FAQs for the Pay Per Use Cell Phone Plans

Introduction

The University of Alberta (UofA) offers Pay Per Use cell phone plans for faculty and staff members. These plans are offered through agreements with Bell Mobility and will represent significant savings to the University. This special pricing plan was made available to the University of Alberta and other publicly funded institutions through the Government of Alberta. The service functions on a month-to-month basis and reduces operating costs in two ways. First by applying low per minute usage rates with capped maximum amounts, and secondly by removing the cost of the phone from your monthly bill.

This article will provide answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Pay Per Use plans.

For information about rates, please see Pay Per Use Cell Phone Plan Rates.

Applicability

This article is for use by UofA faculty and staff members wishing to learn more about Pay Per Use Cell Phone plans.

Eligibility and contracts

Whom do I contact for more information about this plan?

Please contact your designated telecom representative to learn more about the Pay Per Use plan or request a new line. If you do not know who your departmental telecom contact is please check the following link.

Which cell phone carriers are included in the Pay Per Use plan?

Bell Mobility (New users) and TELUS Mobility (Legacy Users). New Accounts must go on Bell Mobility as they are the corporate contract holder.

Can I get Pay Per Use on my Rogers Communications cell phone?

No. The plans for Rogers Communications remain contracted terms. Once your term expires you can migrate your phone number to the corporate plan or change to a consumer contract. A small fee may apply to transfer your existing phone to a new network.

My cell phone is not with Bell Mobility or TELUS Mobility but my contract has expired. Can I move to the Pay Per Use plan?

For corporate cell phones on another carrier you can request to have your number ported to either Bell Mobility or TELUS Mobility and onto the Pay Per Use plan.

I have a cell phone plan with TELUS corporate rates but I personally receive and pay the bill. Can I go on the Pay Per Use plan?

No. Your service is Corporate Individual Liability (CIL). Due to changes made by the CRTC the University of Alberta will no longer be offering these programs. TELUS wireless corporate employee offers are required to be compliant with the CRTC Wireless Code of Conduct. TELUS began implementing changes to its Corporate Individual Liability (CIL) and Employee Purchase Plan (EPP) programs effective December 2, 2013.

The Pay Per Use plan is for University of Alberta cell phones and billed on the corporate bill. Once your contract expires, your department will have the option to move you to the new plan or to a consumer contract with payroll reimbursement. Bell Mobility EPP and How To take advantage.

I have a personal consumer cell phone plan and recently purchased a new phone. Can I keep the plan and phone as they are, but receive either payroll or expense reimbursement?

Many departments currently offer reimbursement plans for staff with personal cell phones they use for work and the university will be implementing a revised payroll reimbursement option in the coming months.

My contract has expired or is about to expire. What happens now?

All corporate Bell Mobility and TELUS Mobility mobiles are on the Pay Per Use plan. If you have a Roger's device on a contract and the contract is expiring, you should ask for it to be unlocked and ported to Bell Mobility and to be added to the Pay Per Use Plan.

I transferred my phone and number to the university Pay Per Use plan, what happens if I leave the university? Can I get ownership of my phone and number back? What if I was given a “492” number?

If you leave the University of Alberta, the plan can be transferred back to a consumer plan with your department's approval. You can keep the cell phone number. The “492” number remains the property of the University.

Features, Costs and Devices

What features are included with Pay Per Use plan?

Caller ID, Call Waiting, Conferencing, Call Forwarding and Voicemail features are all included in the base fee of $17.00 for voice and data (i.e. Smartphones).

Do I need to add a roaming package when travelling?

Both Bell Mobility and TELUS Mobility offer automatic roaming options. For mor details please see KB0011432 for more information.

What are the rates?

