Since that Zunes are now available in Canada, and that it was announced this week that Apple will be bringing the iPhone here in July, now would be a good time to post the story on how four weeks ago I got my new cellphone.
I had decided that it was time to upgrade my current cellphone, a Samsung SCH A670. I wanted something that could take better pictures for my photostream, and it's 0.3 megapixel camera just wasn't cutting it anymore.
After looking over the new phones that Telus Mobility has and looking at pictures taken with them on Flickr, I had decided on getting the LG VENUS. And also, Best Buy was advertising the phone at a steal for $80 with a plan activation. I wanted to switch from prepaid service to a monthly plan as well so this would fit in perfectly. So I went to the store and asked the cellphone guy if I could get the LG VENUS and switch over my account from prepaid to a plan.
He said I can't do it. As I'm already a Telus customer, I would have to pay the full $400 retail price for the phone, and arrange with Telus itself to switch my account over, and beg and plead with them for permission to do it first. I was understandably ticked off.
I decided to sit on it, and then decided that if Telus doesn't want my money I'm going to pack up my cell number and move to a new provider. So in their next flyer Best Buy advertised the überphone: the Nokia N95 8GB at $250 with a new signup with Rogers. I did my research, and decided that this was the new phone for me.
So I went to the Sunridge Best Buy store and asked the cellphone guy for the N95 and for my phone number to be moved over.
He said I can't do it. The only store employee who knew their access codes to the Rogers network wasn't in so they couldn't do any new activations. I was understandably ticked off, but he suggested I try the Rogers store in the mall.
So I went to the Sunridge Rogers store and asked the cellphone girl for the N95 and for my phone number to be moved over and asked if they would match Best Buy's sale price.
She said I can't do it. If I wanted to signup, I would have to pay the full retail price for the phone, which was $500. I was understandably ticked off.
So I took a cab to another mall to try another Best Buy. I asked the cellphone guy for the N95 and for my phone number to be moved over.
He said I can't do it. Again, the only store employee who knew their access codes to the Rogers network wouldn't be in until 6 so they couldn't do any new activations. I was understandably ticked off, but he suggested I try the Rogers store in the mall as they also only had one N95 on the shelf and it was reserved for somebody else.
So I went to the Northland Rogers store and asked the cellphone guy for the N95 and for my phone number to be moved over and asked if they would match Best Buy's sale price.
He said he would knock it down to $300, not $250, but he told me that Best Buy was selling out of them nationwide.
So I signed up with Rogers and moved over my number and got my kick-ass new phone right there in the store and I'm loving it. I won't turn this into a gadget review blog by describing all the stuff it can do, but it's essentially a palmtop computer with a focus on multimedia and entertainment. It's not a BlackBerry, nor does it strive to be.
So I now have one of the most advanced cellphones in North America in my pocket. That is, until the iPhone comes here on July 11th, but I have no buyer's remorse in my decision. The Nokia N95 will last me for a long time.
In closing, shortly after I got the N95 Mom sent me this video:
I get the point, Mom.
