| Type | Communications |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wireless services |
| Founded | Alberta (1984) |
| Products | BlackBerry, iPhones, mobile Internet services, two-way messaging, picture and video messaging (MMS), videoconference |
| Parent | Telus |
| Website | www.telusmobilty.com |
Telus Mobility is a division of Telus Communications which sells wireless services in Canada on its numerous networks. They currently have three different networks based on three different technologies: CDMA and HSPA+ on its mainstream networks, plus iDEN via its Mike division. >As of Q2 2011, Telus is Canada's third largest cellphone provider with a subscriber base of over 7 million, including over 5.8 million or 82% on postpaid and over 1.2 million or 17% on prepaid.[1]
Telus Mobility has a partnetship with Public Mobile to allow the latter's customers to roam on Telus' CDMA network in Quebec, Ontario and parts of Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. Telus also runs a MVNO named Koodo Mobile since 2008. It is targeted at high school, college and university students, much like the now-defunct Amp'd Mobile Canada that preceded it in 2007.
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Telus Mobility was formed in 1982 to provide an analog mobile network for Alberta's natural resources industries. It was the first mobile phone network in Canada. Analog services were available to the general public since 1986. In 1992, Telus launched North America's first digital mobile network. After acquiring BC Telecom in 1998, Telus Mobility expanded its coverage to British Columbia.[2] The company's website went online on October 14, 1999.[3] The following year, it would acquire Clearnet Communications and QuébecTel to expand its coverage to the eastern provinces. All these acquisitions, along with a tower sharing agreement with then-primarily Eastern Canada based Bell Mobility, allowed Telus Mobility to serve a coast to coast CDMA network in all Canadian provinces.[4]
Telus Mobility currently operates three different kinds of consumer networks in Canada. They offer a legacy CDMA network from coast to coast in Canada's provinces, as well as an HSPA+ network with newer technology but slightly less coverage. Additionally, Telus Mobility is currently testing an LTE network that has yet to be launched for customer use.
Due to the age and security problems of this technology, Telus Mobility discontinued its AMPS analog mobile network in 2008. Telus offered landlines to customers affected by this network's shutdown in rural areas, as digital signals are less reliable than analog ones in such areas.[5] In 2011, Telus Mobility sold its last AMPS-capable device, the LG 490 Fastap, as a clearance item. The prepaid device had a cost of $34.99, can still be used on Telus' CDMA network, and included a $50 prepaid top-up for new customers.[6]
Since the late 90s, Telus Mobility operates its own proprietary CDMA network, currently considered 3G. This legacy technology is losing worldwide popularity due to its very limited roaming possibilities,[7] the difficulty of changing devices while maintaining the same account, and the near-impossibility of changing service providers while maintaining the same device. Furthermore, Telus' current lineup has no CDMA-based feature phones, and only has two smartphones using that technology: the LG Optimus 3G and the BlackBerry Style 9670.[8] One LG feature phone, plus the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 and the BlackBerry Tour smartphones are CDMA-based devices currently on clearance.[9] Telus continues to maintain its CDMA network to serve customers still using legacy devices, or to provide service in regions where Telus' HSPA+ network is unavailable. As of November 2011[update], this includes Northern Ontario and Manitoba.[10]
In addition to its CDMA network, Telus Mobility also operates a pre-4G HSPA+ network. This newer technology eliminated many of the limitations found with CDMA technology. Switching devices or service providers was now much easier. Notably, this allowed Telus to become the third Canadian carrier to offer iPhone products. The HSPA+ network meant that Telus saved money by avoiding the purchase of expensive CDMA-based devices while obtaining the more popular HSPA devices at a lower cost. All in all, Telus customers benefited from better prices for HSPA devices.
