Updates on iPhone on Bell in Canada
Last week Canadian carriers Bell and Telus announced that they would be offering the iPhone to customers. At the time details were scarce, but this week more information is available.Electronista's sources report that Bell will get the iPhone 3G and 3GS on November 4th, just as their HSPA-based 3G network goes live. Releasing the iPhone 3G and 3GS on the same day as a brand-new network ... what could go wrong there?
Information on plans is still sketchy. It's been suggested that users will be able to use Bell's existing Combo plans with the iPhone, but that's not clear at this point. The pricing of the phone itself will be the same, according to Electronista, and contract-free models will be an option at $599, $699 and $799 each.
To receive the latest information directly from Bell, sign up at their information page.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ProfessorDex said 12:37PM on 10-14-2009
Releasing the iPhone the same day as opening up a brand new network. That is such a recipe for disaster, but doesn't really surprise me from a company like Bell.
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Dave Wood said 1:17PM on 10-14-2009
I don't see the problem with releasing the new network and the iPhone at the same time. If they launch the network, but have no phones that can use it, is it really launched?
At least releasing it with phones that are known to work (on Rogers etc), you can narrow any problems down to the network, not the phone.
ProfessorDex said 2:43PM on 10-14-2009
Working phones on a network with bugs.....Bell might as well change their name to AT&T!
Rob said 12:17AM on 11-05-2009
I got an iphone this morning at 10:00 am and it is now 10:15pm and I'm still still not connected to the new network. Bell did manage to screw it up big time. They can't even get my old Blackberry back on the network. Think twice about getting an iphone from Bell. At a minimum wait.
Roberto Felgueiras said 12:50PM on 10-14-2009
yeah, I think I'll be waiting till next june... by then the next model will be out and the networks will be tested and updated. Besides it's not like Bell is available in Manitoba yet anyway.
Give me some Telus News!!!
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homagetogorto said 2:05PM on 10-14-2009
You can sign up on the Telus site to be notified of their iPhone plans:
http://promotions.telus.com/registration/
Roberto Felgueiras said 2:25PM on 10-14-2009
Yeah, I got on that ship when it was announced... I want leaky news they haven't announced yet, like planned rates and projected launch dates. I guess it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to assume that telus will launch on the same day that Bell does, but they don't have very good data rates.
For those complaining about launching the iPhone on their new network on the same day, I wouldn't be too worried. I'm starting to remember that bell and telus were testing their 3G network as early as a few months ago (read on a few tech sites months back about unknown, oddly labeled GSM signals showing up in metro canadian areas), I'm sure they have been properly stress-tested. It's not like the iPhone was just released in Canada and it's not like it's a new model launch. THAT would be disaster.
Kev orng said 3:08PM on 10-14-2009
There's no point in signing up for updates; anytime I've ever done that, I've received more and better updates sooner from my RSS feeds! Invariably, the email they send announcing that the service has launched will get to me two or three days after it's been thoroughly hashed out on the internet.
Dave said 1:06PM on 10-14-2009
Bell is the worst telecom provider in Canada. I am so thankful I abandoned their services years ago. Not so much for their actual services, but their prices are so high and their customer service is so horrible it cannot be adequately articulated.
I can only imagine what they'll be charging for iPhone plans. If people went into a rage at Rogers' initial plans, Bell's can only be worse.
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jf said 2:56PM on 10-14-2009
Is there a provider or a company out there that has not been having even the smallest problems with a first launch of any sort?
Bell and Telus are well established companies and they are doing their best to provide good customer support:remember that even Apple was not the best of all companies for customer support.....Everyone learn from their mistakes and at the eve of launching their IPhone,Bell and Telus are going to make sure they do it the right way as they are sponsors for the winter olympics in Vancouver!
Jean-Francois Laferte
Quebec,Canada
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Roberto Felgueiras said 3:10PM on 10-14-2009
good point. Are they joint sponsors?
Roberto Felgueiras said 3:12PM on 10-14-2009
Anyone know if Apple will be signing up people in their apple stores? If that is the case will they be setting up for all three (or two, depending on your province) in store?
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jf said 7:11PM on 10-14-2009
Roberto,
Only Bell got the bid for the winter olympics:
Bell beats out Telus to sponsor B.C.'s 2010 Olympics
Article Abstract:
Bell Canada has edged out Telus Corp. as the official telecommunications sponsor for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler with a $200-million bid. Bell's bid includes Canadian $90-million in cash, $60-million worth of communications services, along with $50-million in cash and in-kind commitments to be used on marketing, and support of sport, first nations and local communities.
But Telus will be around as sponsors for some sports teams....
JF
Olivier said 4:14PM on 10-14-2009
Does that mean that when I travel to places where there is no Rogers signal, I can hop on Bellus' towers?
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Roberto Felgueiras said 4:27PM on 10-14-2009
yes, but there is rogers coverage everywhere. it's the only real national carrier.
Jon said 5:02PM on 10-14-2009
Bell/Telus & Rogers would have to have some kind of roam agreement in place for that to happen. I haven't heard either way, but it seems highly unlikely either would go for that
robb said 11:28PM on 10-14-2009
Roberto -
What are you talking about? Telus coverage is generally better than Rogers, and is most certainly "national." Bell doesn't serve all provinces, but both Telus and Rogers do.
http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless_network
http://images.comparecellular.com/coveragemaps/135/large.jpg
Oliver - You might very well be able to roam to a Bell or Telus tower. And pay a fortune for the privilege.
Roberto Felgueiras said 10:35AM on 10-15-2009
@ robb
What I meant was I don't think Telus is sold in every province, much like bell - which I can't sign up for in Manitoba.
I've had both here in Winnipeg and when I had a Rogers contract 5 years ago I never got a dropped call in the city. I have been on Telus for the last two years and I have my calls dropped weekly, in fact if you drive less than 5 minutes out of the city you get nothing - like nothing - as far as coverage goes. I can see that the map looks fairly impressive but how does a network from 5 years ago and a similarly aged phone become more reliable than a current network run by Telus? Hell, I loose my signal walking into Costco.
jstephe said 8:06PM on 10-14-2009
Where are they going to get the iPhones? Apple can not keep up with the demand Rogers has placed on them never mind 2 more carriers!
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George Muenz said 9:17PM on 10-14-2009
Knowing Bell as I do, prepare for a major fiasco.
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