Bell launches HTC Touch with “unlimited” data plan at $7 (29)
Tech blogs in North America hailed yesterday Bell Canada as the first North America carrier to offer the HTC Touch with an unlimited internet and email data plan at $7, which if found true, would be a dramatic price plunge from their previous offers. See this advertisement from Bell:
image from engadget’s post
In the U.S., the most competitive unlimited data plan comes at $60, from AT&T’s offer for the iPhone. Given that Canadian mobile carriers are known to be more expensive than their american counterpart, I am not sure what to think about this new “unlimited data” plan. I went through Bell mobility online’s store, and there is an option to have the “unlimited mobile browser”, and it specifies:
Check e-mail, play games, send instant messages, browse the latest ringtones and screensavers, and more, for $7.00/month
If you have been around the mobile business in Canada, you know this is in fact an option to surf pre-selected websites from Bell Canada. You will get to use MSN Messenger, go to sympatico and 300 other websites, etc. but as soon as you submit an URL, you will be charged per page. Don’t expect to use Skype, go to your favourite blogs, use RSS readers, or any other online applications. In fact, after a few checks, this plan is offered to most cell phones sold by Bell Canada.
Of course, the $7 plan by Bell Canada is still very competitive, especially on a phone like the HTC Touch, where instant messenging and access to emails are built-in, and made “pleasurable” by the touchscreen.
I forgive engadget to spread false rumours, because they have no knowledge of the local market, but seeing this on Branchez-vous or Radio-Canada is surprising. Bell Canada has indeed great PR agents.
AMEN! Now give us a decent iPhone plan already, Rogers!
“In the U.S., the most competitive unlimited data plan comes at $60, from AT&T’s offer for the iPhone.”
You do realize that the $60 includes not just data but the phone plan also right? It’s not just $60 for data alone.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/easysetup/rateplans.html
I hope you realize just how wrong you are! The Bell $7 plan has absolutely no restrictions on the websites you can visit. Bell Canada has never had any “300 site” selection. You are mistakingly thinking about the TELUS 100 site limit.
Bell is completely open to the entire internet, and on the Touch it is full HTML access.
Regards.
Canadian mobile operators still have a long way to go if they really want to prove this comparison false:
-http://www.thomaspurves.com/2007/04/09/canada-worse-than-3rd-world-countries-when-it-comes-to-mobile-data-access/
Compare what lucky french consummers get:
- unlimited IM + Email + Web starting at 12 €/mois (all taxes included)
http://www.ten-mobile.fr/offre_ten.php
- iPhone special plans from Orange
http://blog.accessoweb.info/Orange-iPhone-les-prix-officiels-mais-c-est-un-secret_a2520.html
- limited offer from SFR for the 100.000 first subscribers. IM + Email + web unlimited starting from 39€/mois
Prices include taxes, voicemail, calling number display, “You never pay when someone calls you”, …and you are allowed to bring your own phone (Telus and Bell have a lot to learn on this particular issue).
And French still say mobile plans are expensive!!!! They should come to Canada.
When will we canadian users get such clear, simple pricing policy?
Regards,
I second on what Ed says above, if you go to any middle east country (which they said it is a third world) you will see people their carry more advance phones than people here in Canada, I found people there know about cell phone technology more than companies and people here in Canada ….
Sounds like you can stream video:…here is what it says at the bottom of the conditions:
“If you like downloading games, sending personal videos, listening to music or watching TV, ensure you subscribe to Unlimited Mobile Browser or a Fun bundle to avoid high pay-per-use charges due to the large download file sizes for these types of content. Consult the chart in the How It Works section above for examples and the associated pay-per-use charges.
Mobile Browser service is available on most phones where technology permits. Downloads (screensavers, ringtones, games) are available on most phones however selection may vary for each phone. TV, music and picture/video messaging available on select phones. Mobile Browser is a trademark of Bell Canada Inc.
Rate this page Store locator About Bell Jobs@Bell Contact us Legal Privacy Canada 411 YellowPages.ca TM © Bell Canada, 2007. All rights reserved.”
