Interested in purchasing iPhone - Go with Telus or Bell?

[Doju]

Hey, I'm interested in jumping on the iPhone wagon. My question is, in Canada, who has the best service: Bell or Telus? (Rogers is not an option, their service is horrid where I live.)

I live in Nova Scotia, by the way.

For us Nova Scotians, Bell has always been known as the premium, best network for us Scotians. I'd say 95% of the people I know have Bell.

But, with Bell and Telus building a network together, I really don't think there's much of a difference. In fact, judging by the coverage maps (unless Bell is just being modest) Telus has better coverage for Nova Scotians. It appears no where lacks service with Telus, while Bell has some spots.

Normally I'd just go with Bell, but their plans suck compared to Telus'. (Bell doesn't even offer visual voicemail until $80/mo!) Plus, Telus has no SAF or 911 fees. Nice!

For comparison:

Telus

Bell

Any opinions, possibly from Nova Scotians on the better option? I just need to know I have 3G coverage where I live (postal code: B0T1K0). But knowing Nova Scotian service in general would be great.

 

[MikeTheRocker96]

It seems the clear choice is Telus. I don't understand why you're asking if you just bashed Bell and talked great about Telus. I myself plan to hop on the iPhone wagon too, likely this Summer when the new model is released and I will be using Telus. (I live on Vancouver Island in B.C.) Their coverage appears to be superior here.

 

[greygray]

Telus then. It has more advantages than Bell's service plans.

 

[Doju]

Any other opinions?

 

[nateo200]

Make sure you check there 3G UMTS/HSPA+ network coverage first. If I'm not mistaken Bell and Telus are a hybrid CDMA + UMTS network with there UMTS networks being newer. Your iPhone won't pick up legacy CDMA signals only 3G UMTS signals so you have to be careful with those coverage maps when using a non CDMA device.

 

[MRTaylor]

Be careful. When you go to the Bell site you cannot buy an iphone for any area in the Eastern Provinces. I recently went looking because I live in NB. It seems only major areas have the new network (mainly Ontario). So be careful if you decide to buy, it might not work in NS.

I came from Bell in July to Rogers with a new 3Gs and I couldn't believe how terrible the Rogers coverage is in my area compared to Bell. I was almost going to pay the ETF's from Rogers to switch my iphone back to Bell when they released it but I can't select my city/area on Bell's site, it's not listed.

 

[Komiksulo]

I was just looking at the Bell site. I selected PEI for the province and there was solid HSPA+ coverage, and I could select the iPhone. Same with NS. Out east, they kick Rogers' butt.

 

[nateo200]

@ OP,
Good! You should be 3G all the way then! Now go enjoy your iPhone (Get the 3GS). Now us Americans have to just wait....

 

[kwajo.com]

It used to be the case that Telus and Aliant [Bell] used the exact same network in the Maritimes, but that was a few years ago I don't know what the case is now. If they still share a network you might as well just pick whichever one has the best pricing deal at the moment and go with them.

Just for reference, I have an iPhone with Rogers and despite bad previous experiences with their coverage on other phones, I have never had a single problem with my 3GS. I live in NB and travel bi-weekly to Halifax and I get great signal strength everywhere. Anyway, just thought I'd contribute that tidbit as a fellow Maritimer.

 

[gangsta77]

Bells contracts are to expensive but u should just go with telus

but here in ontario the plans are great on rogers

 

[trainguy77]

Well the network was built together they have the same coverage. Telus doesn't offer visual voicemail at all. Bell does. Telus is cheaper I find. Its really which price plan fits your needs better.

 

[goosnarrggh]

Make sure you check there 3G UMTS/HSPA+ network coverage first. If I'm not mistaken Bell and Telus are a hybrid CDMA + UMTS network with there UMTS networks being newer. Your iPhone won't pick up legacy CDMA signals only 3G UMTS signals so you have to be careful with those coverage maps when using a non CDMA device.

The map provided for Bell, at least, really is their HSPA/HSPA+ coverage.

If you check out their 1X/EVDO map, it appears they actually have better HSPA/HSPA+ coverage than they do 1X/EVDO coverage in Nova Scotia. Which is really saying something considering that, even before the transition, Bell already had better coverage in Nova Scotia than any other carrier.

Ditto to the previous comment regarding Telus and Bell having built this HSPA network cooperatively - if one of the two companies has constructed HSPA coverage in any given region, then customers of both companies will have access to it.