Bell Mobility
Encyclopedia
Bell Mobility is a CDMA and HSPA+ based wireless network (named Bell Cellular up until 1993) and the division of Bell Canada
which sells wireless
services in Canada
. In July 2006, Bell Mobility assumed responsibility for the former Aliant wireless operations in Atlantic Canada
as part of a larger restructuring of both Bell and Aliant, and continued to do business there as Aliant Mobility until rebranding as Bell in April 2008. Bell Mobility and its affiliates combined have over 7 million subscribers as of the end of Q2 2011, including over 5.7 million or 79% on postpaid and over 1.5 million or 20% on prepaid.
Bell-owned Virgin Mobile Canada
and Solo Mobile
, as well as Loblaw
's PC Mobile, operate as MVNOs on the Bell Mobility network. Some of Bell Canada's regional subsidiaries continue to operate their own wireless networks separate from (but generally allowing for roaming with) Bell Mobility; these are Northwestel
(NMI Mobility and Latitude Wireless), Télébec
(Télébec Mobilité), and NorthernTel
(NorthernTel Mobility).
Bell Mobility is a member of the British Columbia Technology Industry Association
.
(AMPS) analog network, but it was decommissioned in February 2008.
network with Evolution-Data Optimized
(EV-DO) technology. The operator continues to provide roaming to other CDMA carriers such as Public Mobile
and Telus Mobility
in Canada. Bell also provides roaming for Sprint Nextel
, a CDMA carrier in the United States
, following a renewed agreement effective June 21, 2006.
and Bell announced plans to deploy HSPA
technology by 2010 as part of an effort to eventually upgrade to LTE
technology. The network launched on November 4, 2009, months ahead of schedule. This allowed Bell to carry the iPhone 3GS
, which was available at Telus the following day. Huawei
and Nokia Siemens Networks provided the infrastructure for the new network, which covers 93% of the Canadian Population.
According to Bell, the single-channel HSPA+ network is available to 96% of the Canadian population. It provides download speeds of up to 21 Mbit/s, with typical speeds ranging between 3½ and 8 Mbit/s. The dual-channel network, on the other hand, is available to 70% of the Canadian population. It can reach download speeds of up to 42 Mbit/s but with typical speeds of 7 to 14 Mbit/s.
and surrounding areas on September 14, 2011. On October 29, 2011, Bell expanded its LTE coverage to include the Halifax, Dartmouth
and Belleville
cities in Nova Scotia
. This makes Bell the first LTE operator in all these regions. Theoretical maximum speeds for the current network are 75 Mbit/s for download, but the company claims that this will double over time. Typical speeds range from 12 Mbit/s to 25 Mbit/s. Two LTE mobile broadband modems and an LTE smartphone
are currently available. Service plans are currently priced identically to Rogers Wireless
, but unlike Rogers, Bell does not charge a Government Regulatory Recovery Fee. Any plan that works with HSPA+ will also work with the LTE network at no additional charge.
s from LG, Nokia
, Samsung
and Sanyo
. The LG 231, the Samsung Entro and the Sanyo Pro-700 are Bell's last feature phones to use the CDMA technology.
Due to the simplicity of the devices and their limited potential for Internet applications, there are currently no plans for Bell to carry LTE feature phones. The operator plans to launch smartphones for that type of network.
, RIM
and Samsung
. They became the second Canadian mobile carrier to carry the Apple iPhone
(after Rogers Wireless
) on November 4, 2009 when Bell launched their HSPA+ mobile network and the iPhone 3GS. Bell also has a category of high-end Android devices which they refer to as "superphones."
Bell has launched the HTC Raider 4G
and is planning to launch other Android phones in the future.
, Bell features a line-up of rugged feature phones and mobile broadband modems built to withstand various weather conditions.
smartphone on August 27, 2009. They were the exclusive carrier in Canada for this CDMA device, and marketed it heavily to compete against the iPhone
, which was then exclusive to Rogers Wireless
and its brand Fido
. When Bell launched its HSPA network and the iPhone 3GS
on November 4, 2009, the promotion and popularity of the Pre decreased. On August 17, 2011, nearly two years after its initial launch, the Palm Pre was officially discontinued by Bell. An icon depicting the Palm Pre continues to appear of the Mobility tab Bell's website.
