Bell Mobility releases the Turbo Hub
Bell today released the “Turbo Hub,” a wireless device which allows up to 15 people to connect to the internet via Bell Mobility’s HSPA+ mobile network.
Once users are connected to the Turbo Hub via Ethernet ports or WiFi, they can access the Internet at at speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps. Voice access is also available through the device for an additional cost.
Bell says the Turbo Hub is an ideal solution for rural and remote communities not already served by wireline broadband. To use, just plug the Hub into a power outlet anywhere in Bell’s wireless coverage area and then connect your computer to the hub via one of the four available Ethernet ports located on the back of the Hub or via Wifi.
Pricing and Availability
The Turbo Hub is now available for $434 ($399 plus $35 activation fee) with discounts for signing up to a multi-year plan. Bell is offering three monthly rate plans based on monthly data usage: $40 for 3 GB of data; $50 for 5GB of data; and $60 for 10GB. Data usage over 10GB is billed out at 1.5 cents per megabyte ($15 per GB).
For an additional $20 per month, clients can add unlimited local voice service (requires corded landline phone) or $40 per month for unlimited Canada-wide calling.
Discuss in Digital Home’s Bell Mobility forum.
Nice device horrible service. What good is 10GB’s a month? And where do they get off charging $60 for a mere 10GB?? God I wish consumers in this country had someone looking out for them.
I’m sure my mom uses less than 10GB per month, but she only pays Shaw $20 for that.
She also pays less for telephone with Shaw than she did with Telus.
Not sure how the telephone companies will compete with this strategy.
Will Bell stop pushing these cell phone based rip off devices and data plans while trying to pass them off as Bell Internet wireless (read inukshuk) and actually expand wimax coverage beyond major cites to the rural areas where it was intended for.
If you really think that WiMAX is the future of wireless then I understand where you’re coming from. Unfortunately wireless is moving away slowly from WiMAX to the LTE standard, and for Bell it makes more sense to invest and sell wireless services on the new deployed network, and not invest in the old (inukshuk) network.
From someone who worked for Fido (yes worked on the Inukshuk project so I have an idea…), but unfrotunately I don’t think that the joint venture (wireless providers that share the inukshuk infrastructure) will continue investing in it. – Just a guess.
cheers
I live in a rural area where my only option for internet has been either satellite (too expensive and slow) or dial-up (cheap but super slow). So I’m glad this is finally an option. I’m not thrilled about the price but it’s cheaper than regular mobile internet rates. I wish the cost would come down further, but as it stands it’s the only viable option for me that I can afford.
Now I can have highspeed internet and combine a voice line on it so I save a little that way too. It should be active tomorrow. I’ll post again with a review!
I wonder if it would work for an IP phone or there might be too much latency? You wouldn’t happen to know?
Thanks.
Sorry, I wouldn’t know.
Just a quick update… I got the Turbo Hub working yesterday and so far i’m really pleased. Voice calls sound fine, call display works, voice mail works and is displayed by an icon on the hub. As for Data, I’m only getting minimal signal bars (I’m quite far from the nearest tower and landscape doesn’t help). I get one to two bars only. Still i’m getting 3G+. Speedtest.net shows i’m getting 2.96 Mb/s down; 1.11 Mb/s up. Very happy so far.
We’re moving to rural Alberta in a few short weeks. I know I’ll be disappointed to lose city performance (Speedtest.net – 18mbps) vs Bell’s Turbo Hub (7.2 mbps down – 5.8 mbps up).
Is anyone running Bell’s U998 (up to 21 mbps) with a higher end router like say the Cradlepoint MBR1200?
Kicks Xplornet’s A$$!!!!
Rural Ontario – wake up! most of us will only get wireless options in 2013….bridge the gap!!!