My Cellphone My Terms

Palm Pre set to launch in Canada – Sept 1st, 2009

The Palm Pre

Palm Pre Coming to Canada

You read it right, The Palm Pre is finally set to launch in Canada. Our sources tell us that the Pre will be in stores by September 1st, 2009. The Pre was voted best mobile phone at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show and is perhaps the first real competition for Apple’s iPhone. It comes with a host of features that make it truly worth owning. As a quick recap, it comes with a full slide out Qwerty keyboard, connected calendars and contacts and universal search to name just a few. To learn more about the features of the Palm Pre read my previous blog – The Palm Pre – Is this your next cellphone – Canada?

Read the rest of this entry »

iPhone Coming to Bell and Telus?

Apple iPhone may be available on all 3 networks

Rumors are that both Bell and Telus will have the iphone by the beginning of next year. If this does happen we will be one of the only countries in the world that Apple has negotiated a muti carrier deal. There are good signs that these rumors might be true. Bell and Telus have already entered into an agreement to join forces to develop a nation wide GSM based HSPA 3G network by Q4. This network doesn’t come cheap at a cost of US $1 Billion dollars shared equally by the two partners. This will end the 7 year monopoly that Rogers has had in the GSM field.

Apple is likely to introduce the next generation iPhone 3Gs to Rogers, Bell and Telus, all at the same time. The ideal situation would be to launch the network as well as the newest iPhone by the 2010 Olympics. Both Bell and Telus will greatly benefit from all the incoming roaming revenues from international customers and new market entrants in Canada. Currently Rogers rakes in close to US $500 Million in roaming revenues each year. Read the rest of this entry »

Canada’s Telecom -The Big Three

Who are the main cell phone providers?

The wireless industry in Canada is hard to follow. There are currently over 25 wireless brands in the market. The majority of these brands are owned by the BIG three, Bell, Rogers and Telus. Many Canadians are not aware of this. Smaller brands like Koodo, owned by Telus, Virgin & Solo owned by Bell and Fido owned by Rogers are considered to be the the Big threes discount brands. Many of these discount brands will save customers an average of 15% or more on service by having cheaper rate plans and eliminating system access fees. Read the rest of this entry »

Bell the sleeping Giant!

Can Bell dominate the Cell phone market in Canada?

Currently Rogers dominates the wireless space largely due to a GSM/HSPA based technology advantage, one of the largest distribution networks along with an advertising power horse made available with their integration with cable and TV assets. Bell has consistently lagged Rogers and TELUS in industry net additions, in the last 9 quarters Bell came in third 8 times. Bell lags the industry in churn, ARPU and with a lower mix of postpaid net adds over the last 9 quarters.

Read the rest of this entry »