CompareCellular.com: Canadian Wireless News

Will WIND Mobile Succeed?

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:44:12 PST

Last week WIND Mobile announced that two senior executives, chief information officer Scott Waller and head of customer service Chris Robbins had left the company. The move comes just 3 1/2 months after their launch in mid-December. Many in the industry feel WIND Mobile launched too early, without enough network coverage and insufficient marketing.

1.5 Million Subscribers

SeaBoard Group, an industry research firm, estimates that has added about 30,000 wireless subscribers in Toronto, Calgary & Edmonton. WIND Mobile has stated they have plans to hit 1.5 million subcribers in the next 3 years. This would mean adding about 41,500 subscribers per month which not even Bell, Rogers or TELUS have managed as of late.

To put things in perspective Q4 2009 Net Activations for the big three were:

Bell - 163,000 (40,750 per month)
Rogers - 109,000 (27,250 per month)
TELUS - 122,000 (30,500 per month)

Retail Distribution

WIND Mobile is currently only available in a few retail mall stores and select Blockbuster locations. They are rumoured to be in negotiations with Best Buy Canada to add their devices to all Future Shop, Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile store locations. This would definitely benefit WIND immenesely as Best Buy has pratically re-organized their shopping experience to focus on wireless.

Looking Forward

WIND Mobile has plans to launch their Ottawa & Vancouver networks very soon which will should boost sales but without better retail distribution and marketing it will be very hard for them to reach their subscriber goal. Will this stop WIND from trying? We doubt it.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

Coming Soon: Bell Motorola DEXT & Rogers Motorola Quench

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 12:22:24 PST

Late last week Bell announced that they would be bringing the Motorola DEXT to Canada. TELUS previously announced the Backflip which left the Motorola Quench to Rogers. We don't have a firm release date for any of the three MOTOBLUR enabled smartphones at this time but early 2010 has been mentioned.

Bell Motorola DEXT

You can find a Bell micro-website detailing all things MOTO DEXT here: www.bellmotodext.ca. You can also enter to win 1 of 5 Motorola DEXT smartphones.

5.0 megapixel camera with autofocus and video capture
Full HTML Web Browser
Bluetooth, Wifi, GPS
3.1" HVGA Touch Screen with 320 x 480 pixels resolution
Slide-out QWERTY Keyboard
Android Apps & Media Player

Rogers Motorola Quench

5.0 megapixel camera with autofocus and video capture
Full HTML Web Browser
Bluetooth, Wifi, GPS
3.1" HVGA Touch Screen with 320 x 480 pixels resolution
Android Apps & Media Player

Posted in: Bell News, Google/Android News, Motorola News, Rogers News

Rogers Samsung Galaxy Spica Now Available

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 11:52:13 PST

The Samsung Galaxy Spica is now available from Rogers across Canada. Last week we reported that internet rumours had Rogers launching the Android powered Smartphone in the near future.

As expected the device will start at $79.99 on a 3 year contract price if you sign up for at least $45 per month of voice & data. Full price points are as follows:

3 year contract: $79.99
2 year contract: $349.99
1 year contract: $399.99
No contract: $449.99

The Samsung Galaxy Spica Features:

3.2" AMOLED Touchscreen Display with 320 x 480 Resolution
3.2 megapixel camera with 4X digital zoom
Android Media Player
Wi-fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS
Expandable microSD memory up to 32GB
Android 1.5 OS
800MHz processor

For full Rogers Samsung Galaxy Spica features, specifications, downloands and review please click here.

Posted in: Google/Android News, Rogers News

Motorola Backflip with MOTOBLUR Coming Soon to TELUS

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 13:12:24 PST

Today TELUS announced that they will soon be bringing the Motorola Backflip with MOTOBLUR to Canada. The move comes one day after Motorola announced they would be bringing their three MOTOBLUR Smartphones (Backflip, DEXT & Quench) to the Canadian marketplace through all three main carriers.

TELUS has not provided a launch date or pricing at this time but we will let you know as soon as we hear more.

What is MOTOBLUR?

Allows you to access all of your friends, pics, emails, messages, and Facebook™, MySpace and Twitter happenings in one place. MOTOBLUR syncs them all, with continuous updates and back ups. There are no logins or apps to open, and your data’s always safe.

The Motorola Backflip features:

Touchscreen and QWERTY Keyboard
Dedicated Volume control, Camera, Back, Home and Lock Keys
Wi-fi, Bluetooth, GPS
Reverse Flip Design with BACKTRACK navigation just behind the screen
Android 1.5 OS
5 megapixel camera with 4X Digital Zoom, LED Flash and Automatic Focus
Video Capture at 24fps
Full HTML Browser
Android Media Player
2GB microSD memory expandable to 32GB

Links for further information include:

Posted in: Google/Android News, Motorola News, TELUS News

Samsung Galaxy Spica Coming Soon to Rogers

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 13:03:28 PST

The Samsung Galaxy Spica will soon be available at a Rogers store near you. This Android based Smartphone is an updated version of the Samsung Galaxy (currently available from Bell) that is slighlty bigger in size, beefier processor and slight downgrade in the camera quality.

Rogers is expected to launch the Android Smartphone at the following price points:

3 year contract: $79.99
2 year contract: $349.99
1 year contract: $399.99
No contract: $449.99

The 3 year contract price is only available when you sign up for a minimum $45 monthly Voice and Data Plan. This promotional price is expected to drop to $299.99 after a few weeks.

Samsung Galaxy Spica Features

3.2" AMOLED Touchscreen Display with 320 x 480 Resolution
3.0 megapixel camera with 4X digital zoom
Android Media Player
Wi-fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS
Expandable microSD memory
Android 1.5 or 2.0 OS (unknown at this time)
800MHz processor

We'll have more details as soon as we hear a firm release date.

Posted in: Rogers News

Motorola Backflip, Dext & Quench Coming Soon to Canada

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 11:13:58 PST

Today Motorola announced that they will be bringing three of their latest Android enabled MOTOBLUR smartphones to Canada this year. Motorola will roll out the Backflip, Dext & Quench to all three national carriers in the first half of 2010.

Motorola's MOTOBLUR service is advertised as "Phones with Intelligence" and features things like:

Facebook™, MySpace and Twitter all in one place, right on your homescreen. Your friends, pics and posts are everywhere you look. And you can blast your status in a snap, to one or all three social networks at once.
Put everyone together in one address book without lifting a finger. Only MOTOBLUR continuously syncs your phone and email contacts with your friends from Facebook™, MySpace and Twitter. Automatically.
Delivers your texts, emails and messages from Facebook™, MySpace and Twitter in one unified inbox – all together and ready for reply. Stop searching. Start socializing.

MOTOROLA BACKFLIP

Backflip's unique reverse flip design makes it easy to enjoy videos, music and photos, while its QWERTY keyboard allows you to blast through e-mails, texts, news feeds, social network messages and more. Navigate quickly and easily through menus and features with the new and unique BACKTRACK(TM) feature. BACKTRACK is a touch panel located on the opposite side of the device, offering you a new way to scroll through the web, texts, e-mails and news feeds without obscuring the home screen.

MOTOROLA DEXT

Flick through your latest updates and fire back a response on DEXT's slide-out QWERTY keyboard - no apps to open and no menus to dig through, just instant social gratification. Snap photos with DEXT's 5 megapixel camera with autofocus; upload photos simply to your favorite photo sharing or social sites; and make and take clear calls even in noisy environments with dual microphones and noise cancellation technology.

MOTOROLA QUENCH

This sleek, customizable touch tablet fits nicely in a palm or pocket. QUENCH's easy-to-use touch pad and enhanced browser bring to life content rich web sites (busy banners, full videos) that many of today's phones can't handle. And with pinch and zoom capabilities, it's easy to enlarge and enjoy all this great content.

Links for further information include:

Posted in: Google/Android News, Motorola News

Rogers Launches RedBoard Web Site to Connect with Customers

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 11:42:11 PST

Today Rogers launched their official blog where they plan on discussing news and ideas as well as industry issues and trends. The RedBoard web site is seen as a new way for Rogers to communicate with their customers along with their twitter accounts.

Keith McArthur, Senior Director of Social Media at Rogers, stated in their first post:

We’ve been finding our voice in these online conversations – joining in on discussion forums, leaving comments on blogs, answering your questions through the @RogersHelps Twitter account and telling you about the latest Rogers news through the @RogersBuzz account.

Today we’re excited to launch a new forum for these conversations. RedBoard will be a place where we can talk about our vision, explain our services and policies and geek out about the latest new technology. Our goal is to keep jargon to a minimum and to focus on providing useful information, interviews with decision makers and answers to your questions.

Only time will tell as to whether this new RedBoard web site will be a success. The first comments from Canadians have been a mixed bag. Gary from Toronto stated:

Is this new venue going to ignore me like the @RogersHelps does when I have a problem? You can set up all the social media channels you want but it doesn’t change the fact that the people on the phone can’t fix my problems with my service.

Sorry to be jaded.

Posted in: Rogers News

Virgin Mobile Samsung R100 Stunt™ Now Available

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 11:21:38 PST

Virgin Mobile has added their first new CDMA phone post HSPA Network Launch with the Samsung R100 Stunt. The release of the Samsung R100 Stunt follows the same launch by Solo Mobile last week. It is available for $0 on a 2 year term and $49.99 prepaid or no term.

Samsung R100 Stunt Features:

It's super simple to stay in touch with the Samsung Stunt™. Small and stylish, this baby packs a whole bunch of goodies into one nifty little package. Connect wirelessly with Bluetooth and make it your own with exclusive downloadable games, tones, and wallpapers. Did we mention it makes calls too?

Bluetooth 2.0
Speakerphone
Dual-Band 850/1900 MHz
Dimensions: 43.9mm x 107.15mm x 13.65 mm
Weight: 74 grams

You can find the full Virgin Mobile Samsung R100 Stunt Features, Specifications, Downloads and Reviews here.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

Apple Sues HTC over Patent Infringement

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 11:10:48 PST

Apple announced today that it is suing HTC for "for infringing on 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone's user interface, underlying architecture and hardware". We've got a full copy of Apple's press release below.

Apple Sues HTC for Patent Infringement

CUPERTINO, Calif. March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today filed a lawsuit against HTC for infringing on 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone's user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. The lawsuit was filed concurrently with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware.

"We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."

Apple reinvented the mobile phone in 2007 with its revolutionary iPhone®, and did it again in 2008 with its pioneering App Store, which now offers more than 150,000 mobile applications in over 90 countries. Over 40 million iPhones have been sold worldwide.

HTC has commented on the story stating:

We only learned of Apple's actions based on your stories and Apple's press release. We have not been served any papers yet so we are in no position to comment on the claims. We respect and value patent rights but we are committed to defending our own innovations. We have been innovating and patenting our own technology for 13 years.

Apple is asking for a permanent injunction, which would bar HTC from importing or selling phones in the US that use these patents, along with triple damages with maximum interest.

Posted in: Apple iPhone, HTC News

Latest Apple iPhone Commercials

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:35:40 PST

Apple has released some new commercials showing off the many things that the iPhone 3GS can do for the average consumer. These commercials are currently rolling out in the US with AT&T as the provider at the end of the clip. We'll probably see them start to show up in Canada sometime later this year.

On Hold

First Steps

Family Travel

You can find more Apple iPhone 3G & 3GS information on CompareCellular.com.

Posted in: Apple iPhone, AT&T News

WIND Mobile Launches in Edmonton

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:26:50 PST

Yesterday WIND Mobile launched their Edmonton network joining Calgary & Toronto. They plan on launching in Ottawa very soon with Vancouver to follow. WIND Mobile has setup 2 retail locations and 4 blockbuster locations for you to switch to their network.

Ken from WIND Mobile stated:

Highlight of the week was Edmonton! Yes, we launched in the City of Champions. The home town boy (Chris) should be proud. We launched with 5 stores and a strong network that will get stronger over the coming weeks. Thanks to all of our technical and retail team in Alberta for an exceptional job. Edmonton promises to be a great city for us. I'm back in Toronto today, after an insane week, but I am proud of these launches and happy that the WIND Home has expanded and is now available to another couple of million more Canadians.

You can find the full WIND Mobile annoucement on their web site here: www.windmobile.ca/community/WIND-news/detail/busy-week-edmonton-ottawa/

You can find WIND Mobile Cell Phones & Smartphones with Plans throughout CompareCellular.com.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

Rogers Now Offers DRM-Free OTA Music Downloads

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:01:12 PST

Today Rogers announced that they too are now offering DRM-free over the air downloads through their urMusic.ca music service. The move follows TELUS's recent annoucement of the same ability that enables customers to download, listen and enjoy their music across different devices.

Customers visiting www.urmusic.ca online or via the mobile web portal on their wireless device will now have the ability to purchase DRM-free (also known as MP3) music tracks to their device or computer and transfer them to their other digital music-capable electronic devices, free of charge.

Rogers also announced new track & album pricing of:

New tiered pricing is also available for DRM-free music tracks ranging from $0.69, $0.99 and up to $1.29* per track. Full album purchases generally cost less than $10* for Rogers customers. (*plus applicable download fees)

The main catch in this annoucement is that all music must be downloaded via your Cell Phone or Smartphone in order to take advantage of the DRM-free offer.

Posted in: Rogers News

Solo Mobile Samsung R100 Now Available

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:40:10 PST

Solo Mobile has added their first new phone of 2010 with the Samsung R100. It is currently available for $0 on a 2 year term and just $70 prepaid or no term.

Samsung R100 Features:

Wireless Internet & Downloads. With the wireless Web service, you can access the Internet on your phone. Download personalized content such as ringtones, games, wallpapers, and screensavers.
Bluetooth 2.0
Speakerphone
Dual-Band 850/1900 MHz
Dimensions: 43.9mm x 107.15mm x 13.65 mm
Weight: 74 g

You can find our full Samsung R100 features, specifications, reviews and downloads by clicking here.

Posted in: Solo Mobile News

Coming Soon: Rogers Acer Liquid e Android 2.1 Smartphone

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:43:27 PST

Acer has announced that the Liquid e Android 2.1 Smartphone will be coming to Rogers later this spring. It is anticipated to be Canada's first Android 2.1 Smartphone and will probably launch around the same time as the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.

Acer Liquid e Features:

Android 2.1 OS
768MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
3.5" WVGA display
5 megapixel camera with AutoFocus
GPS
802.11b/g Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 2.0
256MB of RAM
Accelerometer

We'll be sure to provide another update when we get a firm launch date confirmation.

Posted in: Google/Android News, Rogers News

Fido BlackBerry Curve 8520 Now Available

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:11:10 PST

Fido has finally made the BlackBerry Curve 8520 available for purchase on their web site. The BlackBerry Curve 8520 had been rumoured to be launching on the Fido network in early February but was delayed until late February. You can find the BlackBerry Smartphone at the following price points:

$50 on a 3 year agreement
$350 on a 2 year agreement
$400 for Fido Prepaid or no agreement

Fido BlackBerry Curve 8520 Features:

2.0 megapixel camera with video capture
Quad Band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
Bluetooth
Expandable microSD memory up to 16GB
BlackBerry Media Player with dedicated music keys
Facebook Apps
2.4" TFT LCD with 65k colours and 320 x 240 pixels resolution

You can find BlackBerry Curve 8520 features, specifications, downloads and reviews here.

Posted in: BlackBerry News, Fido News

TELUS LG Banter Now Available

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:38:31 PST

Today TELUS released the LG Banter for $0 on a 3 year contract. It is also available for $99.99 on a 2 year contract, $149.99 on a 1 year contract and $199.99 for no contract. The LG Banter is a CDMA based phone that will operate on TELUS's older CDMA network.

TELUS LG Banter Features

Text, IM, email, and MMS quickly with the Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
1.3 megapixel camera to Capture and share photos
MP3 player with expandable microSD (up to 16GB)
Bluetooth
3 included faceplates in Baby Blue, Titanium, and Lavender

You can find the full TELUS LG Banter features, specifications, downloads and reviews here.

Posted in: TELUS News

HTC Announces new Android Smartphones the Desire & Legend

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:24:25 PST

Earlier this week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona HTC announced two new Android based smartphones with the Desire & Legend. The Desire is essentially the Nexus One tweaked to HTC's liking while the Legend is the follow-up to the well received HTC Hero.

HTC Desire

The HTC Desire is rumoured to have the same specs as teh Google Nexus One with a number of small adjustments. Europe and Asia can expec the smartphone in April. Features include:

Android 2.1 OS
3.7″ AMOLED touchscreen
5 megapixel camera
Optical Trackpad vs. standard trackball

HTC Legend

The HTC Legend is the successor to the very popular HTC Hero. It should feature a number of improvements over the Hero including:

Android 2.1 OS
Processor speed bump from 528 Mhz to 600 Mhz
Screen upgraded from standard LCD to a AMOLED screen
Optical Trackpad vs. standard trackball

We've got a promotion video for the HTC Legend below courtsey of MobileCrunch.

Posted in: HTC News

Rogers adds 109,000 New Wireless Customers over Q4 2009

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:50:51 PST

Rogers released their 2009 4th Quarter results this morning which saw them add 109,000 new wireless customers. They also added 400,000 smartphones to their network pushing wireless data revenue to 24% of all wireless revenue. Rogers stock is currently down 4.43% on the day.

A great exert from their press release focused on their Wireless division:

Wireless network revenue growth was fuelled by data revenue growth of 45% and postpaid net subscriber additions of 109,000. Wireless data revenue now comprises 24% of Wireless network revenue and was helped by the activation of approximately 400,000 additional smartphone devices during the quarter, predominantly iPhone, BlackBerry and Android devices, of which approximately 40% were for subscribers new to Wireless. Subscribers with smartphones now represent 31% of the overall postpaid subscriber base, up from 19% from the same quarter last year, and generate ARPU nearly twice that of voice only subscribers. The growth in subscribers and data revenues was partially offset by ongoing economic and competitive pressures on roaming, long-distance and other usage-based revenue items.

You can find the the other big 3 cellular providers 4Q 2009 results here:

Posted in: Rogers News

TELUS Motorola Milestone Now Available

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:01:34 PST

The TELUS Motorola Milestone is now available for just $199.99 on a 3 year contract. TELUS previously announced that the Android 2.0 based Smartphone would be coming soon.

You can also purchase the Milestone for $499.99 on a 2 yr contract, $549.99 on a 1 yr contract and $599.99 on no contract.

The Motorola Milestone features:

Android 2.0 platform
3.7" Multi-touch screen with slide-out QWERTY keyboard
5 megapixel camera with 4X digital zoom, dual LED flash, Image stabilization, advanced image editing
Video Capture DVD quality up to 30 fps; D1 (720x480) resolution
Personalize 3 home screens with apps and widgets
On-device Google Search™ to retrieve apps, contacts, songs, and more
Music & Media Player
Wi-fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, aGPS

You can find the full TELUS Motorola Milestone, features, specifications, downloads and more here.

Posted in: TELUS News

Fido Sony Ericcson Naite Now Available

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:43:04 PST

Fido has officially added the 3G high-speed Sony Ericsson Naite to their cell phone line-up. In January we anticipated its arrival for the month of February along with a number of other Phones & Smartphones.

The Sony Ericsson Naite is available for just $25 on a 2 year contract and only $150 on month to month, prepaid or outright purchase price.

The Sony Ericsson Naite features:

3G high-speed experience (HSPA 850, 1900 and 2100 MHz)
Quad-band phone offering extensive coverage around the world, where available (GSM/GPRS 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz)
2 megapixel camera with video recorder
FM radio and media player
External memory expandable to 8GB
Bluetooth®
Handsfree speaker
Text, Picture and Video Messaging
Flight mode, calendar, tasks, calculator, stopwatch, alarm clock and notes

You can find the full Sony Ericsson Naite features, specifications, downloads and reviews here.

We now expect that Fido will be releasing the following phones over the next 2 weeks:

BlackBerry Curve 8520
Samsung Gravity
LG GW300 Etna 2

Posted in: Fido News

Microsoft Announces Windows Mobile 7, now known as Windows Phone

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:27:01 PST

Today Microsoft announced there anticipated Windows Mobile 7 which now goes by "Windows Phone". The Windows Phone OS definitely borrows the look & feel of the Microsoft Zune and provides Microsoft with a fresh start to try and regain ground lost to the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android.

Microsoft didn't show off any consumer devices at the event and only had development devices that were very pre-production. They hope that the first Windows Phone will be available in time for the 2010 Holiday Season. We've compiled a number of videos from across the web below.

Windows Phone 7 Series: Life In Motion

Windows Phone 7 Series Features

Posted in: Microsoft News

New Virgin Mobile Advertising Pushes BlackBerry Smartphone Line-up

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:27:51 PST

The latest Virgin Mobile advertising found in the Metro News is pushing their BlackBerry Smartphone line-up. The ads currently feature:

All pricing is based on plans starting at $25/month with 3-year agreement and a data plan.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

TELUS LG Banter Coming Soon

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:43:34 PST

The LG Web Site has revealed that the LG Banter will be coming soon to TELUS. The LG Banter is very similar to Bell's LG Rumour2 with a slide-out QWERTY keypad, 1.3 megapixel camera and exact same screen size & resolution.

The TELUS LG Banter (LG265T) features:

Slide-out 4 line QWERTY keypad
1.3 megapixel camera
Music Player
Bluetooth
Expandable microSD memory up to 16GB
2.2 inch (240 x 320 pixel), TFT 262K Colour LCD
CDMA 1X RTT Technology

We would assume that a late February or early March release is likely to coincide with other devices being released by Rogers, Fido & Solo Mobile.

Posted in: TELUS News

TELUS adds 122,000 New Wireless Customers over Q4 2009

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:21:25 PST

TELUS released their 2009 4th Quarter results this morning and unfortunately the results weren't all that positive. TELUS stock is down about 1.7% this morning on the news.