Due to the age of the technology as deployed by Bell, CDMA smartphones are no longer sold by Bell Mobility, although its brand Solo Mobile
continues to sell a legacy BlackBerry Pearl
8130 which uses the CDMA technology. The selection of CDMA feature phones has also been drastically reduced in conjunction with Bell's investments in HSPA+ and LTE technologies.
Bell offers a service to check account balances, minutes and megabytes of mobile data used, add features and answers to frequently asked questions. The service is called TCARE, short for text message care. It is used by sending a blank message to the phone number TCARE (82273).
Bell has been heavily criticized for discontinuing its unlimited Internet access plan and options. In response, the company temporarily released a $30 per month add-on with a 6 GB data allowance for mobile Internet service. This add-on was only available for a limited time after the release date of any iPhone device sold by Bell.
s on October 18, 2010. Support for tablet computer
was later added.
Applications for Bell Mobile TV are preloaded on some Bell smartphones and tablets at no additional charge, but require a subscription in order to be used. The service is optimized for use on the more recent HSPA+
network, as additional fees may apply for some legacy CDMA devices
. The mobile television service works like, but the channel selection is limited compared to, Bell TV and Bell Fibe TV
.
Like its residential TV offering, Bell divides its Mobile TV channels into several packages:
Channels and programming in italics are On Demand. These channels are also available Live, with the exception of Aux, Bite, Comedy, and all HBO offerings.
Service plans for Mobile TV and Tablet TV cost $5 per month and include 5 hours of access to live and on demand channels in both the Sports and Variety packages. The HBO add-on is available for either plan. It costs an additional $5/month, includes 5 more hours of viewing per month, and also grants access to HBO episodes on demand. Those who watch additional hours will pay $1 per hour. If any hours are unused, they cannot be rolled over to the next month. Fees also include any data used for watching Bell Mobile TV. The same service, at the same rates and with the same conditions, are also available on Virgin Mobile Canada
, but not on Solo Mobile
.
The company currently has over 300 000 Mobile TV customers, representing over 4.1% of Bell Mobility's customers base.
for unlimited video calls. It is currently supported by these smartphones:
Currently, however, only the Nokia C6-01
and Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant are sold by Bell Mobility. It is unknown whether or not a non-Bell Galaxy S, or even Bell's Samsung Galaxy S II
, support the Video Calling service. These Android-based devices, however, can use the included Google Talk
for videoconferencing as long as they have an Internet connexion available.
used a pixel art
style of advertising. This reflected the limited capacity of graphical displays in mobile phones sold throughout these years.
In conjunction with the 2006 Olympics, Bell Mobility introduced a pair of anthropomorphic CGI beaver
s named Frank (voiced by Norm Macdonald
) and Gordon (voiced by Ken Hudson Campbell
), who constantly got into misadventures which led to Frank getting flustered with the antics of the dimwitted Gordon. Analysts covering a potential restructuring of BCE suggested getting rid of the Frank and Gordon
ad campaign. They have also criticized some of Bell Mobility's initiatives as failing to tap the market, such as offering full-length movies.
The ad campaign was canceled by Bell on August 1, 2008 and replaced with the "Today just got better" campaign.
.
Bell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
which sells wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
services in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In July 2006, Bell Mobility assumed responsibility for the former Aliant wireless operations in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
as part of a larger restructuring of both Bell and Aliant, and continued to do business there as Aliant Mobility until rebranding as Bell in April 2008. Bell Mobility and its affiliates combined have over 7 million subscribers as of the end of Q2 2011, including over 5.7 million or 79% on postpaid and over 1.5 million or 20% on prepaid.
Bell-owned Virgin Mobile Canada
Virgin Mobile Canada
Virgin Mobile Canada is a cellular telephone company that was launched on March 1, 2005 as a joint venture between Virgin Group and Bell Canada. Since May 7, 2009, it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell Mobility. - Pre-launch :...
and Solo Mobile
Solo Mobile
Solo Mobile is a mobile brand in Canada started by Bell Mobility in 2000. Solo is considered a discount wireless brand, offering low price monthly plans with some unlimited options in certain cities...
, as well as Loblaw
Loblaw Companies
Loblaw Companies Limited is the largest food retailer in Canada, with over 1,400 supermarkets operating under a variety of regional banners, including the namesake Loblaws. LCL is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario...
