Bell Canada announced a major upgrade to its wireless network that it promises will address the current cell phone problems and offer new wireless services like mobile Internet browsing.

At a press conference this morning, Bell vice-president Jim Jaques told reporters Bell's new 1x digital network will enable high-end mobile devices like Blackberrys to now function in the Whitehorse area, and also fix hit-or-miss cellular service that users routinely complain about.

Before Jaques even got a chance to promote the expanded features of the new network, reporters grilled him on what they described as unreliable cell phone service.

Jaques and Bell spokesperson Chris McNutt said the core of those problems was the old network lacked the capacity to deal with the amount of cellular users.

The issue of dropped calls and not being able to make a call are capacity issues that will be addressed by this network, Jaques said. 'Absolutely.'

But while the quality of the existing coverage area will improve, it will not expand, they added.

Most cell phones are already 1x enabled and Bell users will now be able to access specially formatted websites intended for cellular browsing. With higher end devices like Blackberries and Palm's Treo smartphones, users will have many of the features found on a computer including instant messaging, full web browsing, Microsoft Office compatibility, games, music and other entertainment.

'We have, for the first time, a legitimate claim on the mobile office,' said Jaques.

They are also a major benefit to business people who can now spend more time out of the office, but be just as connected, he said.

'You can be as productive as you are at your desk from basically anywhere.'

In larger centres the proliferation of Blackberries among working professionals has even given rise to the nickname crack-berries because users claim they cannot live without them.

When Jaques detailed how the new network and mobile devices would let users check email and browse the web while in a coffee shop or driving down the road, one reporter joked, 'Just don't drive too far.'

Jaques expects that Whitehorse cell users will be fast to start subscribing to the new service.

'I think there's a lot of what I would call latent demand.'

Many customers were eagerly anticipating the upgrade and extended services that come with it, he added.

'I'm extremely confident that Whitehorse residents (will) embrace it very, very quickly.'

The new network and related services are part of a broader wireless trend that has seen wireless providers move from providing simple voice services to all data.

'These devices today are so much more powerful, so much more useful and beneficial, particularly in the area of data,' he said, referring to the new range of gadgets that will now function fully in Whitehorse.

Jaques would not say what percentage of current Bell users were taking advantage of those data services, but confirmed that national cell use has climbed to 55 per cent.

When asked if he expects devices like Blackberries and Treos� to replace cell phones over the next five years, Jaques said, 'I think that's a safe bet.'

While the phones will be attractive to gadget lovers, including teenagers eager to take advantage of increased entertainment capabilities, Jaques said the real market for the devices were small- and medium-sized businesses.

Bell's new network is 'bulletproof,' said Jaques.

'We never launch anything half-cooked.'

The new network brings Whitehorse one step closer in wireless capabilities to other southern cities, although many of those centres have already taken the next step to EVDO networks, which allow users even greater data transfer including high definition video streaming.

The new 1x network will also let users connect their cell phone to their computer like a modem and access the Internet. Users also have the option of purchasing a card instead of getting a cell phone.

Like cell phones, Blackberries and Treos can be purchased for a reduced rate if you sign up for a multiyear contract and can range in price from $149 - $600, said McNutt.

That contract includes a minimum $60 a month data plan that allows users 30 megabytes of browsing or downloading, enough for reading emails but not a lot of downloading.