TELUS earned $156 million or 49 cents per share of net income in the final three months of 2009. That's down from $285 million or 89 cents a year earlier.

TELUS saw wireless data revenue of $243 million increased $40 million or 20% due to the continued adoption of smartphones and mobile Internet keys, and increased use of data services such as text messaging and wireless social networking.

TELUS's net activations for the quarter looked like this:

Total net activations of 122,000 a 17.6% decrease over Q4 2008
Postpaid net activations of 109,000 a 8.4% decrease
Prepaid net activations of 13,000 a decrease of 55.2%

ARPU (average revenue per subscriber unit per month) results weren't very positive with large declines due to competition.

Fourth quarter 2009 blended ARPU was $57.38, a decrease of $4.78 or 7.7% when compared to the same period in 2008, and reflecting the usual seasonal decline when compared to $59.45 in the third quarter of 2009. Blended ARPU of $58.46 for the full year of 2009 decreased by $4.27 or 6.8% when compared to 2008.

Bell released their Q4 2009 results, which saw net activations of 163,000, earlier this month.

Posted in: TELUS News

RIM Announces Official BlackBerry Twitter App

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:19:24 PST

RIM has announced a beta version of their official BlackBerry Twitter App. it's currently received a number of mixed reviews from sites like Techcrunch.com & BlackBerryCool.com.

The Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones application has been designed to take advantage of the BlackBerry platform to create a user experience that will be familiar to both Twitter and BlackBerry smartphone users. Some of the areas that we have focused on are:

Push technology and Message List integration to notify you of your direct messages as soon as they arrive.
Send/Share BlackBerry menu integration along with bit.ly URL shortening so that you can share your favorite BlackBerry App World™ applications, interesting websites or a random picture from your camera with your Twitter followers.

You can read more on BlackBerry's official blog found here: blogs.blackberry.com/2010/02/inside-twitter-for-blackberry-application-preview/

TechCrunch.com called it average at best:

The interface is mediocre; but it’s tough to make anything as pretty as an iPhone or Android app on the BlackBerry. My biggest complaint is that the app is slow. Really slow. Slower than the Seesmic Blackberry app that I currently use to Tweet from my mobile device.

BlackBerryCool.com stated in their initial beta review:

Since this is a beta, I’m not going to say definitevely whether this app is a success or failure. All I can say is that as it stands, it needs to work on more features that will differentiate itself from the Twitter clients that are already on the market. Unless something major is done with the UI and feature set, I’ll stick to UberTwitter and/or Social Scope.

Other popular fully featured BlackBerry Twitter apps include:

Twitterberry www.orangatame.com/products/openbeak/
ÜberTwitter www.ubertwitter.com
Twibble www.twibble.de
Seesmic seesmic.com
socialscope www.socialscope.net

Posted in: BlackBerry News

Virgin Mobile Valentine's Day Contests & Promotions

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:07:58 PST

Virgin Mobile Canada is running a number of Valentine's Day Promotions & Contests across the country. This includes things like Twitter Contests, City Tours & Promotions and even a Flashmob in Downtown Toronto. We've got a full breakdown with details on how to enter below.

Virgin Mobile Twitter Contest

You can enter to win a BlackBerry Bold 9700 or BlackBerry Curve 8530 by replying to Virgin Mobile on Twitter, here's how:

Follow virginmobilecan on Twitter
Reply to the following message: want to win a blackberry bold 9700 or curve 8530? @ reply with your ultimate valentine's date. win our heart and you win a blackberry!

Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa & Montreal Promotions

From February 12 to 14, Virgin Mobile will be bringing some acts of love to Canada with Virgin Mobile Angels in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal giving Canadians a helping hand. Canadians who run into the Virgin Mobile Angels this weekend will be treated to a little bit of love with gifts such as free coffee, transit fares and hugs and kisses all around.

To find the Virgin Mobile Angels, look for the limo in your neighbourhood or follow Virgin Mobile on Facebook at facebook.com/virginmobilecan and Twitter at twitter.com/virginmobilecan where schedules for stops in the five cities will be updated regularly.

Virgin Mobile Flashmob

Virgin Mobile also organize a flashmob at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square on Wednesday. They should have a video of the event up shortly on their YouTube channel found here: www.youtube.com/virginmobilepresents.

You can find a twitpic of the performacne here: http://twitpic.com/12fm9b.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

WIND Mobile Twitters Rate Plan Comparison Charts

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:52:53 PST

Earlier today WIND Mobile Twittered two comparison PDF's for Canadians that talk a little and those that talk a lot. The comparisons charts show how much you can save with WIND Mobile if you switch. We've broken down their comparisons below with links and screenshots.

Talk a Little

WIND is comparing their Chat plan to Koodo Mobile's Service Size 50 plan. We've got a screenshot of their comparisons below and you can actually compare the plans on our site for the GTA area here.

Talk a Lot

For those who use their phones a lot WIND is comparing their Always Shout plan with Fido's CityFido™ 60. We've got a screenshot of their comparisons below and you can compare the plans on our site for the GTA area here.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

TELUS First in Canada to Offer OTA DRM-free Music

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:35:48 PST

TELUS is now the first Canadian cellular provider to offer over-the-air DRM-free music downloads. This service that will allow Canadians to purchase music from the TELUS music store and then be able to transfer it to the electronic device of their choosing.

DRM-Free allows you to play music purchased from TELUS on the media player of your choice. It also allows you to transfer these music files to many other consumer electronics devices in your Future Friendly® Home.

Price per song ranges from $0.69, $0.99 or $1.29 which is inline with iTunes store prices that only allow you to play songs on iPod devices.

Existing TELUS phones that support DRM-Free Downloading include:

BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700
HTC Hero™
Nokia E71
BlackBerry® Storm2™
BlackBerry® Tour™
BlackBerry® Storm™
BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8230
BlackBerry® Curve™ 8130
BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330
BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530
Samsung R500™
Samsung Slyde™ m540

You can find out more at telusmobility.com/music.

Posted in: TELUS News

Facebook Mobile reaches 100 million Active Users

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:57:59 PST

Facebook's Mobile numbers are staggering when you consider that of their 400 million active users, 100 million are using Facebook Mobile only a monthly basis. That's amazing wireless penetration that really shows where the wireless world is going.

You can find our more about Facebook Mobile via: www.facebook.com/mobile/

Facebook currently provides the following Mobile access methods:

Downloadable Facebook App (varies by platform)
m.facebook.com for Basic Mobile Phones
touch.facebook.com for Touchscreen Smartphones & Mobile Phones

You can read the full Facebook announcement on their blog found here: http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=297879717130.

Posted in: Industry News

MiKe adds the Motorola Brute i680 Mil Spec Certified Flip Phone

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:15:01 PST

MiKe (owned and operated by TELUS) has added the Motorola Brute™ i680 to their cell phone line-up. The Brute™ i680 is Mil Spec certified and has Mike Direct Connect enabled with enhanced PTT capabilities. It is currently available for $229.99 on a 3 year contract and $429.99 without contract.

Motorola Brute™ i680 Feature List

Mil Spec certified with easy grip rubberized molding
Mike Direct Connect enabled
Enhanced PTT capabilities, including Push To Talk call to a Voice Call, and Call Completion
Bluetooth
GPS
2.0 megapixel camera
Music Player
IM-style texting

Posted in: MiKe News

Best Buy Mobile reveals Fido BlackBerry Curve 8520

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:28:27 PST

Best Buy has added the Fido BlackBerry Curve 8520 to their web site this morning. They've revealed pricing starting at $49.99 on a 2 year agreement or $449.99 for just the Smartphone.

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 has been available through Rogers since October of 2009 and has been well received. Fido seems to have stopped selling the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 so anyone looking to move to a BlackBerry on the Fido network should definitely be encouraged to check out the Curve 8520.

BlackBerry Curve 8520 Features

The Curve 8520 is Wi-Fi ready and offers instant messaging applications such as Windows Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, and BlackBerry Messenger. And a bright, colourful screen offers you a crisp view of all your communication tools.

2.0 megapixel camera with 5x zoom and video capture
MP3 player that features dedicated media keys
QWERTY Keyboard with new Trackpad making it easy to navigate menus and contacts on the vibrant screen
Memory is expandable up to 16GB with a microSD card
Bluetooth, speakerphone, calculator, calendar, and BlackBerry software v4.6.1

You can find more information on the Best Buy Mobile web site here:

Posted in: Fido News

Cheer on Team Canada with a free Cowbell App from Bell

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 19:59:45 PST

Bell has released a free Cowbell App to help you cheer on Team Canada. The free app features a Bell branded cowbell that will make noise if you shake your device, press a key or tap the screen. Canadians can get their hands on the app in one of two ways.

Bell Customers

Text COWBELL to 2010 to get your free cowbell app.

Supported Bell devices & smartphones include:

Apple iPhone
BlackBerry Bold 9700
BlackBerry Curve 8830
BlackBerry Pearl Flip
BlackBerry Tour
Samsung Omnia 2
BlackBerry Bold 9000
BlackBerry Curve 8530
BlackBerry Pearl 8130
BlackBerry Storm
BlackBerry 8830 World Phone

Non-Bell Customers

Visit bell.ca/cowbell on your mobile phone and download your free app. Standard

You can find out more and test drive the cowbell app here: www.vancouver.bell.ca/en/mobile/cowbell/.

Posted in: Bell News

Motorola Renew+ Now Available from Fido

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 19:43:51 PST

The Moto 388 Renew+ is now availble from Fido. Fido has released pricing of $15 on a 2 year agreement and Renew+ features on their web site.

The Renew+ has a VGA camera with 4X zoom to set it apart from the original Moto Renew that is currently still available from Fido.

We previously reported that the Moto Renew+ was 1 of 5 phones coming soon to Fido.

Posted in: Fido News

New Rogers Cell Phones: Samsung Flight & LG Pop

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 11:45:05 PST

As expected Rogers has added the Samsung Flight & LG Pop to their cell phone line-up. The Samsung Flight starts at $69.99 on a 3 year contract while the LG Pop starts at $19.99 on a 3 year contract.

Samsung Flight

Starting at $69.99 on a 3 year contract
2.8" Touchscreen LCD with slide-out QWERTY Keyboard
2.0 megapixel camera
Music Player, Bluetooth, A-GPS
Expandable microSD memory up to 32GB

LG Pop

Starting at $19.99 on a 3 year contract
3" Touchscreen LCD
3.0 megapixel camera
Web Browser, Music Player, Bluetooth
Expandable microSD memory up to 16GB

Both Cell Phones are featured prominently on the Rogers.com web site as seen below.

Posted in: Rogers News

Rogers Q1 Cell Phone Lineup Revealed!

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:57:50 PST

We've managed to get our hands on Rogers Q1 Cell Phone Lineup which will see them adding 4 new phones between Feb 9th and March 9th. New Phones include the Samsung Flight, LG Pop, Samsung Corby Pro and LG KM555.

Samsung Flight

Starting at $69.99
2.8" Touchscreen LCD with slide-out QWERTY Keyboard
2.0 megapixel camera
Music Player
Bluetooth
A-GPS
Expandable microSD memory up to 32GB

LG Pop

Starting at $19.99
3" Touchscreen LCD
3.0 megapixel camera
Web Browser
Music Player
Bluetooth
Expandable microSD memory up to 16GB

Samsung Corby Pro

Starting at $69.99
Touchscreen LCD with slide-out QWERTY Keyboard
2.0 megapixel camera
Musci Player
Web Browser
Music Player
Bluetooth
Expandable microSD memory up to 8GB

LG KM555

Starting at $49.99
3" Touchscreen LCD
3.0 megapixel camera
Web Browser
Music Player
Wi-fi
Bluetooth
Expandable micoSD memory

Posted in: Rogers News

BestBuy.ca Reveals TELUS Motorola Milestone Launch Date of Feb. 18th

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:02:19 PST

BestBuy.ca launched a re-designed version of their web site this morning and included a Feb. 18th launch date for the TELUS Motorola Milestone. You can see a screenshot of the pre-order information with launch date below.

The Motorola Milestone is the GSM/HSPA version of the Motorola Droid that is currently available through Verizon in the US. The Motorola Milestone will be Canada's first Android 2.0 phone until Rogers releases the Sony Ericsson X10 sometime later this year.

Motorola Milestone Best Buy Mobile Flyer Promotion Material

Posted in: Google/Android News, TELUS News

Bell adds 163,000 New Wireless Customers over Q4 2009

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 11:04:17 PST

With the launch of its new HSPA network, Bell added 163,000 wireless customers over Q4 2009. Bell's wireless subscriber base has now grown to 6,833,000, an increase of 5.2% over last year.

Bell saw Gross Activations for Q4 2009 of 523,000 and net activations of 163,000. This means they gained 523,000 customers and lost 360,000 for a net gaine of 163,000 wirelss customers.

Total net activations increased by 39.3% over Q4 2008 to 163,000.
Postpaid net activations increased by 37.5% to 110,000
Prepaid net activations increased by 43.2% to 53,000

In comparison, Bell Q4 2008 Net Activation numbers looked like this:

117,000 net activations
80,000 postpaid activations
37,000 prepaid activations

Both Rogers & TELUS will be releasing their Q4 2009 results mid February which should provide some great comparisons.

Posted in: Bell News

Rogers adds new "One Rate" Canada & US Data Roaming Plans

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 10:37:38 PST

If you're a frequent traveler to the US and turn your BlackBerry or Smartphone off to avoid excessive voice & data roaming charges then Rogers has some new plans for you. Rogers has introduced plans that allow you to use data while in the US like you would in Canada.

If we compare what TELUS and Bell is currently charging for US Data Roaming we can see that Rogers has really stepped up in response to Canadian's needs.

TELUS currently charges $3/MB for data in the US
Bell currently charges $6/MB for data in the US

A full breakdown of the new One Rate data plans is as follows:

BlackBerry Plans

Personal Email on BlackBerry Canada & US One Rate Data Plan

$20 per month
Unlimited Email & IM

500MB on BlackBerry, Canada & US One Rate Data Plan

$35 per month
500 MB

1GB on BlackBerry, Canada & US One Rate Data Plan

$40 per month
1 GB

Smartphone Plans

500MB on Smartphones, Canada & US One Rate Data Plan

$30 per month
500MB

1GB on Smartphones, Canada & US One Rate Data Plan

$45 per month
1GB

Mobile Internet Stick Plans

Mobile Internet Flex-Rate, Canada & US One Rate Data Plan

500 MB @ $45 per month
1 GB @ $50 per month
2 GB @ $65 per month
3 GB @ $80 per month
5 GB @ $100 per month

Browse through our Rogers Plans & Add-ons section for more information.

Posted in: Rogers News

Nokia's Free Ovi Maps tops 1.4 million Downloads

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 15:53:28 PST

Nokia made their Ovi Maps application free to download on January 21, 2010 and has since seen over 1.4 million downloads. Nokia has stated that they are seeing a download every second.

As of 31 January 2010 the top five countries downloading the new version of Ovi Maps were: China, Italy, UK, Germany and Spain. The top five most popular Nokia devices installing the download were: Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia N97, Nokia 5230 and Nokia E72.

Nokia plans on pre-loading Ovi Maps on all future phones & smartphones providing them with an even larger install base.

Some analysts are predicting the death of companies like TomTom & Magellan with the runaway success of Ovi Maps and Google's Plans to include similar software with their Android 2.0 OS.

Posted in: Nokia News

Google adds Multi-Touch Capabilities to the Nexus One

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 14:47:35 PST

Google released a software update for Nexus One phones today that adds mutli-touch capabilities to the Smartphone. The Android 2.0 update will only be made available to the Nexus One and not the Motorola Droid just yet. The software update will be rolling out to users throughout the week and includes:

Google Goggles

This mobile application will now be available directly on your device by launching it from your All Apps menu. Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web

Google Maps

The Google Maps application with be updated to a new version, Google Maps 3.4, which will include:

Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com - access your favorite places from your phone or computer
Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history - makes it easy to search for places you've searched for before
Night mode in Google Maps Navigation - automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving

Pinch-to-zoom functionality (Multi-Touch)

Devices will now include a new pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone's Browser, Gallery and Maps applications.

3G connectivity

A general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones.

You can read the full Google blog post by clicking here.

Posted in: Google/Android News

DAVE Wireless becomes Mobilicity

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 11:01:23 PST

DAVE Wireless officially announced their new Mobilicity brand name & logo this morning at a press conference in Toronto. Yesterday we reported that Mobilicity was a forerunner along with the tag line of "My Phone, My City, My Way".

The word "Mobilicity" was chosen as a combination of Mobile and Simplicity. Mobilicity plans on name-brand handsets (like BlackBerry & Nokia) while offering unlimited plans with no credit check and no contract to sign. They have plans to launch in Toronto this Spring with Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa coming online later this year.

About Data & Audio Visual Enterprises Wireless Inc. (DAVE Wireless)

DAVE Wireless is a Canadian wireless carrier, which will operate under the Mobilicity brand name. The company is led by Obelysk, a diversified Canadian holding company, and Quadrangle Capital Partners, a global investor in the telecommunications and media sectors with more than $3 billion of capital under management. Following the Canadian wireless spectrum auction, DAVE Wireless holds licenses which cover more than half of Canada's population in 10 of the 13 largest markets including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.

Posted in: Mobilicity (DAVE Wireless)

DAVE Wireless Announcing new Brand Name & Logo Tomorrow

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 17:28:13 PST

DAVE Wireless (Data & Audio-Visual Entreprises Wireless Inc.) will be announcing their new Brand Name & Logo at a press conference tomorrow morning in Toronto. What they are about to announce may have already leaked out in the form of trademark applications. Rumoured brand names & logo are as follows:

Fresh Wireless

You can view their trade-mark application for "Fresh Wireless" by clicking here.

Data & Audio-Visual Entreprises Wireless Inc. (DAVE Wireless) owns FreshWireless.ca.

Mobilicity

You can view their logo trade-mark application for the above by clicking here.

You can view their other logo trade-mark application for Mobilicity + MY PHONE. MY CITY. MY WAY. tagline by clicking here.

Unfortunately the domain information for Mobilicity.ca & MobilicityMobile.ca are hidden but both are registered through Internic.ca which DAVE Wireless has registered their other domains through.

We'll have a full update first thing tomorrow morning after the press conference.

Posted in: Mobilicity (DAVE Wireless)

Coming Soon: TELUS Motorola Milestone

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 12:07:08 PST

TELUS has added a "Notify me at launch" banner to the TELUSmobility.com web site for the Motorola Milestone. The Milestone, GSM version of the popular Motorola Droid, is rumoured to be landing on TELUS later this month. The Motorola Milestone will be the first Android 2.0 phone available in Canada.

The TELUS Motorola Milestone features:

Android 2.0 platform (first in Canada!)
3.7" Multi-touch screen with slide-out QWERTY keyboard
3G+ Device for TELUS's new Network
5 megapixel camera with 4X digital zoom, dual LED flash, Image stabilization, advanced image editing
Video Capture DVD quality up to 30 fps; D1 (720x480) resolution
Wi-fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, aGPS
Music & Media Player

Posted in: Motorola News, TELUS News

Virgin Mobile Launches New HSPA+ Network with New Phones & Plans

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:19:52 PST

Today Virgin Mobile officially launches their new HSPA+ Network (same as Bell) with a slew new phones we reported on earlier this month. They also announced new Smartphone combo plans that will be seen as a better value by many Canadians.

New Phones, iPhones, Smartphones & Mobile Internet Devices

As expected the new devices at launch include:

New Smartphone Plans

Virgin Mobile has also added a number of new Smartphone plans that you can find here. A brief rundown is as follows:

Smartphone Combo 50

$50.00 per month
150 anytime minutes
50 bonus minutes
Unlimited evening and weekend minutes
Choice of Feature*
Data Included: 500 MB

Smartphone Combo 65

$65.00 per month
250 anytime minutes
Unlimited evening and weekend minutes
Choice of Feature*
Data Included: 1 GB

Smartphone Combo 80

$80.00 per month
400 anytime minutes
Unlimited evening and weekend minutes
Choice of Feature*
Data Included: 2 GB

Smartphone Combo 100

$100.00 per month
500 anytime minutes
Unlimited evening and weekend minutes
Data Included: 3 GB

Choice of Feature for Smartphone Comobos 50, 65 & 80 are:

Voicemail 10 & Call Display
OR
Unlimited Text & Picture Messaging

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

Virgin Mobile launching new HSPA+ Network on February 2nd

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:43:53 PST

Virgin Mobile will be launching their new HSPA+ network on February 2nd. While technically it's Bell's HSPA+ network that has been running since November of last year, there is clearly alot of work that has gone into getting the network ready for Virgin Mobile customers. Virgin Mobile has a number of events planned for February 2nd which include:

Virgin Mobile and Victoria's Secret models Launch Announcement

WHAT...
Join Victoria's Secret models and Virgin Mobile President for a Virgin-style event and photo opportunity to launch the new HSPA+ network with some hot mobile-inspired fashions created by Canadian designers.

WHO...
Robert Blumenthal, President Virgin Mobile Canada
Nathan Rosenberg, CMO, Virgin Mobile Canada

Straight from the Victoria's Secret runway:

Brooklyn Decker, fashion model
Amy Hixson, fashion model
Emanuela de Paula, fashion model
Cintia Dicker, fashion model
Erin Heatherton, fashion model

Canadian designers:

Ines di Santo
Carlie Wong
Nada Shepherd
Farley Chatto

WHEN...
Tuesday, February 2, 2010

10:30 a.m. - Media registration
11:00 a.m. - Fashion show & media briefing
11:30 a.m. - Additional Victoria's Secret model photo opps & Q&A
12:00 p.m. - Media briefing ends

WHERE...
Berkeley Church
315 Queen Street East

Virgin Mobile Network Launch Party

You can see a screenshot of the launch party details they've provided for 8PM on February 2nd. Unfortunately this is all we have to go on at this time.

