

$35/5.5GB is darn good. That's a bit better than the core
Luckmobile offer at $40. But do you get unlimited Canada-wide
talk and unlimited INTERNATIONAL texting?


--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

$35/5.5GB is darn good. That's a bit better than the core
Luckmobile offer at $40. But do you get unlimited Canada-wide
talk and unlimited INTERNATIONAL texting?

Unlimited Canada-wide calling for sure. As for texting... I just
checked my plan and yes I do have international texting! I didn't
know that.

Shawn

... Advertising is legalized lying.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)

Hello Shawn!

Unlimited Canada-wide calling for sure. As for texting...
I just checked my plan and yes I do have international
texting! I didn't know that.

I've never used the international texting, yet. I've always
wondered how those 5-6 digit "text to" numbers even worked.
Watching some of the programs from the USA would sometimes have
a "text to.." option if you wanted to rate a comment or voice
an opinion. I'm still leary to use those amidst all the
tracking capability and be suspected as a dissident! LOL

And.. I really don't have any international pals that I could
text to their phones anyway.

But.. you know, one thing that is really starting to irk me is
that more and more phone calls I make from my landline at the
shop go out as LD (customers adopting their favourite phone
number to their phones). I *could* text to all of them or just
use my cellphone to call and therefore have all those call
"free". BUT, I don't want people to think that they can call
me back on that darn device to ask questions or place orders!
LOL

For now, the "free" email-to-text system seems to work for Bell/Virgin/Lucky/Koodo numbers without resorting to 3rd party
services.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

And.. I really don't have any international pals that I could
text to their phones anyway.

I have one friend in WA that I could text. In fact I'll do so today.
LOL

number to their phones). I *could* text to all of them or just
use my cellphone to call and therefore have all those call
"free". BUT, I don't want people to think that they can call
me back on that darn device to ask questions or place orders!

Another friend of mine ported his business # to his cellphone when
they first offered the service. He hasn't had a landline in at least
14 years now. Probably cheaper to have a second cellphone with your
business # on it anyway.

Shawn

... WWhhaatt ddooeess dduupplleexx mmeeaann??
--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)

Hello Shawn!

** On Wednesday 21.07.21 - 08:09, you wrote to me:

I have one friend in WA that I could text. In fact I'll
do so today. LOL

My service is not just SMS, it supports MMS which allows
attachments. I did *not* realize that until about year later!

..BUT, I don't want people to think that they can call me
back on that darn device to ask questions or place
orders!

Another friend of mine ported his business # to his
cellphone when they first offered the service. He hasn't
had a landline in at least 14 years now. Probably cheaper
to have a second cellphone with your business # on it
anyway.

I recognize the cost advantage over the traditional landline
that I have for the shop. But I'm afraid that I might lose the
phone, (or missplace it or forget it laying around somewhere -
which I've done!)

And.. I don't really like the feeling of constantly being
available "for business" - especially when I would rather have
peace and quiet.

If I just had the phone for biz, I don't know how I would be
able to take notes for the books that people might want -
especially when I *not* around a computer. It seems that I
would have to record every message and play it back or
something.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

Hi August,

On 2021-07-21 07:09:00, you wrote to Shawn Highfield:

If I just had the phone for biz, I don't know how I would be
able to take notes for the books that people might want -
especially when I *not* around a computer. It seems that I
would have to record every message and play it back or
something.

What about in-earbuds? Or some other kind of headset?


Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.1.0.18-B20170815
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

Hello Wilfred van Velzen!

** On Wednesday 21.07.21 - 14:03, Wilfred van Velzen wrote to August Abolins:

If I just had the [cell]phone for biz, I don't know how I
would be able to take notes for the books that people
might want -especially when I *not* around a computer. It
seems that I would have to record every message and play
it back or something.

What about in-earbuds? Or some other kind of headset?

I tried that on a regular cordless phone that I used at the
shop. [The phone ended up interferring with my wifi, so I had
to retire it when the replacement batteries were nolonger
readily available] But the headset and wire tended to get
tangled with things.

But when using a cellphone, holding up to the ear, it's
difficult to make notes on paper. A BT headset could work. I'm
not sure if I could find one that will work with my Blackberry.
I should give that a try.

A separate SIM for the biz number could work on my existing
phone. But.. the way things work out for me, I'd probably lose
the SIM when it's out of the phone! :/


--
../|ug
--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

And.. I don't really like the feeling of constantly being
available "for business" - especially when I would rather have
peace and quiet.

