FAQs
Mike's Direct Connect Enhancements
Service Overview
Reaching your Mike and U.S.-based Direct Connect Contacts
New Service Limitations and Troubleshooting
New Mike Users - Service Options
Fleet and Network
Billing
Service Overview
How has Mike's Direct
Connect improved?
We've made significant enhancements to Mike's Direct Connect
service:
- Cross-network Direct Connect - In July 2003, we enabled
you to Direct Connect with people outside of your own Mike Network
(IndustryNet) to access hundreds of thousands of users from our
Public Networks (IndustryNet).
- National Direct Connect - In October 2003, we enabled
you to Direct Connect right across Mike's Canadian coverage areas,
whether you were at home or on the road. This gave you access
to Direct Connect users from as far away as Victoria to Quebec
City - a distance of almost 4,000 kilometres.
- Cross-border Direct Connect - Now as of May 2004, you
can Direct Connect with your Mike and over 13 million U.S.-based
Direct Connect contacts across Canada AND the United States.
Where do I find
my full Direct Connect number?
For handset models:
· i30sx, i35s, i55sr, i58sr, i60c, i80s, i85s, i90c, i95cl,
i205, i305, i530, i730: Press 'menu'; select 'My info' and view
"Prvt ID".
· i500plus, i550plus, i700plus, i1000plus: Press *#2.
Why is the Direct Connect
number longer?
To access more contacts, the network needs to know where the
specific user is located. Direct Connect numbers are now dialed using
the following three parts, separated by stars:
- Area ID (or Urban ID)
- Fleet ID
- Member ID
What Mike
service can i use while travelling in the U.S.?
While in the U.S., you can:
- Use your digital phone to call back to Canada and within the
U.S.
- Direct Connect your Mike contacts and any U.S. based Direct Connect
contacts while in the U.S. as well as back to Canada. Limitations
apply if a client has a legacy handset or is a Private User
- Access Packet Data services, messaging, web browsing and e-mail.
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Reaching your Mike and U.S.-based Direct Connect Contacts
When do I enter a user's
full Direct Connect number?
If a Direct Connect user has an Area ID and Fleet ID that
matches yours (i.e. you are on the same Fleet), you can simply enter
their Member ID to contact them, no matter where they are situated.
Otherwise, you will need to enter their Area ID + Fleet ID + Member
ID, separated by stars. Example: 123*4*1234. If you are unsure if
a contact is your Fleet, simply enter their full Direct Connect number
to contact them.
NOTE: We recommend saving all NEW contacts into your Mike using their
full Direct Connect number so you can easily Direct Connect with people
outside your Fleet. (For more information about storing Direct Connect
numbers in your handset, see your Mike
User Guide.
Do I need to re-program
all the contacts in my handset's phonebook?
No, you won't have to modify your existing Mike phonebook .
Only future contacts that have different Area and Fleet ID's need
to be programmed in with their full Direct Connect number.
When do I enter a contact's
Member ID only?
When the Area ID and Fleet ID of your contact match your own
(i.e. when you are on the same Fleet).
What is a UFMI?
A Universal Fleet Member ID (UFMI) is the same thing as a full
Direct Connect number. The full Direct Connect number has always existed
and is now required to take full advantage of Mike's enhanced Direct
Connect services.
Can all Mike users
take advantage of Direct Connect when they travel across Canada and
the U.S.?
Yes - all Mike users except those with Legacy handsets. However,
private users can only Direct Connect with members of their own fleet.
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New Service Limitations and Troubleshooting
Aside from Private
User restrictions, are there any limitations to taking full advantage
of Mike's Direct Connect enhancements?
Yes, Legacy handsets, and out-of-range Direct Connect numbers
cannot use the new Direct Connect capabilities.
What is a Legacy handset?
All Mike handsets introduced earlier than the SIM-based (Smart
Card) and Plus-Series models are considered Legacy handsets. These
include:
- Control Stations: c370 and 3470
- Mobile Units: m100, m370, m470
- Portable Units: R340, R470, i370, i470, i600, i1000
What Mike enhancements
are supported by Legacy handsets?
Clients with Legacy handsets will be able to Direct Connect
their Fleet members only while roaming across Canada. You will not
be able to use Direct Connect while travelling in the U.S..
What is an out-of-range
Direct Connect number?
Out-of-range refers to an incompatible Direct Connect number.
Out-of-range numbers only exist within some of our former Private
Fleets. Clients with these numbers cannot Direct Connect outside of
their Fleet. All clients who activate after July 20, 2003 will be
given in-range Direct Connect numbers.
What Mike enhancements
are supported by out-of-range Direct Connect numbers?
Clients with these numbers can Direct Connect while travelling
in Canada and the U.S. with other members of their Fleet only.
Can my out-of-range
Direct Connect number be changed?
Yes, but you will have to change your Member ID number. Visit
a TELU.S. Mobility authorized dealer or contact our Client Care centre
for details.
Why am I having difficulty
using Direct Connect with others in my company?
Check the following:
- Your Fleet ID numbers may be different. Enter the Area ID, Fleet
ID and Member ID separated by stars, i.e.: 905*14*2322.
- The person you're trying to contact may have a Legacy handset.
See What is a Legacy handset
above.
- Your company may be made up of multiple Fleets and you or their
contact may have your Private User features enabled, meaning your
handsets won't allow you to Direct Connect with users in other
Fleets.
Why am I having difficulty
using Direct Connect with others in another company or industry?