We plan on having the new Virgin Mobile Phones, Smartphones, iPhone & Plans up first thing on February 2nd. For a full list of phones please see our story from last week.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

Apple unveils iPad touchscreen tablet

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:17:50 PST

Today Apple unveiled their much anticipated iPad table computer. The device has been rumoured for what feels like weeks now, the question will be whether it lives up to the hype.

We're seeing hands-on impressions rolling in through places like Engadget & Gizmodo who are giving the device a mixed reaction. Cons they have found include:

The keyboard is good, not great. Not quite as responsive as it looked in the demos.
No Flash, ugh.
Lacks a SD card or USB Slot

The Apple iPad features:

iPhone-like Interface
The iPad uses will use the iPhone OS and have programs like Safari, Mail, Photos, iPod, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes and Calendar.

iBooks
Apple announced a new online book store allowing users to download books to their iPad to read.

iPhone & iPod Touch App Compatibility
The iPad will be able to run all of the 140,000 available iPhone & iPod Touch apps currently in the market

LED-backlit, IPS Display
The high-resolution, 9.7 inch LED-backlit, IPS display on iPad is remarkably crisp and vivid.

Multi-Touch
The Multi-Touch screen on the iPad uses the same revolutionary technology that’s in an iPhone.

Thin and light
9.7 inch screen measured diagonally and just 1.5 lbs and 0.5 inches thin.

Up to 10 hours of battery life
You can use iPad for up to 10 hours while surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching videos, or listening to music.

Wireless
Built-in 802.11n wi-fi.

3G
iPad will also be available in a 3G model, with super-fast data speeds up to 7.2 Mbps.

Apple iPad US Pricing
	16 GB	32 GB	64 GB
Wi-Fi	$499	$599	$699
Wi-Fi + 3G	$629	$729	$829

International pricing has yet to be announced at this time.

Availability

Apple plans on shipping Wi-Fi only models in 60 days (end of March) to the US and internationally. 3G models will be available 30 days after that within the US. Apple is still working on carrier details for those outside the US.

AT&T will be providing wireless service, without contract, for those 3G iPad's in America for $15 a month (250MB of data) or $30 a month (unlimited).

Posted in: Apple iPhone, AT&T News

Palm Pre Plus & Pixi Plus Now Available from Verizon Wireless

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:56:12 PST

Verizon Wireless has just added the Palm Pre Plus & Palm Pixi Plus to their online web store. Both are slight upgrades of the original Palm Pre & Pixi that were released last year. You can find a full breakdown of features for both below.

Palm® Pre™ Plus

Palm has doubled the memory in the Pre Plus from 8GB to 16B and fixed some keyboard issues with the center button. The Pre Plus includes:

Touch screen with slide out QWERTY keyboard
3 Megapixel camera with flash
HTML Web Browser
Wi–Fi Ready (802.11 b/g)
3G Mobile Hot Spot Capable
Music Player for MP3, AAC, AAC+, WAV, AMR, QCELP
Gesture area –enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation
Assisted & Standalone GPS
Memory: 16GB Flash/512 RAM
Bluetooth® Wireless Technology–(V 2.1+EDR)

Palm® Pixi™ Plus

Palm has added Wi-fi to the Pixi Plus over the original Prixi that is currently available from Sprint. The Pixi Plus includes:

Touch screen with full QWERTY keyboard
Wi–Fi Ready (802.11 b/g)
2 Megapixel camera with flash
3G Mobile Hot Spot Capable
HTML Web Browser
Palm Synergy™ –See contacts, calendars, or conversations from multiple sources in one view
Memory: 8GB Flash/256 RAM
Assisted & Standalone GPS
Bluetooth® Wireless Technology –V 2.1
MP3 Player with Palm® Pocket Tunes™
Gesture area –enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation

Palm has yet to officially annouce the Pre Plus or Prixi Plus for Canada. Bell currently holds the exclusive rights to the Palm Pre and recently dropped it's price to $0 on a 3 year contract. The move could be seen as a way to clear inventory for a Palm Pre Plus launch.

Posted in: Verizon Wireless

Apple Announces Q1 2010 Results: 8.7 Million iPhones Sold

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:26:15 PST

Apple has just announced their Q1 2010 results which saw 8.7 million iPhones sold in the quarter. Apple is forecasting a strong year of new products with a major announcement later this week.

Steve Jobs stated "The new products we are planning to release this year are very strong, starting this week with a major new product that we’re really excited about."

We're really looking forward to Wednesday's Apple event to find out if the iPhone 4 is coming this June as is currently rumoured. A data plan tethered Tablet is also rumoured to be part of the event.

Highlights today's announcement included:

App Store has more than 3 billion downloads.
8.7 million iPhones sold. A 100% increase vs. Q1 2009
Added 17 new carriers throughout the world in the quarter.
86 countries for iPhone distribution
Japan, UK, Australia, France, Germany growth is strong.
70% of Fortune 200 companies deploying iPhones to employees

You can read the full Apple announcement here: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/01/25results.html

Posted in: Apple iPhone

New Virgin Mobile iPhone, Phones & Smartphones Coming Soon

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:33:04 PST

Virgin Mobile is planning on bringing a number of new HSPA compatible phones, smartphones and mobile internet sticks early this February. Devices include the Apple iPhone 3GS & 3G, BlackBerry Bold 9700, BlackBerry Curve 8530, Samsung M330, Broadband2Go MC998D and Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372. We've got a full rundown of each device below.

Apple iPhone 3GS & 3G

3GS is up to 2X faster than the iPhone 3G
3.0 megapixel camera with built-in autofocus, a tap-to-focus feature and video camera
Internet, phone, iPod and more

BlackBerry Bold 9700

Full QWERTY keyboard with optical trackpad navigation
3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera with image stabilization, flash and zoom
Compatibel with Virgin Mobile's new HSPA+ Network
BlackBerry Media Player
Expandable microSD memory up to 32 GB
Wi-fi, GPS, Bluetooth, BlackBerry Messenger, Internet Browser

BlackBerry Curve 8530

Intuitive QWERTY keyboard and innovative new trackpad
Expandable microSD memory to 16GB
2.0 megapixel camera
BlackBerry Media Player with external media keys
Wi-fi, Bluetooth, BlackBerry Messenger, Internet Browser

Samsung M330

0.3 megapixels camera with 4x Digital Zoom
Bluetooth
Speakerpone

Broadband2Go MC998D

Speed: Up to 21 Mbps
Global access
Compatible with the HSPA network

Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372

Speed: Up to 7.2 Mbps
Global access
Compatible with the HSPA network

Fido, a direct competitor of Virgin Mobile, is also releasing a number of Phones & Smartphones in February. You can see Fido's rumoured February Phone & Smartphone line-up here.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

New Fido Phones & Smartphones Coming Soon

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 12:15:43 PST

Fido is planning on bringing a number of new phones & smartphones early this February. Phones include the BlackBerry Curve 8520, Moto Renew PLUS, Sony Ericsson Naite, Samsung Gravity and the LG GW300 Etna 2. A full run down of each phone and rumoured launch date can be found below:

BlackBerry Curve 8520

Rumoured launch of February 9th the BlackBerry Curve 8520 features:

2.0 megapixel camera
Full QWERTY Keyboard with Trackpad navigation
BlackBerry Media Player with dedicated media keys
Wi-fi, Bluetooth
Expandable microSD memory up to 16GB

Sony Ericsson Naite

Rumoured launch of February 9th the Sony Ericsson Naite features:

2.0 megapixel camera with 2.5X digital zoom
More eco-friendly phone that saves on power and packaging
MP3 Player
Google Maps, YouTube, Games and more
Expandable microSD memory

Samsung Gravity

Rumoured launch of February 23rd the Samsung Gravity features:

1.3 megapixel camera with video capture
Slde-out QWERTY Keyboard
Expandable microSD memory up to 4GB
Bluetooth

LG GW300 Etna 2

Rumoured launch of Late February the LG GW300 Etna 2 features:

2.0 megapixel camera
320 x 240 pixels, 2.4 inches display
Full QWERTY keyboard
Expandable microSD memory up to 16GB
Facebook & Bluetooth

Moto Renew PLUS

Rumoured launch of February 9th and will replace the existing Moto Renew phone

We couldn't find any features & specifications of this yet to be announced phone.

Virgin Mobile, a direct competitor of Fido, is also releasing a number of Phones & Smartphones in February. You can see Virgin Mobile's iPhone, Phones & Smartphones here..

Posted in: Fido News

Rogers HTC Dream & Magic receive 911 Software Fix

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:57:43 PST

Over the last week both the HTC Dream & HTC Magic were pulled from Rogers stores due to a 911 software problem. The HTC Dream was pulled off store shelves on January 16th while the HTC Magic suffered the same fate on January 20th.

Fortunately we're happy to report that both android smartphones have been fixed and HTC has released patch information as follows:

HTC Dream

Owners of the HTC Dream will need to go to: http://www.rogers.com/dreamsoftwareupdate

Note: Users of Windows 7 or Macintosh will need to call 1-888-Rogers1 for update instructions. Customers will need to backup any personal items before the update process.

HTC Magic

Owners of the HTC Magic will need to go to: http://www.rogers.com/magicsoftwareupdate.

Note: Users of Windows 7 or Macintosh will need to call 1-888-Rogers1 for update instructions. Customers will need to backup any personal items before the update process.

Further Instructions from Rogers

"Customers who have not downloaded this software update could have problems accessing 911. As a result, we are taking the precautionary measure of temporarily disabling internet access for Dream and Magic users on Sunday January 24 at 6:00AM (EST). Voice and text messaging will not be impacted. By disabling internet access, we can ensure that 911 calls are completed for all our Dream and Magic customers. Once a customer completes the software update, his/her internet access will be re-enabled within 24 hours.

Temporarily disabling internet access is the only decision we could make to ensure all customers can make 911 calls. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience. Dream and Magic customers on data plans will automatically be credited for one month of data fees (excluding roaming). This credit will show up on invoices within 60 days. We take this matter very seriously and continue to investigate the way this issue was addressed to determine how we can improve our internal and external processes.”

Posted in: Google/Android News, Rogers News

Sony Ericsson Reports Huge 4th Quarter Loss of $236 million

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:33:33 PST

On Thursday Sony Ericsson reported a massive $236 million net loss for the fourth quarter of 2009. The company failed to respond to Touchsceen Smartphone demands.

Sony Ericsson press release stated: "The year-on-year decrease in both units and sales was mainly due to a downturn in the global handset market and a faster than anticipated shift to touch screen phones in the mid-priced sector of the market.

Sony Ericsson still managed to ship 14.6 million units for 4th Quarter 2009, a 3% increase over 3rd Quarter 2009. Unfortunately the 4th quarter numbers were down 40% over the previous year.

Sony Ericsson forecasts a slight growth in units in the global handset market in 2010.

In early January of this year Rogers announced that they will be bringing the Android based Sony Ericsson X10 in mid 2010.

You can view Sony Ericsson full press release here.

Posted in: Sony Ericsson News

Nokia Announces Free Voice Navigation for it's GPS Smartphones

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:14:35 PST

On Thursday Nokia announced that they would be brining free voice navigation to it's GPS Smartphones using Ovi Maps technology. Analysts are predicting that the move will force companies like TomTom, Garmin and Apple to react.

Nokia will be offering the Ovi Maps service on 10 of their smartphones for 74 countries and in 46 languages. Google offers a similar technology but it is currently only available in the U.S..

In November the Motorola Droid (a Google Android based smartphone) was released with free turn by turn GPS navigation software. Google's annoucement of the embedded technology saw TomTom's share price fall 20% and Garmin's dropped 16%.

Apple may be reading their own turn by turn GPS software for their January 27th press event. They currently have problems with conflicts of interests whereby they sell third party apps like TomTom via their app store. Releasing something at no cost to all of their iPhone users would not be good for TomTom or Garmin.

Nokia has not done very well in the US with their Symbian OS Smartphones losing out to BlackBerry, Apple iPhone & Android enabled Smartphones. They have more mobile phones in the world then any other manufacturer but are quickly losing the Smartphone wars.

Nokia's announcement led to an 11% drop in the price of TomTom shares in trading in Amsterdam, and to a 5.5% drop in the price of Garmin shares on Nasdaq.

The list of compatible Nokia smartphones is currently limited to E72, the E55, the E52, the N97 Mini, the X6, the 6730, the 6710 Navigator, the 5230 and the 5800.

Posted in: Nokia News

CompareCellular.com December 2009 Mailbag - Part 3

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:07:12 PST

At CompareCellular.com we receive a lot of questions and comments from people wanting to know more about the Canadian wireless products & services. We've assembled some of the best questions and answers for the final half of December 2009 below.

Hey, I was planning on getting the MTS student deal with is a pretty reasonable price. I have 2 queustions:
1. Does the Student Price Card lessen the set up charge if I sign up for a 3 year plan?
2. Why is the first month of service like a 90$ bill? What is being charged?
From Susan on December 30, 2009

Hi Susan,

Thank you for contacting CompareCellular.com. Please note that we are not MTS and are simply a web site listing Canadian cell phone information. I can however provide you with the following information:

1. Does the Student Price Card lessen the set up charge if I sign up for a 3 year plan?

You may be able to get them to waive the activation fee. I would push for it and walk away if they don't waive this fee. You probably won't get any sort of a break for the monthly fee regardless of contract length.

2. Why is the first month of service like a 90$ bill? What is being charged?

First Month costs are defined as:

(Monthly Fee * 2) + Activation Fee

MTS can provide further assistance through their web site at www.mts.ca.

I have a prepaid mobile Bell LG Rumor and I have mobile browser. I don't want it anymore for a monthly feature. Can you please take it off of my plan or tell me how to cancel it through the phone?
From Amy on December 31, 2009

Hi Amy,

Thank you for contacting CompareCellular.com. Please contact Bell for assistance with your account through one the following methods:

Help with your mobile phone

From your mobile phone: *611 (no charge) From any phone: 1 800 667-0123 From the U.S.: 1 800 667-ROAM (7626) Anywhere in the world: +1 514 420-7748 Hours of operation Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Help with data services (email, etc.)

From any phone in Canada and the U.S.: 1 877 328-2123 Anywhere in the world: +1 514-420-7748 Hours of operation
24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Help with amounts owing

From your mobile phone: *777 (no charge) From any phone in Canada and the U.S.: 1 800 361-2613 Hours of operation Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

when can we expect to have Wind in St catherines?
From Diaane on December 31, 2009

Hi Diaane,

Thank you for contacting CompareCellular.com. I'm sorry but I don’t know when they will bring service to St. Catherines. Please contact them for assistance.

www.windmobile.ca

Posted in: Monthly Mailbag

TELUS launches the BlackBerry Curve 8530

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:38:28 PST

As rumoured last week, TELUS has added the 3G+/HSPA BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone. The BlackBerry Curve 8530 has been available from Bell since December of last year. The BB Curve 8530 features:

Available in Silver & Red
BlackBerry Media Player with external easy access keys
QWERTY keyboard and innovative new trackpad
HTML browser using 3G or WiFi networks
256MB Internal Memory with microSD slot expandable to 32GB
Bluetooth, Wi-fi, GPS
High-resolution 320 x 240 pixel colour display

You can find full BlackBerry Curve 8530 features, specifications, downloads and reviews here.

Posted in: BlackBerry News, TELUS News

Google Nexus One Ninja Unboxing

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:18:26 PST

A very cool stop motion Google Nexus One unboxing video has surfaced created by Canadian Patrick Boivin. You can find the full video from YouTube.com embedded below:

Patrick Boivin describes himself as a French Canadian autodidact director. For most of what you can see on my channel, I did the script, the light, the camera, the directing, the editing, the animation and the special effects... For some of them, I also made the sound and the music.

I started by drawing comic books 15 years ago, and quickly discovered that it was faster to tell a story with video.

Posted in: Google/Android News

CompareCellular.com December 2009 Mailbag - Part 2

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:11:52 PST

At CompareCellular.com we receive a lot of questions and comments from people wanting to know more about the Canadian wireless products & services. We've assembled some of the best questions and answers for the second half of December 2009 below.

I just got my daughter a koodo phone and this morning the recharger simply broke off/apart. Now what?!
From Linda on December 25, 2009

Hi Linda,

Thank you for contacting CompareCellular.com. I would suggest you contact Koodo Mobile for assistance.

Email
You can email Koodo Mobile at customerservice@koodomobile.com please include the following:

your name
customer number or Koodo mobile phone number
a number to contact you
a detailed description of the issue you want help with

Phone
1-866-99-KOODO (1-866-995-6636). Customer Service Reps are available:

Monday – Friday: 10am - 9pm
Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Sunday: 12pm - 5pm

I would like to get a 3G phone,preferably an iPhone. I live in Hope,B.C. with lots of mountains, on the road lots and need the coverage,also want to get a plan so I can add phones for my kids. Currently with pay and talk, is there anyone who can get me a plan that is reasonable?
From Sheila on December 25, 2009

Hi Sheila,

Thank you for contacting CompareCellular.com. Please note that we are just a web site listing Canadian cell phone information.

I can provide you with the following advice:

iPhone
iPhone is priced the same for Bell, Rogers, TELUS & Fido. Use our Compare iPhone plans tool to find the provider that's right for you:

http://www.comparecellular.com/compare-iphone-plans/

Other 3G Phones
We don't have specific tool for viewing this at this time. What you want is a phone that is HSPA capable.

I purchased a Motorola W315 at the end of October from one of your outlet stores. I am a little bit upset to hear in December that there will be a law not allowing cell phone use when you are driving....As this phone was purchsed for workand a lot of the phone work is while driving, your customer representative did not inform us of the upcoming changings that would be occuring. We signed into a three year contract and now are not able to use a bluetooth to allow us to use the phone for work while on the road....which I need. Is there any options that you have available to either upgrade or change this phone to one that would work for our work.
From Sharon on December 28, 2009

Hi Sharon,

Thank you for contacting CompareCellular.com. I'm sorry to hear about your experience but we are just a web site listing Canadian cell phone information. We do not nor have never sold any cell phones and/or services.

From looking up information on the Motorola W315 it looks like it's available through SaskTel right now. If you purchased it through them then I recommend you contact them.

www.sasktel.ca

The new cell phone laws may allow for a wired handsfree device. This would be similar to a Bluetooth but wired to your phone.

Posted in: Monthly Mailbag

Virgin Mobile adding new HSPA Smartphones and Devices

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:44:34 PST

Virgin Mobile added a number of new HSPA Smartphones, Phones and Devices to their web site this morning before quickly taking them down. Fortunately Google was able to cache a number of pages before the content was removed. We can tell you that they will be adding the following devices:

Apple iPhone 3GS & 3G
Blackberry Bold 9700
BlackBerry Curve 8530
Samsung M330
Broadband2Go MC998D
Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372

We've got screenshots from Google Cache below:

VirginMobile.ca Apple iPhone 3GS

VirginMobile.ca BlackBerry Bold 9700

VirginMobile.ca BlackBerry Curve 8530

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

CompareCellular.com December 2009 Mailbag - Part 1

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:52:37 PST

At CompareCellular.com we receive a lot of questions and comments from people wanting to know more about the Canadian wireless products & services. We've assembled some of the best questions and answers for the first half of December 2009 below.

Please tell me the cost of an early termination fee with your service.
From Bill on December 8, 2009

Hi Bill,

Thank you for contacting CompareCellular.com. I'm sorry but we're just a web site listing Canadian cell phone information. All Canadian carriers have different early termination fees. Examples of which include:

Rogers
Greater of $100 or $20 per month remaining, to a maximum of $400.

Bell
Greater of $100 or $20 per month remaining, to a maximum of $400.

TELUS
Greater of $100 or $20 per month remaining in the term.

Fido
Greater of $100 or $10 per month remaining, to a maximum of $300.

Virgin Mobile
Greater of $100 or $20 per month remaining, to a maximum of $400.

Solo Mobile
Greater of $100 or $20 per month remaining, to a maximum of $300.

We recommend that you contact your cellular provider for full details.

Can I keep my current phone number if I switch to 7-Eleven Speakout Wireless from Bell Mobility?
From Patricia on December 18, 2009

Hi Patricia,

Yes, you can switch to 7-Eleven's service and keep your Bell number. Please contact their Customer Service line for assistance at 1-866-310-1023.

My 3 children have solo phones We are in Florida for 2 weeks Should they turn their phones off to avoid roaming charges Can they text for the same rate as at home in toronto Canada
From Steve on December 22, 2009

Hi Steve,

Thank you for contacting CompareCellular.com. We're just a web site listing Canadian cell phone information but I can provide you with the following information:

Roaming

You will incur roaming charges if you:

Make or Receive Phone Calls
Use any Internet features on the Phones

You will not incur roaming charges by just having your phone on.

Text Messaging

Messages sent while roaming in the United States are billed at 60¢/message and messages received are billed at 15¢/message; these charges apply to both monthly plan clients and prepaid clients.

Contacting Solo Mobile

If you have any further questions you can reach Solo Mobile through one of the following methods:

Web Site
http://www.solomobile.ca/Contact_Us/

Telephone
From your mobile phone dial #SOLO (free of charge) From any phone: 1.877.999.SOLO (7656) From the United States: 1.877.999.SOLO (7656)

Monday to Friday - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays - closed

That's it for our first Monthly Mailbag for December 2009. We'll have 2 more posts to wrap up the month before heading into 2010.

Posted in: Monthly Mailbag

TELUS Launches LG Madison GB-255G

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:00:55 PST

TELUS has launched their first mobile device of 2010, the LG Madison GB-255G.

The new compact LG GB-255G phone offers simplicity with an easy-to-dial keypad, a 1.3MP camera and Bluetooth technology for hands-free accessories.