Leave the second phone at the office? But I get it, just thinking
of saving you money and LD charges.

I'll even give you an old blackberry Q5 for the office phone if
you want it.

Shawn

... Save gas: Commute by modem.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)

Hi Shawn,
...Greets from my Telegram app!

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

And.. I don't really like the feeling of constantly being
available "for business" - especially when I would rather have
peace and quiet.

Leave the second phone at the office? But I get it, just thinking
of saving you money and LD charges.

I'll even give you an old blackberry Q5 for the office phone if
you want it.

Shawn

... Save gas: Commute by modem.

Is your Q5 this one:

https://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_q5-5452.php

It's no slouch. Apparently it was released the same year/time as the Q10.

It ought to handle the LTE version that my Luckymobile offers.

Or.. I could move the existing shop number to Bellmobility. They've been sending me SIMs in the mail trying to coerce me to move my POTS numbers to mobile.

I could use the Q5 as a permanent installation at the shop, plugged in via usb to be always charged (I can't do that with my Q10 'cuz the USB port is physically broken), and use it with a BT earpiece all day.

BUT... then I realize that I may need to keep the POTS line at the shop. My POS (point-of-sale) uses that as a backup when the internet goes down (when the hydro goes out after the UPS juice is all used up).

Decisions, decisions.

I continue to be pissed off at Bell for their antiquated attitude that a biz *can* afford their $80+ minimum just to have a POTS voice line at a retail address, and whether it's used the line or not. I don't think I've experienced any extra quality of service compared to the POS that I continue to use at home.

But.. I could sorta stick it to them by converting the POTS to a dry-loop (I think that's free now - it used to be $10/mo), and just use cell for biz.

Again, I muse.. decisions, decisions.

Ciao!
/|ug (https://t.me/aabolins)

... Searchable Help for OXP https://openxp.kolico.ca
--- Want fido for iOS/MacOS/Android/Win/Linux? Info=https://shrtco.de/tpJ9yV
* Origin: Fido by Telegram BBS from Stas Mishchenkov (2:460/256)

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

Is your Q5 this one:
https://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_q5-5452.php

Yes except mine is black.

It's no slouch. Apparently it was released the same year/time as the
Q10.

It was the cheaper model. It worked great, both Andrea and I used it
before we had to move on to newer phones. She went with a new blackberry andriod model, and I went iphone.

It ought to handle the LTE version that my Luckymobile offers.

No reason it won't.

Decisions, decisions.

Let me know.

But.. I could sorta stick it to them by converting the POTS to a
dry-loop (I think that's free now - it used to be $10/mo), and just
use cell for biz.

That's why my friend went all cell. He couldn't stand the idea of paying
that much more for a POTS line that had less features then his home phone.

Shawn

... Competence always contains the seeds of incompetence.
--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)

Hello Shawn!

But.. I could sorta stick it to them by converting the
POTS to a dry-loop (I think that's free now - it used to
be $10/mo), and just use cell for biz.

That's why my friend went all cell. He couldn't stand the
idea of paying that much more for a POTS line that had
less features then his home phone.

15 years for your friend is a lot of $80/mo x 12months saved
(or not wasted!)

Considering that the internet would rarely go down when there
is an outtage, and the internet itself is rarely a problem with
my current ISP, perhaps a fallback POTS line at the shop is not
as critical.

I'm not paying anything extra for the basic $80/mo biz line
anyway. At one time Bell was saying that the biz qualification
entitled me to a modest listing in the Yellow Pages, but they
discontinued that eventually many years ago and only listed
biznesses that paid extra for a Yellow Pages listing. Now..
who even uses the darn paper version of the YP?

Also, Bell has done absolutely nothing for its biz customers
during the last 18 months of covid/lockdowns. When I've missed
paying the bill on the due date by a couple of days, I would
still get slapped with a charge/fee. The least they could do
was reduce the monthly rate to correlate with less volume of
calls going in and out. Something.

Your offer sounds sweet. Maybe if I have that Q5 in front of me
it will remind me how stupid I am to continue with $80/mo with
a biz-rated POTS line. At this point, $80/mo x 12 sounds like
a foolish payout, indeed.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

Your offer sounds sweet. Maybe if I have that Q5 in front of me
it will remind me how stupid I am to continue with $80/mo with
a biz-rated POTS line. At this point, $80/mo x 12 sounds like
a foolish payout, indeed.

