This time, however – We’ve ordered them and are basically paying full price for them. I don’t even want to tell you how much that is but the advantage is that they’re unlocked so I can go wherever I want with mine (even though I will be staying with Bell of course), but I’m not going to have to worry about a contract or any of that fun stuff. The good news as I mentioned before, is that we’ve been saving up a bit so it’s not going to hurt as much when the bill arrives. Arrival date is another thing, since we ordered off the Apple website – the deliver time states around September 3rd! Woot Woot! Right around the time we’re going to be celebrating our birthdays.

Going to post more on this as time goes on, I do have a lot of posts to create over the next few days – but please chime in with your experience with the iPhone, I’d love to know how much people are paying a month in data fees, etc. Do you get iphone insurance in case it gets lost?

Yes.. my favorite "Little Buddy" which is what they call it.

So I had a few blog posts to do today, and I started to wonder if all those successful bloggers out there always use their default WordPress writer to write all their blog articles. It has come to me that they most definitely don’t.

As I write this from Microsoft Word 2007, I have come to realize that it’s highly possible I will never use the WYSIWYG editor online anymore for originally writing articles. I don’t do anything too crazy when I write them – just basically text and a few pictures.. so it’s really nice that I don’t have to log in and use their slow editor when I want to write something.

On another note, I posted a comment on my post about Bell in which I wondered if they were going to give a customer (me) a deal on new hardware seeing that mine broke. I had previously a very high-end HDTV PVR and I was hoping to have the newest model which allowed for remote scheduling of recordings.

Anyhow, long story short.. they DID in fact give me a deal! Woot Woot! And I got it at a good sale price as well. They gave me $100 off the cost of $499, as well as 2 months free.. which works out to be $57 x 2 = $114. A total of $214 off which is better than the ‘new customer’ price of $299 for the same PVR.

Happy customer I am.. and another great feature of this PVR is that you can plugin an external drive and extend the amount of storage it has – not that I’m going to purchase another hard drive – but great to know you have that option. It would be a truly EXCELLENT PVR if I could just throw movies or something onto a Kingston 8GB DataTraveler thumb drive which you can get as cheap as $17.99 at buy.com and simply put that in the DVR when you want to watch something. I don’t need to do that since I have the XBMC.. but still, great option to have.

Ok.. going to post this.. the first post I’ve ever created directly from Microsoft Word 2007 (oh, and if you wanted to learn how to do this, I found out here).

I've been loyal.. you going to help me?

So my HDTV PVR (9200) just died, and I’m in need of a replacement. I think I’ve had it for 4 years and the secondary feed works, but I can’t get any HDTV feed from it

I just finished watching the Pitts vs Tampa hockey game online (for free) and it’s got me to thinking. My Bell Satellite PVR has just decided to go south for the rest of it’s days – and I’m trying to find a decent replacement option. All around the news they are talking about drastically increasing the broadband connection speeds.. I’m wondering if I really need to get another HDTV PVR. Personally I can get pretty much every TV show I want to watch online for free (if I don’t mind waiting a day or two for it become available.. how long is it before this stuff is available online real time?

I guess the reasons that I would need a new PVR that I can think of right now are:

1. hockey games – although I just realized that I can watch most of the ones I want online through bell’s online portal or some questionable sites
2. tv shows not available online - even though more and more and more are available online – I didn’t buy that big 50″ HDTV to watch a tiny screen
3. live events – not just hockey games, but other shows and sporting events which I’d not be able to watch.. Football comes to mind

I also like the idea which I noticed in a commercial during the Olympics of being able to schedule a recording while I’m away from home via cell phone or via the Internet.. very slick.

Sooo.. I’m going to call up Bell and see if they’ll give me a deal on a new HDTV PVR since I’ve been such a loyal customer for how many years now? Anyone want to take bets on if they give me a deal on a new device?  Or will I have to cancel? Hmm?

And since I’m such a good Googler.. I found the pricing for data plans announced over at iphoneincanada.ca.. looks to me that with WiFi.. the individual plan would be best for this kid.

The initial offerings for the Bell iPhone 3G/3GS plans include three Individual (consumer) Plans, each that will include daytime minutes, evening/weekend minutes and additional bonuses/promos. Each plan will allow for promotional pricing of the iPhone 3G/3GS which is $99 (iPhone 3G 8GB), $199 (iPhone 3GS 16GB), and $299 (iPhone 3GS 32GB):

Individual Plans [Updated]

$55/month

• 36 month contract/renewal
• 300 Minutes
• Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 9PM
• Local Fab 5
• 1GB Data + Tethering
• Wi-Fi unlimited at Starbucks
• Add: SAF, 911 Fee

$75/month

• 36 month contract/renewal
• 400 Minutes
• Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 9PM
• Nation-wide Fab 5
• Caller Display
• Message Centre
• Visual Voicemail
• 2GB Data + Tethering
• Wi-Fi unlimited at Starbucks
• Add: SAF, 911 Fee

$95/month

• 36 month contract/renewal
• 500 Minutes
• Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 9PM
• Nation-wide Fab 5
• Caller Display
• Visual Voicemail
• Message Centre
• Unlimited Messages
• 3GB Data + Tethering
• Wi-Fi unlimited at Starbucks
• Add: SAF, 911 Fee

$20/month iPhone Fun Bundle

• Caller Display
• Message Centre
• Visual Voicemail
• 250 sent & unlimited received text messages

Also, from Bell:

Make it a Share Plan with 2 to 5 members. Combine your iPhone, Uber or Smartphone Combo plan and enjoy unlimited local and long distance calling between members and share anytime minutes. Share data and features with select plans.