Key features of the Madison include:

Large keyboard
SMS, MMS and IM capable
MP3 player with expandable microSD slot
Bludtooth technology from wireless accessories

The Madison GB-255G is available on the following price plans:

3-year contract: $49.99
2-year contract : $149.99
1-year contract: $199.99
No contract: $249.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

Google Nexus One Post Launch Problems

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:36:06 PST

Just over a week after the Google Nexus One a few post launch problems are beginning to emerge. Things that have popped include:

Customer Support

People attempting to contact Google for customer support have been met with canned replies and no real answers leaving many frustrate. It's believed that Google underestimated the need for supporting a retail product vs. a web product. T-Mobile have been doing their best to support the Android OS as they do have other Android based phones in their line-up.

3G Problems

Earlier today (January 14th) Google finally acknowledged 3G problems with certain versions of the Nexus One. A Google Spokesperson stated:

"Hey Folks, this is your friendly neighborhood Google Guide here to clear some up some confusion around all these 3G shenanigans!" Ravi's post began. "We (by 'we' I mean Google, although HTC and T-Mobile are both getting reports as well) are getting reports from some users who are having problems maintaining a 3G data connection on their device. We're actively working with our partners to investigate these issues and identify what's going on. Most people don't seem to be running into this issue, but for those of you who are, we understand your concern and appreciate your patience."

Both Google & HTC are working with customers to pinpoin the problem and work towards a solution.

Early Cancellation Fee Woes

The Google Nexus One is currently available for $530 without a contract and $180 on a 2 year T-Mobile contract. Unfortunately users are discovering that the T-Mobile contract price comes with a lot of mice print.

In order to qualify for the $180 price you must be a new T-Mobile customer to qualify for the pricing.

If you choose to cancel your contract with T-Mobile you would owe both T-Mobile and Google. T-Mobile could charge up to $200 while Google's "Equipment Recovery Fee" is $350. In total you could be looking at more to cancel your contract then the straight up purchase price of the phone.

Posted in: Google/Android News

iPhone 4 Rumours Begin to Build

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:04:13 PST

Rumours regarding Apple's next iteration of their widely successful iPhone are slowly building. With an Apple Event set for January 26th there is a real possibility that the iPhone 4 could be announced. Right analysts are expecting a Apple Table to be announced with the iPhone 4 being a real possibility. We've got a breakdown of possible iPhone 4 features below:

June Release

A June release would follow the Apple's iPhone release trend of:

Original: June 29, 2007
3G: July 11, 2008
3GS: June 19, 2009

Touch-Sensitive Case

Apple's Magic Mouse features a large number of touch-sensitive features. It's thought that a touch-sensitive iPhone casing may be in the works. This could conceivably allow people to control iPhone functions via the back side of the phone. Perhaps allowing users to scroll through emails and contacts.

5 Megapixel Camera

The next iPhone should come with a higher quality camera then the existing 3 megapixel version on the 3GS. The twist may be the addition of a forward facing camera for video conferencing.

Software Innovations

It would be expected that the next version of the iPhone OS will contain a number of software innovations. Could we see the ability to run multiple apps at the same time?

We'll continue to track the rumours and have more information leading up to January 26th Apple Event.

Posted in: Apple iPhone

Shaw taking "initial steps" to enter the Canadian Wireless Market

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:50:00 PST

At Shaw's annual general meeting in Calgary they stated that they will be taking "initial steps" to enter the Canadian wireless market in 2010. This move could prove very interesting for much of Western Canada where Shaw has a large TV & Internet stake. The addition of cell phones to be bundled with their existing TV & Internet services could prove very attractive for many of their customers.

The market has keenly awaited word on Shaw’s wireless plans ever since it spent $189.5 million on Canada’s wireless spectrum auction in 2008. Three months ago, Shaw said its "total plan" was not yet ready, but it was interested in cautious expansion. Shaw has stated they have plans to build out their wireless network over the next few years.

Posted in: Industry News

Haiti Earthquake Relief Funds see Large Number of Donations by Text

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:41:14 PST

This weeks devastating Haiti earthquake has seen a large number of donations being sent to organizations like the Red Cross via Text Message. You can help donate in the following ways:

Red Cross

The Red Cross received $1.4 million on Wednesday via their very successful and viral text messaging campaign. About 140,000 people donated $10 via text message by sending "Haiti" to the number 90999. They are then billed through their phone company.

Rogers & Fido

For Rogers and Fido customers, you can send the text message "HELP" to the shortcode 1291 and will see $5 donated to Partners in Health: Haiti and other Haitian relief organizations.

Bell

Bell customers can send $5 per text to the Salvation Army’s fundraising campaign for the earthquake-devastated country by texting the word "HAITI" to 45678 on any Bell cell phone.

Posted in: Bell News, Fido News, Industry News, Rogers News

BlackBerry Curve 8530 Coming to TELUS on Friday January 15th

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:16:14 PST

TELUS will be adding the BlackBerry Curve 8530 to their 3G+ Smartphone line-up on Friday January 15th. No pricing has been announced but we expect them to match existing Bell pricing.

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 is currently available from Bell at the following price points:

$49.95 on a 3 year contract
$249.95 on a 2 year contract
$349.95 on a 1 year contract
$399.95 on no contract

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 features:

2.0 megapixel camera with Digital Zoom & Video recording
Wi-fi, GPS Navigation & Bluetooth
QWERTY Keyboard with Trackpad for easy navigation
3G+ TELUS Network Support
Media Player with Dedicated media keys
3.2" (320x480) clear high resolution display
256 internal flash memory with expandable memory up to 32 GB via microSD

You can find full Bell BlackBerry Curve 8530 features, specifications, reviews and downloads by clicking here.

Posted in: BlackBerry News, TELUS News

BlackBerry Curve 8520 Coming Soon to Fido

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:33:46 PST

A tipster on Howard Forums has posted some information regarding the release of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 on the Fido network early this year. Fido currently only sells the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 so the addition of the Curve 8520 will definitely help bolster Fido's smartphone line-up. No exact release date is known but the SKU is supposidely already in the Fido system.

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 is currently available from Rogers at $49.99 on a 3 year contract and $399 outright purchase. The BB Curve 8520 features:

2 megapixel camera with 5X digital zoom and video recording capabilities
QWERTY Keyboard with Trackpad navigation and dedicated media keys
Wi-fi & Bluetooth
Multimedia & Music Player
Expandable microSD Memory up to 16GB

You can find the full BlackBerry Curve 8520 features & specifications by clicking here.

Posted in: BlackBerry News, Fido News

MOTO Development Group puts Touchscreen Acurracy to the Test

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:42:43 PST

MOTO Development Group posted a very interesting story on their labs.moto.com blog today revealing the results of their touchscreen accuracy test. They took the Apple iPhone, HTC Droid Eris, Motorola Droid and Google Nexus One then performed a simple line drawing test using their finger. The results showed the Apple iPhone to have the more accurate touchscreen. We've embedded a video of theirs explaining the tests below as well as a screenshot of the results for each phone from their web site.

DIY Touchscreen Analysis from MOTO Development Group on Vimeo.

You can read the full MOTO Development Group report here: http://labs.moto.com/diy-touchscreen-analysis/.

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Google/Android News

Bell Unveils 2010 Olympic Fan Zone Dubbed the 'Ice Cube'

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 13:48:26 PST

Today Bell announced plans for Bell Ice Cube, a public gathering place in the heart of Vancouver, where visitors can watch Olympic events on TV, listen to live music and meet some of the athletes.

The Bell Ice Cube will be a 3,000 square-foot temporary building located at Robson & Beatty street in downtown Vancouver and will open to the public on February 11th. It will be open February 11th to 28th from 11am to 11pm and will feature entertainment, Olympic ticket giveaways and interactive product demonstrations.

You can find a full set of artist renderings of this structure below.

Artist's conceptual image of Bell Ice Cube - Front view

Artist's conceptual image of Bell Ice Cube - HD TV Gallery

Artist's conceptual image of Bell Ice Cube - Foyer

Posted in: Bell News

Nokia N900 Coming to WIND Mobile in Early 2010

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 10:53:50 PST

Graham, head of call centre operations at WIND Mobile, has made a post on WINDMobile.ca stating that the Nokia N900 will be coming to WIND Mobile in early 2010. WIND Mobile has been getting a lot of questions through their web sites community section about what phones are coming soon. With rumours of the Apple iPhone or Google Nexus One they have provided the following information:

When will you offer more phones, such as the Nokia N900 or Apple iPhone?

We obviously want to provide you with the phones that you want. The only challenge right now is having manufacturers build their phones so that they work on our GSM Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) network. As we expand, and as more and more operators evolve, too, more handsets will become available and we’ll carry them. Specifically for the N900 – which does work on our network – we hope to have the phone in early 2010.

Nokia N900 Features & Specifications

3.5 inch touch-sensitive widescreen display with 800 × 480 pixel resolution
Maemo 5 software on Linux
Full QWERTY tactile & onscreen keyboard
32 GB internal storage with up to 16 GB of additional storage with an external microSD card
5 megapixel camera with 3x digital zoom, autofocus with assist light and two-stage capture key, Dual LED flash
Video recording at up to 848 × 480 pixels (WVGA) and up to 25fps
GPS, Bluetooth, Music Playback and much more

Visit the official Nokia N900 web site here: maemo.nokia.com/n900/.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

Samsung Omnia II getting mix reviews from Vancouver 2010 Staff

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 10:38:28 PST

In November of 2009 it was announced that the Samsung Omnia II would be the official handset of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. With the device now in VANOC staff hands they are having problems with the Windows Mobile Device. CTV has reported that they are "frustrated with the touch-screen devices, saying key functions like sending and reading e-mail are nearly impossible".

VANOC has downplayed the news saying that staffers just need some time to get used to the device. There have also been rumours that VANOC is allowing their staff members to continue using their preferred BlackBerry devices discreetly.

VANOC relies on heavy amount of sponsorhip from companies like Samsung, HBC, Sleep Country Canada, GM and more for equipment and money to cover expenses.

CTV has a lenghtly article regarding the use of the device that can be read here. You can also check out Samsung's official Olympic web site here: www.samunsg.com/vancouver2010.

Posted in: Bell News

RIM announces BlackBerry Presenter at CES 2010

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 12:55:25 PST

Today RIM announced BlackBerry Presenter at CES 2010. RIM describes the BlackBerry Presenter as:

Leave your laptop behind and use BlackBerry® Presenter to deliver Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations - directly from your BlackBerry smartphone. Simply plug BlackBerry Presenter into a projector or monitor and select "Present" from the wizard on your BlackBerry smartphone.

The BlackBerry Presenter features:

Small & convenient: 3.4 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches (86 x 60 x 23 mm)
Loop Mode: Set the time between slides and leave BlackBerry Presenter running as you deliver your presentation.
Support for PowerPoint effects: Accurately show most of the slide animations and transitions from Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2003 and 2007.
Freeze mode: Freeze a slide on-screen while you browse through the rest of your presentation on your smartphone.
Bluetooth® connection: Roam up to 10m from your Presenter for a truly dynamic presentation.
Single button operation: Use the button on top of your Presenter to put it to sleep, wake it up, or show a new presentation.
Compatible with multiple video formats: Travel overseas or at home and present in NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) and PAL (Phase Alternating Line) formats.

BlackBerry Presenter is currently compatible with the following BlackBerry smartphones:

BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000
BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700
BlackBerry® Curve™ 8500 Series
BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900
BlackBerry® Storm™
BlackBerry® Tour™

Posted in: BlackBerry News

Google Nexus One Post Launch News & Notes

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 12:20:09 PST

With yesterday's official Google Nexus One announcement, a lot of information has been hitting the Internet. We've compiled a couple of interesting news and notes below:

Can I use the Google Nexus One in Canada?

Yes & No and here is why:

Google isn't currently selling the phone to Canadians.
The Smartphone uses a 3G specification (UMTS Band 1/4/8) that is only supported by WIND Mobile

So, you could try to purchase the phone via someone in the US and then swap in your SIM card. Unfortunately you wouldn't be able to take advantage of 3G speeds thus rendering most of the smartphone's features useless.

Google has stated that they are working on bringing it to Canada under a separate 3G specification for support by Rogers, Bell & TELUS but there is no estimated launch date at this time.

Official Google Nexus One Video: "Web meets phone"

Priceless Google.com Advertising

If you are in the US and visit www.google.com you will see a small "Nexus One" advertisement below the search. This simple ad offers an amazing amount of reach as Google.com is one of the most visited web sites in the world. You can see a screenshot of what it looks like below.

We'll continue to track and provide you with the latest Google Nexus One news and information.

Posted in: Google/Android News

Rogers Launching Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 in Mid 2010

Tue, 5 Jan 2010 17:45:48 PST

Rogers has announced that they will be the first North American provider to launch the Android based Sony Ericsson Xperia X10. They will hold exclusive Canadian rights to the smartphone for an undetermined amount of time.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 will use the Android 1.6 OS and will feature:

Touchscreen Display

4.0 inches
480×854 pixels
TFT capacitive touchscreen
65K colors
scratch-resistant surface
Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
Timescape/Mediascape UI

Camera & Video

8 megapixel (3264x2448 pixels) with autofocus, LED flash
Camera will also feature: Touch focus, image stabilization, geo-tagging, face and smile detection
WVGA Video @ 30 fps

Features

GPS
Wi-fi
Bluetooth 2.1

Storage

1 GB storage
256 MB RAM
microSD up to 16GB, 8GB card included

Specifications

Dimensions 119 x 63 x 13 mm
Weight 135 g

You can sign up online via Rogers.com to receive updates regarding the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.

Posted in: Rogers News

Google Officially Launches the Nexus One

Tue, 5 Jan 2010 11:14:50 PST

Google officially launched their Nexus One Android Smartphone today at CES 2010. The Nexus One was a joint project with HTC that will most likely be the best reviewed Android Smartphone to date.

Unfortunately the new smartphone will only be available in the US to start with no announcement of a Canadian launch mentioned. It will be available fully unlocked for $529 or $179 on a 2 year contract with Verizon. You can find full details at www.google.com/phone/.

We've got a full list of features & specifications of this very slick Android smartphone below.

3.7-inch (diagonal) widescreen WVGA AMOLED touchscreen with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels
Android Mobile Technology Platform 2.1 (Eclair)
5 megapixels with autofocus, 2x digital zoom & LED flash with ability to tag location of photos with the phone's AGPS receiver
Video captured at 720x480 pixels at 20 frames per second or higher, depending on lighting conditions
GPS, Wi-fi, Bluetooh 2.1, Digital Compass

We'll have more on the Nexus One as hands on impressions and reviews start to roll out.

Posted in: Google/Android News

B.C. & Saskatchewan Ban Hand-held Device Use While Driving

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 06:30:19 PST

It's now illegal to talk and text while driving in British Columbia and Saskatchewan, putting them in line with most other provinces.

But while Saskatchewan has been handing out tickets already, B.C. officers are holding off for a month.

Drivers in provinces following the ban can now only use hands-free cellphones and devices.

In B.C., fines will be handed out starting on Feb. 1. Anyone caught driving and talking on a hand-held phone or electronic device can expect a $167 fine. Drivers caught texting or emailing can also be subject to three points against their driving licence.

People classified as drivers in the "learner" or "novice" stage of the province's graduated licensing program (GLP) are barred from using any type of cellphone while behind the wheel.

According to independent research and studies, cellphone use while driving is the No. 1 cause of distracted driving, the B.C. Solicitor General's Ministry said when it introduced the legislation last fall.

On average, 117 people die each year in B.C. and 1,400 are sent to hospital because someone was not paying attention behind the wheel, the release said.

In Saskatchewan, all drivers using hand-held cellphones to talk, text, email or surf the internet face a $280 fine and receive four demerit points on their licence.

With the new laws coming into effect on New Year's Day, B.C. and Saskatchewan bring their legislation in line with Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Alberta and the Yukon are considering similar distracted-driving legislation.

Posted in: Industry News

Motorola ROKR E1 Named One of the Worst Gadgets of the Decade

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:41:42 PST

Gizmodo recently named their 50 worst gadgets of the decade that included the Motorola ROKR E1 and the Samsung Omnia II. We've got a breakdown of each phone and comments from us below.

Motorola ROKR E1

The Motorola ROKR E1 was introduced in 2005 at the same time of the first Apple Nano. Unfortunately it failed to live up to expectations with numerous problems that included:

100 song limit
torturously slow download times
Inability to play both music and remain a functional phone

The Motorola ROKR E1, available in Canada through Rogers & Fido in October of 2005, featured:

iTunes® interface
Bluetooth® Technology
3D Surround Sound
0.3 megapixel camera
Only non-Apple-branded portable device to support the FairPlay DRM

What's humourus from our standpoint is that we received 11 very positive reviews for the phone through CompareCellular.com. You can read them here.

For the full Motorola ROKR E1 features, specifications and reviews please click here.

Samsung Omnia II

We were quite suprised to see that the recently released Samsung Omnia II (available in Canada through Bell) made Gizmodo's list. Gizmodo stated that the actual hardware was great but the Windows Mobile 6.5 OS made the phone unusable. The biggest complaint was the horrible lag when attempting to do anything with the phone.The Samsung Omnia II features:

Wi-Fi
Global access
5.0 megapixel camera

You can find the full Samsung Omnia II features & specifications by clicking here.

You can read the full gizmodo.com article here.

Posted in: Industry News

Bell launches Visual Voicemail for BlackBerry smartphones

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:02:58 PST

Bell has launched Visual Voicemail for BlackBerry smartphones becoming the first provider in Canada to offer the service. The service allows Bell Mobility clients to visually manage voicemail on their BlackBerry, without calling into their voicemail boxes.

By providing the flexibility to choose the order in which messages are reviewed, Visual Voicemail offers clients an easy and convenient way to manage voicemail according to their individual priorities. Clients can use Visual Voicemail to review, delete and forward messages as well as save important messages directly to the device's internal memory or MicroSD/SDHC memory card. The service also enables clients to respond to voicemail either by text message or a voice call.

Visual Voicemail works on both HSPA and EVDO networks in Canada and worldwide and is now available on the BlackBerry(R) Bold(TM) 9700, BlackBerry(R) Tour(TM) 9630, BlackBerry(R) Curve(TM) 8330, BlackBerry(R) Pearl(TM) 8130 and BlackBerry(R) 8830 World Edition(TM) smartphones and is expected to be available on additional BlackBerry smartphone models in the future.

Visual Voicemail for BlackBerry smartphones is available for $8 per month. Please visit bell.ca/visualvoicemail for more information.

Posted in: Bell News, BlackBerry News

Smartphones, Cell Phones & Mobile Internet Sticks of 2009

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:41:06 PST

With 2009 coming to a close we've compiled some lists of Cell Phones, Smartphones and mobile internet sticks that have been released this year. Choose a category from below to see the full details.

Browse by Phone Type

Smartphones

Cell Phones

Mobile Internet Sticks

Browse by Network

Bell	Rogers	TELUS	Virgin Mobile	Fido
Solo Mobile	Koodo Mobile	WIND Mobile

Posted in: Bell News, Fido News, Industry News, Koodo Mobile News, Rogers News, Solo Mobile News, TELUS News, Virgin Mobile News, WIND Mobile

Rogers & Fido Extend iPhone Tethering to May 3, 2010

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:33:20 PST

Rogers & Fido have recently announced that customers will continue to be able to use iPhone Tethering, at no additional cost on data plans of 1GB or more, until at May 3, 2010. They had previously stated that the free service would be discontinued on December 31, 2009.

Apple iPhone tethering is the use of your phone as a wireless modem to connect to the Internet from your computer.

You can find out more about iPhone tethering on the Apple Web Site.

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Fido News, Rogers News

Virgin Mobile Canada Predicts a Record Holiday Season for Text Messaging

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:42:48 PST

TORONTO, Dec. 22 - Warning! The sound of Santa's sleigh bells will be drowned out by the tapping of mobile phone keypads this Christmas with a record 200 million text messages expected to be sent on Christmas Day and an even bigger number for New Year's Eve, according to Virgin Mobile Canada.

One of the main reasons for the growth in texting this year, according to Virgin Mobile, is the growing popularity of mobile phones designed for text-lovers with full QWERTY keyboards, which make typing a text message easier than eating a turkey!

"Text message traffic will peak on New Year's Eve," added Baines. "We're expecting our biggest day for text message traffic on Dec 31st with more than 225 million text messages being sent across Canada."

To read the full press release, please click here.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

Local Number Portability Now Availabe at WIND

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:28:23 PST

WIND has announced it's now possible to bring your current phone number with you when you get a WIND phone and plan (Telus customers will have to hold off "another couple of days" - they are still working on that one).

WIND Mobile states "It is a simple process to bring your current mobile phone number to WIND. Just remember that you can only transfer an active number, so don’t cancel your existing service."

For those not wanting the port their number, WIND states "To everyone who's commented about SIM card sales, thank you very much for your feedback. We're listening. The WIND team is working diligently towards a solution where you will be able to have service with us without having to purchase a handset. The goal is to have this in place by the end of next week."

For more information, please visit WIND Mobile.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

Solo Mobile Releases the Samsung m330

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:57:13 PST

Solo Mobile released the Samsung m330 to their mobile phone line-up, today.

Style and substance come together in the Samsung m330 slider. Its threaded text messaging system lets you see the whole conversation at a glance. Take, save and send photos in an instant with the m330’s built-in camera, and see the results on a vivid 2” 65K color screen. There’s web support and Bluetooth, too.

Key features of the Samsung m330 include:

Fashionable slider
Built-in camera with 4x digital zoom
Up to 500 phone book entries
Speakerphone

The Samsung m330 is available at Solo Mobile for as little as $25 with a two-year contract.

