**Update: July 28, 2010. Seems as though a Bell document leaked to BGR has verified this new 6GB/$30 data plan.
This plan also includes the following:
– Included tethering
– $10 add on option to share data to your iPad 3G (as long as on the same account)
– Unlimited Wi-Fi at Starbucks
– Offer good till September 30th, 2010
A new Canadian Ninja has come forth with some great news for all you Bell Canada smartphone users who happen to also own an iPad. According to a Bell memo, the wireless carrier plans to offer a 6 GB data plan for $30 per month that will provide smartphone users with “unlimited Wi-Fi @ Starbucks†as well as tethering. Bell will also allow you to “share†your 6 GB data bucket with your iPad for an additional $10 (as long as they are on the same billing account). The effective date on the memo is July 30th through September 30th and it is being billed as a “limited time offer.†We’ve got the full three page memo, for your scrutiny, after the break.
Unconfirmed reports have started to filter in regarding a possible launch of a $30 6GB data plan from Bell.
Long time iPhone owners will remember when Rogers/Fido launched their $30 6GB data plan, which started in July 2008 and then came back again in June 2009.
This plan was a great value since Rogers/Fido normally charge $30 for 1GB. So the 6GB plan gave customers a lot more data for the same price!
At this time, Rogers/Fido have yet to announce their 6GB data plan, but it seems that Bell may have one of their own. The Bell document, reportedly sent to employees, details the new data plan as being available on July 30, 2010.
“In addition, the launch of the iPhone will be supported by new offers that will be available July 30 – September 30, 2010″
It is difficult to gauge whether the document is legitimate. We have contacted a few of our Bell connects and at this time, no one can confirm the legitimacy of the document.
However, if the Bell data plan turns out real, it would be a real bonus for Bell customers, as Bell typically charges $30 for 500MB of data.
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Just over 2 years into a 3 year contract with an HTC Touch.
If this is true about the data offer then Bell just sucked me into re-upping with them for 3 years.
Especially if I can get new customer pricing as my account now seems to imply.
een
I spoke with several bell employees regarding a plan change yesterday because I have no data currently. One bell employee told me this (without me asking) over the phone and I went into a bell store and got confirmation. I say this is true 100%.
$30 data + $30 voice = 60 and that's without caller id .. o how i frown upon telus.. ><
I wonder if this is on a 3yr plan only… I was planning on buying my iPhone 4 outright.
From your lips to….God's ears? Job's ears? Bell's ears?
Eh, whatever.
I'm in.
Isn't this jumping to a completely unsubstantiated conclusion? That quote saying there will be “new offers” doesn't whatsoever say anything about a $30 6 GB data plan.
This is kind of gossip is how rumours start.
Kinda curious about that too.
If I could get it without locking in for 3 years using an unlocked iP4 then I might consider going that route.
Maybe.
een
Peter?
There is a site that has a scan/page cap/whatever of a purported Bell internal info sheet showing and iP4 data plan of $30/6gb.
It's over on mobilesyrup.
een
is it me of does this sound insane, how is it possible the all three carriers have data plans on multiple pieces of hardware, and yet charge whatever they feel like charging? I am a rogers customer, with multiple wireless services, I pay 30$ for 1 gig, on my smart phone, 35$ for 3gig, on a rocket hub, and 35$ for 5gig's on my ipad, what gets me, and I'm not trying to start a debate, is that you are accessing the same data, from the same cell tower, all you are doing is using a different device, how is it, we do not have, across the board data pricing? what's the big three's excuse for that? from my vantage point, 100$ (for all three devices ) to access the exact same data.. from the exact same tower in my area, its not like its using anything different.. am I the only one thinking this??
At the end of the article, shouldn't it say $30 for 1GB or $25 for the 500mb?
Yeah turbo,
I've been wondering that since I saw the iPad data package pricing.
Why the wide variation in pricing?
Seemed kinda b*llsh*tty to me.
een
that “different device” is precisely why they are at different price points. on a pc with your Rucket Hub you're FAR more likely to use alot more data than any smartphone or tablet device. that being said, you won't have data turned on 24/7 like you would with a smartphone so yes you need more data, but no you wont be constanatly congesting the network liek you would with a smartphone. It makes perfect sense why they are at different price points.
simple een, when you get a smartphone you actually pay more than jus the data. but with iPad n rocket stick they cant charge you anymore.. so they subsidize the price.. also the mackman6151 are completely true.
what time will I be able to purchase the phone on apple.ca on July 30???????!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey!
Who you calling “simple ian?”
