Citywest switching to GSM/HSPA?

system · October 13, 2009, 5:46pm

A little birdy (ok, well, a big birdy) told me Citywest will be switching to GSM (and possibly HSPA?) in the near future. They mentioned the fact that there would be iPhones in November.

Any confirmation? Or is this just Prince Rumour?

system · October 13, 2009, 6:43pm

i think they will in the future but that soon ? hmmm dunno. ill ask the other birdy when she gets home if she has heard anything

system · October 13, 2009, 7:40pm

Citywest say’s not at this time as Northwestel is not doing the upgrade.It is for the iphone

system · October 13, 2009, 7:47pm

Ok, so the guy who told me today (if he’s reading this) shouldn’t follow my advice

So no iPhone at Citywest. Walk across the street and get one at Rogers instead.

The Palm Pre is at Citywest, though, but if you do get one of those, be aware you’re buying a CDMA phone in a world that’s quickly abandoning CDMA. I hear it’s a really nice phone, though. My brother has one, and other than the cracked screen issue, it’s a nice iPhone competitor.

system · October 13, 2009, 11:41pm

A fellow I talked to who works at Citywest said that they are upgrading to EVDO from 1X…can you feel the excitement!!!

system · October 14, 2009, 4:40am

Well, that’s like going from Beta to Super Beta when the rest of the world has gone on to VHS and DVD Even Bell is going to GSM and HSPA. Maybe Bell is giving them their old EVDO equipment when they replace it?

Does anybody have an official answer? I’ve heard that they’re going to have iPhones soon from one guy (which would suggest GSM or HSPA) and heard that there will be no upgrade at all from two other people. But nothing official yet.

system · October 15, 2009, 4:39pm

Telus is adding GSM/HSPA network support, and advertising a November launch of the iPhone 3G and 3GS, included in their new smartphone lineup. Doesn’t Citywest basically rent Telus tower services? Or is the plan to only retrofit the towers up until Terrace?

system · October 15, 2009, 5:08pm

Citywest is a partner with Bell’s Northwestel, I hear. Not Telus. I know that Bell and Telus tend to share towers, though.

Anyway, the latest I hear is that Citywest is sticking to CDMA (and possibly adding EVDO?) but not switching to GSM/HSPA.

But who knows – remember that Citywest was absolutely convinced that there was no market for data and text in Prince Rupert. They changed their minds pretty quick on that one once there was competition. Once there are no more CDMA networks (and phones) in Canada, they’ll either have to change over or lose all their mobile customers.

system · October 16, 2009, 2:38am

They’ve lost my mobile business. I’m very happy with my Rogers cell. I think that CityWest needs to wake up and look around.