's PC Mobile, operate as MVNOs on the Bell Mobility network. Some of Bell Canada's regional subsidiaries continue to operate their own wireless networks separate from (but generally allowing for roaming with) Bell Mobility; these are Northwestel
Northwestel
Northwestel Inc. is the incumbent local exchange carrier and long distance carrier in Northern Canada. The company name is a portmanteau, sometimes spelled NorthwesTel, for Northwest Telecommunications.-Modern corporate history:...
(NMI Mobility and Latitude Wireless), Télébec
Télébec
Télébec is a telephone company located in the province of Quebec in Canada. It serves various sectors like the James Bay territory area, the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, parts of central and southern Quebec and parts of the Outaouais region....
(Télébec Mobilité), and NorthernTel
NorthernTel
NorthernTel is a telephone company in Ontario, Canada.NorthernTel began in April 1905 in New Liskeard, Ontario, as the Temiskaming Telephone Company. It grew by buying other regional telephone providers and became the Northern Telephone Company Ltd. in 1928...
(NorthernTel Mobility).
Bell Mobility is a member of the British Columbia Technology Industry Association
British Columbia Technology Industry Association
The British Columbia Technology Industry Association is a not-for-profit member-funded trade association in British Columbia, Canada, which promotes the technology industry in the province...
.
Networks
Although both are different and independent from one another, both the CDMA and HSPA+ networks use the 850 and 1900 MHz frequencies.Legacy
Previously, Bell operated an Advanced Mobile Phone SystemAdvanced Mobile Phone System
Advanced Mobile Phone System was an analog mobile phone system standard developed by Bell Labs, and officially introduced in the Americas in 1983, Israel in 1986, and Australia in 1987. It was the primary analog mobile phone system in North America through the 1980s and into the 2000s...
(AMPS) analog network, but it was decommissioned in February 2008.
CDMA
Bell Mobility maintains a legacy CDMACDMA2000
CDMA2000 is a family of 3G mobile technology standards, which use CDMA channel access, to send voice, data, and signaling data between mobile phones and cell sites. The set of standards includes: CDMA2000 1X, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. A, and CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. B...
network with Evolution-Data Optimized
Evolution-Data Optimized
Evolution-Data Optimized or Evolution-Data only is a telecommunications standard for the wireless transmission of data through radio signals, typically for broadband Internet access...
(EV-DO) technology. The operator continues to provide roaming to other CDMA carriers such as Public Mobile
Public Mobile
Public Mobile is a Canadian mobile phone company, operating in the Greater Toronto Area and Greater Montreal. It is one of several new cellphone providers which launched in 2010 in Canada. Public Mobile operates a CDMA network, and has partnered with Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility to provide...
and Telus Mobility
Telus Mobility
Telus Mobility is a division of Telus Communications which sells wireless services in Canada on its numerous networks. They currently have three different networks based on three different technologies: CDMA and HSPA+ on its mainstream networks, plus iDEN via its Mike division...
in Canada. Bell also provides roaming for Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
, a CDMA carrier in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, following a renewed agreement effective June 21, 2006.
HSPA+
In October 2009 Telus MobilityTelus Mobility
Telus Mobility is a division of Telus Communications which sells wireless services in Canada on its numerous networks. They currently have three different networks based on three different technologies: CDMA and HSPA+ on its mainstream networks, plus iDEN via its Mike division...
and Bell announced plans to deploy HSPA
High Speed Packet Access
High Speed Packet Access is an amalgamation of two mobile telephony protocols, High Speed Downlink Packet Access and High Speed Uplink Packet Access , that extends and improves the performance of existing WCDMA protocols...
technology by 2010 as part of an effort to eventually upgrade to LTE
3GPP Long Term Evolution
3GPP Long Term Evolution, usually referred to as LTE, is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals. It is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, increasing the capacity and speed using new modulation techniques...
technology. The network launched on November 4, 2009, months ahead of schedule. This allowed Bell to carry the iPhone 3GS
IPhone 3GS
-Camera:The iPhone 3GS features an improved 3 megapixel camera manufactured by OmniVision. In addition to the higher megapixel count, it also features auto-focus, auto white balance and auto macro and is capable of capturing VGA video...
, which was available at Telus the following day. Huawei
Huawei
Huawei is a Chinese multinational networking and telecommunications equipment and services company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China...
and Nokia Siemens Networks provided the infrastructure for the new network, which covers 93% of the Canadian Population.
