I think the 7-11 SpeakOut phone service uses Rogers in Canada.
Canada does not have as big a problem as we do as they have less vendors covering their cell phones. (Rogers and Bell are the two biggest if I remember) Plus we pay more for our cell phone coverage because we get discounts on our phones. They subsidies their phones with higher rates. Plus our landline coverage is cheaper than it is in Europe. (They all have metered service!!!)
The discounts on our phones are pretty bad compared to some of the discounts I see elsewhere. In Ireland last summer Orange had a deal for a free Nokia N73 [N82 this year] quadband music phone plus free broadband with an 18 month contract at €35/month with either 600 or 650 minutes and 100 texts. In the Netherlands T-Mobile has the Nokia N-95 quadband WiFi phone for less than €20 with a choice of 3 contracts. iPhone 3G [€79.95/€1,00/€1,0] contract is €29,95/€44,95/€64,95 including mobile Internet. You can get good contracts for as low as €15/mo. Verizon gives you 30 minutes for $15-20/mo. in a rip-off "emergency plan." AT&T has no "emergency" plans. And you can also get Skype phones for as low as €9/mo. unless you find one of the thousands of free open WiFi networks. [Can these Skype phones work in Philly where the city's WiFi network is free?]
I have Verizon metered service in Maryland. I like it. I don't use our landline for local calls much, and I use an MCI/Verizon phone card [2.x cents/min] or T-Mobile cell phone for long distance and overseas; the PIN is programmed into our phones. Costs us $17/month, much cheaper than any telco package I've seen.
It is easy to complain when you compare apples and plums.
It's easier to complain rationally when you have the actual figures to compare. Mobile service here is expensive, no matter which fruits you choose to compare.
OTOH, most electronics are cheaper in the US--computers, cameras, home theater components, etc., not just because of the cheap dollar; electronics were cheaper here even with a stronger dollar. Foreigners come to the US on buying trips carrying many empty suitcases, even to expensive places like NYC and Miami Beach. Too bad the excessively paranoid INS is making it harder for people to come here and spend lots of cash now that they've changed the visa requirements for friendly countries.
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