For features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Solo Mobile News

Public Mobile Answers Questions

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:52:26 PST

Public Mobile, due to launch in early 2010, has posted frequently asked questions and answers on their blog, today.

They said, "We have been getting a whole lot of questions from you and we want to try to address as many as we can. Below is a list of FAQs that we have gathered over the last little while, along with our answers. We love hearing from all of you and really appreciate your interest in unlimited talk with Public Mobile."

Public Mobile addresses issues such as long distance, roaming capabilities, contracts, spectrum and many more concerns in this blog.

To read Public Mobile's answers to frequently asked questions, please click here.

Posted in: Public Mobile

DAVE Wireless Raises Additional $75 Million From Canadian Investors

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:57:39 PST

Toronto - December 17, 2009 - Data & Audio Visual Enterprises Wireless Inc. (DAVE Wireless) announced today that it has raised $75 million in additional capital from a group of Canadian institutional investors.

The private placement, led by GMP Securities L.P. and National Bank Financial Inc., represents an additional infusion of capital for the new company as it prepares to launch in early 2010 and bring competition and choice to Canada's wireless market

This announcement comes only two months after DAVE Wireless finalized $125 million in long-term financing through ING Bank N.V.

"We are on track to bring competition to Canadian wireless consumers in early 2010 with our state-of-the-art Ericsson 3G network," said Dave Dobbin, president of DAVE Wireless. "Raising an additional $75 million for continue growth will significantly enhance our position in the market."

Posted in: Mobilicity (DAVE Wireless)

Virgin Mobile Launches the LG Bliss™ 700

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:26:30 PST

Virgin added the LG Bliss™ 700 to their handset line-up today.

The 3-inch full-colour touch screen lets you control all your multimedia features with the tap of a finger. Surf the mobile web, connect wirelessly with Stereo Bluetooth® 2.1, snap pics and shoot vids with the 2.0 megapixel camera, listen to your fave full-length tracks, and stream video and radio straight to your phone no matter where you are.

Features of the LG Bliss™ include:

3" Touch Screen
Streaming Audio Video
External memory up to 8 GB
One Touch Speakerphone

The LG Bliss™ is available in stores and online for the following price points:

2-year contract on myPlan: $29.99
Prepaid: $149.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

Telus Releases the Samsung Advance

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:01:48 PST

Today TELUS introduced the Samsung A885, also known as the Samsung Advance, to their handset line-up.

The Samsung Advance offers a large, responsive 3.0" display, TouchWiz 1.0 touch-optimized User Interface and enhanced mobile browsing capabilities, including high speed access to Web, email and social networking sites - making it the ideal device for students and young professionals who stay connected through text, email and online social networks.

Features of the Samsung Advance include:

2.0 Megapixel camera & video recorder
TELUS Mobile Music
Built in GPS
Stereo Bluetooth
Expandable memory up to 16GB
Customizable home screen with downloadable drag and drop widgets

The Samsung Advance is available at TELUS for as little as $49.99 with a three-year plan.

For features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

WIND Mobile Launches Phones

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:00:43 PST

Today, WIND Mobile introduced the BlackBerry® Bold 9700 and the HTC Maple™ to their smartphone lineup and added the Samsung Gravity™ 2 and Huawei U7519 to their mobile phone lineup. WIND also launched the Huawei E181 data stick.

BlackBerry® Bold 9700
The smartphone that's nobody's fool. The BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 packs touchpad navigation along with a hi-res eye for both still and video recording.

HTC Maple™

Maple™ floats an intuitively responsive QWERTY keypad over a lean, elegant body. And the screen reads with laser-sharp clarity.

Samsung Gravity™ 2

The Samsung Gravity™ 2 is for everyone who needs to stay socially connected at an affordable price.

Huawei U7519

The Huawei U7519 helps you keep in touch with a cool touch screen.

Huawei E181

Mobile Internet USB key that gives you high-speed Internet access wherever you go.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

Compare WIND Mobile Plans

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:04:43 PST

With the launch of WIND Mobile earlier today we’ve provided some quick links below to compare each of their plans to other carrier offerings in your area.

Voice Plans

For Toronto & Area:

For Calgary & Area:

BlackBerry & Data Plans

For Toronto & Area:

For Calgary & Area:

Posted in: WIND Mobile

WIND Mobile Officially Launches

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:11:00 PST

TORONTO – December 16, 2009 – WIND Mobile, a subsidiary of Globalive Holdings, marked an historic day for wireless in Canada today by becoming the newest national wireless provider in Canada in over a decade.

The WIND Mobile experience will include the following features:

No activation fees
No contracts on any services
No system access fees
No fees for Enhanced 911 services
Never a charge for an incoming text
No charge for incoming long distance calls
No penalties for changing or cancelling a plan
Unlimited WIND to WIND calling across the country
Unlimited province-wide calling from a WIND Home Zone
All plans include caller ID, missed call alerts, call waiting, call hold, call forwarding, unlimited conference calling – all at no extra charge. Services available include three simple unlimited voice and text plans and four unlimited data plans.

Ken Campbell, the CEO of WIND Mobile said, “Our offering is simple. We want to make it as easy as possible to be a WIND customer. We want to give more control over the mobile experience than ever before and get it all at an affordable price.”

WIND Mobile said, “We’ve been listening and we’ve been inspired by the power of conversation of all things wireless in Canada. But the conversation isn’t over. We will always be listening to how we can make things better.”

To read WIND Mobile's full press release, please click here.

To view WIND Mobile's rate plans, please click here.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

MiKe Launches Motorola i410

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:08:26 PST

The Motorola i410 lets you use all the great features of the Mike network at a great handset price. A compact handset, with Bluetooth® and speakerphone built-in gives you Mike’s Direct Connect for instant communication when you need it.

Key features of the Motorola i410 include:

Compact flip design
Built-in speakerphone for hands-free phone and two-way radio use
Bluetooth® ready for headset support
External display for quick access to calling features

The Motorola i410 is available in stores and online for the following price points:

3 year contract: $29.99
2 year contract: $129.99
1 year contract: $179.99
No contract: $229.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: MiKe News

MTS Launches Sanyo PRO-700

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:04:11 PST

MTS has launched the rugged Sanyo PRO-700. It meets Military 810F specifications for dust, shock and vibration.

Key features of the Sanyo PRO-700 include:

Mobile Web
Rugged design
Hearing Aid Compatible (M4/T4)
Bluetooth® technology

The Sanyo PRO-700 is available in stores and online for the following price points:

3 year contract: $99.99
2 year contract: $169.99
No contract: $409.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: MTS News

WIND Mobile Invites All To Attend Their Launch Event

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:49:42 PST

"READY, SET, GO! You're invited to a WIND exclusive event!"

WIND Mobile is opening the doors at their Toronto Queen's Quay store for members of the WIND community and media.

"We invite you to be among the first customers to join the WIND network and to thank you personally for helping us shape the WIND Mobile story. What an incredible journey it’s been so far...and we’re just getting started."

What: WIND Mobile’s “Monumental” Event
Where: 207 Queens Quay W, Toronto, Ontario
When: December 16, 2000 - The festivities begin at 10.00 am

Tomorrow, WIND Mobile will make their big announcement about their launch.

To read more, please click here.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

WIND Mobile To Launch BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:54:42 PST

WIND Mobile announced today that it will offer the new BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 smartphone from RIM with a new approach to BlackBerry® service plans that will deliver choice, control and value to Canadians.

“For our pending launch, we are delighted to confirm that the BlackBerry® Bold 9700 will be available to WIND Mobile customers,” said Ken Campbell, CEO of WIND Mobile. “This is a state-of-art 3G smartphone from one of the world’s leaders in wireless innovation."

Simplicity: No contract is required when a WIND Mobile customer purchases a BlackBerry® smartphone or signs up for BlackBerry® service.

Control: WIND Mobile will be the first wireless carrier in Canada to offer BlackBerry® service on a pre-paid or post-pay basis – enabling customers to manage their spending and extending service to customers who may not have a credit history.

Value: With no required minimum voice spend and compelling entry level and full service optional add-ons packed with unlimited features, WIND Mobile is making BlackBerry® service more accessible than ever.

“RIM congratulates WIND Mobile on the upcoming launch of their wireless network in Canada and is very pleased to offer the new BlackBerry® Bold 9700 to WIND customers," said Don Morrison, Chief Operating Officer at Research In Motion. "The compact and beautifully designed BlackBerry® Bold 9700 delivers state-of-the-art features and performance and is ideal for both personal and professional use."

To read the full WIND Mobile press release, please click here.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

Bell To Launch BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530 Smartphone

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:49:11 PST

Bell is set to launch the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530 on December 26, 2009!

The BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530 features WiFi, trackpad navigation, dedicated media keys and runs on Bell’s EVDO network. It is available in royal purple, which is exclusive to Bell and in black.

Key features of the Curve™ 8530 include:

WiFi
GPS navigation and BlackBerry® Maps
2 MP camera with 5X digital zoom and video recorder
Slim, simplified design - full QWERTY keyboard

The BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530 is available in stores and online for the following price points:

3 year contract: $199.95
2 year contract: $249.95
1 year contract: $349.95
No contract: $399.95

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Bell News

WIND Mobile Price Plans Leak Out

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:48:29 PST

WIND Mobile, the newest carrier in the country, has yet to publicly announce plan pricing but HowardForums user, Windsider, has published what is claimed to be the official plans and their respective pricing.

Voice Plans:

Chat:
$15 per month
Unlimited WIND to WIND calling (Canada wide)
Unlimited incoming text
100 province-wide voice minutes
50 text messages

Always Talk:
$35 per month
Unlimited WIND to WIND calling (Canada wide)
Unlimited province-wide calling
Unlimited incoming text
50 outgoing text messages

Always Shout:
$45 per month
Unlimited Canada-wide calling
Unlimited incoming /outgoing text messages
Voicemail

Data Plans:

Infinite Mobile:
$35 per month (used with any voice plan)
Unlimited internet for phones (tethering too)

Infinite Laptop:
$45 per month
Unlimited internet for USB data sticks

BlackBerry data plans:

Social BlackBerry:
$10 per month
Unlimited instant messaging, Facebook and MySpace.

Infinite BlackBerry:
$35 per month (used with any voice plan)
Unlimited internet for BlackBerry

Addons:
Voice: 10c Per Minute with the $15 plan
SMS: 10c each
MMS: 20c each

Voicemail:
$5

Long Distance:
$20 for unlimited North America
I don't have a lot of other details on long distance, there is going to be a number of different plans.

These plans have not yet been confirmed by WIND Mobile.

To read this story story at Howard Forums, please click here.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

Bell Releases TV Pay-per-Vu! For Mobile

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:01:09 PST

Pay-per-Vu! movies and events can now be ordered from the Palm Pre for later viewing at home on Bell TV. Bell Mobility is providing a new application on the Palm App Catalogue, which will allow any client with a Palm Pre to browse all Bell TV's current Pay-per-Vu! movie and event offerings.

In order to purchase from the app you’ll have a Bell username and password (OneBill) and get a Bell TV account. The app will be in the Catalog under “Bell TV” or “Vu!”.

For more information about TV Pay-per-Vu! for mobile, please visit Bell TV Online.

Posted in: Bell News

WIND Mobile Has The Green Light To Officially Launch

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:55:38 PST

After a long journey, Globalive has been given the green light by Industry Minister Tony Clement to launch their WIND Mobile brand.

Minister Clement states, “Globalive is a Canadian company, and meets Canadian ownership and control requirements under the Telecommunications Act. We take this decision very seriously. It is based on the application of these requirements to the facts in this case.”

Clement continued saying, “Our goal has always been greater competition in the telecommunications industry, which leads to lower prices, better service and more choice for consumers and business.”

To read the press release from Industry Canada, click here.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

Bell Launches Nokia N97

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:05:41 PST

You'll be one of a kind with the Nokia N97, featuring a large touch screen tilt display, an FM transmitter, 32 GB of memory and 5 megapixel camera.

Key features of the Nokia N97 include:

Customizable home screen with preloaded widgets
QWERTY keyboard and tilt touch screen
Downloadable games, wallpapers, and ringtones
Web browser

The Nokia N97 is available in stores and online for the following price points:

3 year contract: $199.95
2 year contract: $449.95
1 year contract: $549.95
No contract: $599.95

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Bell News

Bell Launches Samsung Galaxy™ with Google™

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:42:11 PST

The Samsung Galaxy features the innovative Android platform, providing seamless connection with Google™ applications like Gmail™, Google Maps™ and YouTube, as well as access to 12,000 more in the Android Market™.

Key features of the Samsung Galaxy include:

Global access
5.0 Megapixel camera with flash and camcorder
Threaded text, picture and video messaging
Touch Screen

The Samsung Galaxy is available in stores and online for the following price points:

3 year contract: $99.95
2 year contract: $299.95
1 year contract: $299.95
No contract: $499.95

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Bell News

TELUS Exclusively Launches the LG IQ™

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:40:35 PST

Messaging is easy with the powerful LG IQ™. Find what you're looking for easily on the generous touchscreen with 3 customizable home screens and widgets, plus the enhanced experience of Windows Mobile 6.5.

Key features of the LG IQ™ include:

Enjoy HTML browsing at high speeds on the 3.2” touchscreen
Connect with email quickly and easily on the QWERTY keyboard
Experience superior performance with the 1GHz processor
Access the latest Windows mobile applications through the Windows Marketplace

The LG IQ™ is available in stores and online for the following price points:

3 year contract: $99.99
2 year contract: $399.99
1 year contract: $449.99
No contract: $499.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

Google Labs Releases Goggles for Android

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 16:51:56 PST

Yesterday, Google announced the release of Goggles, a visual search application that is now available in Google Labs for phones operating on Android OS 1.6+.

The innovative new service allows users to simply point the camera on their phones at something - be it a landmark, cd cover, bottle of wine, book - and have the information about the place or product relayed to their phone in mere seconds.

The application is still being actively developed, but Android users (1.6+ only right now, sorry 1.5 users!) can download the application by going to the Android Market in their phone and searching "Google Goggles".

So far, the Goggles app is available only in the Android Market, leaving iPhone and BlackBerry fans empty-handed. But there's good news today for the non-Android crowd - Google has confirmed that Goggles will reach other platforms.

For more information about Google Goggles, please visit Google Labs.

Posted in: Industry News

Fido Launches LG Xenon

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 15:30:55 PST

Today Fido added the LG Xenon to their handset lineup, an innovative phone featureing a large touchscreen with vibration feedback and enhanced flash to increase funtionality. It also provides the ability to keep track of your conversations with threaded SMS.

Key features of the LG Xenon include:

World Phone - Quad band EDGE and Dual Band HSPA
Auto-adjust screen recognition
Embedded MP3 Player
Camera with 16X zoom and video capture
Customizable contacts, home screen and applications

The LG Xenon is available in stores and online for the following price points:

2 year contract: $75.00
No Contract: $225.00

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Fido News

DAVE Wireless Makes First Call On Its 3G Network

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 17:19:08 PST

TORONTO, Dec. 8 /CNW/ - Data & Audio Visual Enterprises Wireless Inc. (DAVE Wireless) announced today that it has successfully completed its first test call on its state-of-the-art Ericsson 3G network - marking an important milestone as the company gears up to launch.

"We're building a great wireless company on a world-class network - and we're doing it on schedule," said Vice President of Network Operations Sharyn Gravelle. "We are one step closer to bringing Canadians the wireless service and value they deserve in early 2010."

The mobile call, completed by DAVE Wireless' network team late last week, validated the performance and reliability of 3G mobile devices on the company's HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) network. For future mobile broadband services, the network is also enabled with the capability of HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access evolution).

Posted in: Mobilicity (DAVE Wireless)

TELUS Launches Huawei E182E Mobile Internet Key

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 13:33:11 PST

TELUS has released the Huawei E182E Mobile Internet Key on its new HSPA network.

Key features of the Huawei E182E include:

Fast download speeds up to 21.1Mbps and upload speeds up to 5.7 Mbps
Surf the web at high speeds on TELUS' 3G+ Network with the HTML browser
Compatible on any computer with a USB port for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X/Snow Leopard users
Includes a microSD external memory slot of up to 32GBs for large file transfers and storage capabilities

The Huawei E182E is available in stores and online for the following price points:

2 or 3-year contract: $0.00
1-year contract: $129.99
No Contract: $229.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

DAVE Says NOT To Lock Into Wireless Contract

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 11:07:40 PST

"Like contracts? Go to law school."

In an effort to encourage consumers to hold off on making a wireless commitment this holiday season, the company has introduced its "Competition is Coming" campaign, reinforcing that DAVE Wireless will bring competition and choice to the wireless market.

"Don't lock into a wireless contract you'll regret," says Sara Moore, vice president of marketing for the new wireless carrier. "At DAVE Wireless, we're gearing up to launch our state-of-the-art 3G network and bring Canadians the wireless service and value they deserve."

According to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), the end of the year is historically the most popular time for wireless engagement. Over the past four years (2005 - 2008), an average of 35 per cent of net new wireless subscribers were added during Q4.

The print and outdoor media campaign pokes fun at the contract-signing ritual most consumers face. One ad reads: "Like contracts? Go to law school." Another tells consumers that "No action = the best course of action."

For more information about DAVE Wireless, please visit their website.

Posted in: Mobilicity (DAVE Wireless)

MTS Releases Motorola MOTORAZR™ VE20

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 14:42:42 PST

MTS Mobility has released the Motorola MOTORAZR™ VE20. The stunning style features a sleek, revamped design and cool, modern surfaces, and comes in silver and dark navy housing. External touch screen controls provide access to camera, music and call history.

Features of the MOTORAZR VE20 include:

2.0 Megapixel camera
Video Capture
Media Messaging (MMS Messaging)
Mobile Web
Multimedia Player

The MOTORAZR™ VE20 is available now at MTS Mobility for $99.99 with a 36-month contract and minimum $19.99 voice plan.

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: MTS News

Virgin Introduces Broadband2Go™ Data Stick

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 10:12:17 PST

Virgin Mobile Canada announced today the launch of Broadband2Go™, a rocket-fast new 3G nationwide wireless Internet service without an annual contract or activation fee.

To kick off the launch, Virgin Mobile's special intro offer gives new Broadband2Go users their first month or 1GB at no charge if you activate on-line! After that, top ups are just $45 for 1GB or for 1 month of use, whichever comes first.

Broadband2Go Features:

High speed mobile network and core network compatibility
Compatible with Windows® XP, Windows Vista™
Mobilink Connection Manager Software
Data Speed (downstream): up to 3.1 Mbps
Data Speed (upstream): up to 1.8 Mbps
MicoSD Memory Card Slot - up to 8 GB

The 3G Novatel Wireless Ovation MC760 USB Modem is available at Virgin Mobile stores, virginmobile.ca and Future Shop for $149.99.

For more information, please visit Virgin Mobile Canada.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

Bell To Launch Nokia N97

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 09:07:33 PST

Bell is set to launch the Nokia N97 on December 10, 2009!

The Nokia N97 is beauty, power and versatility in one with a large touch screen, tilt QWERTY keyboard, extensive personalization capabilities, FM transmitter, 32GB of on device memory and the latest in GPS functionality.

The Nokia N97 also features global access for usage in over 200 countries worldwide.

Key features of the Nokia N97 include:

5 MP Camera
QWERTY keyboard and 3.5 inch touch screen tilt display
32 GB of on device memory
Watch live TV or video clips

The N97 will be available in stores and online for the following price points:

3-year contract: $399.95
2-year contract: $449.95
1-year contract: $549.95
No Contract: $599.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Bell News

Square: New Mobile Payment System

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 15:27:43 PST

One of Twitter's founders, Jack Dorsey, just launched Square.

Square is a small plastic device that plugs into a mobile phone or iPod Touch's headphone jack. A buyer can swipe his/her credit cards through the machine, which then transmits the payment data to an application running on a connected iPhone or iPod Touch (Android and Blackberry apps are in development).

According to Square’s website, payees can start accepting payments via Square in under 60 seconds, with “no contracts, monthly fees, or hidden costs.” The company donates one cent from every transaction to the charity of the payer’s choice. In order to create an efficient process, payees can register for Square and upload a photo, so that payees can verify that he/she is who they say they are.

It is not necessary to have the Square gadget or app to pay. All one needs is a credit card and an e-mail address to receive a receipt.

To read more, please visit Square.

Posted in: Industry News

Quebec Introduces 911 Municipal Tax

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 16:53:48 PST

Starting today, every customer with a phone line in Quebec (landline or wireless, including internet phone service and prepaid card services) that allows users to call (directly or indirectly) an emergency 9-1-1 centre will be charged 40¢ per month. This tax replaces the former municipal 9-1-1 user fee of 47 cents, which has been in effect since 1995.

For the wireless customer base, this will effect Bell, Telus, Rogers and Solo customers in Quebec. Fido, Koodo and Virgin Mobile have yet to add any related charges to their website.

For more information, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

Fido Releases Nokia 2720

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:04:08 PST

Today Fido released the Nokia 2720, a basic, entry level flip phone. It’s not packed with features, but does sport an FM radio and “hidden till lit” external display, which lights up when you get a call or message (or when you press the volume key).

Features of the Nokia 2720 include:

FM Radio
Bluetooth
1.3 Megapixel Camera
Large Keymat
Loud ringing tone volume

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Fido News

Samsung Galaxy Coming to Bell Mobility

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:25:25 PST

On December 10th, Bell Mobility will be releasing the Samsung Galaxy™ with Google™. The Android platform-based smartphone will provide a full web browser with access to more than 10,000 apps - including Gmail, YouTube, Google Search, Google Maps, Google Talk and more!

As a bonus, the Samsung Galaxy will launch with a free Olympic decal offer in-box, so you can show your support for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Key features include:

Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0 & WiFi
Operates on 3G and HSPA networks
Speeds supported – Up to 7.2 Mbps
5.0 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash
Expandable memory up to 32 GB via Micro SD

The Samsung Galaxy will be available at Bell Mobility on December 10th starting at $249.95 with a 3-year contract.