According to Bell, the single-channel HSPA+ network is available to 96% of the Canadian population. It provides download speeds of up to 21 Mbit/s, with typical speeds ranging between 3½ and 8 Mbit/s. The dual-channel network, on the other hand, is available to 70% of the Canadian population. It can reach download speeds of up to 42 Mbit/s but with typical speeds of 7 to 14 Mbit/s.
LTE
Bell launched LTE in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and surrounding areas on September 14, 2011. On October 29, 2011, Bell expanded its LTE coverage to include the Halifax, Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
and Belleville
Belleville, Nova Scotia
Belleville is a French Acadian community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Municipality of Argyle ....
cities in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. This makes Bell the first LTE operator in all these regions. Theoretical maximum speeds for the current network are 75 Mbit/s for download, but the company claims that this will double over time. Typical speeds range from 12 Mbit/s to 25 Mbit/s. Two LTE mobile broadband modems and an LTE smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
are currently available. Service plans are currently priced identically to Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless is a wireless telecommunications provider offering mobile phone and data services throughout Canada using Global System for Mobile Communications and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System technology. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rogers Communications...
, but unlike Rogers, Bell does not charge a Government Regulatory Recovery Fee. Any plan that works with HSPA+ will also work with the LTE network at no additional charge.
Feature phones
Bell Mobility's handset lineup includes HSPA+ feature phoneFeature phone
A feature phone is a mobile phone that, like smartphones, combines the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone.Today's models typically also serve as portable media players and camera phones with touchscreen, GPS navigation, Wi-Fi and mobile broadband access.Feature phones is...
s from LG, Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
, Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
and Sanyo
Sanyo
is a major electronics company and member of the Fortune 500 whose headquarters is located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo targets the middle of the market and has over 230 Subsidiaries and Affiliates....
. The LG 231, the Samsung Entro and the Sanyo Pro-700 are Bell's last feature phones to use the CDMA technology.
Due to the simplicity of the devices and their limited potential for Internet applications, there are currently no plans for Bell to carry LTE feature phones. The operator plans to launch smartphones for that type of network.
Smartphones
HSPA+ smartphones from Apple, HTC, MotorolaMotorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
, RIM
Research In Motion
Research In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market...
and Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
. They became the second Canadian mobile carrier to carry the Apple iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
(after Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless is a wireless telecommunications provider offering mobile phone and data services throughout Canada using Global System for Mobile Communications and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System technology. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rogers Communications...
) on November 4, 2009 when Bell launched their HSPA+ mobile network and the iPhone 3GS. Bell also has a category of high-end Android devices which they refer to as "superphones."
Bell has launched the HTC Raider 4G
HTC Raider 4G
The HTC Raider 4G is a flagship smartphone which was released on September 21, 2011 in South Korea. On October 27, 2011, the phone was also announced in Canada, with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. The phone is manufactured by HTC Corporation and will run Android 2.3 with included HTC Sense 3.0....
and is planning to launch other Android phones in the future.
Rugged devices
Similarly to its competitor MikeMike (cellular network)
Mike is a Canadian mobile phone and push-to-talk network, launched in 1996 using the proprietary iDEN platform from Motorola. The network was initially launched by Clearnet in the Windsor to Québec corridor, while its roll-out in western Canada followed in 1997...
, Bell features a line-up of rugged feature phones and mobile broadband modems built to withstand various weather conditions.
Legacy products
Bell carried the Palm PrePalm Pre
The Palm Pre is a multimedia smartphone designed and marketed by Palm with a multi-touch screen and a sliding keyboard. The smartphone was the first to use Palm's Linux based mobile operating system, webOS...
smartphone on August 27, 2009. They were the exclusive carrier in Canada for this CDMA device, and marketed it heavily to compete against the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, which was then exclusive to Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless is a wireless telecommunications provider offering mobile phone and data services throughout Canada using Global System for Mobile Communications and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System technology. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rogers Communications...
and its brand Fido
Fido Solutions
Fido Solutions is a Canadian cellular telephone service provider currently owned by Rogers Communications. It was formerly owned by Microcell Telecommunications. Fido does, however, remain a separate entity from Rogers...
. When Bell launched its HSPA network and the iPhone 3GS
IPhone 3GS
-Camera:The iPhone 3GS features an improved 3 megapixel camera manufactured by OmniVision. In addition to the higher megapixel count, it also features auto-focus, auto white balance and auto macro and is capable of capturing VGA video...
on November 4, 2009, the promotion and popularity of the Pre decreased. On August 17, 2011, nearly two years after its initial launch, the Palm Pre was officially discontinued by Bell. An icon depicting the Palm Pre continues to appear of the Mobility tab Bell's website.
