Bus error: Jake Billo’s weblog

Engadget Mobile is reporting a HowardForums post that details two potential iPhone plans for Canadian users: on top of a qualifying voice plan, unlimited data will be offered at $30 per month for individual customers and $45 for business clients. There’s also a Facebook group detailing the information.

In contrast to my previous statements on the subject, this seems like a reasonable plan falling in line with what AT&T is offering in the States. It remains to be seen if this rumor is accurate, but the original poster is generally well-informed and a community member in reasonably high standing. One other known employee/dealer has also confirmed the memo. That said - most of the usual dealers and “insider sources” have been silent on this matter.

I’m assuming the qualifying voice plan will be $35 minimum plus system access fee: Rogers has stated they’re expecting $90 per user with a combination of the voice and data plans, and $30 data plus $35 voice plus $6.95 SAF is only about $72. If they assume most people will take value packages, such as the $15 smartphone plan (text messaging/caller ID/voicemail), this figure is slightly closer to what’s expected financially.

While Apple may have given up their revenue-sharing program in favour of carrier subsidized phones, if this memo is accurate then Apple still retains a large amount of control over the available plans. It’s nearly a direct copy of AT&T’s launch memo with a few minor changes. 

The plan is listed as “unlimited data (E-mail/Web)” which people are presently freaking out over for no good reason. This terminology is actually very common in the BlackBerry world, meaning that you get email access as well as having standard Internet access available - which encompasses all on-device TCP/IP data.

Forum users are assuming that GPS/YouTube/other random features will be disabled because they’re not specifically listed in the plan title. If we assume Apple still mains some control over the sales and pricing process, one thing certainly enforced is full access to all applications on the device.

One thing that’s probably accurate is the inability to tether with this plan. It’s not technically possible out of the box, requiring a hacked device. Users on HowardForums that desire tethering capabilities seem to be the most likely to abuse the definition of “unlimited” in wireless carrier terms: when you’re downloading over 5GB per month on your device, there’s a high chance you’re using the plan as an Internet connection replacement.

Is $30 per month unlimited data enough to get you to change carriers and pick up an iPhone? Myself, I’m waiting for the BlackBerry Bold (9000) and its related plans.

I was catching up on some of my feeds this afternoon and noted a comment I’d posted on Phil’s blog about what “unlocking” a cell phone really meant. Apart from my day job working for a wireless device manufacturer, where people swap SIM cards and batteries between devices in about 20 seconds, and talk about IMSI, MSISDN and ICCIDs like it’s nobody’s business, it’s often not easy to understand why wireless providers do the things they do. I’ve talked to people who didn’t understand why they couldn’t use their Bell phone on Rogers; or why Rogers made them switch their phone or plan.

Here’s an explanation of some of those issues and a brief background of the state of wireless in Canada.

Currently, in Canada, there are four major providers, several regional or localized carriers, and a number of virtual mobile network operators that piggyback on the major providers’ networks. There are also three different wireless technologies actively used for service. The major providers are:

• Bell Mobility, the wireless arm of Bell Canada. Bell’s prepaid division is called Solo Mobile
• Rogers Wireless, part of the ubiquitous Rogers group of companies
• Telus, who operate standard wireless services and push-to-talk (CHIRP) technology under the Mike brand
• Fido, formerly Microcell Telecommunications, who are owned by Rogers

Of these providers, Bell and Telus use a technology called CDMA. The Wikipedia page on the technology deals with some highly mathematical concepts such as vector orthogonality, but effectively for end users, indicates the type of technology used in phones and wireless towers. CDMA devices are generally only usable on one network - the provider who issued the device.

The alternative technology to CDMA is GSM. Rogers and Fido use GSM, which operates on two radio frequencies in North America: 1900MHz and 850MHz. The 850MHz tower signals generally have better coverage indoors. The distinctive feature of GSM is that all devices have a SIM card, which contains operator information, the subscriber phone number, and address book information.

The final technology, iDEN is used by Telus for the Mike PCS brand. iDEN devices support “push-to-talk” technology and also contain SIM cards. These SIM cards may or may not be compatible with GSM phones, though.

So why can’t I use my Bell phone on Rogers?
Since Bell uses CDMA technology and Rogers uses GSM, phones are physically not compatible with the other provider’s network. The radio transmitter internal to the phone uses different frequencies and CDMA phones don’t read SIM cards.

So why can’t I use my Telus phone on Bell?
Telus and Bell won’t activate a phone not provided by them on their own network. While the technology is the same, phones are typically preconfigured with individual carrier settings that aren’t necessarily easy to change on CDMA devices.

Why did Rogers make me change my phone?
Since approximately May this year, Rogers turned off its older network, which used analog towers and an older technology for transmitting wireless signals. Customers were required to upgrade to a GSM capable phone and in doing so, the coverage area should be improved.

More details in the next post on this topic, including the iPhone, data plans, and GSM locking…