For more features and specs, please click here.

Posted in: Bell News

Rogers Launches Nokia 6750

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:53:20 PST

Rogers launched the Nokia 6750.

Stand out in a crowd with the Nokia 6750. The unique translucent display lights up when you receive a call or message, you can customize the display to illuminate in multiple colours, based on the caller.

Key features of the Nokia 6750 include:

Large keypad for easy dialing and navigation
Large 2.2" screen with support for 16M colours
External music keys turn the 6750 into a portable MP3 player
The chrome, mirrored finish hides a unique translucent front screen that lights up when you receive a call or message

The Nokia 6750 is available on the following price plans:

3-year contract: $99.99
2-year contract: $149.99
1-year contract/Monthly: $229.99
No Contract for $279.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Rogers Launches Samsung Forever

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:20:23 PST

Rogers has launched the Samsung Forever.

Get noticed with the sleek design of this stylish touch screen phone. Filled with entertainment and online widgets, Forever is the perfect accessory for your busy life. With Forever on your side, the world really is at your fingertips.

Key features of the Samsung Forever include:

3” full Touch Screen with widgets using TouchWIZ UI
Virtual QWERTY keypad
2 MP camera and video recorder
Full HTML browsing

The Samsung Forever is available on the following price plans:

3-year contract: $79.99
2-year contract: $129.99
1-year contract/Monthly: $229.99
No Contract for $279.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

The MiFi 2372 Arrives at Bell November 30th

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:01:29 PST

We told you last month that Bell would be launching a MiFi Mobile Hotspot, and that day is almost here! Starting November 30th, Bell Mobility will be offering the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 on its new HSPA wireless network.

The Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 is Canada’s first HSPA intelligent mobile hotspot that offers simultaneous Wi-Fi connectivity for up to five devices or users and leverages the HSPA speed.

Benefits of the MiFi 2372 include:

Support for Bell’s high-speed HSPA network with speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps D/L and 5.76 Mbps U/L.
Connect for four-hours thanks to a built-in lithium ion battery.
Supports 802.11 b/g.
Optional tethering via USB.
Security support using WPA/WPA2.
Includes SMS client via MobiLink.

The Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 will be available for $99.95 with a 36-month agreement.

For features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Bell News

Rogers/Fido Release “My Account” iPhone App

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:42:34 PST

A few months ago, Rogers/Fido updated their websites to provide customers with the ability to view their wireless usage in almost real-time. The information was updated every four hours and gave users a great tool to track wireless usage.

To expand on that functionality and to set themselves apart from the other two Canadian iPhone carriers, Rogers and Fido have released new apps called “My Account”.

Both Rogers and Fido each have their own version of the app and both apps provide customers with their wireless usage. Like the website, users can view their voice, data and messaging usage right from their iPhone, which updates every 20 minutes instead of four hours as on the Rogers/Fido websites. The apps also allow customers to view their current balance and make a payment via credit card.

Both of the Rogers My Account and Fido My Account apps are available on the iTunes App Store for free.

Posted in: Fido News, Rogers News

Rogers Releases Nokia N86 8MP Smartphone

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:35:50 PST

Nokia and Rogers Wireless today announced the launch of the new Nokia N86 8MP, a sleek dual sliding smartphone with an eight megapixel camera - named best camera phone by the CTIA and winner of the 2009 Best Mobile Imaging Device by the Technical Image Press Association.

Key features of the Nokia N86 8MP include:

Up to 3.6 Mbps download speeds
Award winning 8.0 MP Carl Zeiss Camera
Ovi Maps – preloaded with Canadian content
Built-in FM radio transmitter and stereo FM radio
8GB onboard memory with support up to 16 GB microSD™
Text messaging, multimedia messaging, instant messaging, and e-mail

The Nokia N86 8MP smartphone is now available from Rogers Wireless for $99.99 on three year voice and data activations.

For more features and specs, please click here.

To read the official press release, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Air Canada Offers In-flight Wi-Fi From Gogo On Select Routes

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:24:26 PST

Air Canada said it has started trials to offer Internet service on select flights on its Toronto-Los Angeles and Montreal-Los Angeles routes.

With the trial run, Air Canada joins many International airlines which already offer in-flight Internet service.

Passengers can access the service on their own laptop for $9.95 per flight or Personal Electronic Device (PED) for $7.95 per flight.

The Air Canada website mentions that from now, until January 29, 2010 will be a trial period for this service. The Montreal-based airline will then analyze the results and customer feedback before introducing the service on other routes.

Posted in: Industry News

No More iTunes for Palm Users

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:01:43 PST

The Pre and Pixi were both launched with Palm's new operating system, and unlike with updates in the past, the company is no longer supporting the ability to sync seamlessly with iTunes.

Previously, each time Apple disabled the feature via an iTunes update, Palm would push out an update of its own to allow its devices to be recognized by iTunes, like an iPod or iPhone. The policy change may mean Palm is finally caving to Apple’s strong arm, or perhaps is only following directions from an industry forum that oversees USB connections.

The NYTimes wrote that in August Palm filed a complaint with the USB Implementers Forum, claiming that Apple was restraining trade by not allowing its devices to connect to iTunes. However, the Forum dismissed Palm’s claims, and asserted that Apple was not in violation of its policies. Palm declined to specify the reasons behind the decision.

While the update did not provide syncing with iTunes, it did enable users access to Yahoo’s instant messaging client and the ability to watch YouTube videos in wide screen view, among other things.

Posted in: Industry News

Bell Mobility Drops System Access Fee

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:25:27 PST

Bell is the last national provider to drop the system access fee.

Bell Mobility has dropped the monthly $6.95 system access fee and the monthly 911 fee, which varied in price depending on the province. Customers in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Newfoundland are now exempt from the fee, while prices range up to 53 cents a month in other provinces, according to Bell's website.

There will be no formal announcement but the Bell website shows the fees are removed from the plans.

Changes to plans include:

SAF and carrier 911 fees being removed (a savings of $7.70).
Call Forwarding being included on Consumer and Small Business plans (a $3 value)
The monthly fee increasing by $5 to $10 depending on the price plan
Provincial government imposed 911 fees will still apply

As a result, clients activating new plans will now only see one monthly charge on their bill, the cost of their price plan, instead of three individual charges.

Posted in: Bell News

Virgin Mobile To Launch Apple iPhone

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:50:48 PST

As we mentioned before, Virgin Mobile Canada has been rumored to launch the Apple iPhone in February 2010.

Today, Virgin Mobile Canada released an official statement regarding iPhone availability saying, "Virgin Mobile Canada will launch iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in Virgin Mobile Retail Stores and online in Canada in the coming months."

No official launch date or price plan has been announced yet.

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Virgin Mobile News

BlackBerry '9900' Slider Rumoured for 2010

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:44:53 PST

Rumour has it Research In Motion (RIM) will be launching a BlackBerry slider - complete with touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, and updated browser.

Analysts at Kaufman Bros are indicating it could be cross between a touchscreen BlackBerry Storm2 and a physical keyboard BlackBerry. The firm said this addresses two of RIM's key weaknesses – form factor and web browser.

There is not much information available at this time, but the prototype - the BlackBerry 9900 (‘Pluto’) - is expected to be released some time in 2010.

Posted in: Industry News

45% of Global Cellphones in Asia/Pacific Region

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:41:20 PST

According to a new study commissioned by the GSM Association (GSMA), the Asia/Pacific region is set to end 2009 with more than 2 billion mobile connections, about 45 percent of the world's total of 4.6 billion,

According to the study's findings, the region is expected to add a further 1 billion lines during the next four years to take the total to more than 3 billion by the end of 2013.

Much of the growth is set to come from a small number of large markets that still have relatively low teledensities. According to the report, there are about 2 billion people in "emerging countries" (primarily China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) currently without a mobile connection, presenting an opportunity for mobile operators to serve a significantly untapped market.

To read more, please visit GSM World.

Posted in: Industry News

WIND Mobile's Random Acts of Kindness

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:09:42 PST

Yesterday, WIND Mobile kicked off their Random Acts of Kindness program in Calgary and Toronto.

The program saw WIND Mobile staff members, in over a dozen teams, out in the community doing random acts of kindness. They did everything from pumping gas to building houses to providing lunch. They even paid for some bus fares!

The launch of the program brings positive publicity to one of Canada’s newest mobile companies.

Want to participate? You can do your own Random Acts of Kindness, then tweet about it with the hashtag #kindness. Alternately, you can visit WIND's Facebook page, or leave a message on their website.

Follow the WIND team’s efforts on Twitter or Facebook.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

TELUS Launches BlackBerry® Storm2™ 9550

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:59:30 PST

TELUS has released the BlackBerry® Storm2™ 9550 smartphone.

You don’t have to sacrifice functionality for entertainment with the BlackBerry® Storm2™ 9550 smartphone. Quickly and easily message your friends with the enhanced virtual keyboard on the high resolution clickable touchscreen.

Key features of the BlackBerry® Storm2™ 9550 include:

Wi-Fi
2.3 MP camera
High resolution 3.25" clickable touchscreen
Virtual QWERTY keyboard

The Storm2™ 9550 smartphone is available in stores and online for the following price points:

3-year contract: $199.99
2-year contract: $499.99
1-year contract: $549.99
No Contract: $599.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Apple iPhone, TELUS News

Saskatchewan Proposes Cellphone Driving Ban

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:53:55 PST

Saskatchewan has introduced legislation that will ban talking and texting on hand-held cellphones while driving starting on Jan. 1.

The proposed bill would allow experienced drivers to use hands-free phones behind the wheel, but new drivers can't use any type of cellphones while operating a motor vehicle.

June Draude, minister responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance, says using a cellphone to talk or text while driving is clearly dangerous.

Studies suggest drivers who text are up to 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision than a non-distracted driver.

Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and Nova Scotia already have such laws on the books.

Manitoba's cellphone ban is expected to be proclaimed into law next year and British Columbia has introduced similar legislation.

Posted in: Industry News

Windows Marketplace Now Available to OS 6.0, 6.1 Users

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:29:33 PST

Microsoft is playing catch-up in the application storefront business, and has taken big steps in the past month, including the announcement last week that the app store is now available online from the PC.

Now Microsoft is now providing its application marketplace to older Windows Mobile devices, promising that 90 percent of the 800 applications in the catalogue will be compatible.

The Marketplace, which launched on Windows Mobile 6.5 about a month ago, now will be available to Windows 6.0 and 6.1 users, a market that is estimated to be about 30 million devices worldwide.

To download the marketplace to your Windows Mobile 6.0 or 6.1 device, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

Rogers Annual Customer Appreciation Event Now On

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:10:59 PST

If you’re a Rogers customer then you are eligible to participate in the 3rd Annual Rogers Customer Appreciation Event!

Just like the past two years there are tons of prizes to win. The site www.RogersThankYou.com has been set up and it says “So Many Ways to Thank You… Again. Being a Rogers Wireless customer gets more rewarding every year!

There’s a gift inside for everyone! You could also win 1 of 5 Grand Prizes or 1 of over 1,000 other Major Prizes”.

The contest runs until December 20, 2009.

Posted in: Rogers News

Bell Brings Customers Closer to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:53:07 PST

Bell is bringing the Olympics to their customers in what they are calling “unprecedented access”.

What this involves from a wireless standpoint is “the most ambitious and all-encompassing media package ever assembled in Canada for a single Olympic Games” and “Bell Mobility will feature seven networks for fans to watch the Games live on enabled handsets wherever they go.

Consortium stations include English networks CTV, Sportsnet, TSN, and OLN, French networks V, RDS, and RIS Info Sports, and multi-language networks OMNI, APTN and ATN.”

You will be able watch over 4,500 hours right on your mobile device from these mobile sites CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca.

No word on how much this will cost or if it is a free service.

Posted in: Bell News

Fido Releases Red BlackBerry Pearl 8100

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:12:15 PST

Fido is bringing back the hottest selling device from 2007 in a stunning holiday Red!

That's right, you can now get the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 in Red.

Key features of the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 include:

Bluetooth® technology
Push email and text messaging
1.3 MP camera with flash and digital zoom
SureType® keyboard

The Pearl 8100 is available in stores and online for the following price points:

3-year contract: $0
2-year contract: $350
Fido Prepaid Service: $400
No Contract: $400

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Fido News

Air Cananda Delays Notified by Text, Email

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:55:05 PST

Air Canada is launching a new service notifying passengers by email or a text message to their mobile phone when their flights are cancelled or delayed.

Passengers disrupted by storms or other problems will be able to rebook flights using their computer or mobile device, avoiding the need to line up or contact agents.

The airline says passengers will be notified automatically, offered alternative flights or the ability to choose another flight and be allowed to cancel trips altogether.

Chief operating officer Duncan Dee says the airline wants to use mobile phones and smartphones to improve communications with its customers.

Those without electronic addresses will be routed to call centres.

Posted in: Industry News

Rogers Launches Ericsson W35 Rocket™ Hub

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:48:42 PST

This week, Rogers officially launched the Ericsson W35 Rocket Hub.

Enjoy Wireless Internet and Phone Services in your home or office. No software installation required - just plug into any electrical outlet and you're ready to go!

Just plug the Rocket™ Hub into any power outlet and create a Wi-Fi spot connected to the Rogers Wireless Network and enjoy internet connectivity for up to 15 computers at one time.

The Ericsson W35 Rocket™ Hub is available on the following price plans:

2-year contract: $149.99
No contract: $399.99

Voice and Data Pricing:

$50.00 up to 3GB of data
$60.00 3GB to 5GB
$75.00 5GB to 10GB

Data only (Flex Plan):

$35.00 0 to 3GB
$45.00 3GB to 5GB
$60.00 5GB to 10GB

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Sony Ericsson Introduces Android-Based ‘XPERIA X10’ Smartphone

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:58:26 PST

Sony Ericsson says it has launched its first Android-based smartphone, the XPERIA X10, a flagship phone in its new family of handsets coming to market sometine in the first half of 2010.

Bert Nordberg, President of Sony Ericsson said, "The XPERIA X10 and the family of phones launching in the first half of 2010 underpin our commitment to an open and multi-platform strategy that maximizes choice for the consumer and delivers the best possible consumer experience."

The company positively gushed about the user interface it has built on top of the Android OS. The key feature are the ability to link Facebook and Twitter user accounts to the phone's address book so that users can see social network status updates via the address book rather than having to launch the mobile browser.

Hardware features include a 8.1 megapixel camera with 16x digital zoom, A-GPS and Google Maps along with Wisepilot turn-by-turn navigation.

The XPERIA X10 will be available in select markets in black or white. Pricing still to be announced.

Posted in: Industry News

Free Wi-Fi in Times Square and 47 US Airports

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:50:04 PST

As of yesterday, Yahoo and the Times Square Alliance are providing free Wi-Fi service "to the more than 500,000 people who visit Times Square daily."

Meanwhile, Google will be offering free Wi-Fi until January 15, 2010, at 47 airports across the United States. The service will be available at no charge, but upon log-in, you will be asked whether you’d like to make a donation to one of three charities (Engineers Without Borders, the One Economy Corporation or the Climate Savers Computing Initiative). There is no obligation to donate, but Google will match donations made via the Wi-Fi network, up to a maximum of $250,000 across the three non-profits groups.

Google will also be offering free Wi-Fi on all Virgin America flights during the same time period.

For more information, and a list of participating airports, please visit Google – Free Wi-Fi for the Holidays.

Posted in: Industry News

FCC Gives Dell the OK on Android Phone

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:40:07 PST

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has given Dell the green light on its new Android-based smartphone, which is slated to be released on the AT&T network in the United States early next year.

The Mini 3iX will have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G mobile broadband, and is rumoured to also feature a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a 3.2-megapixel camera and GPS.

The move comes as major handset makers - including many who have built devices around the Google-backed Android mobile software - continue working to tap into the success of devices like the Apple iPhone or the BlackBerry by RIM (Research In Motion).

There is not a lot of information available at this time, but it appears the phone will be similar to the Mini 3i device Dell showcased in China last August.

No word yet as to whether this device will become available in Canada.

Posted in: Industry News

Palm Pre, Pixi Coming to TELUS January 2010

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:43:03 PST

Although there is no official word yet, MobileSyrup has posted an article stating that TELUS will be launching the Palm Pre and the Palm Pixi in January, 2010.

The Palm Pre was launched with Bell Mobility exclusively for 6 months, but that 6 months is nearing its end, and TELUS has snatched up the opportunity to offer it as well. The Pre will be offered on TELUS’ new HSPA network, as will the Pixi (which will also be launching on the Sprint network in the US on November 15, 2010).

Key features of the Palm Pre include:

3.1-inch touch screen
Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
Built-in GPS
3 megapixel camera
Wi-Fi connectivity

Key features of the Palm Pixi include:

2.63-inch multi-touch screen
Built-in GPS
2 megapixel camera
Bluetooth® wireless technology
Integrated IM, SMS, and MMS

Posted in: TELUS News

Ericsson to Provide MTS with HSPA+ Overlay

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:11:52 PST

Ericsson today announced that it will provide Manitoba-based MTS Allstream a unique network solution to overlay its existing CDMA¹ mobile network with HSPA+² technology. HSPA+ boosts network capacity and enables data rates of up to 21 Mbps which will significantly improve users' mobile broadband experience and increase data speeds across MTS Allstream's entire CDMA network.

In conjunction with the previously announced shared network and roaming agreement between MTS Allstream and Rogers, the technology overlay will give MTS Allstream's customers improved access speeds as well as act as the foundation for MTS Allstream's future technology plans.

With much faster connection speeds, MTS Allstream's customers will now be able to access robust applications on the most expansive HSPA+ network in Manitoba, giving them the freedom to work and play whether they are in the middle of the city or at the cottage.

¹ CDMA: code division multiple access
² HSPA+: high speed packet access evolved

Posted in: MTS News

Rogers Enters Agreement with Jasper Wireless

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:05:56 PST

Rogers Wireless and Jasper Wireless announced today the companies have entered into a multi-year, exclusive agreement to wirelessly connect consumer electronics and machine-to-machine (M2M) devices. Through this partnership, Rogers Wireless will accelerate market entry for new categories of connected devices such as personal navigation and e-readers.

Leveraging its range of applications and services, M2M QuickLink, delivers automated management capabilities for M2M Solution Providers, including:

Best-in-class user experience
Usage analytics
Performance assurance
Flexible business models
Design services
Customer support

For more information, please visit Rogers.

Posted in: Rogers News

TELUS To Launch Motorola Milestone In Early 2010

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:51:22 PST

Today, Motorola Canada announced it will bring its first Android-powered device, the much-anticipated Motorola Milestone, only to TELUS customers in early 2010.

Motorola Milestone, powered by the newest version of Android, sets a new standard for what a smartphone should be with a richer mobile web experience, superior messaging and top-of-the-line multi-media features in an innovative design that could only come from Motorola.

Key features of the Motorola Milestone include:

Powered by the latest version of Android, Android 2.0
World’s thinnest QWERTY slider at just 13.7mm
3.7” widescreen display with 854 pixel width and more than 400,000 total pixels
Pinch & zoom and double tap features
5 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash
Motorola Media Link and Motorola Phone Portal
Stereo Bluetooth®
CrystalTalk™ Plus for superior talk quality

Additional features and apps include:

Full suite of the Google applications: Google Maps with Latitude, Google Talk™, Google Mail, YouTube
Unified Google and Microsoft Office Contacts
Navigation: GPS, MOTONAV
Email Support: IMAP and POP, Google Mail
IM Support: Google Talk
Calendar: Exchange, Calendar

The Motorola Milestone will be a great addition to Telus’ new line-up of GSM/HSDPA phones, which includes the iPhone, HTC Hero, Nokia E71 and LG New Chocolate BL40.

Posted in: TELUS News

Koodo Mobile Adds Colour To Its Samsung Lineup

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 16:45:01 PST

Koodo Mobile has added some colour to its mobile phone line-up.

You can now get the Samsung Slyde in a vibrant shade of pink, and the recently launched Samsung Intensity in red and black.

For full features and specifications of the Samsung Intensity, please click here.

For full features and specifications of the Samsung Slyde, please click here.

Posted in: Koodo Mobile News

Virgin Mobile Launching Apple iPhone in February 2010

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 13:09:14 PST

Today it was leaked that Virgin Mobile Canada will release the Apple iPhone in February 2010.

This leak/announcement makes a lot of sense with Bell being the owner of Virgin Mobile Canada. It also means that Virgin will be moving over to Bell's new HSPA network that they launched last week. We could see a number of new HSPA/GSM phones coming to Virgin Mobile Canada in the near future.

No pricing was announced but expect it to be in line with the big three's current pricing barring a holiday Apple iPhone price drop.

There are also rumours that Virgin Mobile Canada will be releasing a prepaid CDMA internet stick in the $149.99 price range. It will most likley be the Novatel U760 which Bell released in June 2009.

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Virgin Mobile News

Verizon Launches the Motorola Droid

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:43:57 PST

Today Verizon added the Motorola Droid to their Smartphone line-up. The Motorola Droid is the first phone to support the much anticipated Android 2.0 OS and is Verizon's first Android based phone.

The Motorola Droid is receiving some very good opening reviews from early adopters. The Droid features:

Android™ 2.0 Platform
3.7-inch WVGA (480 x 854 pixels) touchscreen display with slide-out keyboard
Operates on the CDMA 1X 800/1900, EVDO rev. A
5.0 megapixel camera with 4X Digital Zoom, dual LED flash,
Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-fi

The Motorola Droid is currently available for $199 on a 2 year contract with Verizon.

Motorola has also been running a mysterious "Droid" commercial for the device that can be seen below.