Due to the age of the technology as deployed by Bell, CDMA smartphones are no longer sold by Bell Mobility, although its brand Solo Mobile
Solo Mobile
Solo Mobile is a mobile brand in Canada started by Bell Mobility in 2000. Solo is considered a discount wireless brand, offering low price monthly plans with some unlimited options in certain cities...
continues to sell a legacy BlackBerry Pearl
BlackBerry Pearl
The BlackBerry Pearl is a smartphone developed by Research In Motion the first BlackBerry device with a camera and media player. It was originally released on September 12, 2006...
8130 which uses the CDMA technology. The selection of CDMA feature phones has also been drastically reduced in conjunction with Bell's investments in HSPA+ and LTE technologies.
Services
- BlackBerry Internet ServiceBlackBerry Internet ServiceThe BlackBerry Internet Service is a service that provides BlackBerry smartphone users with access to Internet browsing, allows email messaging, instant messaging using the BlackBerry Messenger service, and more.The service also allows...
- TelephonyTelephonyIn telecommunications, telephony encompasses the general use of equipment to provide communication over distances, specifically by connecting telephones to each other....
- SMSSMSSMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
and MMSMultimedia Messaging ServiceMultimedia Messaging Service, or MMS, is a standard way to send messages that include multimedia content to and from mobile phones. It extends the core SMS capability that allowed exchange of text messages only up to 160 characters in length.The most popular use is to send photographs from... - Mobile broadbandMobile BroadbandMobile broadband is the marketing term for wireless Internet access through a portable modem, mobile phone or other mobile device.-Description:...
- Sirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
Mobile
Bell offers a service to check account balances, minutes and megabytes of mobile data used, add features and answers to frequently asked questions. The service is called TCARE, short for text message care. It is used by sending a blank message to the phone number TCARE (82273).
Mobile Internet
Bell offers several plans and add-ons for customers wishing to access Internet content via its mobile network. Each device is limited to only one of these plans, and certain plans are only available for certain devices:| Monthly cost | Data included | Available for |
|---|---|---|
| $10 | 100 MB (less than ¹/₁₀ GB) | Smartphone Smartphone A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera... s and feature phone Feature phone A feature phone is a mobile phone that, like smartphones, combines the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone.Today's models typically also serve as portable media players and camera phones with touchscreen, GPS navigation, Wi-Fi and mobile broadband access.Feature phones is... s |
| $15 | 250 MB (less than ¼ GB) | Tablet computer Tablet computer A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen... s |
| $20 | 500 MB (less than ½ GB) | |
| $20 | Unlimited social & IM | BlackBerry |
| $20 | Unlimited email & IM | |
| $25 | 500 MB (less than ½ GB) | |
| $25 | Smartphone Smartphone A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera... s and feature phone Feature phone A feature phone is a mobile phone that, like smartphones, combines the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone.Today's models typically also serve as portable media players and camera phones with touchscreen, GPS navigation, Wi-Fi and mobile broadband access.Feature phones is... s |
|
| $30 | Mobile broadband modems | |
| $35 | 1 GB | |
| $50 | 2 GB | |
| $65 | 5 GB |
Bell has been heavily criticized for discontinuing its unlimited Internet access plan and options. In response, the company temporarily released a $30 per month add-on with a 6 GB data allowance for mobile Internet service. This add-on was only available for a limited time after the release date of any iPhone device sold by Bell.
Mobile TV
Bell Mobile TV was launched for Bell smartphoneSmartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
s on October 18, 2010. Support for tablet computer
Tablet computer
A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen...
was later added.
Applications for Bell Mobile TV are preloaded on some Bell smartphones and tablets at no additional charge, but require a subscription in order to be used. The service is optimized for use on the more recent HSPA+
Evolved HSPA
HSPA+, or Evolved High-Speed Packet Access, is a technical standard for wireless, broadband telecommunication. HSPA+ was first defined in the technical standard 3GPP release 7....
network, as additional fees may apply for some legacy CDMA devices
CDMA2000
CDMA2000 is a family of 3G mobile technology standards, which use CDMA channel access, to send voice, data, and signaling data between mobile phones and cell sites. The set of standards includes: CDMA2000 1X, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. A, and CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. B...
