The Canadian cell phone market is currently dominated by Bell, Rogers and Telus. Rogers with their GSM (Global System for Mobile) network, while both Bell and Telus are utilizing CDMA (Code Division Miltiple Acess). One major advantage that GSM has over CDMA is the ability to allow customers in Canada to use their phone around the world by simply exchanging the SIM card that comes with a Rogers phone with one from another provider that uses that also uses the GSM network. Most manufacturers make variations of their phone to allow it to operate on both networks however the Apple iPhone only works on a GSM network. An advantage that Rogers has enjoyed the benefits for close to 2 years, during the second half of last year they sold 385,000 iPhones.
Bell and Telus announced they would partner on a HSPA ( High Speed Packet Access) network, giving their customer base a faster network. Now rumours are flying around that both companies are in talks with Apple to have the iPhone available to both Bell and Telus customers by the fall of 2009.
Apple announced they have already sold 1 million phones of its newest model, the iPhone 3G S. While the phone is not without its challenges users end up spending around $100 per month due to the requirement to have both a voice and data plan and a contract.
The current economic conditions have forced companies to re-evaluate their bottom line, some have filled for bankruptcy, others have allowed themselves to be acquired. Oracle recently acquired Sun Microsystems, something I thought I would never see happen.
With Bell and Telus now jumping into bed on a joint wireless network, both company’s potentially offering the Apple iPhone. Maybe a merger between Bell and Telus is a possibility in the near future. Aside from offering wireless both companies offer a number of solutions for both businesses and consumers in sometimes competing regions of Canada, but they each have regions that they other has a stronger foot hold, Bell with Quebec and Telus with British Columbia for example.
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