I have the HTC Touch on Bell and I got the unlimited browser plan for $7. So far, I have been able to surf to any site I choose, check Outlook emails (4 accounts), and get RSS feeds. I downloaded the Opera Mini browser which gives a full web experience. So far, the only catch I can see is that it is dial up speed, not the EVDO speeds offered by Bell. But, the speed isn’t too bad…and you can’t complain about the price!
Mark, check your bill..yes you might be allowed to visit those websites, but.you might be charged per url you enter…..
A Few Questions.
Can I still sync the HTC Touch if I don’t want to use Outlook for my e-mails? Right now, I use MSN Premium so I don’t have to have too much stuff on my computer. Would I have to change back?
Also, will I be charged extra for downloading new programs like Opera that are “not Bell trusted applications”?
Scam alert bell mobility unlimited download.
Don’t get the HTC Touch from Bell thinking you will have unlimited download for 7$.
You can only browse cheap bell mobility pages.
They will charge you up to 1000$/day if you navigate to Google and Hotmail pages with your cell phone.
Many have been scam and are in the process of having full refund.
Scam alerte
Ne prenez pas le HTC Touch pensant que vous aurez le transfère illimité pour 7$.
Vous pouvez seulement naviguer de pauvres pages Bell mobilité.
Bell vous facturera jusqu’à 1000$/jour si vous faite de la navigation Google et Hotmail avec votre cellulaire.
Plusieurs ont été arnaqués et sont maintenant en procédure de remboursement total.
Damn. Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, PLEASE come to Canada!
Mathieu, please don’t give people wrong information.
The $7 dollar unlimited plan is exactly that, UNLIMITED, you can go on any site, listen to radio and TV streams however long you want as I confirmed this with Bell Mobility customer service as well as data support.
The only thing you CAN’T do (which is an available feature but not part of the $7/month plan) is use your phone as a modem.
In addition should there be any page that was chargeable you would receive a warning like down-loadable music or ring tones.
Why only $7/month when BlackBerry plans with the same services are going for $100/month for 1gig? Well because in 2008 phone pricing and data plans will drastically decrease due to the fact that more competitors will be allowed to compete in Canada reducing the current rate plans.
* Excerpt from a Bell Mobility release site *
Adel Bazerghi, Bell Mobility’s vice-president of products, said the carrier decided to offer an unlimited plan with the Touch so that customers wouldn’t need to worry about exceeding their monthly data allowances – a scenario he said would take away from their “enjoyment” of the device.
While Bell’s $7 unlimited plan runs the risk of upsetting its subscribers who use competing devices such as the BlackBerry, which don’t come with unlimited data options, Bazerghi stressed that the lack of a full keyboard means the HTC Touch will hold little appeal for email-crazed business-types.
I wish Bell can run into GSM mode, I like my current Nokia N95 phone and don’t want to change it.
And after seeing so much doubt on these forums I decided to call them directly as of this posting and spoke with customer service and was later confirmed by a supervisor that it is indeed $7 unlimited /month and as I said before down loadable ring tones, music and sites which explicitly inform you of any charges. This offer is only limited on the HTC Touch and I cannot speak for Telus but I would assume they are on the same level. And to be absolutely sure I called again and was confirmed on the plan, type in any URL you so desire! Act fast as this awesome deal ends December 31st! After this be prepared to pay!
hey hey wow wow… I just receive my invoice of 1000$ and I DID NOT USE MY PHONE AS A MODEM…. I have HTC TOUCH and they finally told me the 7$ is for limited access to very basic stuff provided my bell… I will record them for you people and provide it to you if you ask on audio file.
What they did is because I complain, they gave me the feature of data download 1 gig/month a value of 100$ and they will refund it to me next month… so now if I don’t want to pay all that price I have to use ONLY THE 1X network not the DATA NETWORK… so I disable the data network and only use the 1X….