. The mobile television service works like, but the channel selection is limited compared to, Bell TV and Bell Fibe TV
Bell Fibe TV
Bell Fibe TV is an IP-based television service offered by Bell Canada in Ontario and Quebec. It is bundled with Bell Fibe Internet, and uses the Microsoft Mediaroom platform....
.
Like its residential TV offering, Bell divides its Mobile TV channels into several packages:
- HBO: Curb Your EnthusiasmCurb Your EnthusiasmCurb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
, EntourageEntourage (TV series)Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
, Sex and the CitySex and the CitySex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
and True BloodTrue BloodTrue Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana... - Sports: TSNThe Sports NetworkThe Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
, TSN2, NFL, NFL NetworkNFL NetworkNFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
, NFL RedZone, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and CBNCommonwealth Broadcasting NetworkCommonwealth Broadcasting Network is a Canadian English language Category B pay television channel owned by Asian Television Network .CBN focuses on programming from the Caribbean along with programs from Africa... - Variety: CTVCTV television networkCTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
, CTV Two, CTV News Channel, BNNBusiness News NetworkBusiness News Network ' is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel. BNN broadcasts programming related to business and financial news and analysis. As of December 2010, the station is based from 299 Queen Street West in Downtown Toronto and is owned by Bell Media...
, MTV, CBC News Network, Treehouse TVTreehouse TVTreehouse TV is a Canadian English language cable television specialty channel with programming targeted towards preschoolers that was launched on October 17, 1997. Its name comes from YTV's old children's programming block, The Treehouse...
, YTV, Comedy TimeComedy TimeThe Comedy Time Network launched in July, 2004 as one of the first made for mobile networks and has become the global market leader in original comedy content created for wireless handsets or cell phones. In the U.S. alone it is distributed to over 3,500,000 subscribers is one of the most popular...
, bpm:tvBpm:tvbpm:tv is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Stornoway Communications. bpm:tv's programming is devoted to dance, club lifestyle, and dance music- electronica, house, techno, eurodance, trance, and other similar genres.-History:In November 2000, a partnership between...
, NDTV 24x7NDTV 24x7NDTV 24x7 is a premier English language television network that carries news and current affairs in India, it is owned by New Delhi Television Ltd. NDTV 24x7 won the Asian Television Award for Best News Programme in 2005....
, B4U MusicB4U MusicB4U Music is a music-themed digital TV channel available on more than 8 different satellites, in more than 100 countries including the USA, UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Mauritius, Canada and India...
, ComedyThe Comedy NetworkThe Comedy Network a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media specializing in comedy programming.The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East and West ....
, Aux and Bite TVBite TVBiteTV is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel. BiteTV is a comedy-focused channel including sitcoms, sketch comedy, stand-up, films, comedy shorts, and more...
Channels and programming in italics are On Demand. These channels are also available Live, with the exception of Aux, Bite, Comedy, and all HBO offerings.
Service plans for Mobile TV and Tablet TV cost $5 per month and include 5 hours of access to live and on demand channels in both the Sports and Variety packages. The HBO add-on is available for either plan. It costs an additional $5/month, includes 5 more hours of viewing per month, and also grants access to HBO episodes on demand. Those who watch additional hours will pay $1 per hour. If any hours are unused, they cannot be rolled over to the next month. Fees also include any data used for watching Bell Mobile TV. The same service, at the same rates and with the same conditions, are also available on Virgin Mobile Canada
Virgin Mobile Canada
Virgin Mobile Canada is a cellular telephone company that was launched on March 1, 2005 as a joint venture between Virgin Group and Bell Canada. Since May 7, 2009, it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell Mobility. - Pre-launch :...
, but not on Solo Mobile
Solo Mobile
Solo Mobile is a mobile brand in Canada started by Bell Mobility in 2000. Solo is considered a discount wireless brand, offering low price monthly plans with some unlimited options in certain cities...
.
The company currently has over 300 000 Mobile TV customers, representing over 4.1% of Bell Mobility's customers base.
