Bell Canada's HTC Touch launch and unlimited internet for $7 is a go
By Sean Cooper 
posted Nov 15th 2007 9:38AM
posted Nov 15th 2007 9:38AM
Seems the rumor we heard last week about Bell's HTC Touch launch and unlimited surfin' and mail for $7 are true. Judging by the loveliness pictured above, we'll go out on a limb to say that today's HTC Touch launch by Bell Canada is most definitely gonna start a frenzy up north. Though our prices last week were a bit wonky, it appears the Touch will only set you back $150 on a 3 year stint, or $400 off contract and not the $250 and $450 we'd quoted. Nice handset only made better by a great price and mind boggling -- at least, in Canada -- wireless web deal. Hop on over to Bell's site to enjoy the finer details.
[Thanks, RileyFreeman]
[Thanks, RileyFreeman]
Why do they have to start up a 3-yr contract trend? It's painful enough that cellphone companies want us to stay with them for 2 years. I bet in a year or so, US cell companies will start doing the 3-yr contracts. I am still sticking with my 1-yr contract.
JAmerican
Yeah, though they do offer 2 year and 1 year contracts.. and at only $50 more, 2 year is pretty decent, too.
What I'm most impressed with is the entry price for average Joe web surfer. $7 is going to really alter the Canadian wireless data landscape, with typical costs being in the hundred(s) for just 100 megs, there will be some celebrating by the data crazy.
You want to have discount on both phone and plan but not willing to sign a contact. Basically you are saying you want stuff for "free" if you can? If the data plan is $20 for 2 years then you will scream not fair? lol
No wonder we are still having cheap and outdated phones in Canada because everyone wants "free" phone. :(
Did u guys fail to read the Poster YOU POSTED... Its only 7.00 a month for the first two months.....DUHH u see the two in small print? it the goes sky high after that!!!
No, it doesn't say that at all:
(2)With unlimited Mobile Browser service; unlimited in core network and high speed mobile coverage areas. 100 min. in other digital coverage areas; 25cents/ additional minute.
If you can tether it to a laptop thats a damn good deal, even if the price quadruples after the introductory offer. I'm going on a year with my Samsung Blackjack giving my laptop nearly 1.5 MB download speeds and unlimited data. I'm happy paying $19 a month for that.
Apparently you can't tether with the $7 plan.. for that you need the full on data plan which is still crazy-expensive. The $7 unlimited data has been around for a long time, but only available on regular handsets. The new thing here is that they're letting us use it on a smartphone. I'm thinking the Touch will be the replacement for my V3c.
I just hope this means competition is heating up so we can get unlimited GSM based internet.
I have contacted Telus Mobility in Canada and they assured me they will be working really hard to build me a plan to keep me from switching to Bell, they told me to wait until this weekend.
The cost for me to leave would be 340$ (17 months left on the contract) but in those 17 months I would save close to 800$ switching, which is a no-brainer... However I always liked the Service I got from Telus, so I am giving them a chance (at least a week).
You sourced HowardForums but I think a user on RedFlagDeals.com actually had it first:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=512228
A "main post" there a week ago with ongoing rumor discussion around that time...
We actually bumped into it on Hofo last week, on November 3rd (from Rileyfreeman)5 days before it appeared on Redflagdeals.
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/09/bell-to-launch-htc-touch-include-unlimited-data-for-7/
and
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1270029&page=1
The original discussion on HowardForums was started November 3
I'm pretty sure the acceptable use clause would not include using it for tethering. Besides, its that kind of abuse of a data network that would cause our rates to go sky high again. Lets just stay calm and use the data on our phones for now, k people?
Looks like Sean beat me to it ;)
http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1270029
started nov 3rd
well i am on the phone right now as we speak with a bell rep and they haVe no idea about unlimited data with the htc touch............ and plus i don't see the promotion anywhere on the bell website...