SO 1X mean very basic stuff from bell and data network mean google hotmail and eveything out of the 1X box… Unfortunately on my HTC TOUCH if I type http://www.google.com it switch on data network but I cannot go anyway with the 1X network… so that is all…. 7$=1X=limited internet browsing
Ya well, it only seems to be happening to you! I have not heard of another person with that problem. Your obviously doing something wrong or not communicating. Because if you’ll see my last 3 posts it confirms of the unlimited internet? Hmmm shall we compare your voice call to my actual bill? My bill came to 41.08 a month which included 200 anytime minutes, free evenings and weekends after SIX, voice mail, caller display, system access fee, taxes AND my unlimited $7 internet! (I work at a company which is on Bell Mobility’s list for corporate plans) when you sign-up at Bell mention where you work as most major companies are on the list for applicable discounts!
That all being said you are the only one taken for a ride.
I believe you have to take a 3 year contract for this to apply, I however paid the full price.
I can’t speak for anyone else but I watch TV and stream radio stations ALL DAY at work and my bill was as stated $41.08 and not a penny more.
And just to boot I recorded their conversation as well in case they decided to ever say otherwise..
C&P from Bell Staff
HTC Touch™ - Is it too good to be true? Absolutely not!
Client Care should be capable of answering any billing related questions but we need to be fully aware so that if we provide any details it is fully accurate. Below are Frequently Asked Questions to help make it easier for you to support the HTC Touch!
QUESTION
ANSWER
1. Can a customer sign up to the Unlimited Mobile Browser (MBUN) instead of the Fun 15 Bundle or Fun 25 Music Bundle?
Yes, a customer can sign up to the Unlimited Mobile Browser (MBUN); however, customers are highly encouraged to subscribe to the Fun Bundles to take advantage of the terrific value (i.e. Call Display, Message Centre, Text Messaging, Unlimited Mobile Browser).
2. What services are included in the Unlimited Mobile Browser (MBUN)?
All services are included except when tethering via the W-Modem application. Below is a list of the the most popular services that are included:
· Personal E-mail access (POP3/IMAP e.g G-Mail, Sympatico, Yahoo, Hotmail)
· Corporate E-mail/Calendar/Contacts/Tasks access via Exchange ActiveSync
· E-mail attachment
· Full-HTML browsing through Internet Explorer
· Windows Media Player
3. What features are required to enable tethering on the HTC Touch?
For tethering purposes only, customers will need to subscribe to a traditional PDA E-mail & Internet data feature (PDS). See below for features:
· 4MB (P25S)
· 8MB (P40S)
· 30MB (P60S)
· 1GB (P1GBPDX)
· see infozone for pricing changes and data amounts
4. Can a customer download applications on the HTC Touch and if so, how will it be billed?
Yes, customers can download applications onto the device and the data transport will be included in the Mobile Browser feature. However, depending on where the application is coming from, some sites may charge the client for the application itself (for example: almost all applications downloaded from Handango will require the client to purchase it on their credit card first)
5. Would a customer see a difference in the speed of the data connection with this unit versus a traditional PDA (i.e. Motorola Q)?
No, there is no speed difference
6. Can new & existing PDA users (i.e. Motorola Q, Treo, HTC 5800/6800) leverage the same Mobile Browser feature as the HTC Touch?
No, the HTC Touch was launched as a multi-media smartphone and designed specifically to work with the Mobile Browser feature. Traditional PDA’s are not compatible with the Mobile Browser Feature
7. How do I handle an existing PDA customer who is inquiring why he/she is unable to migrate to the Mobile Browser (or Fun Bundle) similar to the HTC Touch?