Posted in: Google/Android News

Nasa Releases iPhone Application

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:20:17 PST

That's one small step for man, one giant leap for iPhone.

OK, that's probably a little overly dramatic, but the new NASA iPhone app is pretty cool.

Designed to provide information, updates, and images on all current and scheduled NASA missions, the app--which can be found in Apple's App Store under the name "NASA app for iPhone" nicely allows you to search for any specific mission, say, Constellation, and then find information and images just for that project.

"Users can access NASA countdown clocks, the NASA Image of the Day, Astronomy Image of the Day, online videos, NASA's many Twitter feeds," and more. It also allows users to track where the International Space Station is at any moment, as well as other spacecraft orbiting the planet, in three different views: maps with labels and borders, available visible imagery of satellites, and satellite positions overlaid on maps with country labels and borders.

And for NASA, anything it can do to get more people excited about its various missions and projects is a good thing as it struggles for public resources and attention in an era where the economy is in trouble and people are increasingly distracted by other things.

Posted in: Apple iPhone

Rogers Launches BlackBerry Bold 9000 White

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:06:19 PST

Rogers has released the BlackBerry Bold 9000 in White.

From the leather textured battery door to the luminous display and design, this all-in-one quad-band world phone harnesses the speed of the Rogers 3G network for faster email downloads and web browsing.

Key features of the BlackBerry Bold 9000 White include:

High resolution HVGA display
Large QWERTY keyboard
Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi
2.0 MP camera

The Bold 9000 White is available in stores and online for the following price points:

3-year contract: $99.99
2-year contract: $599.99
1-year contract/Monthly: $599.99
No Contract: $599.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Public Mobile Chooses TeraGo Networks To Help Launch Network

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:48:24 PST

New wireless entrant Public Mobile is moving ahead in launching their network with a targeted December availability.

Like we've mentioned before, Public Mobile will offer a flat rate $40 unlimited talk and text plan to those in Ontario and Quebec.

Public Mobile has chosen TeraGo Networks to assist in launching their network by providing wireless backhaul services for a portion of its network deployment.

Alek Krstajic, Public Mobile’s Chief Executive Officer said “We have chosen TeraGo Networks as a strategic partner as we prepare to launch Public Mobile in Canada. TeraGo’s high capacity, Ethernet-based wireless backhaul provides an optimal solution for our network and we are proud to be engaging a successful Canadian company.”

Posted in: Public Mobile

TELUS Launches New Network, iPhone, Plans and 3G+ Phones

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:05:12 PST

Today TELUS launched their new HSPA network, the Apple iPhone 3GS & 3G, Clear Choice Plans with no SAF and 5 new 3G+ phones/devices.

Clear Choice Plans

TELUS has completely revamped their rate plans removing the System Access Fee, adding a service/feature and dropping the price. We are currently working on putting together all of their new Clear Choice plans for everyone to browse and compare throughout the CompareCellular.com web site.

New 3G+ Devices

You can find Apple iPhone 3GS & 3G information by clicking here.

You can find their new 3G+ Phones & Devices here:

Posted in: Apple iPhone, TELUS News

Bell Offers Video Calling Feature for Mobile Phones and Facebook

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:08:04 PST

If you’re going to get the LG Xenon or Samsung OMNIA II from Bell, you’ll now be able to make and receive video calls to family and friends who also have the LG Xenon or Samsung OMNIA II.

Plus, through an exclusive free Facebook app, you can use the web cam in your computer and connect with those who have either handset - anywhere in the world without incurring long distance or usage charges.

The Bell Video Calling service is available for $5 a month, or depending what plan you get, it may be included in your monthly charge.

Adel Bazerghi, Bell Mobility’s SVP of Products says “Bell Mobility is the first mobile provider in North America to offer a video calling service that lets clients see and talk to each other by phone and also integrates seamlessly with a client’s Facebook profile. Facebook friends can use their web cams to place video calls to Bell Mobility clients in Canada with Video Calling capable phones via a dedicated page on their Facebook profile.”

Posted in: Bell News

Bell Launches New Network, Phones and Plans

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:54:40 PST

Bell officially launched their new HSPA Network today with the release 7 new phones and a number of new plans. The move comes one day before TELUS plans on launching their new HSPA network, a joint collaboration with Bell. A full run down of new phones and plans can be found below:

New Bell HSPA Phones

Apple iPhone 3GS	Apple iPhone 3G	BlackBerry Bold 9700	Samsung Omnia II
BlackBerry Bold 9000	Samsung Impact	LG Xenon	Nokia 2730
Nokia 6350	Novatel Wireless U998 Turbo Stick

New Bell Rate Plans

Apple iPhone Plans

We posted rumoured Bell iPhone plans earlier this week that came very close to the final plans. We missed the Combo 45 plan but we're dead on the other 3 plans.

Combo 45 for iPhone - $45 per month

100 anytime local minutes
50 bonus local minutes
Local Fab Five
500 MB of data for personal email, Internet browsing.
Unlimited Wi-Fi at Starbucks
SAF + 911 Fee

Combo 55 for iPhone - $55 per month

300 anytime local minutes
Local Fab 5
1 GB of data for personal email, Internet browsing.
Unlimited Wi-Fi at Starbucks
SAF + 911 Fee

Combo 75 for iPhone - $75 per month

400 anytime local minutes
Nationwide Fab 5
2 GB of data for personal email, Internet browsing.
Unlimited Wi-Fi at Starbucks
SAF + 911 Fee

Combo 95 for iPhone - $95 per month

500 anytime local minutes
Nationwide Fab 5
3 GB of data for personal email, Internet browsing.
Unlimited Wi-Fi at Starbucks

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Bell News, BlackBerry News

Fido Launches Sony Ericsson T715a

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 15:34:13 PST

Fido has released the Sony Ericsson T715a.

The T715a is available for $50 on a 2-year contract or $200 with no contract or Prepaid.

Key features of the T715a include:

3.2 MP camera
Integrated Facebook
Video streaming capability
Google maps

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Fido News

Koodo Launches LG Masterpiece

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 14:54:24 PST

Koodo added the slim and sleek bar design LG Masterpiece to it's mobile phone line-up.

Key features of the LG Masterpiece include:

1.3 MP Camera
Speakerphone
Bluetooth compatable
Voice-activated dialing

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Koodo Mobile News

Rogers Launches LG Eve

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 14:16:57 PST

Rogers has launched the Android-powered LG Eve.

The Eves slick S-class interface lets you navigate your social networks, contacts, multimedia and Android Market apps seamlessly. The integrated 5.0 MP camera combines with a media gallery and video editor to provide an unprecedented multimedia experience from your smartphone.

Key features of the LG Eve include:

Slide-out 5 row QWERTY keyboard
Accelerometer, Wi-Fi and GPS
5.0 MP camera with autofocus and video capture and editor
Access to new apps from the Android Market

The LG Eve is available on the following price plans:

3-year contract: $49.99
2-year contract: $299.99
1-year contract/Monthly: $349.99
No Contract for $399.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Rogers Launches BlackBerry Bold 9700

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 13:42:19 PST

Today, Rogers released the BlackBerry Bold 9700. The Bold 9700 has RIM's new trackpad with a full QWERTY keyboard, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi and a 3.2MP camera with video capabilities, variable zoom, auto-focus and flash.

Key features of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 include:

Trackpad navigation
Full QWERTY keyboard
3G technology
Bright, hi-resolution screen

The Bold 9700 is available in stores and online for the following price points (with a $45 monthly Voice & Data package):

3-year contract: $299.99
2-year contract: $499.99
1-year contract/Monthly: $549.99
No Contract: $599.99

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Bell Announces Apple iPhone Available November 4th

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:42:58 PST

Today Bell announcement the Apple iPhone will be available tomorrow, November 4th. The Apple iPhone will be available at one of the following price points (on 3 year contacts):

Apple iPhone 3G - 8G - $99
Apple iPhone 3GS - 16GB - $199
Apple iPhone 3GS - 32GB - $299

You can find a full list of the rumoured Bell Apple iPhone rate plans by clicking here.

Posted in: Bell News

Bell Launching New HSPA Network November 4th

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:30:12 PST

Yesterday Bell announced that they will be launching their new HSPA/GSM network on November 4th coinciding with TELUS.

The new network will be the fastest in Canada, with access speeds as high as 21 Megabits per second (Mbps) and with the largest service area by far - more than a million square kilometres - covering approximately 20,000 Canadian cities and towns and 93% of the national population. With international roaming capability on GSM, UMTS and HSPA networks, Bell HSPA clients will also be able to roam internationally in more than 200 countries at launch.

Bell will be offering a wide range of new HSPA smartphones and turbo sticks from the world's leading mobile device manufacturers on November 4. Unlike TELUS they have not yet announced the line-up of devices but as soon as we know more we will be posting them on CompareCellular.com.

Stay tuned to our RSS feed for the latest information on November 4th.

Posted in: Bell News

Rumour: Rogers & Fido Adding New Apple iPhone Plans

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:09:48 PST

Rogers & Fido are rumoured to be adding new Apple iPhone rate plans to compete with Bell & TELUS new iPhone plans. Rogers plan focuses on the high end consumer while Fido's plan focuses on the everyday consumer. You can find a full breakdown of each plan below:

Rogers - $95/month

36 month contract/renewal
650 + 50 Minutes
Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 6PM
Visual Voicemail
1GB Data + Tethering
Caller Display
Unlimited MMS
Government Regulatory Fee (varies by province)

This plan competes with TELUS's $80 & $95 per month plans and Bell's $75 & $95 per month plans. Again, it's very hard to compare carrier to carrier because of the different minutes, options and data usage each plan offers.

Fido - $50/month

36 month contract/renewal
100 Minutes
Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 7PM
500MB Data
Unlimited SMS
No SAF, No Government Regulatory Fee

This plan competes with TELUS's $50 per month plan and Bell's $55 per month plan.

To view our other stories regarding Bell and TELUS iPhone plans please use the links below:

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Fido News, Rogers News

Rumour: TELUS iPhone Rate Plans Leaked

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:00:48 PST

A number of web sites have leaked possible details regarding the TELUS iPhone Rate Plans. Four individual plans have been detailed as follows:

$50/month

36 month contract/renewal
100 + 50 Minutes
Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 9PM
Visual Voicemail
500MB Data + Tethering
No GRR Fee, No SAF, No 911 Fee
Then Choose From: 1000 Messages or My5 Local or Double Daytime (200+50)

$65/month

36 month contract/renewal
200 + 50 Minutes
Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 9PM
Visual Voicemail
1GB Data + Tethering
No GRR Fee, No SAF, No 911 Fee
Then Choose From: Unlimited Messages or My5 Long Distance or Double Daytime (400+50)

$80/month

36 month contract/renewal
350 + 50 Minutes
Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 9PM
Visual Voicemail
2GB Data + Tethering
No GRR Fee, No SAF, No 911 Fee
Then Choose From: Unlimited Messages or My5 Long Distance or Double Daytime (700+50)

$100/month

36 month contract/renewal
450 + 50 Minutes
Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 9PM
Visual Voicemail
3GB Data + Tethering
No GRR Fee, No SAF, No 911 Fee
Then Choose From: Unlimited Messages or My5 Long Distance or Double Daytime (900+50)

Notes:

GRR = Government Regulatory Fee
SAF = Service Access Fee

To view our other stories regarding Bell and new Rogers & Fido iPhone plans please use the links below:

Posted in: Apple iPhone, TELUS News

Rumour: Bell iPhone Rate Plans Leaked

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:53:42 PST

A number of web sites have leaked possible details regarding the Bell Apple iPhone Rate Plans. Three individual plans and a iPhone Fun Bundle have been detailed as follows:

$55/month

36 month contract/renewal
300 Minutes
Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 9PM
Local Fab 5
1GB Data + Tethering
Wi-Fi unlimited at Starbucks
Add: SAF, 911 Fee

$75/month

36 month contract/renewal
400 Minutes
Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 9PM
Nation-wide Fab 5
Caller Display
Message Centre
Visual Voicemail
2GB Data + Tethering
Wi-Fi unlimited at Starbucks
Add: SAF, 911 Fee

$95/month

36 month contract/renewal
500 Minutes
Unlimited Evenings/Weekends @ 9PM
Nation-wide Fab 5
Caller Display
Visual Voicemail
Message Centre
Unlimited Messages
3GB Data + Tethering
Wi-Fi unlimited at Starbucks
Add: SAF, 911 Fee

$20/month iPhone Fun Bundle

Caller Display
Message Centre
Visual Voicemail
250 sent & unlimited received text messages

It's really hard to compare Bell plans to TELUS plans to Rogers plans as they are all made up of different minutes, options and data limits. As soon as we receive confirmation we'll have the plans added to our database for easy comparisons.

To view our other stories regarding TELUS and new Rogers & Fido iPhone plans please use the links below:

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Bell News

Virgin's 30-Day Guarantee

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 15:24:05 PST

Interested to see how Virgin is going to stack up against the others over the next few months?

Effective November 3rd, Virgin is going to introduce a 30-day “You’ll Love Us Guarantee.” That’s correct, according to Virgin they state “We know you’ll love being with us. That’s why we back it up with our 30-day 'You’ll Love Us Guarantee.' Take us for a spin, and if you haven’t fallen for us in 30-days just return your phone and pay for the airtime used. Easy as that.”

'Good To Know' facts about this new guarantee:

You have 30 days to return your postpaid phone if you don’t love us!
Return the phone for refund where it was purchased
Only pay for the monthly plan charge, overages + activation fees
No Cancellation fees within 30 days (& no minute counting)

Apart from that guarantee, Virgin also hopes to entice new customers by offering half a dozen new rates under the myPLAN rate plans.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

App Turns Windows 7 into Wi-Fi Hotspot

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:03:56 PST

"Turn your Windows 7 laptop into a WiFi Hotspot to share the Internet with friends, co-workers, and mobile devices."

A Philadelphia-based software developer named Nomadio has taken advantage of a partially completed feature in Microsoft's new Windows 7 operating system to come up with a download that allows any computer to function as a wireless access point.

Nomadio's offering, called Connectify, is currently available in beta form for free, though the company is hoping to develop a more robust version under a pay model.

To read the full story at Computerworld, please click here.

To download the Beta version of Connectify, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

CRTC Declares Globalive Not Canadian Enough

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:42:57 PST

In a move shocking to many Canadians, Canada's telecom regulator yesterday declared that Globalive, a company hoping to enter Canada's wireless industry as new cellphone startup Wind Mobile, does not meet Canadian ownership rules.

Globalive, which is mostly funded by Egyptian telecom company Orascom, attempted in recent weeks to change the structure of its operations to meet ownership standards in Canada.

However, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission determined the changes weren't enough.

Globalive is determined to get past this road block. From their website, “We are not deterred. We are exploring different paths. And with your support and voice, we will find a way.”

To read the Reuters Press Release, please click here.

To visit the Wind Mobile Newsroom, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News, WIND Mobile

TELUS Launches LG Versa 9600

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:07:29 PST

Today, Telus added the sleek and slim LG Versa™ 9600 to it's mobile phone line-up. The Versa packs a punch with its large touchscreen featuring 3 customizable homescreens, allowing you to drop and drag your favourite contacts, widgets, and multimedia files for instant access.

Key features of the LG Versa™ include:

Large 3-inch touch screen with tactile feedback
Animated 3D user interface with 3 customizable homescreens
Virtual QWERTY keyboard
Expandable external memory (up to 16GB)
2.0 MP camera with flash, face detection and video capture

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

Rogers Adds BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520 in Lavender

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:27:06 PST

For those looking for an alternative to the Black BlackBerry Curve, Rogers has just introduced an exciting new lavender colour.

Key features of the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520 include:

Wi-Fi support
Dedicated media keys
Bluetooth technology
Out-of-the-box Mac compatibility
Expandable memory up to 16 GB (microSD™)

Packed with all the same features as the basic black version, this stylish number is available for the promotional price of $99.99 on a 3-year term (with a minimum $45/month Voice & Data plan).

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Virgin Mobile Declares National Fearless Day

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:20:25 PST

Virgin Mobile has officially declared November 19, 2009, National Fearless Day – a day for Canadians to say “Screw it, let’s do it!”.

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Mobile's fearless founder, states "At Virgin we know what it takes to be fearless, whether it's racing across the Atlantic in record time or launching the first passenger space ship. Sometimes you have to stand up and face what scares you head on."

According to a national survey conducted by Angus Reid Strategies on behalf of Virgin Mobile Canada, only 49% of Canadians say they consider themselves fearless.

Some Fearless Canadian Facts:

Canadians over the age of 55 are the most likely to say they are fearless (53%).
Canadians between 18 and 34 are the most likely to claim that they are not fearless (32%).
This year for National Fearless Day, Canadians will be doing everything from skydiving (24%) to skiing in the buff (3%).
16% of Canadians said they would hurtle themselves down a luge track.
31% believe singing in public is the most fearless thing they've done (let's hope they were good!)

To check out the National Fearless Day website, please click here.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

SaskTel Enters Network Sharing Agreements with Bell, Telus

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:46:13 PST

SaskTel, today announced they have entered into a wireless network sharing agreements with Bell and Telus that will facilitate the rapid deployment of next generation wireless and data services through Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technologies within Saskatchewan. Customers will enjoy the benefits of the most advanced wireless technology commercially available in the world, expanded network coverage, and access to a range of new and leading-edge wireless devices.

With today's announcement, the new HSPA network will deliver high-speed mobile access to 94% of the Canadian population across 1.4 million square kilometres. With more than 21,000 Canadians cities and towns covered, the all-new network will serve rural and remote locations as well as it does urban areas, making mobile access as fast at the farm or cottage as it is in the city. It will also offer the technology for increased wireless data download speeds of up to 21 megabits per second, access to a world class selection of compelling mobile devices and international roaming service to more than 200 countries.

SaskTel initially announced its next generation network plans as part of its overall 2009 network investment program which will ensure 100% High Speed Internet coverage in Saskatchewan and 98% cellular coverage. SaskTel's UMTS/HSPA network will be initially launched mid-2010 with a targeted completion date of 2011.

Posted in: Bell News, Industry News, TELUS News

Rogers Releases Nokia 6790 Surge

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:50:46 PST

Today, Nokia announced the release of it’s newest quick messaging phone in Canada. The 3G phone has a Symbian OS, sports a 2.4-inch screen supporting 16 million colours, has a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and auto-adjust screen recognition.

Other key features include:

Faster download speeds (up to 3.6 Mbps)
World ready phone (EDGE/HSPA)
Bluetooth technology
Embedded MP3 player
2.0 MP camera with video capture
Built-in GPS (Supports Ovi Maps and TeleNav GPS Navigator)

The Nokia Surge is available at Rogers Wireless for the promotional price of $29.99 on a 3-year term.

To read the Nokia Press Release, please click here.

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

TELUS Announces New Plans with No SAF or 911 Fees

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:34:55 PST

TELUS today announced that it will launch new clear and simple rate plans with no System Access Fees (SAF) or carrier 911 fees. Launching on November 5, clear and simple pricing will apply across both new business and consumer wireless rate plans. TELUS is also simplifying the number of rate plan options, making it easier for clients to choose the plan that is right for them.

Following Rogers' lead, TELUS will do away with SAF and 911 fees (regulated provincial 911 fees will still be charged in applicable provinces). The new plans will also be similar to what is offered now, but will increase in price by $5 and include basic voicemail.

The new pricing will come into effect on November 5, 2009. Existing TELUS clients can continue to renew on their existing rate plans or have the option to switch to the new rate plans at launch.

For more information, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News, TELUS News

Keep Your Phone Number with Google Voice

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:58:24 PST

Google Inc has announced a new Google Voice feature that will enable users to use its service without having to get a special Google phone number. Users of Google Voice can now choose Google as a voicemail provider for existing mobile numbers, displacing mobile carrier voicemail systems in the process.

Using Google Voice with your existing number, you now have access to Google voicemail, voicemail transcription, custom greetings, international calling, notifications and the ability to share voicemails. To take advantage of features such as one number (a single phone number that rings all your phones), free sms, and other calling features, you’ll be required to get a Google number.

The Google Voice service is currently only available to residents of the US, and to use the feature with your own number, you’ll have to request an invitation (invitations also are available from Google Voice's current users).

For more information, please visit The Official Google Blog.

To request an invitation to Google Voice, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

Bell Mobility to Launch MiFi Mobile Hotspot

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:53:19 PST

Bell today announced it will offer the MiFi 2372 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot from Novatel Wireless on its new HSPA wireless network, launching this November.

As Canada's first HSPA Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, the portable Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 will offer you simultaneous Wi-Fi connectivity for up to five devices or users, allowing the MiFi to go with you, whether you are in the office or at home. Compact and easy to set up, the MiFi 2372 is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems and includes a microSD slot for expandable memory (up to 16 gigabytes).

Posted in: Bell News

SaskTel Launches LG Bliss 700

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:20:28 PST

SaskTel has added another multimedia touch screen device to their lineup, the LG Bliss 700.

Key features of the LG Bliss 700 include:

3-inch touchscreen
Expandable memory
2.0MP camera/camcorder
Bluetooth technolgy
Music player

The LG Bliss will be available on the following price plans:

3-year contract: $99.99
2-year contract: $179.00
1-year contract: $259.00
Prepaid/Monthly: $323.00

For full features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

TELUS Reveals Devices for New 3G Network

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:26:59 PST

To go along with the launch of their new 3G network, TELUS today announced some of the devices that will be included for November 5th release.

The handsets include the BlackBerry Bold 9700, Nokia’s E71, LG’s Chocolate and HTC’s Hero. They will also be launching a new Mobile Internet Key, the Sierra Wireless USB 306 Modem.