Done. If we don't plan a road trip to Bancroft by mid August, I'll
ship it to your store. We are still wanting to get that way but the
plan I had fell through when the campground we love sold. The new
owners don't allow day use of their beach. :(

Shawn


... Ignorance is bliss... So life's great if you are ignorant.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)

Hello Shawn Highfield!

** On Saturday 24.07.21 - 09:59, Shawn Highfield wrote to August Abolins:

Your offer sounds sweet. Maybe if I have that Q5 [...]

Done. If we don't plan a road trip to Bancroft by mid
August, I'll ship it to your store. We are still wanting
to get that way but the plan I had fell through when the
campground we love sold. The new owners don't allow day
use of their beach. :(

Very kind of you! Thx.

If you make it, you will be the amongst some other fine
celebrities that have walked through the doors: Ed Robertson
(of the Bare Naked Ladies), and Lloyd Robertson (CTV news
anchor), ...and a handful of author celebs that have escaped my
mind at this time.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

Very kind of you! Thx.

No problem. It was my backup, but I have a backup iphone now
so no point in leaving it on a shelf if you can use it.

If you make it, you will be the amongst some other fine
celebrities that have walked through the doors: Ed Robertson
(of the Bare Naked Ladies), and Lloyd Robertson (CTV news
anchor), ...and a handful of author celebs that have escaped my
mind at this time.

LLoyd Roertson was the last news anchor I liked. When he retired I
stopped watching the news. When I shared retail space with a
recording studio for a while, I met quite a few musicians. Couldn't
tell you any names now as no one made a big impression on me. ;)

Shawn

... I'd love to help you out. Which way did you come in?
--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)

Hello Shawn!

** On Sunday 25.07.21 - 09:53, you wrote to me:
^^^^^

My time here as I write is 8:22a, Sunday. I guess your system
doesn't implement the TZ kludge?

No problem. It was my backup, but I have a backup iphone
now so no point in leaving it on a shelf if you can use
it.

I wondered about that. I don't want to short you from a
backup.

LLoyd Roertson was the last news anchor I liked. When he
retired I stopped watching the news. When I shared retail
space with a recording studio for a while, I met quite a
few musicians. Couldn't tell you any names now as no one
made a big impression on me. ;)

Wrt Lloyd, I heard that he was the first news anchor to garnish
a $2M salary at one point.

It was an interesting moment.. when he first came into the
shop, he just seemed like an ordinary man who asked me if I
would take some books for the shop - they were extra copies of
a biography of Lloyd Robertson. Then it took about 10-15
seconds until I connected the picture on the cover of the book
with the person standing in front of me as he continued to talk
a little bit. It was that distinctive VOICE that sounded so
familiar. I was gonna say "Hey, you sound very much like.."
Then it dawned on me that WAS actually him. We had a laugh.
Apparently he has a cottage on the Baptiste Lake in this area.
I always pictured him as being tall, but he is not.

Wrt to the other Robertson, that dude is much taller and
probably over 6ft.

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

** On Sunday 25.07.21 - 09:53, you wrote to me:
My time here as I write is 8:22a, Sunday. I guess your system
doesn't implement the TZ kludge?

I don't think so. I can't remember at this point it's so old. :)
I also go back and forth between the talisman and ezycom side...

I wondered about that. I don't want to short you from a
backup.

I have a backup iphone SE, and we still have another backup
blackberry. Can't think of the model, it was the last OS10
without a keyboard. Quite a nice phone. I also have a iphone 5s
that is currently being used by my SIL until he gets paid.

a little bit. It was that distinctive VOICE that sounded so
familiar. I was gonna say "Hey, you sound very much like.."
Then it dawned on me that WAS actually him. We had a laugh.
Apparently he has a cottage on the Baptiste Lake in this area.

LOL that's cool. He does have a very distinctive voice.

I always pictured him as being tall, but he is not.

I've heard that before. Andrea has met a couple of the anchors
from ctv when she worked in a convience store (years ago) and her
weather reporter at a mall. (Signed a picture for her)

Shawn

... If only I could be respected without having to be respectable.
--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)

Hello Shawn Highfield!

** On Friday 23.07.21 - 08:06, Shawn Highfield wrote to August Abolins:

Is your Q5 this one: https://www.gsmarena.com/
blackberry_q5-5452.php

Yes except mine is black.

It's no slouch. Apparently it was released the same
year/time as the Q10.

It was the cheaper model. It worked great, both Andrea
and I used it before we had to move on to newer phones.
She went with a new blackberry andriod model, and I went
iphone.