The HTC Touch is a multi-media smartphone with a heavy focus on entertainment features including Full Track Music service, camera, video capture, and web browsing. The functionality puts it into the same category as our entertainment phones. The unique interface of the HTC Touch is not optimal for heavy email and messaging use due to its on-screen touch keyboard. Existing Bell ustomers who are extremely interested in this unique offering can call Client Care to see what their upgrade/migration options are
8. Can a customer put the HTC Touch on prepaid?
No, the HTC Touch cannot be used on prepaid
9. Is there any limit to the “Unlimited”?
All the existing Terms of Service agreements apply to the HTC Touch. Please advise client to visit http://www.bell.ca/acceptableuse for details
10. Can a customer use Picture Messaging / MMS on the HTC Touch?
No, the HTC Touch is not compatible with Bell’s Picture Messaging or MMS service. However, customer can capture images and videos and send it as an attachment through e-mail
11. Can a customer use Sirius Radio on the HTC Touch?
No, the HTC Touch is not compatible with Sirius Radio
12. Can a customer subscribe as voice-only?
Yes
13. Is there an expiry date to the Unlimited Mobile Browser pricing offer on the HTC Touch?
Yes, the current pricing has an expiry date of Dec 31st, 2007
14. Does the HTC Touch from Bell have WIFI?
No the Bell Version of the Touch does not have WIFI and spec and details can be found on the KB, and Infozone related to product specs. </TABLE
Only thing that is a gray area is from the Terms and Conditions @
http://www.bell.ca/acceptableuse
You are responsible to safeguard your Device, and for the use of your Device and the Services by you and any other persons, except as provided under Section 17 above. You shall not use or allow others to use the Service or your Device if such use.
is for multi-media streaming, voice over Internet protocol or any other application which uses excessive network capacity that is not made available to you by Bell;
I guess like anything if you abuse something they have the right to justify..
a)I have owned Bell CDMA touch for 1 month now - its amazing, the more i use it the more i like it. I have heard the GSM version (ie//rogers) is slow and underpowered. b)When I subscribed to the fun bundle/w Sirius from Bell the sales person and i called the Bell data centre and we were told by Bell tech centre that they were looking to support Sirius Radio in Q1 2008. The HTC site also confirms that the touch does support Sirius http://www.america.htc.com/about/pressroom/10-17-2007.html lets hurry up and enable Bell!
I was also told by the data centre that unlimited data plan means unlimited data when sales person and i called Bell. i would only be charged more if I downloaded items from a PAY site (like ITUNES etc)
well OpenWave on your phone does it use the 1X or it call the #777 to use the network??
I called bell they told me that I own them 1000$ for using web pages outside of their intranet… I am also in a cie that gave be a saving so I have the plan over 3 years paying 37$/month…
Something not clear is that it seam the data invoice seem to be on a different category then the normal phone using… maybe they though I was using my phone as a modem… this is the only thing I can imagine… I guess I have to do more work about finding out what is really happening and why now they creally credited me 1000$ anyway… give you news soon… but for now I still think it is a scam….
Yes it connects to #777 as most PDA and data devices do. The only way they would charge you is if a) you were not on the unlimited $7 plan b) used your phone as a modem c) have any other phone as a PDA orher than the HTC Touch. I C&P their FAQ in regards to questions clients may have regarding price plans and complete details on the HTC Touch. It does not get any clearer than
this. Perhaps you should speak to Clent Relations regarding your account, as your entitled to UNLIMITED internet for $7/month EVEN though it expired the 31st of December! It’s your right and responsibility to inquire further into this!
can I use my htc touch with 7$ plan with skype - only for chat?
I REAPEATE HTC TOUCH UNLIMITED FOR 7 $ IS NOT TRUE (THAT APPLY TO YOU TO OPENWAVE)
SOON I CAN PROVIDE A WAV CONVERSATION WITH BELL I HAVE. IT IS NOT UNLIMITED I REAPEAT IT IS NOT UNLIMITED
DONT GO ON YOUTUBE DONT GO ON HOTMAIL ETC
YOU CAN JUST GO ON LIMITED PAGE MOBILEBROWSER
I spoke with person from bell. she told me that web browser is unlimitrd, which I hope is true, and when my bill will come I’ll see is it . hope you is not write, but before bill I can’t say anything.
[...] à 5$ par mois sur certains de ses cellulaires. Certains disent que c’est pour contrer une offre similaire de Bell, d’autres prétendent qu’il s’agit plutôt d’un passage obligé pour accueillir [...]