Carriers #
Once you break the smartphone upgrade cycle, where you’re buying a new phone every few years, it quickly becomes apparent that not all mobile carriers have as much feature parity as it may seem from a distance. Many carriers operate slightly different bands, deprecate certain features, or are just a little too pushy in trying to get you to drop your old smartphone or dumbphone for the newest, latest and best.
This list covers details you should be aware of if you’re interested in using a Dumbphone (or older smartphone) as your daily device. Additionally, we track the latest APN settings which dumbphones frequently need to be entered manually in order to access data.
Discover any issues with your carriers? Anything wrong with this list? Email Us.
Canadian Carriers #
Canadaians are fairly limited in regards to their choice in Carrier, and most of them have pretty equivalent functionality - differences are highlighted below.
Fido #
Rogers (Fido’s parent company) claims to have begun their 3G and 2G shutdown process in June 2021, but many customers still report functionality on that band.
Band Information
GSM ~ EDGE (2G) ~ on band 5 (850MHz).
UMTS or WCDMA ~ HSPA (3G) / HSPA+ (4G) ~ on band 5 (850 MHz).
To access LTE, the device must be compatible with one or more of the following:
700 MHz on Band 12;
850MHz on Band 5;
1900 MHz on Band 2, Band 25;
1700/2100 MHz on Band 4, Band 66;
2600 MHz on Band 7.
APN Settings
APN: Fido-core-appl1.apn
If you have a LTE device, use the following APN: LTEMOBILE.APN
MMSC: http://mms.fido.ca
MMS Proxy: 205.151.11.13 MMS Port: 80
Leave these fields blank: Proxy, Port, User Name, Password and Server.
Koodo #
Telus (Koodo’s parent company) intends to shutdown 3G service by December 31, 2025.
UMTS or WCDMA ~ HSPA (3G) / HSPA+ (4G) ~ on band 5 (850 MHz) & band 2 (1.9GHz). To access LTE, the device must be compatible with one or more of the following:
600 MHz DD on Band 71
700 MHz on Band 12/13/17/29;
850MHz on Band 5/26;
1900 MHz on Band 2, Band 25;
2600 MHz on Band 7. Name: Koodo APN: sp.koodo.com Proxy: Leave blank Port: Leave blank Username: Leave blank Password: Leave blank Server: Leave blank MMSC:
http://aliasredirect.net/proxy/koodo/mmsc MMSC proxy: mmscproxy.mobility.ca MMS port: 8799 MCC: 302 MNC: 220 Authentication type: Leave blank APN type: default,supl,mmsBand Information
APN Settings
Lucky Mobile #
Band Information
APN Settings
Name: Lucky Mobile
APN: connect MMSC: http://mms.luckymobile.ca/mms/wapenc APN Type: default,dun,supl,mms
Public Mobile #
Telus (Public Mobile’s parent company) intends to shutdown 3G service by December 31, 2025.
As of February 24, 2024, changes in their network means that MMS on most devices released before 2017 will not work. You will be limited to SMS and iMessage.
People have reported some success updating their APN settings manually to get around these issues.
Interested in Trying Public Mobile? Use this link to get $10 off your first month.
Band Information
UMTS or WCDMA ~ HSPA (3G) / HSPA+ (4G) ~ on band 5 (850 MHz) & band 2 (1.9GHz).
To access LTE, the device must be compatible with one or more of the following: 600 MHz DD on Band 71 700 MHz on Band 12/13/17/29; 850MHz on Band 5/26; 1900 MHz on Band 2, Band 25; 2600 MHz on Band 7.
APN Settings
Name: Public Mobile
APN: sp.mb.com
Proxy: Leave blank
Port: Leave blank
Username: Leave blank
Password: Leave blank
Server: Leave blank
MMSC: http://aliasredirect.net/proxy/mb/mmsc
MMSC proxy: 74.49.0.18
MMS port: 80
MCC: 302
MNC: 220
Authentication type: Leave blank
APN type: Leave blank
Rogers #
Rogers claims to have begun their 3G and 2G shutdown process in June 2021, but many customers still report functionality on that band.
Band Information
APN Settings
Name: Rogers
APN: ltemobile.apn
Proxy: Leave blank
Port: Leave blank
Username: Leave blank
Password: Leave blank
Server: Leave blank
MMSC: http://mms.gprs.rogers.com
MMSC proxy: mmscproxy.rogers.com
MMS port: 80
Authentication type: Leave blank
APN type: internet,mms
Telus #
Telus intends to sunset (shutdown) 3G access on December 31, 2025.
Band Information
UMTS or WCDMA ~ HSPA (3G) / HSPA+ (4G) ~ on band 5 (850 MHz) & band 2 (1.9GHz).
To access LTE, the device must be compatible with one or more of the following: 600 MHz DD on Band 71 700 MHz on Band 12/13/17/29; 850MHz on Band 5/26; 1900 MHz on Band 2, Band 25; 2600 MHz on Band 7.
APN Settings
Name: Telus
APN: sp.telus.com
Proxy: Leave blank
Port: Leave blank
Username: Leave blank
Password: Leave blank
Server: Leave blank
MMSC: http://aliasredirect.net/proxy/mmsc
MMSC proxy: mmscproxy.mobility.ca
MMS port: 8799
MCC: 302
MNC: 220
Authentication type: Leave blank
APN type: default,supl,mms
Virgin + Virgin Plus #
Band Information
APN Setting
Name: Virgin Plus
APN: pda.bell.ca
Proxy: web.wireless.bell.ca
Port: 80
Username: Leave blank
Password: Leave blank
Server: Leave blank
MMSC: http://mms.bell.ca/mms/wapenc
MMS proxy: web.wireless.bell.ca
MMS port: 80
MMS protocol: WAP 2.0
MCC: 302
MNC: 610
APN type: blank