Which other carriers?

I am looking for a new phone, now, is there any other carriers that i can buy the handset off of and then get it activated by bell? or is bell the ONLY company in which i can buy a new phone off of?

Generally not. If the phone you get is unlocked and fully programmable (with sys id, proper channels, location codes, etc.), you can find someone who knows how to program what needs programming, and you can talk a Bell rep into adding it into inventory, then.......maybe! Never any guarantees, so I wouldn't even try.

No, Bell's billing engine will not allow foreign ESNs to be entered. Even if the rep is willing to do it, they are not able to.