Check the following:
- Your Fleet ID numbers may be different. Enter the Area ID, Fleet
ID and Member ID separated by stars.
- One of you may have a Legacy handset. See What
is a Legacy handset above
- Your company may be made up of Fleets and you or your contact
may have your Private User features turned on, meaning your handsets
won't allow you to Direct Connect with users outside your own
Fleets.
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New Mike Users - Service Options
What options are available
to me as a new Mike client?
Choose from the following three options to best suit your individual
or business requirements:
| Option |
Notes |
Characteristics |
Benefits |
| Sign up
as a Mike User |
Anyone signing
up as a Mike User will receive the same Personal Telephone
Number (PTN) and Direct Connect number. |
Phone number and Direct Connect
number match.
Roaming capabilities across
Canada. and the U.S..
Short dialing capabilities
with Mike Users whose Area ID and Fleet ID match your
own.
|
Instant access to hundreds
of thousands of Mike Users and 13 million U.S.-based Direct
Connect users.
Easy to remember - phone
numbers and Direct Connect numbers match with.
Increased range - reach important
contacts while travelling outside of your home region,
across Canada and the U.S..
Instant access to hundreds
of thousands of Mike Users and 13 million U.S.-based Direct
Connect users. (when Private User feature is disabled).
|
| Sign up
to a Fleet |
Formerly called Private Fleets
|
Ability to Direct Connect
with other members within your Fleet across Canada and
the U.S..
Ability to Direct Connect
with other Mike Users (when Private User feature is
disabled).
Allows Private Users.
Allows Talkgroups.
Short dialing capabilities.
Ability to Direct Connect
with other Mike Users while across Canada and the U.S..
(when Private User feature is disabled).
|
Control who employees can
Direct Connect by turning the Private User feature on
or off.
Direct Connect with more
contacts regardless of industry.
Increase productivity by
using. Talkgroups
Business as usual - use short
(Member ID) dialing.
Increased range- take Direct
Connect on the road. Direct Connect with Fleet members
while travelling together in Canada. Direct Connect
with other Mike Users by disabling Private User feature.
|
| Sign up
to a Shared Fleet |
Formerly called Private Shared
Fleets.
Shared Fleets require a signed
agreement between partnering companies.
|
Allows Private Users to Direct
Connect between partnered Canadian companies in Canada
and the U.S..
Allows Talkgroups between
partnered Canadian companies.
Phone and Direct Connect
numbers do not match.
Ability to Direct Connect
with members within Shared Fleet. Ability to Direct
Connect with other Mike users and U.S.-based users (when
Private User feature is disabled).
Short dialing capabilities
Roaming capabilities for
in-region contacts within Fleet across Canada and the
U.S..
Ability to Direct Connect
with other Mike Users across Canada and the U.S.. (when
Private User feature is disabled).
|
Control who employees can
Direct Connect by turning the Private User feature on
or off.
Direct Connect with more
contacts - regardless of industry.
Increase productivity by
using Talkgroups.
Business as usual - use short
(Member ID) dialing.
Increased range - take Direct
Connect on the road. Direct Connect with Fleet members
while travelling together in Canada and the U.S.. Direct
Connect with other Mike Users or 13 million U.S.-based
Direct Connect users by disabling Private User feature.
|
|
How do I decide whether
to be a Mike User or Fleet client?
You should be in a Fleet if you answer "yes" to either of the
following questions:
- Do you now, or will you ever require Talkgroups?
- Do you now, or will you ever want to restrict employees' Direct
Connect contacts?
If you don't require the above services, you should activate as
a Mike user. That will give you the convenience of having the same
phone and Direct Connect numbers.
If I sign-up as
a Mike user originally, can I switch to a Fleet later?
Yes, however, you will have to change your phone number,
(which matches your Direct Connect number) to a Fleet Direct Connect
number.
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Fleet and Network
What happens to
existing Fleets and Networks?
Since Mike Network subscribers can Direct Connect regardless
of their industry, clients are no longer activated on former Mike
Networks (otherwise known as Industry Nets).
Add-ons to accounts on existing, specific Mike Networks will be
allowed, but are not mandatory. Existing Mike Network clients are
now considered Mike Users.
What happens to
Mike Networks (Public Fleets)?
There is no change - existing clients remain on the network
they were assigned to. All new subscribers are required to use the
full Direct Connect number to communicate with people on former
Mike/Industry Networks.
What happens to
Private-Shared Fleets?
Existing Private-Shared Fleet users won't undergo any changes.
After July 20, 2003 clients wanting to set-up a new Private-Shared
Fleet will be required to sign an agreement.
How do these enhancements
affect Talkgroups?
There are no changes to existing Talkgroups. Talkgroups are
still available to clients on Fleets - they are not available to
PTN clients (Mike public users).
Billing
Will Mike's new
Direct Connect enhancements cost more?
No, regular Direct Connect local and/or long distance airtime
charges apply across Canada. See How
am I billed for Direct Connect calls below. Direct Connect calls
in the U.S. are extra - see below.
How am I billed
for Direct Connect calls?
In Canada - local Direct Connect airtime is deducted from the total minutes included in your monthly plan.
For international Direct Connect long-distance calls, long-distance charges may be applicable. See our Mike rate
plans section for details.
In the U.S. - for all Direct Connect calls from Canada to the U.S.
long distance charges do not apply. All Direct Connect calls made
within the U.S. to Canada will not be charged for roaming or long
distance.
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