Telus also has a roaming agreement with Bell Mobility so that one provides coverage when the other cannot. Telus customers receive no additional charges for roaming on the Bell network, and vice-versa. The combined single-channel HSPA+ network is available to 97% of the Canadian population. It provides download speeds of up to 21 Mbit/s, with typical speeds ranging between 4 and 6 Mbit/s. The combined dual-channel network, on the other hand, is available to 70% of the Canadian population according to Bell. It can reach download speeds of up to 42 Mbit/s but with typical speeds of 7 to 14 Mbit/s.[11]
This network operates on the frequencies of 850/1900 MHz. Although Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless and Fido operate HSPA+ networks separate from Telus, they transmit using the same frequencies.
On February 8, 2011, Mobile Syrup visited a Telus Mobility testing facility to compare the HSPA+ network to the unreleased LTE network. Demonstrated maximum download speeds for the LTE network were 73.9 Mbit/s. Telus announced that this network would be available to mainstream customers "in early 2012".[12] An Ovation mobile broadband modem will be the first LTE device available from Telus.[13]
A variety of devices are available at Telus Mobility.
Six HSPA feature phones from LG, Nokia and Samsung are currently part of Telus' lineup[8]:
Only Samsung and Nokia are available at a discounted price on a postpaid contract. Additionally, all phones except for the Nokia C3-01 and the Samsung Rugby II are available in prepaid packages.
Telus Mobility frequently places older, prepaid feature phones for sale in the clearance section. They cost $60 or less and come with a $50 prepaid credit.[9] Such credit can only be used by new prepaid customers, either on the device they purchase, or on a prepaid HSPA+ SIM card for use on another compatible HSPA+ device.
Telus Mobility's smartphone lineup currently include devices powered by one of four operating systems: Android, BlackBerry OS, iOS or Windows Phone 7. Currently, the operator has a total of 20 HSPA smartphones[14] in their lineup:
The LG Optimus One is Telus' first smartphone to be offered in a prepaid package, which includes a $20 starter credit.
In addition, there are two CDMA smartphones in the current lineup:
Various older smartphones are placed on clearance, normally requiring only a 1-year contract for a hardware discount.[9]
Various services are offered by Telus Mobility:
Telus Mobility postpaid customers with a compatible smartphone can subscribe to Rdio and be billed for the service on their monthly bill.[15]
Postpaid clients with a Skype-capable smartphone have the option to pay for Skype credits through their monthly invoice. Use of the Skype service on the Telus Mobility network requires a subscription to one of the provider's data plans or add-ons.[16]
In November 2006, to prevent access to child pornography sites, Telus and many other Internet service providers agreed to partner with Cybertip.ca[17] with the latter organization's Project Cleanfeed Canada. This project is an initiative designed to block access to child pornography on the Internet via an encrypted blacklist of known sites that host images of prepubescent children.[18] Telus Mobility customers using mobile Internet services cannot access the sites blocked by the project.
Some critics denounced the initiative, but others argue that it is a step worth taking.[19]
In 2007, Telus Mobility began selling in-house pay-per-download pornographic entertainment, including explicit pictures and videos, via its phones.[20] Industry analysts described the action, the first by a North American wireless company, as a landmark move.[21] However, the company later discontinued sales of such content in response to objections from religious groups.[22][23]
In July 2008, Telus Mobility and Bell Mobility simultaneously introduced charges of 15¢ for every incoming text message received by all customers not subscribed to a text messaging plan. Critics were quick to point out that there is no way of blocking incoming message fees and suggested Telus and Bell were price fixing as both had announced the fees simultaneously.[24] Both companies have been sued by frustrated consumers and subscribers, as they demand change in text charges.[25] Many customers were frustrated because this fee also applies to existing customers with ongoing contracts.[26]
Telus Mobility has its own corporate retail stores and also allows third parties to become exclusive dealers. Best Buy, Future Shop and Walmart stores in Canada provide Telus products along with prepaid and postpaid services. Additionally, Loblaw Companies and Zellers stores sell prepaid feature phones and top-up vouchers. Loblaw stores have a special booth, called The Mobile Shop, where the phones are displayed.
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