
Clearnet, later rebranded as Telus Mobility, has a rich history in Canada.
The company was founded in 1993, initially operating as a regional wireless carrier in Western Canada.
In 2000, Clearnet merged with Telus Communications, a major telecommunications company in Canada.
This merger marked a significant change in Clearnet's operations and paved the way for its expansion across the country.
The combined entity, Telus Mobility, began to offer a wider range of services and improve its network infrastructure.
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Telus and Clearnet
Telus boldly pushed its way further into the exclusive club of Canadian mobile phone leaders by offering $6.6 billion for Clearnet Communications.
The acquisition is the biggest telecom deal in Canadian history, with Telus offering shareholders the equivalent of $70 for each Clearnet share, a 53 per cent premium over Clearnet's Friday's closing price of $45.80.
Clearnet shareholders have the option to receive $70 in cash or 1.636 Telus non-voting shares for each Clearnet share tendered.
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The deal is the latest in Telus's strategy to become a truly national company, following its merger with BC Tel two years ago.
Telus has lock-up agreements for 86 per cent of the voting shares in Clearnet, indicating strong support for the deal.
Telus stock topped the TSE's net losers list, down 10 per cent or $4.45 to $40.05, while Class A shares of Clearnet made strong gains on Monday, closing at $64.95, up nearly 42 per cent or $19.15.
Clearnet chief executive George Cope will head up the new wireless company as president and CEO.
Network and Service
Clearnet's network was powered by Telus Mobility's HSPA+ network, which offered a maximum theoretical download speed of 21 Mbit/s. This was a reliable connection for mobile services.
The landline service was also provided by Telus, but retained the Clearnet branding, giving customers a consistent experience across both mobile and landline services.
Clearnet operated as a business name used by Telus Mobility, offering two plans to customers in Kelowna and Red Deer. One plan offered unlimited mobile calling within the user's province, while the other provided unlimited mobile talk and text nationwide.
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Telus Buys $6.6B Wireless Deal

Telus has made a bold move in the Canadian mobile phone market by offering $6.6 billion for Clearnet Communications.
The deal is the biggest telecom acquisition in Canadian history, with Telus offering shareholders $70 for each Clearnet share, a 53 per cent premium over Clearnet's Friday closing price.
Telus stock took a hit, down 10 per cent or $4.45 to $40.05, while Clearnet shares made strong gains, closing at $64.95, up nearly 42 per cent or $19.15.
Telus is building its presence in Canada, with over 1.8 million customers and a licence to provide coverage to 30.7 million potential customers.
Clearnet's CEO, George Cope, will head up the new wireless company as president and CEO.
Telus has a strong commitment to becoming Canada's preeminent data and wireless communications company, with this deal being a major advance in building its presence across the country.
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Networks
Clearnet's mobile services were powered by Telus Mobility's HSPA+ network, which had a maximum theoretical download speed of 21 Mbit/s. This speed was a notable feature of their mobile services.
The landline service provided by Clearnet was also offered by Telus, but retained the Clearnet branding.
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Service
Clearnet was a business name used by Telus Mobility, offering two mobile plans in Kelowna and Red Deer. One plan included unlimited mobile calling within the province, while the other had unlimited mobile talk and text nationwide.
Both plans came with a basic landline home phone, providing a convenient option for customers. The service was only available in Kelowna and Red Deer, but had coverage across Canada on the Telus network.
The Clearnet website mentioned that data options would be available in the future, but unfortunately, that never happened. As of June 2, 2012, Clearnet stopped accepting new activations and its website now redirects to Telus' main site.
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Feature Phones
Feature phones were an essential part of the Clearnet lineup, offering a range of options for users.
LG, Samsung, and Sony all contributed to the feature phone lineup, each offering unique devices.
The LG GB-255G was one of the feature phones available, providing a reliable option for those who wanted a simple phone.
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A key feature of the Samsung Evergreen was its durability, making it a great choice for those who needed a phone that could withstand rough handling.
The Sony CM-B1200 series offered a range of feature phones, each with its own set of features and capabilities.
Here are some of the feature phones mentioned:
- LG GB-255G
- Samsung Evergreen
- Sony CM-B1200 series
Products
Clearnet's product selection was limited, especially when it came to mobile phones. They offered only two feature phones and one smartphone, all of which were also available on Telus Mobility.
These phones were not unique to Clearnet and could be found on other carriers.
Timeline and Changes
Clearnet's history began in 1993 as a wireless provider in Canada. It was founded by a group of entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to offer mobile phone services to the public.
In 2000, Clearnet was acquired by Bell Canada, marking a significant change in the company's ownership. This acquisition led to a period of expansion and modernization for Clearnet.
The name "Clearnet" was phased out in 2003, and the company was rebranded as Telus Mobility.
Timeline of Telus
Telus has undergone significant changes over the years.
In 2012, Telus decided to stop signing up new customers under the Clearnet brand.
This marked a significant shift in the company's operations.
Here's a brief timeline of Telus' changes:
- 2012: Clearnet stops activations
Public Mobile Changes, 2014
In 2014, Public Mobile underwent some significant changes. Telus decided to shut down Public Mobile's old network in March, requiring customers to purchase new phones to switch to Telus's faster 4G network, which understandably caused some anger among customers.
By the end of 2014, Telus had established itself as the third-largest telecom company in Canada, holding a 15.9% market share in the media market.
Telus International made a notable move in October 2014, announcing its plan to acquire a 65% share in Xavient Information Systems, a tech consulting company with 8,000 employees.
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Messaging and Pricing
Messaging and Pricing is a crucial aspect of Clearnet (Telus Mobility) services. Their messaging prices are competitive and transparent.
You can send SMS messages starting from €0.01333. This is a great option for those who need to send short messages.
Viber is another messaging option available, with prices starting from €0.01790. This may be a better choice for those who prefer a more feature-rich messaging experience.
WhatsApp is also supported, with prices starting from €0.01199. This is a great option for those who are already using WhatsApp for personal or business communication.
Here's a quick comparison of Clearnet's messaging prices:
- SMS: €0.01333
- Viber: €0.01790
- WhatsApp: €0.01199
Note that the price for RCS is not specified, so you'll need to inquire about it if you're interested in using this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Telus and Telus mobility?
Telus is a telecommunications company, while Telus Mobility is its wireless division that provides mobile services in Canada. Think of Telus Mobility as a subset of Telus, focusing on wireless services.
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