Wow. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside

 

It's about time, My blackberry has been on the way out for a bit now

 

Congrats belus users!
Maybe we'll see some competition on iPhone plans now… naw

 

Very nice.

I canned my Bell contract in June for a $100 ECF (in favor of Fido and a 3GS iPhone), but I don't regret it. Fido has been fantastic, and Bell service and support for my last cellphone with them was downright brutal. I wouldn't go with Bell in any case.

But still, it's nice to see more carriers can now carry the iPhone in Canada.

 

GSM is the future, and GSM is the world.

.

 

GSM is the past, UMTS is now and LTE is the future. GSM/UMTS is the world, mostly.

Poor Qualcomm. Time to sell.

 

This maybe a stupid question, but If I want to upgrade from my current BB Pearl, would the iphone cost more than standard $199? I just signed up for my 3 year contract last month.

Also, has the exact date the iphone will be available been released yet?

 

You probably aren't eligible for an upgrade yet lambda, probably have to pay full price for the phone if you want it now.

 

Assuming all the rumors are correct and Bell starts carrying iphones as early as Nov, how much will the iphone cost me if I am not eligable for the upgrade.

Also, what factors would determine if I am eligible for the upgrade?

 

@lambda - No information in regards to the iPhone itself has been released. That said the news report is not official yet. The report does say that early next week we *should be* hearing official news about the iPhone on Telus and Bell's networks.

Neither Bell nor Telus would confirm that they would add the iPhone to their lineups. Apple also declined to comment. But people familiar with the matter said the two carriers will announce a working partnership with Apple as early as Tuesday or Wednesday and begin selling the device in time for the launch of their new network next month.

 

Sweet news! Although, (Having just got my iphone setup from rogers this month) even if rogers prices drop to compete with telus that wont effect any of us already on a contract right?

And it would be kinda hard to justify buying out the contract to switch to Telus. Even if its 20$ a month cheaper, if you have 2 and a half years(30 months) left on a rogers contract that would be 600$ in savings if you stayed at the same plan(for 30 months with telus), and you wouldn't be locked into a contract for any of that time. But you would have to pay what, 400$ to break the data/voice agreement with rogers? So I guess it would save you money in the long run.

Although, somehow I doubt Telus is going to be that much cheaper. I imagine they would start with an unlimited data package to attract people, But 20/month cheaper would defiantly be pushing it. Unless you were to cut your plan back alot.

 

Assuming the rumors are correct and Bell starts carrying the iphone starting nov, how much will it cost me if I am not elligible for the upgrade?

Also, what factors determine whether someone is eligible for the upgrade?

 

Upgrade from what, and with whom?

Whatever Bell is offering, and if they are for certain, you won't know until they actually say. No one here or anywhere else can do anything but guess--heck, you could probably guess just as well, and tell us. Bell could change their plans any time until you actually buy a phone, and then they can change your wireless plan after you have a signed agreement.

 

Anything that forces Rogers to be a reasonable company is a good thing... Even though I'm not much of a fan of Bell and Telus either.

 

Since when did The Globe & Mail become the official press release issuing division of Apple?

Nothing is official until we see it from Apple.

 

I don't believe it was Apple who issued any press release for vodaphone or orange in the uk.

Still, confirmation from Belus may be in order before people start making a mess in their underwear.

 

Have a friend that left Rogers' to help Telus develop and roll out HSPA. He's been talking about this for a couple years already, however, I never thought the day would come. It's not official, but very welcome indeed. I won't be breaking my Rogers' contract anytime soon but, i am hoping it means better rates.

 

just in time..my contact is set to expire this month

Yeah Baby!!!


CTV.ca | CTV News, Shows and Sports - Canadian Television

That news report didn't say they were getting it for sure. You are still right though. The news announcement will be official today from Bell and Apple. Just got the memo. Bell will be releasing the iPhone in November.

 

Bell Canada Enterprises :: All News Releases by Category

Bell Canada press statement

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 6 2009 -- Bell and Apple have reached an
agreement to bring iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS to Canada this November.
To learn more about Bell's new 3G network, please visit bell.ca/network
or bell.ca/reseau.