I just received this dreaded and very disappointing news from
LuckyMobile:

https://kolico.ca/tmp/lucky0-jan4-2022.jpg

:(



--
../|ug
--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

I just received this dreaded and very disappointing news from
LuckyMobile:
https://kolico.ca/tmp/lucky0-jan4-2022.jpg

Isn't that for the older BB's? I was under the impression the
OS 10 models didn't use the BB services the way the old ones did?
ie: They don't go through the BB server for phone email's I know
that for a fact.

Shawn

... A husband is a man who gave up privileges he never knew he had.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)

Hello Shawn Highfield!

** On Friday 30.07.21 - 08:06, Shawn Highfield wrote to August Abolins:

Isn't that for the older BB's? I was under the impression
the OS 10 models didn't use the BB services the way the
old ones did? ie: They don't go through the BB server for
phone email's I know that for a fact.

I would have thought so too. I don't think I rely on any BB-
specific network services either. I thought that I get my SIM,
register the device with the ISP/phone service, and I am good
to go. What does that process have anything to do with the BB
network?

But if you go to the /blackberry link that I saw mentioned in
that message, luckym.ca/blackberry, it appears that they are
proclaiming that a variety of BB "Devices that will no longer
operate"

Perhaps this is just an obfuscated way of saying that only the
BB network of services will cease, but not the phone using the
Lucky network?

But it seems to me that Lucky can simply disable my account
since they know that the IMEI pertains to a BB device if they
want to. That is a bit diconcerting.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

Perhaps this is just an obfuscated way of saying that only the
BB network of services will cease, but not the phone using the
Lucky network?

There is no reason for the phone to stop working. The older java
based blackberry's yes 100% will stop as they did everything through
a special blackberry server. THe OS10 phones are standard, I'm sure
all it means is the app store, bbm, etc will cease.

But it seems to me that Lucky can simply disable my account
since they know that the IMEI pertains to a BB device if they
want to. That is a bit diconcerting.

I'd play it by ear. I don't think they would bother. Doesn't
make any sense.

Shawn

... Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)

Hello Shawn!

** On Saturday 31.07.21 - 09:45, you wrote to me:

There is no reason for the phone to stop working. The
older java based blackberry's yes 100% will stop as they
did everything through a special blackberry server. THe
OS10 phones are standard, I'm sure all it means is the app
store, bbm, etc will cease.

I would agree that the BB network and any of its services would
be irrelevant and no grounds to "disable" the use of the phone
with Luckymobile entirely. The BB app shop stopped working a
long time ago (it was nice when it *did* work though).

I'd play it by ear. I don't think they would bother.
Doesn't make any sense.

I just thought I'd mention it cuz your Q5 offering is in the
mix of soon to be "disabled".

I'm reading and re-reading the info page on this and it's
starting to sound more like a scare tactic inorder to get
people to purchase a recommended phone from Luckymobile.

They do use the words "phone may not function".

Sure, the BB network of services might go dead, (perhaps
Luckymobile is addressing current cooperate BB users) ..but all
I'm using is the basic LTE, my own email domains, and the SMS
system that Lucky offers. I would not think there is any
technical reason why the phone needs to go "dead" on Jan 4.

I've grown rather fond of the Q10 now. If I can add your Q5 as
my shop phone and thus retiring the POTS line, I'd love to
extend its useability with a BT earpiece and/or a cordless
phone that supports cell-hookup.

The Jan 4 date would be the start of MY new billing cycle in
January. If the BB cutoff were a universal technical issue, I
would think that EVERYONE would be cut-off on the same date.
But I know that other people have different billing periods.


--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

August Abolins wrote to Shawn Highfield <=-

I would agree that the BB network and any of its services would
be irrelevant and no grounds to "disable" the use of the phone
with Luckymobile entirely. The BB app shop stopped working a
long time ago (it was nice when it *did* work though).

We still have a playbook tablet that we use for a few offline
games at the trailer. Missed a few downloads before they shut
that store off.

I've grown rather fond of the Q10 now. If I can add your Q5 as
my shop phone and thus retiring the POTS line, I'd love to
extend its useability with a BT earpiece and/or a cordless
phone that supports cell-hookup.

I'm positive it will work. I'll either get it mailed out or drive out
in the next 3 weeks.

But I know that other people have different billing periods.

I think they just want you to buy a new phone.

Shawn
... Macintosh: A computer with training wheels that you can't remove.
--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (1:229/452)