It seems that the Unlimited web is not really unlimited web, it is unlimited access to certain wap sites (I didn't know that still existed!) Anyway that came from my Telus rep who did some research before offering me a better deal.
I think the Canadian Cell providers are criminals.
To be a bit clearer, this is what a competing sales rep told me, I will investigate with Bell this week on this.
Clearly Bell should train their people, after 3 calls and 6 reps I was able to talk to someone who seem to know what he was talking about and from what he says this is real.
On the other side, Telus is still denying very forcefully that this is not real, they offered me (and I took it until I am 100% sure and switch to Bell) a new 15$ dataplan for 7Mb (normally it is 2Mb) and they reduced my other services by 11$ total. However after reading many forums I am sure they are lying to me, but getting good answer from Bell is very challenging.
just to query your concerns...
The HTC Touch is compatible with the unlimited mobile browser Bell Mobility has to offer. Unit is not deemed as a PDA but just a regular cellphone. (so yes, no additional data chrgs and yes for $7 you get unlimited email/internet) The cost for the unlimited mobile browser is $7 a month, tethering is not included with this. (additional charges will apply) The touch will have the push service for your emails (similar to the HTC 6800 but you save a bundle with the data chrgs) it runs on 1XEV as well (faster than rogers dial up, to date Rogers only has 2 devices that can run on their hi-speed) runs on windows mobile 6, has the cool touch flo feature similar how you can slide the screen with an iphone or itouch. Telus and rogers do offer the touch as well, but be ready to fork out additional chrgs for data.. for now, it seems like this one is to stay and you can even benefit from the fun bundles as well
I looked into this as well. The big difference is that this is $7 for mobile browser, which is a far cry from the true internet explorer on smartphones. Prior to this promo, it was $15/month for unlimited mobile browser with Bell, as I had on my previous phone, a Samsung A920. I just got the data transfer package again after a 18 month hiatus, and it is $100/month with a 1 Gig max. The next package down was $60/month with a 35 MB max.
Guys,
Its unlimited internet (full access) with no restriction and as long as you have a contract or else it can go away anytime.
You are able to get good plans, but you need to how to deal with the retention department.
For 3 year contract I got $44.99 all inclusive (No System Access Fees):
- Unlimited Local Incoming and Outgoing in my area
- Unlimited Canadian and US Long Distance Minutes
- Unlimited Internet, Text Messaging and Picture Messaging
- Enhanced Voice Mail and Caller ID
- Free Roaming in Canada and $0.99/m in U.S.
- Free Bell Turtle Case
- Free Bell Car Charger
Yes, I got the HTC Touch from Bell and its amazing... addicted, and downside:
- You get brain cancer, lol!!!
- Battery life sucks, unless turn off "always on" internet connection!
- WiFi is disable, but you get super-high access anyways!
Feel free to drop me a line: charles.huang@utoronto.ca
You did a bit better than I did. On a 3 year contract I pay $40 with all fees included, getting basically the same features you get, except limited to 1,000 incoming minutes (I never use this much), 200 outgoing (rarely exceed this), 100 long distance (have never used this much either), free evenings and weekends and 20 free calls to a "favorite" number. It's doubtful I'll exceed any of these limits, and adding on the $7 unlimited internet, my monthly bill with tax included is $49.35. For a Canadian plan, this is excellent. I've been a Bell Mobility user for 3 years already and of the 4 cell providers I've used in the past 10 years, Bell has been the best. It's my first 3 year contract.
I actually won't mind getting your plan, I used RBCD_36 + RBCD_36 + MBUN + T02_75_OP + LDCF_OP
Here is a press release for this:
http://www.bce.ca/en/news/releases/bm/2007/11/16/74533.html
I couldn't help but get one as this is such a good deal! And the browser works on EV-DO. First city fido..now this!
Scam alert bell mobility unlimited download.
Don't get the HTC Touch from Bell thinking you will have unlimited download for 7$.
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.
Mathieu, I seen your same post on 4 sites so far, stop spreading your ignorance!
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.