Is Telus flirting with GSM?
January 14, 2008 by Tris Hussey
Filed under Business
The Toronto Star reported over the weekend that Telus is considering a move from CDMA to GSM across its network–TheStar.com | Business | Telus considers dumping its `Betamax’ of wireless networks–I’m not quite sure what to think here. Is 3G slower than EVDO? How long would a transition take? Telus already has a CDMA/GSM dual-band Blackberry that it offers to customers who travel to Europe (so it’s CDMA only in North America and only switching overseas). The TorStar article cites the lucrative roaming charges as a factor for Telus to consider switching. If this comes to pass only Bell Canada would be using CDMA up here.
Frankly, I’m not up on all the technical nuances of GSM vs CDMA. All I know is that my cell phone works and when I’m in an EVDO zone, it’s pretty darn fast. I also doubt Telus customers would be willing to bankroll a switch to GSM with higher rates, given that Telus would start making scads of cash off folks roaming in a Telus zone.
On the plus side, if Telus did make this switch, then competition between Rogers and Telus would really heat up since you’d be able to use the same phone on either network.
Hmm, a new Blackberry Pearl would be kinda nice…
See also:
- All About Nortel » CDMA: The “Betamax” of Wireless
- MasterMaq’s Blog : Telus Mobility switching to GSM?
After attending a conference in Australia a few year ago where all the Europeans and Asians could use their GSM phones and I could not use my Telus CDMA phone, I asked Telus’ top brass about this. They said CDMA was superior to GSM and they had no intention of changing. I said I though Betamax was superior to VHS and changed to Rogers. A mobile phone is supposed to be mobile.
No kidding Tony. I think Telus finally sees the dollar value so … maybe there is hope!
As far fetched as it may seem, it is quite likely. It wouldn’t be the first or the last time that Telus splurged on either a company takeover (think back to Clearnet when they paid double the stock price for it). In this day and age when the wireless industry is so competitive, you have to be one step ahead to stay afloat. For Telus, if it means changing to GSM, especially if that means they can then upgrade to 4G. Think about Sony and Betamax vs VHS and the more recent HD vs BluRay. Same idea.
Ppl who use telus.. i gotta tell you i have been with telus for 10 years.. and wow. i hate that they lock there phones and i hate that now they are blocking the blackberrys wifi and bluetooth so i cant send stuff.. telus is a control freak and no wonder many ppl go to rogers.. telus we pay for a phone we expect to use all its features. WHO ARE YOU TO DECIDE WHAT WE USE AND WHAT WE DONT USE!!!!!!!
Does some of it not come down to the iPhone situation and the fact that it’s for GSM? CDMA-based companies must be looking at what Apple did for mp3 and shaking in their boots at how much Rogers could sweep into their territory if iPhone were to gain wide acceptance north of 49 when it finally makes its way here.
to Tony Balony. phones should be mobile so they should work on the moon also?
Tris, EVDO is 3G.
Everyone else, CDMA is better than TDMA, but, as you all mention, so was Beta copared to VHS, so if the world is TDMA, then it’s great for Telus customers and I will switch to Telus if they do go TDMA(GSM) because $15 unlimited data + iPhone equals sweet deal. Hopefully Telus will build their GSM network 3G.
May C, 4G isn’t even ratified yet, so I don’t think Telus will be building their network with it in mind.
regarding telus locking there phone with the balkberrys hey bud i have a blkberry pearl from telus and my bluetooth is not blocked.. so i dont know what your talking about with the blkberrys there.. and regarding gsm for telus it could happen also dont forget the vancouver winter olympics … but can telus recover fast enough if they invest 500 mill to go gsm.. and what will happen to those who have cdma phones and have contracts.. i think telus will have gsm on selected big cities and see how it goes.. and rogers was suppose to get the iphone this month and nothing from what i hear ted rogers laughed at steve from apple and now apple is shopping the iphone around and if telus does upgrade this yr i am sure it will go there.. and your looking at payiin 600-700 bucks.. and remember the new iphone is out this yr also.. so all we can do is talk and assume we just got to wait and see.. but i hope telus does get it.. and they have cdma and gsm .. and slowly creep to have all gsm.. altough i hear cdma is better then gsm.. cuz of the recpetion.. or did i hear wrong…
Jose, CDMA is more easily upgradeable to 3G and it does have better reception, but why do you think the iPhone will be $600-$700? And where on earth did you get the idea that a new iPhone is coming out this year??? The current iPhone is still less than one year old and with the SDK and 3rd party apps coming, the iPhone still has alot of growing to do. I don’t think we’ll be seeing a new model in ‘08.
And finally, I could be wrong, but as far as I know, there is no WiFi available on the Blackberry PDAs in Canada because all of the carriers who have WiFi capable Blackberrys have blocked that feature…though I may be completely wrong about this.
i read that the price for the iphone was gonna be that on several site when i google it.. as far as the wifi somephones (blkberrys) have and some dont have it like the pearl .. i think the world one from telus has it thou gotta check.. and you are right some features telus does block but try telling that to the guys on howard forms lol..
Colin said:
“And where on earth did you get the idea that a new iPhone is coming out this year??? I don’t think we’ll be seeing a new model in ‘o8″
Doh.
I can see this is not a popular blog for Telus going to switch to GSM. Since the last public input on June 22, 2008, Apple has announced a public release of iPhone2 on July 11, 2008 and Rogers is one of the many worldwide providers.
GSM 3G is no doubt a superior technology.
I agreed wit Tony Taylor’s comment on Jan 23, a mobile is not a mobile unless you can take it with you on a business trip and personal travel.
u know wut.. i doubt that telus isnt gonna all switch to GSM “TDMA” i just think that telus is just gonna all go equal and just stay equal with CDMA & TDMA but i guess thats just showin whos the top boss affording lines and Towers. on 2 Differnt Bands.