LOL! j/k
I would have thought the data on an iPad would be higher as that's the only thing they can bone your for whereas with a smartphone they soak you for data AND voice plans.
een
I still have the 6gb plan from when I got my Iphone 3G. I barely ever go over like 100mb. LOL.
Thanks for pointing this out, een, because it WAS NOT pointed out (as a link) on this particular blog! Webmasters take note please.
that's the $64,000 question. nobody knows…yet
Yeah, I've heard that from many people – If you have regular access to wifi it can be easy to manage your usage. This is a “nice to have” just in case.
you might want to save yourself some $$$$ and switch your phone plan to 6 gigs if its offered again, cancel the other 2 data plans and tether from your phone(i'm assuming you have an iphone)
my only point is that, is seems pretty silly, to pay 3 different price points, I dont mind paying 35$ three times over for the 3 individual services, just that when it comes to my phone, it seems kinda stupid, how can you offer me 5 gig's for 35$ on a ipad and can't on my phone, why not make it standard 35$ for 5 Gig's of data, on all mobile “internet” devices including an iphone or smart phone . and you would think they would be more willing to do it on my phone since, my bills are for my phone alone are upwards of 140 to 160.. so there getting there revenue out of me on the phone portion, maybe its just me i don't know, but i think from a marketing standpoint if they came out and said hey.. this is what it is to access our data network.. across the board… there would be massive amount of new revenue for them. In my area alone, the closest high speed internet provider is cable and there 15 mins away so your forced into the wireless data option since dsl and cable are non existent in my part of the boonies.. but like i said, personally and this is just a matter of opinion, it shouldn't change if u can charge me 35$ for 5 gigs on an ipad, u should be able to do it on my iphone, as well as my rocket hub.. i honestly dont believe its justified, and its not just rogers its all carriers, i guess it is what is , “capitalism” lol
back when rogers/fido offered it, it was a separate agreement. so even if you had a three year plan already, or where month per month, the 6gig for 30 bucks was its own 3 year agreement running concurrently. So, if you got an unlocked phone at full price, you still would be locked in for the data plan, Not the talk plan, but he data plan. no clue if bell will do this, but i think thats why they are offering it, to keep their market share.
Yes. 3 year
Yeah in all the months i've had an iphone (which is since June 2008) i have NEVER gotten even near 100 mb of data
follow the mobilesyrup link above to see that (assuming this is real) Bell are to offer 6gb/$30/mo and for an additional $10/mo you can share that with your iPad.
While it's great that they will allow you to share the data plan, I really don't understand why they would charge you extra to do it – other than Bell's well-known greediness of course!
You should factor in the subsidizing of phones in you pricing comparison. If all were prepared to pay full price for a phone, then your comparison would have more validity.
DAvid
Nevermind. Guess it was a glitch
forget those greedy carriers. Jailbreak and get MyWi
Rogers also has the $30.00 6 GB Plan as I just signed up yesterday in preparation for release of the iPhone 4
Just called Telus retention service trying to negotiate something for my new Iphone 4 plan using the Bell 30$/6G as bait. She told me about a plan for 25$ that was going to come out and that it would not be a good thing for me to go with Bell (of course) but she couldn't tell me more. Not really hard evidence but it looks good!
What are you talking about? I just called Rogers and they said there is no 6Gb data plan available, They are asking 60 dollars for 5GB.
i just talked to a rep at an authorized dealer near to wear i live and she told me: iphone4 only available for new costumers only!…….. do you think she is smoking somthing funny or this is true???
Since I started to use MyWi, I can do 3 GB easily. I'm at 1.9 GB this cycle with 16 days left.
NP Peter.
Glad to help.
een
interesting….
funny thing is … if you paid outright for your ipad 3g version… you could have slipped in your sim card from your cell phone and used the data from that account instead of paying for 2 separate services… I do it and all is good… mind you i'm on the 6gig $30.00deal they offered last summer… i cut down my sim card and bought a $2.99 insert so the sim card can move between the two devices…
it's a lie. they don't get as much commission if they upgrade rather than saving the new iphone 4 for a brand new customer.
I don't understand why would anyone want to get locked-in with any company at all.
Apparently I thought I had a good deal with Rogers until I found out someone is able to negotiate, exactly the same package, for $20/month CHEAPER than I am paying now (I am already on a good retention plan) because his contract expired while I am still stuck with them for 2 more years because I upgraded to 3GS last year.
I am just going to go with unlocked iPhone directly from apple this time around. Freedom to use any SIM card anywhere in the world and CREDIBILITY WHEN THREATEN TO LEAVE is priceless and going to save me more money down the road.
