Virgin Mobile Canada: Fifth Canadian outlet for iPhone
Posted Nov 20th 2009 10:30AM by Ken Ray
The iPhone is getting yet another carrier in the great white north. Virgin Mobile Canada has announced that it'll start selling the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in the coming months. When exactly? How much? Can I get a Richard Branson ringtone? Actually, I can make my own ringtones, but what about the rest of it? We'll have to wait to find out. All the company said in its incredibly short notice was that it'll sell the phones online and in its brick-and-mortar stores at some point. Well, that and that its gotten some love from J.D. Power and Associates for its prepaid and postpaid wireless services.
The phones are already on sale north of the border through Rogers Wireless, its subsidiary Fido, Bell Canada, and Telus. While a Canadian friend tells me Virgin Mobile Canada has a reputation for inexpensive phones with prepaid service, Canadian mobile news site MobileSyrup expects Virgin to charge roughly the same prices with the same three-year contracts as Canada's other iPhone carriers.
Thanks EZ Mac Mike for the tip!
[via iLounge, MobileSyrup]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tys said 10:50AM on 11-20-2009
Virgin Mobile in Canada is Bell's version of Roger's subsidiary Fido. So in reality there are only 3 carriers offering the iPhone, two of which barely compete (Telus is mostly west, Bell is mostly east).
Expect a "sixth" carrier soon as well as Telus' subsidiary Kido to jump in the mix as well. But again, they're just Telus rebranded so it really isn't "extra" competition.
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Jason said 1:28PM on 11-20-2009
It's Koodo, not Kido.
But none if it will really mean a lick of difference, as they're all just slightly varied versions of the same price plans. It's nice only in that you can stick with the carrier of your choice, if you're loyal. There really hasn't been any price drops as a result of this "competition".
Feek said 2:13PM on 11-20-2009
Virgin Mobile Canada is entirely separate from Bell. Solo Mobile is the discount brand that Bell launched in order to compete with Virgin Mobile.
In Canada we have four major companies: Bell/Solo, Rogers/Fido, Telus/Koodo and Virgin Mobile.
mikehild said 3:10PM on 11-20-2009
Virgin Mobile is a completely separate company from Bell. However, they do utilize Bell's network. Whatever countries they operate in they do so by purchasing airtime from one of the major cell companies in that country.
crsh said 7:54PM on 11-20-2009
Virgin Mobile Canada belongs to Bell completely; it started as a joint venture between Virgin Mobile and Bell, but it's now owned 100% by Bell Canada.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Mobile_Canada
Rob said 11:59AM on 11-20-2009
Yea, there is NO real competition in Canada just "virtual" competition with subsidiaries of the main Canadian carriers (Bell and Rogers) also selling the iPhone. What a surprise...
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topypunk said 1:01PM on 11-20-2009
WTF?!?!? APPLE get the US more options!!!!!
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Moe said 2:09PM on 11-20-2009
Is virgin mobile Canada CDMA?? Or GSM??
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Brandon said 2:56PM on 11-20-2009
It uses the new Bell/Telus HSDPA network.
Dave Doyle said 2:56PM on 11-20-2009
@Feek
You'll need to check your facts again friend. Virgin was a co-venture with Bell and as of May of 2009 is 100% Bell owned with permission from Virgin to use their branding.
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thefreedomgundam said 4:42AM on 11-21-2009
I used to use Virgin. Too bad their customer service is _horrid_. Now I'm on Fido and have had no problems thus far.
(Not that I have an iPhone. Sad face.)
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butt.eskayseo said 12:27PM on 11-21-2009
Nokia phone not only offers a communication media intended for family, associates plus equals, but moreover a stand for information as well as amusement for the customer.
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butt.eskayseo said 12:27PM on 11-21-2009
Nokia phone not only offers a communication media intended for family, associates plus equals, but moreover a stand for information as well as amusement for the customer.
http://nokiaphones.ws/
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3n1gma said 2:42PM on 11-23-2009
Hell yea. Virign Mobile is the best cell company in the US. I hope they get an iphone here too. I asked them and they said "That's the plan" and I told them they need to get some Android phones to and it's onnnnn.
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