For no longer in existing US carrier (which they merge with Cingular), see
BellSouth Mobility.
Bell Mobility is a CDMA and HSPA+ based wireless network (named Bell Cellular up until 1993) is the division of Bell Canada which sells wireless services in Canada. Bell Mobility has over 5,884,000 subscribers as of the end of Q2 2007.[1] 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.[2]
Bell-owned Virgin Mobile Canada, Solo Mobile and PC Mobile operate as MVNOs on the Bell Mobility network.
Subsidiaries of Bell Mobility include NMI Mobility, obtained from Northwestel, itself a Bell Canada subsidiary, 1 January 2003, due to a restructuring of the parent company.[3]
Bell Mobility is a member of the British Columbia Technology Industry Association.
Equipment
Their cellular network utilizes CDMA, PTT, 1xRTT, 1xEVDO and HSPA+ technology. Previously they used AMPS, however the analog decommission was completed in 2008.
Their handset lineup includes phones from LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sanyo. The lineup also includes smartphones from Motorola, Palm, RIM, Samsung, HTC and UTStarcom, Apple Inc., and connection cards from Sierra Wireless, Novatel and Kyocera.
Bell became the second Canadian mobile carrier to carry the Apple iPhone (after Rogers Wireless) on November 4, 2009 when Bell launched a new HSPA+ mobile network.
Bell Mobility also features a line up of devices built to withstand various weather conditions and modems.[4]
Services
- CDMA 850 and 1900
- HSPA+ (Launched November 4, 2009)
- 1xRTT and EVDO highspeed mobile internet
- BlackBerry handheld devices and services\
- Apple iPhone 3G and 3GS
- Wireless data services
- SMS
- Live Mobile TV
- Mobile Full-Length Movie Downloads
- Mobile Sirius Satellite Radio
- Mobile Full-Track Music downloads
- Video Calling
Bell on November 4, 2009 launched a Video Calling service on select HSPA+ mobile phones. The service is available currently on the LG Xenon and Samsung Omnia II mobile phones, with the promise of more phones to come. The service costs $5 CAD for unlimited video calls.[5]
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). After doing so, you will receive a menu with four options. Replying with the letter A: for account balance, B: for usage, C: Add a feature, or D: FAQ's.
Advertising campaigns
As part of their current media advertising campaign in print and on TV, Bell Mobility features a pair of anthropomorphic CGI beavers named Frank (voiced by Norm Macdonald) and Gordon (voiced by Ken Hudson Campbell) [6], who constantly get into misadventures which lead 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[7].
The ad campaign was canceled by Bell on August 1, 2008[8] and replaced with the "Today just got better" campaign.
Controversies
Feature Restrictions
Some clients of Bell Mobility have claimed that their phones features have been restricted. This action is typically referred to as “crippling.” Examples of claims of restricted features are the inability to perform Bluetooth file transfers, for example with the OBEX profile or with a USB cable. Restrictions also include increasing the GPS lock time (2–10 minutes) and resolution (1-2.5KM) of Third Party applications while maintaining the speed (10-15s) and accuracy (10-25m) of the branded GPS Nav program. GPS Nav service costs $10/month or $3.50/day in addition to the cost of a data plan. The phones affected include the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, BlackBerry 8130 Pearl, and BlackBerry 8330 Curve.[9]
Some clients claim that Bell Mobility purposely restricts these features in order to force them to use the data services and as a result pay more usage charges. Methods around these restrictions are to use an external memory card or software such as BitPim. Researching the abilities and lack thereof is recommended before purchasing a phone or PDA device, as some desired features may be lacking in the initial choice.
Data Plans
In December 2007 the BBC reported a customer with a $7/month unlimited mobile browser plan received a $85,000 bill.[10] The customer had used his phone as a wireless modem for his computer, and so data transferred was not included under the customer's unlimited mobile browser plan[11]. Bell Mobility now releases in detail acceptable data usage in the terms of service.[3] The BBC reported "Canadians complain that their mobile phone charges are much higher for comparable service in the United States".[10]
Text Messaging
In July 2008, along with Telus Mobility Bell introduced charges of 15¢ for incoming SMS messages. Critics were quick to point out that there is no way of blocking incoming message fees and suggested Bell and Telus were price fixing as both had announced the fees simultaneously.[12] Bell (and Telus) are now being sued by frustrated consumers and subscribers, as they demand change in text charges.[13] Many customers were frustrated because this fee also apply to existing customers with ongoing contracts.[14]
Network Upgrade
In October 2009 Telus Mobility 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. Huawei provided the infrastructure for the new network, which covers 93% of the Canadian Population [15]. The new network operates alongside both Telus' and Bell's existing CDMA network. The network provides download speeds of up top 21 Mbps.
HSPA+ Network
Bell launched their new HSPA network along with Telus Mobility on November 4, 2009.[16]. Bell offers HSPA devices such as the Apple iPhone 3G and 3GS, the Blackberry Bold and the Samsung Omnia II.
See also
References
- ^ BCE - 2007 BCE Second Quarter Shareholder Report
- ^ BCE and Aliant form one of North America's largest regional telecommunications service providers
- ^ Restructuring Of Subsidiary Relationship
- ^ Business On The Go
- ^ http://www.bell.ca/support/PrsCSrvWls_Ftrs_VideoCalling.page#0 source
- ^ http://blogs.voices.com/voxdaily/2006/02/frank_and_gordon.html source
- ^ Movies- bell.ca
- ^ Bell's beavers bite it
- ^ [1]
- ^ a b BBC News,"[2]" December 13, 2007
- ^ Wireless terms of service- bell.ca
- ^ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/07/08/text-messages.htm
- ^ http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/business/story.html?id=037f5454-2f18-4c3f-808c-f6240c5191b2
- ^ http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080728/text_message_fees_080728/20080728?hub=Canada
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS211718+04-Nov-2009+BW20091104
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS211718+04-Nov-2009+BW20091104/
External links
