Bell now offering iPhone, aims to undercut Rogers

 

 
 
 
 
A model shows a 3G iPhone during its launch and sale in Hong Kong on July 11, 2008. Apple's international launch of iPhone 3G began in New Zealand and Japan on July 11, as a freshly-opened 'App Store' tempted fans with independently created mini-programs for the coveted devices.
 

A model shows a 3G iPhone during its launch and sale in Hong Kong on July 11, 2008. Apple's international launch of iPhone 3G began in New Zealand and Japan on July 11, as a freshly-opened 'App Store' tempted fans with independently created mini-programs for the coveted devices.

Photograph by: Andrew Ross, AFP/Getty Images

Bell Canada starting selling and servicing the iPhone today, ending rival Rogers’ exclusive offering of the popular Apple device.

Bell’s new HSPA network has data speeds of up to 21 megabits per second on new devices that are geared for the network, which is a joint initiative with Telus.

Customers with older phones and devices will continue to be served with Bell’s EVDO network.

Bell’s pricing starts at $199 for the 16 gigabyte version of the 3GS with a three year contract. The 32 gigabyte model sells for $299.

There are also the monthly fees that start at $45, a monthly system access fee of $6.95, a monthly e911 emergency service fee and activation fee of $35.

All of the combo data plans for the iPhone include tethering, which means Bell iPhone customers can use their phones as a wireless modem for their computers to transmit data.

The $45 combo includes 100 anytime local minutes, a bonus 50 local minutes, local Fab Five, which is unlimited calling and text to five local numbers of the user’s choice, 500 MB of data and unlimited local nights and weekends that start at 9 p.m. and end at 7 a.m.

Bell’s $55 combo for the iPhone goes up to 300 anytime local minutes, the same local Fab Five as the $45 combo, one gigabyte of data for email and Internet browsing and the same unlimited local nights and weekends.

Combo 75, at $75 plus the added fees, has the features of the lower-priced plans but local anytime minutes are increased to 400, the Fab Five is extended to unlimited calling and text Canada-wide and data increases to two GB.

The highest priced of Bell’s iPhone combo plans, the Combo 95, includes 500 anytime local minutes along with the rest of the features of the Combo 75.

The plans all include unlimited WiFi at Starbucks. Additional minutes are 35 cents/minute, as is long distance for Canada and the U.S. The $75 and $95 plans include call display, visual voicemail, message centre, call waiting and conference calling. The $45 and $55 plans include call waiting and conference calling.

Additional data costs three cents per megabyte but if you are in the U.S., roaming data costs are $6 per MB, so don’t leave your wireless data on if you don’t want unexpected surprises on your bills. Here is the link to Bell’s iPhone combo pricing plans.

The iPhone was among nine new devices announced today by Bell. Others include the Samsung Omnia II, the LG Xenon, the Blackberry Bold 9700 and others listed here. The company also released the Novatel U998 TurboStick, a wireless modem for the new network that is capable of delivering speeds of up to 21 megabits per second.

Bell customers with the Samsung Omnia II or the LG Xenon can also make two-way video calls on the Bell network for $5 a month for unlimited local video calling. The company also launched a Facebook application for video calling that will let users talk to their Facebook friends anywhere in the world without long distance charges. That app is included in the video calling plan.

Telus launches the iPhone and its new network tomorrow.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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A model shows a 3G iPhone during its launch and sale in Hong Kong on July 11, 2008. Apple's international launch of iPhone 3G began in New Zealand and Japan on July 11, as a freshly-opened 'App Store' tempted fans with independently created mini-programs for the coveted devices.
 

A model shows a 3G iPhone during its launch and sale in Hong Kong on July 11, 2008. Apple's international launch of iPhone 3G began in New Zealand and Japan on July 11, as a freshly-opened 'App Store' tempted fans with independently created mini-programs for the coveted devices.

Photograph by: Andrew Ross, AFP/Getty Images

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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