Just imagine if Rogers/Bell/Telus let you upgrade from 3GS to 4 this time around but change the policy to “stacking contract” or “2 years minimum” for iPhone 5 next year. Don't say you are not forewarned!
I read that part and am wondering… does that means I can have my iPad and iPhone4 sharing the 6GB data with two microSIMs? Or I can swap it from the iPhone4 into the iPad??
I already am paying $35/mo fir 5GB for the iPad so this would be excellent.
+1
Hey, ex, I have 2 questions first one is if I get a plan with 450 min 6 gb data plan unlimited testing how much would it cost approximately at bell and also is there gonna be pre order at any site or stores today, tommorrow, or on Friday? Thanks 🙂
You're looking at about $80-100. $30 for data, $20 for texting/voicemail/etc and at least $40 for the voice plan.
There is no pre order.
I agree, my wife's plan was about to expire…..finally and she has my iphone I gave her. Had a talk with CR and to be fair I quoted Bell's plan which is similar and cheaper. Told them we don't want to renew our contract bc we already have a phone but want a cheaper plan and they gave it to us. Now I can't do the same with my iphone plan as it does not expire till next year, but at that time even if I save 20 bucks thats 600 over 3 years. So yeah you put the money upfront but I feel in my situation it works best. And also you have freedom of being always unlocked, EX any thoughts?
Will I be able to buy an iphone 4 outright on launch day from either best buy or futureshop? I heard they won't sell you one on launch day because they don't make any commission on it? I'm pretty sure best buy doesn't work on commission though
I like the sound of that, Ex.
$80 pretax is right in my sweet spot.
Really would rather not pay more than that.
Have to wait and see.
Still on the bubble about whether to go unlocked or stick with locked-to-carrier as initial outlay is cheaper.
een
I'd suggest best buy over future shop for the commission reason. I believe that you will be able to purchase a full-price, contract-free phone, but it will be LOCKED to your carrier. And as I've said before, if you're paying full price, might as well go to the apple store, pay the same amount, and get it unlocked.
That said, if you get a genuinely despicable rep, they can and gladly will not sell you the phone if they want their commission. It happened to my brother one.
Honestly I think the less carrier-locked phones are in the market the better. I upgrade my phone every year and as a result I resell my carrier-locked phone in the secondary market – buyers would either have to stay with, say, Rogers or they have to pay someone to unlock it for them if they are not technologically savvy.
If more and more people start going the unlocked device route, over next few years we could see significant loss in market power to the existing Big 3 in both the primary and secondary market, which could lead to a much more vibrant and competitive Canadian cellphone market. One of the barrier to entry for new startups being the cost of cellphone (locked ones) would be loosened if people are able to acquire “hand-me-down” 1 year old cellphone that works with any company that offers the most competitive plan.
Further to that thought, I believe existing locked iPhone 4 and alike would “depreciate” in value faster as more and more factory unlocked iPhone 4 appear a year from now. Further depreciates the value of cellphone company subsidized handsets, hence the net benefit of signing that 3 years contract.
Who with the right mind is going to pay the same for a locked device given superior substitute is available?
And how many people who actively looking for the latest gadget going to use the phone for more than 1 or 2 years? Really (and I believe that applies to a lot of users of blog like this one).
I don't think our oligopoly incumbent firms (Rogers, Bell, Telus) are going to like this paradigm shift. In recent years the “competition” has resulted in higher and higher prices and similar packages.
We are in front of the pack when it comes to technology – we can put a stop to this “race to higher prices” if we all act appropriately and vote with our wallets and decisions 🙂
while i agree that you “save” by getting an unlocked phone, the good plans like the 6gb 30 dollar plan is only available on a 3 year term and not available on a pay as you go service, even if you bought the 3g/3gs while it was available.
Similar to the 45 dollar 500mb with voice plan, which requires 3 year term to get which was the current popular plan for smartphones.
Also, I don't think too many people here will be rocking an iphone3g/3gs/4 in 3 years, and will have the iphone 6 or some other device by then if you were willing to get the newest device at the time, whats stopping you from doing it in the next 3 years because technology will have improved dramatically in the recent years. Were seeing phones at 1ghz, and some 2ghz chips have already been developed for our next gen phones which we could see in the next 6 months to 1 year to our phones.
Ya I've thought about that, and if I had an apple store anywhere close to me I definitely would but the nearest one is like 4 hours away. I'm locked to telus for awhile still anyway and really want one on launch day haha. Can't wait any longer.