Video Calling
Bell launched a proprietary Video Calling service on November 4, 2009 for select HSPA+ mobile phones. The service costs $5 CADCanadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
for unlimited video calls. It is currently supported by these smartphones:
Currently, however, only the Nokia C6-01
Nokia C6-01
The Nokia C6-01 is a Symbian^3 smartphone from the Nokia Cseries. The C6-01 display features comes with a 3.2in AMOLED display with capacitive touchscreen capabilities and Nokia's ClearBlack technology for improved outdoor visibility...
and Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant are sold by Bell Mobility. It is unknown whether or not a non-Bell Galaxy S, or even Bell's Samsung Galaxy S II
Samsung Galaxy S II
The Samsung Galaxy S II is a smartphone running under the Android operating system that was announced by Samsung on February 13, 2011 at the Mobile World Congress. It is the successor to the Samsung Galaxy S, with a different appearance and significantly improved hardware...
, support the Video Calling service. These Android-based devices, however, can use the included Google Talk
Google Talk
Google Talk is a freeware voice over Internet protocol client application offered by Google Inc. The first beta version of the program was released on August 24, 2005...
for videoconferencing as long as they have an Internet connexion available.
Advertising
From 2003 to 2005 and in 2007, Bell Mobility and its brand Solo MobileSolo Mobile
Solo Mobile is a mobile brand in Canada started by Bell Mobility in 2000. Solo is considered a discount wireless brand, offering low price monthly plans with some unlimited options in certain cities...
used a pixel art
Pixel art
Pixel art is a form of digital art, created through the use of raster graphics software, where images are edited on the pixel level. Graphics in most old computer and video games, graphing calculator games, and many mobile phone games are mostly pixel art.- History :The term pixel art was first...
style of advertising. This reflected the limited capacity of graphical displays in mobile phones sold throughout these years.
In conjunction with the 2006 Olympics, Bell Mobility introduced a pair of anthropomorphic CGI beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
s named Frank (voiced by Norm Macdonald
Norm MacDonald
Norman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
) and Gordon (voiced by Ken Hudson Campbell
Ken Hudson Campbell
Ken Hudson Campbell is an American television and voice actor.Campbell played "Animal" on the experimental Fox TV series Herman's Head, as well as Buckman in the movie Down Periscope. He appeared in the Seinfeld episode "The Seven", where he played Ken, the husband of Susan's first cousin, Carrie...
), who constantly got into misadventures which led to Frank getting flustered with the antics of the dimwitted Gordon. Analysts covering a potential restructuring of BCE suggested getting rid of the Frank and Gordon
Frank and Gordon
Frank and Gordon are fictional beavers that were the focal point of Bell Canada's brand and marketing strategy from 2005 to 2008....
ad campaign. They have also criticized some of Bell Mobility's initiatives as failing to tap the market, such as offering full-length movies.
The ad campaign was canceled by Bell on August 1, 2008 and replaced with the "Today just got better" campaign.
Criticism
Bell Mobility and its brands has been the subject of numerous criticism.Retail presence
In addition to running its own retail operations, Bell partners with multi-carrier retailers like those run by throughout Canada by GlentelGlentel
Glentel is the largest independent mobile phone retailer in Canada. The company has three operating divisions - Canadian Retail, American Retail, and a business division.-Retail Division:...
.
See also
- Bell CanadaBell CanadaBell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
, the parent of Bell Mobility - List of Canadian mobile phone companies
- Solo MobileSolo MobileSolo Mobile is a mobile brand in Canada started by Bell Mobility in 2000. Solo is considered a discount wireless brand, offering low price monthly plans with some unlimited options in certain cities...
, a youthYouthYouth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
-targeted brand created by Bell Mobility in 20002000 in CanadaEvents from the year 2000 in Canada.-Incumbents:Estimated Canadian population: 30,790,834-January to June:*January 1 - The magnitude 5.2 Kipawa earthquake occurs in Ontario and Quebec, Canada...
but deserted more recently- Virgin Mobile CanadaVirgin Mobile CanadaVirgin Mobile Canada is a cellular telephone company that was launched on March 1, 2005 as a joint venture between Virgin Group and Bell Canada. Since May 7, 2009, it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell Mobility. - Pre-launch :...
, an active mobile virtual network operatorMobile virtual network operatorA mobile virtual network operator is a company that provides mobile phone services but does not have its own licensed frequency allocation of radio spectrum, nor does it necessarily have all of the infrastructure required to provide mobile telephone service...
for this demographic owned by Bell Canada since 20092009 in CanadaEvents from the year 2009 in Canada.-January to March:*January 5 - Fourth explosion from 2008-09 British Columbia pipeline bombings destroyed a metering shed near the community of Tomslake, British Columbia....
- Virgin Mobile Canada