Nexus S vs Atrix: Choosing a Phone and a Plan in Vancouver
The phone question
The choice was between the Atrix, described as the most powerful phone, and the Nexus S, a decent phone with guaranteed updates and access to CM7.
Plans compared at the time
| Carrier | Monthly price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | $60 including data | Unlimited talk, text and data in its zone; 25 cents a minute outside it |
| Mobilicity | $55 including data | Similar zone to Wind; 20 cents a minute outside it |
| Bell | $80 with 2 GB data | 900 anytime local minutes; 40 cents a minute beyond that or for long distance; no zones |
| Telus | $85 with 2 GB data | 600 anytime local minutes; $100 got 1200 minutes and 5 GB; long distance 40 cents a minute; no zones |
Watch the data rates
Wind’s out-of-zone data was shown as 25 cents per kB, which the author said equals roughly $4 per MB and could mislead people unfamiliar with kB and MB. Mobilicity’s extra data cost $5 per MB, which could add up quickly. Zone limits mattered for anyone who travelled, for example from Vancouver to Victoria.
Frequently asked questions
Which carriers had no zones?
Bell and Telus.
Why was the Nexus S attractive?
Guaranteed updates and CM7 access.
Are these prices current?
No. They are historical figures from the original post.