Monthly phone rates are as follows:

Monthly internal university administration fee of $15.00.
Monthly voice and data (i.e., Smartphone) base charge fee of $17.00 and Maximum overall charge is $40 (plus Admin fee).
Unlimited Calling, Text (SMS) and MMS.
2 GB Data included and $2 per GB until maximum charge is reached.
Unlimited Canada to US Calling
Unlimited Canada, US and International Text (SMS), MMS
International calling is $0.15 per minute
Directory Assistance is $2.49 per call
Features included: Enhanced Message Center (Voicemail to MMS) Call Waiting, Call Display, Call Forwarding, Wi-Fi Calling and SIM Lock

Users can also be enrolled in a voice only (data is blocked) plan for a base monthly service fee of $5.00 (on top of the $15.00 administration fee).

What is the $15.00 monthly administration fee?

The administration fee covers support and administration, as well as the cost of new services coming in the next few months. This fee also supports maintenance of campus directories and provision of a “492” number to users who do not have a desk phone.

What is a capped maximum?

The cap is a maximum charge for a given service. If you go over the cap your department will not be assessed additional charges. Usage rates and capped maximums are outlined in response to Pay Per Use Cellular Plan.

How will monthly billing be handled and what will it look like?

IST will continue to handle processing of bills, using speedcodes to process payments. Telecom contacts will continue to have access to billing through the TEMS application. The only change to bill appearance will be the addition of the administration fee.

Will I be locked into a contract under the Pay Per Use plan?

No. Phones can be added or removed from service with 30 days notice without penalty. By not including the cost of the phone in the monthly bill, this plan eliminates cancellation fees. Further, users can suspend service if the phone is not in use for a period of longer than 30 days.

Do I need to buy a new phone?

No. You can activate an existing cellular device on the Pay Per Use plan. Rogers phones can be unlocked for a small fee and the number can be ported to either TELUS or Bell.

To procure a new device, you can purchase a phone through a request to your departmental telecom contact.

Why do I have to pay for a phone?

There is no requirement to purchase a new phone to be enrolled in the plan. However, if you require a new device, the cost of the cell phone will be charged in addition to the monthly service charges.

Previously, the cost of cell phones on the contract was subsidized by the monthly payments made over the contract term. (As a means of recovering the cost of the device, the cell phone providers applied a cancellation penalty fee.) By removing the phone purchase from the monthly fee, the University of Alberta was able to reduce overall monthly fees and eliminate cancellation penalties.

How much does it cost to purchase a phone?

It depends on the type of phone you request and what your management will allow you to purchase. Please obtain proper approvals before placing an order through your Telecom Contact.

Bell Mobility device catalog (Preferred vendor): https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Smartphones_and_mobile_internet_devices

Bell pricing is based on the "Our device full price" amount.

How do I get a new cell phone or replace my phone?

Contact your departmental Telecom contact to get your department’s approval for your request.

If you do not know who your departmental Telecom contact is please check this list
Telecom contacts will submit a TEMS order .The order will include your department’s approval, the speedcode for the monthly recurring charges and purchase of the cell phone, your name and choice of cell phone style, memory (i.e. 16GB) and colour. If applicable, it will also include your request for a “492” number.

Am I eligible for a “492” number on my cell phone?

Individuals who only need a cellular phone (and not a desk phone) are eligible to request a “492” number be associated with their device. This number will be included in the “Find a Person” online directory. This service is offered at no additional cost, as it is covered by the $15.00 administration fee.

Please indicate your eligibility and request for a “492” number when you contact your telecom representative to request a phone and number.

How do I receive my new phone?

Your new phone will be shipped to thew shipping address that was supplied by your Telecom contact at the time the device order was placed.

Support

Where do I get support?

Once the phone has been delivered, please request support using the same process as you normally do for IT inquiries. If you are unsure about the best place to contact, please contact the IST Service Desk at (780) 492-8000. We will either resolve or route your request to the appropriate area.

We will keep you informed throughout the whole process, so you don’t need to worry.

I still have questions about this plan. Whom can I ask for more details?

You can contact your designated department telecom representative. If you do not know who your departmental telecom contact is, please check this list. Alternatively, if you are unsure about the best place to contact, please contact the IST Service Desk at (780) 492-8000. We will either answer your question or route your request to the appropriate area.