Bell and Telus to sell Storm on same day
It looks like things are going to be getting pretty ugly in Canada over the coming weeks as both Bell and Telus go to war with the objective of winning the hearts, minds and most importantly, the pocket books of the Canadian consumers who are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the BlackBerry Storm. In a memo sent Friday to all Bell retail mangers it was revealed that both of the Canadian CDMA carriers will be releasing the Storm on the same day “following the US launch.” Going on to list mandatory training that all employees must take part in, all training must be completed by the 8th of December which many insiders have long labeled as a tentative launch date. That said, a Bell ninja has informed us that he has “received emails stating that our current Bell BlackBerry live demos (currently stores either have the 8130 or 8330) all will be replaced with Storms on or around the 5th of December. No actual release date, but with demo units shipping the 5th we should see it in Canada by the 10th of December.”
Hit the break to read the memo.
The storm. Best on a lightning network. As previously communicated, Bell is excited to include the distinct and cutting edge Blackberry Storm as part of its already powerful 3G Blackberry line-up (Bell has 6 Blackberry’s on its 3G network vs. Roger with 1). RIM’s latest product innovation, the first touch screen Blackberry is expected to arrive in the US with Verizon on November 21, 2008. The storm will be available in Canada closely following the US launch. Testing on the Bell Storm has begun; Bell & Telus will receive the device for sale at the same time.
Be sure to direct the clients to www.bell.ca/storm where they can register to receive the latest product updates and availability updates.
Training
In preparation for this much anticipated launch, several training tools will be released for Sales Consultants. These tools will provide Sales Consultants with the ability to:
* Understand what the Blackberry Storm can offer valued clients.
* learn why the Blackberry Storm is better with bell, and
* win the sale!The Table below outlines the training tools that will be available on the Bell Training site (bell.ca/training) in the ‘What’s New’ section, along with training delicery dates, and completion due dates
1. Job Aid: Getting the Right 3G Blackberry for your Clients
Delivery Date: 11/14/2008
Completion Due Date: 11/21/20082. Job Aid: Blackberry Competitive Comparison
Delivery Date: 11/19/2008
Completion Due Date: 11/26/20083. Job Aid: Blackberry Storm
Delivery Date: 11/19/2008
Completion Due Date: 11/26/20084. Web Based Training: Blackberry Storm Online Training
Delivery Date: 11/21/2008
Completion Due Date: 12/05/20085. Video: Blackberry Storm Video
Delivery Date: 12/01/2008
Completion Due Date: 12/08/2008All Management level
Thanks, Dan!
This is why I hate the exclusivity agreements that the phone makers have with cell carriers here in the U.S.
Still do not buy it It has been constantly communicated that Telus is first to market. Even the co-ceo of RIM stated that to us.I think this is just Bell trying to feel important to their sales reps. I am still holding firm to Telus bringing this First to market even if it is for a couple days or a week
@kjb_ninja well well isint that the same you telus supporters were saying a few months ago when rim was undecided on who was gonna get the storm .. well guess bell will surprise you AGAIN and release it before or on the same day..
Kjb is correct, Telus & Bell will not launch the same day. And Telus will be first.
“Bell & Telus will receive the device for sale at the same time”
Delivery date and launch date are not necessarily the same thing. Bell and Telus may receive it at the same time, but it is still possible that Telus will be permitted to start selling it first.
every telus ad is promoting the blackberry storm right now. bells Christmas line came out in the mail the other day and there wasn’t any mention of the storm at all. so i find this hard to believe that they would go straight up against telus with no advertising?
Have you checked the website recently ?? It’s right on the Mobility Hompage…
as a customer, who cares who gets it out first?
All hype again – I’m waiting for the REAL 3G version when they launch the HSPA touch screen model
righ now i am on telus mike network, and i was told i can migrate to telus.can i do that with bell. and which network would be better for the bold
I honestly I hate Bell soo much, that I wouln’d go with them even if the storm is free. Honestly I really wish that Telus brings that phone first.
Bell current marketing is towards the new phones on the market (diamond, touch pro, cleo, etc) while telus is hypeing up a future phone. All bell’s advertising is ending nov 30, so thats when you will seem em start pushing the storm hard.
Did that PR actually say that “Bell has 6 blackberry phones on their 3G network compared to 1 with Rogers? LOL
Gawd, I hate Bell…. This is the very first time that I’ve ever heard Bell trumpet having a “3G” network. I guess iPhone 3G’s influence is greater that we imagined. They’ve always said their EVDO network is better, but they’ve NEVER used the term 3G, as far as I can remember.
I guess I can’t blame them for wanting some of the hype-pie too…
Anybody know the release date for the STORM on bell mobile network?
hey aAndrew , actually bell claimed evdo was better than edge, evdo is 3g and edge is 3g, evdo is a faster 3g network.
as well Andrew,
you made comment about bell never making mention of 3G before and all of sudden they are. you might have also heard in the news they have a new CEO, they also launched new branding which includes new slogans and presentation of the company so they didnt jjust start mentioning 3g rather than EVDO they simply changed their whole view
so before you start hating companies for things you think you understand reasearch first
HA ! bell already received some storms i work in the 123data and we got one to play with and know how it works.. guess telus fanboys will be surprised AS I SAID !
Telus store on Queen Street in Toronto has them & they will star selling on November 24th
I posted this earlier as a tip – but I do not see on BGR.
Went to both a Telus Store and a Bell store in Toronto Area yesterday. Telus said they are definitely getting before Bell. Said they have their phones already. There is an employee release event on Dec. 2 – (so likely release Dec. 3?) told no contract price was $699 (but this seemed high). Bell told me release will be 1st or 2nd week of Dec. – they were kind of mushy but I got feeling they might be a few days behind Telus on release. Told the no contract price was $599.
telus is owned by bell, so the network is the same, the prices are mostly the same (though i hear telus has dropped the system access fee?).
it doesn’t matter, it’s the same company. they’re only competing with themselves, guys.
The same phone released by two separate carriers is not the norm in Canada, our cell phone market is pretty much the same as the US’
Let’s make one thing VERY clear. Bell does NOT own Telus.
Bell = has serious cash problems
Telus = does not
Z like stated above, Bell does not own Telus. simply because 2 seperate companies use the same type of network does not mean they are partners or owned. Granted they do piggy back off each others networks in different provinces they are not affiliated with each other.
again, why don;t people get their facts striaght before trying to argue points.
Actually, TELUS and Bell are two separate companies. Do not go spreading rumors like that around! Bell sucks compared to TELUS.
They are however working with Bell to build a HSPA+ network that will be completed in Jan 2009. This will make theirs the fastest 3G network in North America and allow them to switch to LTE in late 2009 early 2010.
The Storm will most likely be released on the 8th of December.
I can tell you that depending on what province you are in TELUS is night and day.
In Alberta, where TELUS started, they are one of the best carriers you can deal with. In BC, there could not be a worse carrier. You name the problem and TELUS has it in BC.
Bell(BCE) is fairly consistant, they do what the market dictates. Now that they are owned by Ontario Teachers Pension it will be interesting to see how BCE changes.
On TELUS vs Bell, it depends where you live who is better. But when Rogers and Bell changed thiere rate plans last month where was TELUS? Once again TELUS users are stuck paying more than the other carriers. This is only going to get worse with the introduction of a new carrier early next year.
Btw, as far as 3G goes Bell has been advertising it for well over a year in thier wireless internet products (non-cellular tied modems).