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and
business with solutions to all their communications needs, including Bell
Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell TV direct-to-home satellite
television, Bell Home phone local and long distance, and IP-broadband and
information and communications technology (ICT) services. Bell is proud to be
a Premier National Partner and the exclusive Telecommunications Partner to
the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For information on
Bell's products and services, please visit bell.ca. For BCE corporate
information, please visit bce.ca.

 

Just to back it up even more ....

Bell Canada (TSX:BCE) says it will begin
offering two models of the Apple iPhone smartphone in November, a
move that will put added pressure on rival Rogers Communications
(TSX:RCI.B).
It will be the first time Bell has offered Apple smartphones,
which have only worked in Canada on the Rogers wireless network.
It's been anticpated for months that Bell and Telus Corp. (TSX:T)
would begin offering Apple smartphones once the two phone companies
rolled out their new wireless networks.
Bell announced Monday that its new high-speed wireless network
will be ready across the country in November, ahead of its original
deadline.
The Montreal-based company said Tuesday it has an agreement with
Apple to start offering the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in November.
Bell has Canada's second-largest installed base of wireless
customers after Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B), which also
owns the Fido brand.

 

^^^
Are they going to catch up with the rest of the world and go GSM as well? Do they have any plans to roll out 4G services, or are they just going to remain retrograde dinosaurs? Not that I would ever "go Bell" - after spending so much time trying to get away from Bell...

 

There's no CDMA iPhone for sale so they're using GSM

 

It does indeed look like Bell is going 3G and 4G GSM.

To my ears, the old analog system on Rogers (TDMA) sounded way better than anything digital, including GSM but especially better than the tinny crap that Bell and Telus phones offer.

GSM sounds just fine these days especially with higher capacity phones and service. At least where I am.

I'm looking forward to seeing what a Bell GSM phone sounds like, and comparing plans.

 

Check out Telus mobility home page:

TELUS Mobility - Canada's top wireless phone company

 

I've been seeing Bell and Telus in my analytics for the iPhone apps that I see for months(probably 6 months or more) and it didn't make sense. Now it does.

 

So here's a question: Now that we know the iPhone is going to Bell and Telus on a GSM network, how many of you will bolt to Telus or Bell just to get away from Rogers?

 

Both conglomerates are terrible, so switching really is pointless, as they are both robbers. However, at least with Rogers you get some coverage area, and less pathetic customer service. That doesn't say much, since all of these companies have pretty bad coverage areas, and bad customer service - though at least with Rogers, you're not going to be transfered to a dozen people in half an hour because no one seems to have the ability at Bell to fix any actual problems.

Once this country goes GSM - then they need to open the door to competition, and not some vapour company or sham operation, but real carriers that other countries use. Our rates are far too high, technology far to retrograde, coverage areas too pathetic - so we need some new blood to mix things up, so we can get decent phones with decent service at a price that is less than the ransom a Mongol horde may ask for...

 

I would

I'm currently with Fido (non-iphone).

I have been waiting for some competition before I dove in.

I have wanted an iPhone since they came out in Canada. Originally had no need for one as I had a company-supplied BBerry. Now that I'm on my own work wise, I will seriously consider making a switch to Bell.

 

Here's some speculation from the Globe:

Will iPhone saturation lower its price for Canadian consumers? - The Globe and Mail

From the article:

"Mr. Restivo said he doesn't expect Bell and Telus to introduce the iPhone at prices that differ dramatically from Rogers. However he added that the companies will likely want to launch with some kind of deal."

 

I'd love to bolt, but have two years left on my Rogers contract. I wonder if Bell will do anything to win over new customers--like offer to pay out my Rogers contract.
Any chance they will do anything like that????? They would make their money back after two months.

 

I thought about this too... perhaps Belus will be willing to unlock our Rogers/Fido iPhones (maybe for a small fee). Then they pay out the ECF for voice (up to $400) and data (up to $100 if applicable) instead of subsidizing the hardware cost. Then they force you to take a 3 yr contract with them. We'll see when the time comes...

 

I'm not so much bolting, as I feel vindicated for waiting. I most certainly wanted an iPhone, but I am adamantly against using Rogers as a service provider. As long as using Rogers was the requirement, I was not going to get one.

Telus has been a good provider for me for several years, and not having the iPhone was literally the only thing I could point to as being unhappy about.

I'll be in line the day they release them.

 

This has been my sentiment exactly. I've been with Telus since the Clearnet days and wouldn't have it any other way. Finally time for an iPhone.