Bell Mobility to Challenge Rogers’ iPhone with Samsung Instinct

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Bell Mobility to Challenge Rogers’ iPhone with Samsung Instinct

6:10 am on July 7, 2008 | Category: Telecom Services, Mobile Devices, Wireless, Cell Phones

Rogers Wireless will face some stiff competition in the multimedia handset market later this summer, despite its exclusive contract to sell the much-anticipated Apple iPhone.

Less than a week before the iPhone’s Canadian debut, rival carrier, Bell Mobility, has announced plans to offer the Samsung Instinct, an iPhone look-alike with many of the same music and multimedia features, but a less complicated interface and much cheaper subscription fee.

The Instinct will be available on August 8, at a price of $149 on a three-year contract, with monthly service plans starting at just $20. Bell also plans to offer unlimited mobile internet access (an option the Rogers iPhone lacks) at a cost of just $10 per month.

“You can surf your head off. You can check all the [web-based] e-mail you want,” commented Bell spokesman, Jason Laszlo. “The tool is great, but it’s really the plan that sets it apart.” (A word of caution though: Bell’s wireless internet plans include mobile surfing only, and using your phone as a modem can turn out to be rather costly.)

It’s unlikely that the Instinct will completely supplant the much-hyped iPhone, but it’s sure to throw some serious competition at Rogers. The device is already shaping up to be a “phenomenal success” in the United States, where Samsung is struggling to meet product demand after just two weeks of availability.

Perhaps Rogers will get a much-needed reminder that it’s not the only game in town, and that unreasonable and monopolistic pricing schemes don’t always pay.

4 Comments »

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Rogers offers the LG Vu, an almost identical phone to the Samsung. Also, Rogers offers a unlimited internet plan as well for $7 a month. People are still going to pick the IPhone because it’s an Apple product, even if the IPhone plans are not unlimited. This isn’t a real competitor for it, and it will not make Rogers lower there plans.

Comment by Scott — July 7, 2008 #
Scott, since Bell now has this product, it will definitely take biz away from Rogers - I know people who have decided to wait for it, (versus waiting in line for the I-phone….)

And the possessive is spelled “their”, by the way.

Comment by RM — July 13, 2008 #
I agree with RM, I think the instinct is a much more plausible option for Canadians. Having lived in multiple provinces in Canada, I’ve learned that Rogers coverage is limited to larger cities and towns and not a great option for a traveller. The instinct’s data plan blows the offer Rogers has stirred up out of the water.

CBC believes the pricing is ridiculus too…
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/07/10/tech-iphoneindex.html

Both phones could be considered excellent technology, but Rogers should NOT be considered an excellent carrier. Bell wins IMHO.

Comment by mq — July 28, 2008 #
After Bell charged me $3000 dollars for 4 months of 3G internet, I don’t think they will be getting any business from me or anyone I know and I don’t recomend anyone should deal with them. In fact, Bell Slowbility should be banned from operating any business anywhere. Actually, maybe they should go back to selling the old rotary phones, they were great.

Comment by Ken — March 4, 2009 #