Filed under: Apple Corporate, iPhone
Bell, Telus end Canadian iPhone exclusivity
The iPhone was slow to launch in Canada and after a rocky start, Rogers has been the exclusive carrier. That changed this week when Bell and Telus both announced independent deals with Apple. Starting in November, each will carry the 3G an 3GS. Just in time for holiday shopping! Keen customers know that both Bell and Telus are CDMA-only right now. However, they've both pledged to deploy compatible HSPA networks that will serve as an inroad to 4G.
Neither company has released details like pricing, plans, etc., but Telus has set up a web page for interested customers.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tim said 1:08PM on 10-06-2009
now lets see if the other carriers become as greedy as Rogers.com has become.
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Michael Jones said 1:21PM on 10-06-2009
Umm, just so you know, Mr. Rogers wore a red sweater all the time. The only thing added here was the iPhone in his hand, because Apple wanted to be his neighbor.
http://bit.ly/1aeN7G
snowy2004 said 1:23PM on 10-06-2009
Since it's been about a year since I had my Broadcast History course, I might just be imagining things but didn't Mr. Rogers (I think the joke is there, anyway) originate, very early on, in Canada before going to the states?
iBearTouch said 3:12PM on 10-06-2009
Bell Mobility isn't greedy???
WTF
Andrew T. said 11:31PM on 10-06-2009
Nah not really. Bell already being considered the worse of the three will do anything to keep you as a customer so you can basically have your way with them especially if your contract is expiring. Rogers on the other hand, they don't give a rats ass since everyone flocks to them anyway.
Been a Bell customer for 10+ years and haven't considered leaving them once with all the stuff I'm getting!
Devon said 2:17PM on 10-06-2009
I don't think that Rogers had an exlusive deal with Apple. Rogers/Fido was the only GSM network in Canada which is now changing.
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jf said 2:27PM on 10-06-2009
It's almost time some newcomers steps in the bandwagon of cellular services...I didn't want to use Rodgers as my main cellular service provider since I am with Bell for residential phone and Internet.My wife has a cellular with Bell Mobility so I will have some kind of rebates since I have three services with Bell:can't wait to join the rest of the world in the IPhone hype!
Jean-Francois Laferte
Terrebonne
quebec Canada
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Tired_ said 2:35PM on 10-06-2009
Ok, so how much is it to get out of my Rogers contract?
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j0ram said 3:57PM on 10-06-2009
"Ok, so how much is it to get out of my Rogers contract?"
....um, and Bell is a better alternative?
hadrion said 4:10PM on 10-06-2009
Yeah, or Telus? The worst of them all?
iBearTouch said 3:14PM on 10-06-2009
I waited and waited. Now I can drop my BB Pearl into the sewer and pick up a nice 8 Gig iPhone 3Gs, that doesn't lag and bog down. *pumps fist* He shoots he scores ^_^
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Adam said 3:43PM on 10-07-2009
There is no 8 GB 3GS. The 8 GB sold by Rogers is the 3G, and I'm sure it will be the same with Telus and Bell.
Tired said 3:21PM on 10-06-2009
been scouring the interweb for the answer to this, no luck yet...
will the existing roger's iphones work on bell's network, and vise versa when people discover that bell is just as evil as rogers?
this reminds me of the douche/turd southpark episode.
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deus said 5:07PM on 10-06-2009
Yes they will (as far as frequencies go). They will however need to be unlocked as the iPhones that rogers sells currently are sim-locked to the the Rogers/Fido network.
Tired said 6:06PM on 10-06-2009
so, a new sim provided by bell would just slide in and away you go?
Tommy said 4:52PM on 10-07-2009
A Sim lock means that you can't use a Bell Sim in a Rogers phone... the device is locked to only accept SIMs from certain carriers (in this case Rogers or Fido)
bjhanifin said 10:21PM on 10-06-2009
I'm soooo jealous, yet excited at the same time! First England, now Canada. Please announce Verizon in the US is next!!!
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macserv said 9:17AM on 10-07-2009
Anyone else a little annoyed at the use of an icon like Fred Rogers for such a crappy joke?
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andrew said 12:59PM on 10-16-2009
The Bell/Telus network is not "pledged," it's live and ready to roll. I snagged a screenshot on my iPhone displaying a network named "302880" in Whitehorse, Yukon yesterday (http://wp.me/p3FZ7-sW). That's been reported to be the Bell/Telus network in action on many forums and blogs.
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Wayne Davis said 2:51AM on 10-20-2009
302880 has been showing as available on my Rogers phone for the last 2 days here in Victoria