]]> http://www.lencurrie.com/2009/11/iphone-available-on-bell-network-tomorrow-november-4th/feed/ http://www.lencurrie.com/2009/10/telus-to-bring-iphone-3gs-to-canada-thursday-november-5/ http://www.lencurrie.com/2009/10/telus-to-bring-iphone-3gs-to-canada-thursday-november-5/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:02:21 +0000 lencurrie http://www.lencurrie.com/?p=1792 The information we’ve all been waiting for.. well, at least on Telus’ part.. launch date.. November 5th! The scary part is looking down at those prices for the unit itself ($599.00).. I think I’ll just have to save up a LOT in order to buy an iPhone! (Hell I could by an industrial computer for the price of this little funky device.. *sigh*.. that just sucks.. let’s go EBAY!)

From the CNW Group

VANCOUVER, Oct. 26 /CNW/ – TELUS today announced that it will bring iPhone 3GS to Canada on Thursday, November 5, with a range of 3G data plans for iPhone customers.

iPhone 3GS is the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including improved speed and performance – up to twice as fast as iPhone 3G – with longer battery life, a high-quality 3 megapixel autofocus camera, easy to use video recording

and hands free voice control. iPhone 3GS includes iPhone OS 3.1, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with features such as Cut, Copy and Paste, MMS, Spotlight Search, landscape keyboard and more.

“Delivering on TELUS’ future friendly brand promise, we are excited to bring the iPhone 3GS to Canadians,” said Darren Entwistle, TELUS president and CEO. “Our clients will enjoy this iconic device on TELUS’ new next generation wireless network which is based on the most advanced technology available anywhere in the world today.”

The iPhone 3GS will run on TELUS’ new next generation network, offering access to Canada’s largest 3G+ coverage*.

TELUS is pleased to offer the iPhone 3GS and 3G at the following hardware prices:

————————————————————————-

    Apple iPhone                3 year term                Regular price
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    8GB 3G                        $99.99                      $599.99
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    16GB 3GS Black or White      $199.99                      $699.99
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    32GB 3GS Black or White      $299.99                      $799.99
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

For further information, please register interest at www.telusmobility.com/iPhone.

Awww yeah!!

Well as I posted back in June here, Bell has finished up their network.. and the first thing they are doing is getting Apple onboard with the iPhone.

I just read the press release and it goes like this:

Bell Canada press statement

MONTREAL, QC, 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.

taken from http://www.bce.ca/en/news/releases/bm/2009/10/06/75222.html

Hmm.. wonder when I’m due for an upgrade??

That’s not the only great thing however.. the best part is that you will be able to use your new device on a brand new fast-as-hell network!

Wireless subscribers at Bell Canada Inc. and Telus Corp. who have been yearning for an iPhone may not have to wait much longer to get their fix.

Sources say the two former phone monopolies are set to roll out a joint $1 billion upgrade of their wireless networks as early as this fall, months ahead of schedule, that will allow them to support a range of GSM-based devices including Apple Inc.’s iconic iPhone, which so far is only available in Canada through rival Rogers Communications Inc.

Details are scarce, but the buzz among industry insiders is that both Bell and Telus have negotiated deals with Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple, although one source suggested the price being paid “is going to hurt.”

Unlike other handset vendors, Apple has played hardball with wireless providers by dictating everything from the way new iPhone subscriber accounts can be activated to the device’s $199 price tag (16 gigabyte 3G S model) when purchased with a contract.

But analysts say Bell and Telus, like other carriers, have little choice, given the popularity of iPhone among consumers.

“I would be very surprised if Bell and Telus don’t both get it,” said Dvai Ghose, an analyst at Genuity Capital Markets.

A cellphone, iPod and mobile Web browser rolled into one, the iPhone first went on sale in Canada in July 2008 through Rogers, which currently operates the country’s only GSM (Global System for Mobile) network.

A Rogers spokesperson said the cable giant sold more than 385,000 iPhones during the second half of last year.

Officials at Bell and Telus declined to comment but noted that their proposal to jointly “overlay” an HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) network on their existing CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks would give them the technical capability to support the device.

Jim Johannsson, a Telus spokesman, said the phone company is still forecasting an HSPA network launch in early 2010. That coincides with the start of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, which are expected to be a significant source of roaming revenue for GSM and HSPA-compatible carriers as visitors from around the world descend on B.C.’s Lower Mainland with cellphones in tow.

The adoption of HSPA by Bell and Telus will give the two carriers a key foothold in the GSM camp, which has emerged as the winner in the wireless technology wars.

Apple said earlier this month that it had sold one million of its latest iPhone 3G S model in the first three days after its June 19 launch. Rogers has not released any similar sales figures but spokeswoman Liz Hamilton said the company has sold out of the latest model at many of its locations.

Ghose cautioned that the iPhone comes with its own set of challenges for the carriers who sell them. That’s because Apple requires carriers to offer hefty subsidies on each iPhone sold, effectively lowering the purchase price for consumers. So carriers eat about $400 on each iPhone sold. “Every time you sell one it hits your expense line, cash flow and hits your earnings. Generally, Rogers has suffered so far … from the iPhone even though analysts are very excited about it.”

Ghose said the average iPhone subscriber generates about $100 a month for the carrier since they must buy both a voice and data plan to use its features, while regular cellphone customers only generate about $70 a month. Over a three-year contract, that’s about $3,600 per iPhone subscriber.

The concern, according to Ghose, is what happens if subscribers continue to push carriers to let them upgrade to new iPhone models. Rogers is letting current iPhone 3G customers upgrade to the latest 3G S model after just one year, without paying full price for the newer device. So that makes the economics “more dodgy. They have to … generate enough lifetime revenue per device to offset the subsidies.”