Finally some simple price plans and it only took the Olympics to get here. Bell is a major sponsor of the upcoming Vancouver Olympics next week and to celebrate they have released a 3-tiered set of plans called the “2010 Winter Games Plans”: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The offer is valid until February 28th, 2010 and only “With new activation on a min. 3-yr. contract term”.
The $30 per month Bronze plan you get 100 minutes, unlimited nights & weekends (6pm – 7am), Unlimited 2010 Winter Games Content, Unlimited Mobile Browser, no text messages.
The $40 per month Silver plan you get 150 minutes, unlimited nights & weekends (6pm – 7am), Unlimited 2010 Winter Games Content, Unlimited Mobile Browser, 250 text messages.
The $55 per month Gold plan you get 200 minutes, unlimited nights & weekends (6pm – 7am), Unlimited 2010 Winter Games Content, 500MB of data, 2500 text messages.
As usual, with any rate plan with any carrier you must read the fine print to fully understand you know what you’re signing up for. Bell fine print states these plans are:
“Available with compatible HSPA/HSPA+ devices within network coverage areas available from Bell Mobility (HSPA/HSPA+) where technology permits. HSPA/HSPA+ not available everywhere. Long distance and roaming charges (including foreign taxes) may apply outside your local area. Weeknights Mon-Thu, 6pm-7am; Weekends Fri 6pm-Mon 7am. Other monthly fees, e.g., 9-1-1 (Quebec: $0.40, New Brunswick: $0.53, Nova Scotia: $0.43, P.E.I.: $0.50), and one-time device activation ($35) apply. Paper bill service charge ($2/mo) applies unless you register for e-bill and cancel your paper bill. With data use, charges apply if you do not subscribe to a data plan or unlimited Mobile Browser service and fees may apply for features, content and roaming when outside your local area. Upon early termination, price adjustment charges apply. Subject to change without notice; not combinable with other offers. Taxes extra. Other conditions apply. (1) With new activation on a min. 3-yr. contract term. (2) Based on: (a) fastest network, according to tests of average upload and download speeds, in large Canadian urban centres, (b) largest network, based on total square kms of coverage, and (c) tests for fewest dropped calls and clearest reception in large Canadian urban centres; all on the shared HSPA/HSPA+ network available from Bell, vs. Rogers HSPA/HSPA+ network. Speed may vary due to topography, environmental conditions, device type and other factors. HSPA/HSPA+ not available in all areas. Bell.ca/network. (3) Mobile Browser does not include use of your device as a modem to connect to the Internet from your computer; additional per kilobyte data charges apply. Unlimited in core network and high speed mobile network coverage areas. 100 mins. in other digital coverage areas; 25¢/additional min. Subject to acceptable use restrictions in Terms of Service, including consuming excessive network capacity or causing our network to be adversely affected. See bell.ca/acceptableuse for details. (4) Supports personal email accounts and on-device HTML & WAP Browsing. Instant Messaging includes BlackBerry Messenger and Windows Live Messenger for BlackBerry smartphones and Windows Live Messenger for compatible Windows Mobile smartphones. Outlook synchronization, corporate email integration and other corporate-type solutions not available. Excludes Mobile Connect and tethering with your device. (5) Sent messages include domestic text messages and exclude international, roaming, alerts, premium text messages and messages sent with an instant messaging application. Received messages include domestic, international, roaming and service related messages from Bell and exclude premium, alerts or dial-up messages. Out of bundle charges may apply.”
Pretty garbage in my opinion. Sorry if I’m being blunt but I thought all this ramp-up to get the new network in place was going to be better overings on prepaid plans since travellers are going to be here for a while. Hopefully this isn’t all the Big 3 will be offering. I was more hoping to see updates on better prepaid plans. Sorry but I have family coming for the winter games which has me concerned…
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When are plans gonna start coming with standard call display and voicemail?!
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straight up garbage indeed… insulting to the wireless consumers of canada…
prob a genius move on bell
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All plans at this point should include some sort of text so you’re not paying for incoming text, and also call display.
These plans really aren’t that different from ones that has been offered before and in fact may even cost more. The only extra is the Olympics content which will only be useful for a couple of weeks.
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I just changed to the $50 smartphone plan and was offered this package to consider – no mention of extending contract.
I agree that call display/VM should be included with the bundle and really I could do without the VM.
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No mentions of the unlimited browsing whether it’s limited to Bell phones. If it does include those then it’s 1 up from Robbers/Fido.
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