Promotional pricing on a 3-year term is as follows:

HSPA BlackBerry Bold 9700 $249.99¹
HSPA HTC Hero $99.99¹
HSPA LG Chocolate $99.99¹
HSPA Nokia E71 $29.99¹
HSPA Sierra Wireless 360 Internet Key $79.99

For more information on the upcoming devices, please click here.

¹ Available until Nov 30, 2009, for customers (new or renewal) who activate on a 3 year term with a Smartphone voice and data rate plan of $50 or greater.

Posted in: TELUS News

Koodo Releases Samsung Intensity & Motorola VE440

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:23:26 PST

Koodo has released two new texting devices to their lineup. The Samsung Intensity and the Motorola VE440.

You can get the Intensity, which Koodo says “Fingers love” for $200 outright or $50 on the Tab. The “sporty looking” Motorola VE440 is available for $125 outright or $0.00 on the Tab.

The key features of the Samsung Intensity are:

QWERTY keyboard
2.1″ display (resolution of 176 x 220)
1.3 megapixel camera
MP3 player

For full features and specifications of the Samsung Intensity, please click here.

The key features of the Motorola VE440 are:

1.3 megapixel camera
MP3 player
Bluetooth compatible
Voice-activated dialing

For full features and specifications of the Motorola VE440, please click here.

Posted in: Koodo Mobile News

TELUS to Release iPhone 3G & 3GS November 5

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:39:17 PST

TELUS today announced that it will bring iPhone 3G & 3GS to Canada on Thursday, November 5, with a range of 3G data plans for iPhone customers.

iPhone 3GS is the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet, packed with new features including improved speed and performance - up to twice as fast as iPhone 3G - with longer battery life, a high-quality 3MP autofocus camera, video recording and hands free voice control. iPhone 3GS includes iPhone OS 3.1, with features such as Cut, Copy and Paste, MMS, Spotlight Search, landscape keyboard and more.

The iPhone 3GS will run on TELUS' new next generation network, also launching November 5, 2009.

TELUS will be offering the iPhone 3GS and 3G at the following prices on a 3-year term:

8GB 3G Black $99.99 (regular price: $599.99)
16GB 3GS Black or White $199.99 (regular price: $699.99)
32GB 3GS Black or White $299.99 (regular price: $799.99)

To register to receive more information about the upcoming launch of the iPhone, please click here.

Posted in: Apple iPhone, TELUS News

TELUS to Launch 3G Network November 5

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:18:43 PST

TELUS today announced that it will launch Canada's largest 3G+ network¹ on November 5, 2009.

The new next generation wireless network is the latest enhancement to TELUS' multi-network mobile strategy, offering customers the technology for increased wireless data download speeds of up to 21 megabits per second, access to a world class selection of compelling mobile devices and international roaming service to more than 200 countries. This initiative also ensures a smoother transition to fourth generation (4G) wireless technology known as long term evolution (LTE).

TELUS' existing wireless network portfolio includes Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology that powers Canada's largest third generation (3G) High Speed wireless network and TELUS' Mike network with its industry leading Push-to-Talk capability and business service. TELUS plans to support both of these leading networks for the foreseeable future, providing TELUS customers the full choice of wireless solutions that best suits their needs.

Devices to be launched alongside the network, some exclusively, include products from HTC, Huawei, LG, Nokia, RIM, Samsung, and Sierra Wireless.

For more information on TELUS’ HSPA network, please click here.

¹ For HSPA/HSPA+ geographic coverage and population covered as of October 2009.

Posted in: Industry News, TELUS News

Cellphone Ban for Ontario Drivers Starts Today

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:54:43 PST

Drivers in Ontario will now be breaking the law by using BlackBerrys, cellphones and other hand-held electronic devices while driving.

Drivers are no longer allowed to talk, text or e-mail while behind the wheel, or use portable video games or DVD players.

Global positioning systems are permitted - as long as they're safely secured to the dashboard.

Emergencies calls to 911 are the only exception to the ban.

For the first 3 months police will be educating motorists to stay off the phone instead of handing out tickets. However, drivers can still be charged under existing dangerous or careless driving laws.

Beginning February 1, 2010, drivers will be facing fines of up to $500 if they're caught violating the ban.

Posted in: Industry News

TELUS To Launch LG BL40 Chocolate

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:44:25 PST

At the LG Fashion Week event yesterday LG officially announced that the New Chocolate will be available in Canada, exclusively with TELUS.

LG BL40 will launch on TELUS' new HSPA network as its first GSM device.

Key features of the LG BL40 include:

Camera and Video
HTML Web Display
Gesture Shortcut
One Touch Copy & Paste
On Device Photo Editing
Video Trimming
Flash & Front Facing Camera
Wi-Fi
Multi-Page Web Browsing

For more features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

Bell Launches "Virtual Torch" for Olympic Spirit

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:47:47 PST

Bell today announced its signature supporting sponsorship of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay and the launch of the animated Bell Virtual Torch for mobile devices and computers.

The Bell Virtual Torch is a symbolic representation of the actual Olympic Flame, which was lit this morning by the power of the sun in Olympia, Greece. On October 30, the Olympic Flame will arrive in Canada and begin its 45,000-kilometre journey across the country through more than 1,000 communities in every province and territory.

The Bell Virtual Torch screen saver is available for download to any PC or Mac, or as a wallpaper to any mobile phone (via bellvirtualtorch.mobi on your phone's mobile browser). Bell customers can also text the word "torch" or "flambeau" to 2044 to receive instructions on how to download the Bell Virtual Torch.

To read the Press Release at Canada NewsWire, please click here.

To visit Bell to download the screen saver to your PC, please click here.

Posted in: Bell News, Industry News

Android to Get Mozilla's Fennec Browser

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:04:17 PST

We already know that Mozilla's Fennec, the mobile version of Firefox, is coming to Windows Mobile but now, Mozilla's CEO John Lilly also confirmed that an Android version is finally planned as well. During an interview with Om Malik, Lilly confirmed that Mozilla "will release Firefox for Windows Mobile and then Android". When asked why it took so long for Mozilla to adopt Android, Jay Sullivan, Vice President of Mobile for Mozilla said "Until recently, Android was Java, but they released Android NDK which uses C/C++ and that is what we program in, so we are now looking at developing Firefox for Android".

Neither Lilly nor Sullivan has given a time-frame yet but a (first) release shouldn't be expected before 2010.

To read more at the New York Times, please click here.

For more information on the Alpha 1 release, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

RIM Introduces The New BlackBerry Bold 9700 Smartphone

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:55:03 PST

Research In Motion (RIM) today announced the sleek and powerful BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone.

"The BlackBerry Bold 9700 builds on the success of the original BlackBerry Bold with new, state-of-the-art features and a smaller, lighter and highly optimized design that looks, feels and performs great," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion.

Key features of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone include:

Dimensions: 10.9 cm x 6.0 cm x 1.4 cm
Weight: 122 grams
3.2 MP Camera
Bluetooth enabled
Touch-sensitive trackpad
Support for Wi-Fi
MicroSD/SDHD memory card slot
Removable, rechargeable 1500 mAhr battery
QWERTY keyboard

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone is expected to be available from mobile networks around the world beginning in November. Pricing is still to be announced.

For full features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

Recent Poll Looks At Cell Phone Etiquette

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:20:56 PST

Cellular-News.com has posted an interesting article regarding cell phone etiquette in the United States. In a survey of 2,625 adults ages 18 and older they found some interesting results.

52 percent would be offended if they were at a holiday party and someone attempted to secretly use an Internet-enabled device, such as a laptop, netbook or cell phone, at the table
75 percent feel it is perfectly appropriate to use Internet-enabled devices, including laptops, netbooks and cell phones, in the bathroom
62 percent agree that mobile devices, such as laptops, netbooks and cell phones, are part of our daily lives and society needs to adapt to the fact that people use them at all times
87 percent agreeing that it is inappropriate to use a mobile device at religious venues
60 percent consider using a mobile device while on a date as inappropriate

For the full Cellular-News.com phone etiquette article please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

Verizon Wireless to Get Droid Smartphone

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:24:59 PST

Could the new Droid finally be the smartphone to knock the Apple iPhone off its pedestal? Droid partners Verizon, Motorola, and Google are positioning it as such.

The Droid, the latest Android-based smartphone, may launch as early as October 30 according to reports.

The Droid promotional page on the Verizon website challenges the iPhone, with headlines such as: "iDon't have a real keyboard," "iDon't customize," and "iDon't allow open development." The last statement being, "Everything iDon't...Droid does."

It goes on to promote the things the Droid does impart, including the network, multi-tasking, high-speed, Android 2.0, speech recognition, directions, 5.0 megapixels, 10,000+ apps, and music and video functionality.

The Droid is the same smartphone formerly known as the Motorola Sholes, so some technical specs have already been made known.

The smartphone will run on the new Android 2.0 OS. It will boost a 3.7” touch screen and slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and the 5MP camera will offer video recording. Wi-FI, Bluetooth 2.0, and GPS are also included.

To read more at CNET News, please click here.

To sign-up to be notified when the Droid becomes available at Verizon Wireless, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

ING Backs Dave Wireless with $125M Loan

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:02:05 PST

TORONTO, Oct. 20 /CNW/ - Data & Audio Visual Enterprises Wireless Inc. (DAVE Wireless) announced today it has signed a $125-million loan agreement with ING Bank N.V. (ING) for DAVE Wireless' ongoing build-out of its world-class wireless network. This long-term financing, which was structured by ING and its affiliate ING Capital LLC, will enable DAVE Wireless to accelerate its roll-out schedule in its service territories, which include Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. DAVE Wireless' network will provide Canadians with exceptional voice quality and access to the latest handsets and data devices.

"We have made significant progress in the last year, and we are pleased to now be working with ING," said Dave Dobbin, President of DAVE Wireless. "This attractive financing provides significant operating flexibility as we continue to implement our strategy to offer outstanding service and value to our future Canadian subscribers."

"DAVE Wireless has a disciplined approach and a management team with extensive Canadian experience," said Steve Nettler, Managing Director at ING Capital LLC. "Moreover, DAVE Wireless' marketing strategy and partnerships with leading vendors substantiates their ability to execute a high value and low cost business plan."

ING, a global financial institution offering financial services to over 85 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 40 countries, is the lead arranger for the credit facility.

Posted in: Mobilicity (DAVE Wireless)

RIM Planning To Release BlackBerry Watch

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:05:17 PST

RIM is planning a BlackBerry watch that syncs up with your handset via Bluetooth to deliver alerts and information (and the time).

BlackBerry is quickly transitioning from being solely a top of the line business tool to a must have consumer device as well. In what may be an attempt to capitalize on that RIM has announced it’s developing a BlackBerry watch.

The new device features a large OLED screen and long battery life. It’s designed by RIM to compliment, not replace, a traditional BlackBerry. The screen will display notifications of incoming messages along with a brief preview, presumably to allow you to decide if you want to take your Berry out and answer.

So far a release date and price are unknown.

Posted in: Industry News

MTS Debuts MiFi Hotspot in Manitoba

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:39:17 PST

MTS today announced it is pleased to be the first wireless provider to launch the Novatel Wireless MiFi™ 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot in Manitoba. MiFi is a fast and easy way to get broadband wireless data on the go.

MiFi wirelessly accesses the Internet anywhere MTS 1X/EVDO coverage is available with any WiFi-enabled device. Able to support up to five users or devices simultaneously, customers can share their wireless high-speed connection with friends, family members and coworkers.

MiFi is great for personal and business use allowing up to five computers or personal WiFi-enabled devices to be simultaneously connected to the Internet providing instant access to email, downloading files, mobile gaming, and surfing the web. Extremely portable, the MiFi is sleek and small enough to fit in the palm of a hand.

For more information on Novatel's MiFi 2200, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News, MTS News

RIM To Launch The Storm 2

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:44:21 PST

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is launching a new version of its touchscreen Storm smartphone, marking its latest move in the fight with Apple's iPhone.

The smartphone retains the original Storm's clickable touchscreen interface, but improves upon it with faster typing and "multitouch" capabilities, which allow users to type on more than just one part of the screen at a time.

The phone is enabled for next-generation networks and also has Wi-Fi capability like some of the other devices in the BlackBerry lineup.

Analysts said increased competition in North America from the likes of Apple, Palm and Motorola Inc was a top concern for RIM's future. New BlackBerry models are crucial if RIM is to succeed and Balsillie said the company is well prepared.

Details on the specific timing of the launch or on pricing are not immediately available, as these are determined by individual service providers.

To read the full story at The Vancouver Sun, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

Straight Talk Prepaid Coming to Walmart

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:29:51 PST

More than 3,200 Walmart stores in the U.S. will sell the Straight Talk prepaid service starting Oct. 18, the company said yesterday in a statement.

Walmart will offer two no-contract wireless prepaid plans for $30 or $45 per 30 days. The $30 plan will offer 1,000 minutes and 1,000 messages (text or multi-media), and for an extra $15 you can go unlimited (nationwide). Both plans include 30 MB of data (for data enabled phones), and calls to 411 are at no additional charge.

Three phones will be available for the launch - the Motorola MOTORAZR V3a (US$99.98), Motorola MOTO W385 (US$79.98) and LG 200CM (US$29.98).

From the Walmart website - 'Straight Talk is everything you need in a cell phone without a contract. Nationwide service on the most reliable network. No activation, reactivation, cancellation, daily access or overage fees.'

To read the Walmart New Release, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

Bell Reveals Devices for HPSA+ Network

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:35:14 PST

Earlier this month, Bell announced they would be launching their new HSPA+ network. Today, the new phones and devices that will become available were unofficially revealed.

The handsets include the coveted Apple iPhone 3G & 3GS, the BlackBerry Bold (9000 & 9700), Samsung's Omnia II & Impact, the LG Xenon, and Nokia's 2730 and 6350.

Bell will also be launching two turbo sticks and a turbo card from Novatel Wireless (U950 & U988 sticks and X950 card).

Pricing and official release dates are expected to be available in the next few weeks.

For more details on the upcoming phones, please click one of the following links:
Cell Phones
Smartphones
Turbo Sticks
(iPhone details coming soon)

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Bell News, BlackBerry News

Free Adobe Photoshop App for iPhone

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:08:36 PST

Last week, Adobe finally released a long-awaited iPhone application, Photoshop.com Mobile. The application, containing a number of tools found in the full version, is available to download for free – which is a good deal considering Adobe Photoshop CS4 is currently listed for $699US ($999US for the extended version!).

Some of the main features include rotating, filter effects, cropping, adjusting exposure, saturation and tint. Plus, after creating an account online at Photoshop.com, you can organize and share up to two gigabytes of photos.

To read the Adobe News Release, please click here.

Posted in: Apple iPhone

DAVE Wireless Secures National Roaming Partner - Rogers

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:55 PST

Today DAVE Wireless announced a multi-year roaming agreement with Rogers Wireless that will give their customers nationwide wireless voice and data services.

Dave Dobbin, President of DAVE Wireless said “DAVE Wireless is building our own 3G network in major metropolitan areas. As part of our promise to deliver value, simplicity and flexibility to our customers, we needed a high-quality partner to provide our customers voice and data roaming services when they travel outside our coverage areas. That is why, when securing a national roaming partner, we chose Rogers – their network is compatible with our 3G network and will allow us to offer the attractive services and innovative mobile technologies that our customers will want. Allowing our customers to roam across Canada and the USA is important in today’s wireless world and we are pleased to be roaming partners with Rogers in Canada”

DAVE Wireless is well underway in constructing its 3G wireless network in five of Canada's most popular markets; Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa and expects to bring simplicity and flexibility to the targeted wireless markets in early 2010.

Posted in: Mobilicity (DAVE Wireless), Rogers News

WIND Mobile to Provide Enhanced 911

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:04:29 PST

Today WIND Mobile announced it’s partnership with Andrew Solutions to provide Canadians with enhanced 911 services, a technology all carriers will be required to provide by February 2010 (in order to comply with CRTC regulations made in January of this year).

The Andrew solution includes a combination of A-GPS (Assisted-GPS) and hybrid technology that adds wireless network measurement information to the GPS location (when the call started, the cell phone’s power level) to better determine the caller’s location - which would come in handy if you didn’t know exactly where you were.

“We are committed to creating the best wireless experience for Canadians which also includes ensuring their safety in times of emergency,” said Ken Campbell, CEO of WIND.

To read the full story at Wind Mobile, please click here.

Posted in: WIND Mobile

Rogers To Release Nokia Surge 6790 - Coming Soon!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:35:02 PST

Rogers will soon release the Nokia Surge 6790 to its mobile phone line-up.

The key features of the Nokia Surge 6790 are:

2.0MP Digital Camera
Video Camera Capabilities
Expandable Memory of up to 16GB
GPS
Bluetooth enabled
2.4-inch display
Full slide-out QWERTY keypad

When this phone officially hits the market it will retail for $89.99 on a 3-year contract or $279.99 outright purchase.

Posted in: Rogers News

Quick Search Box For Android

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:17:58 PST

The Quick Search Box (QSB) for Android is a fast and versatile new system-wide search experience, available right from your phone's home screen.

Since keystrokes are at a premium when you're typing on your phone, Quick Search Box provides suggestions as you type, making it easy to access whatever you're looking for by typing just a few characters.

Rather than giving you one search box for the web and another for your phone, QSB provides one single search box to let you search content on your phone, including apps, contacts, and browser history, as well as content from the web.

You can now also tap the microphone button next to the search box to search the web and call contacts by voice.

To read the full story at Google Mobile Blog, click here.

Posted in: Industry News

Android to be No. 2 Mobile OS by 2012

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 15:34:08 PST

While the Google-backed Android mobile operating system currently runs on less than 2% of all smartphones, Gartner Inc. predicts it will surge to 14% of the global smartphone market in 2012 -- ahead of the iPhone, as well as Windows Mobile and BlackBerry smartphones.

In that year, Gartner forecasts Android will actually rank second globally, behind the Symbian OS, which is used in Nokia devices that are highly popular in Europe and many countries outside the U.S. Symbian now runs on about half of all smartphones, but will fall to 39% in 2012, Gartner says.

The complete Gartner forecast for smartphone OSes by the end of 2012 puts Symbian on top with 203 million devices sold, and 39% of the market. Android will be second with nearly 76 million units sold, and 14.5% of the market.

Coming in a close third, the iPhone will ship on 71.5 million devices in 2012, giving a 13.7% market share. Windows Mobile will finish fourth, with 66.8 million units sold, or 12.8% of the market.

Android will have moved up the most from 2009 to 2012, from sixth place to second. BlackBerry will have moved down the most, from second to fifth, while iPhone will remain in third position and Windows Mobile will remain in fourth position, Gartner says.

Posted in: Industry News

MTS Launches the PCD TXTM8

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 14:58:36 PST

Designed with the text messaging enthusiast in mind, the PCD TXTM8™ is the ultimate companion for those who love to message on the go.

Key features of the PCD TXTM8™ include:

Slide-out QWERTY Keyboard
1.3 Megapixel CMOS Camera
Bluetooth® 2.0
Media & Text Messaging capable
Push delivery email
Mobile Web
Media Gallery
Expandable Memory

The PCD TXTM8™ is now available at MTS for $0 on a 36-month contract, or $69.99 on a 24-month contract (with a minimum $19.99 voice plan).

For full features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: MTS News

Fido Releases Nokia 6682

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 11:11:06 PST

Fido has released the Nokia 6682; a device that takes top spot on their lineup.

The Nokia 6682 is available for $100 on a 2-year contract or $200 with no contract.

The key features of the Nokia 6682 are:

1.3 megapixel camera with LED flash
2.1 inch screen with a resonlution of 176x208 pixels
MP3 player
TALKS (an app that changes text messages into speech - for the visually impaired)

For full features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Fido News

Next: The Pill Bottle Cap With A Cell Phone

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 16:07:46 PST

"Hi! This is your aspirin bottle calling. I haven't seen you in a while. Why don't you come see me soon? I'm good for the heart, you know."

That's the spirit, if not the wording, of the calls that will come from new pill bottle caps that connect to AT&T Inc.'s wireless network.

Vitality Inc. was set to announce the pill-bottle system Thursday, saying it helps solve one of the biggest problems in medicine: that people don't consistently take the drugs they're prescribed.

With Vitality's system, when a pill-bottle cap is opened, it uses a close-range wireless signal to tell a base station in the home. That station, which looks like a night light, essentially has a cell phone inside that can send messages through AT&T's network.

If the bottle isn't opened at the appointed time, the cap and night light start blinking to remind the owner to take the medication. If that doesn't serve as enough of a hint, they start playing jingles as well. If the bottle stays unopened, the night light will send a message to Vitality's system, which can then place an automated phone call or send a text message with a reminder.

Click here to read more.

Posted in: Industry News

Google Introduces Mobile Search Options For iPhone

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 15:40:39 PST

Google on Thursday released a new feature for users of the iPhone, iPod touch and other mobile handsets called "Search Options." The new link, found in the upper right corner of search results, offers users the ability to filter search results based on a number of criteria, including the type of content and the timeframe in which it was posted.

In announcing the product on the official Google Mobile Blog, the search giant offered the following scenario:

"For example, suppose you are shopping at a store for a camera, and you would like to see what users have been saying about a specific model within the past week," it said. "You can do this simply by searching for the name of the product. Then, on the search results page, use 'Options' to filter by 'Forums' and refine further by choosing 'Past week.'"

Users can test the feature by searching on Google and selecting the options drop-down menu.

Posted in: Apple iPhone

Telus Releases Samsung Intensity™ U450

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 13:00:47 PST

Text? IM? Email? The mighty Samsung Instensity can handle all of your social networking needs with its PC inspired slide-out QWERTY keyboard and quick one touch access to messaging applications.

Now available at Telus for as little as $29.99 on a 3-year contract.

The key features of the Samsung Intensity™ U450 are:

MP3 player
Bluetooth®
QWERTY keyboard
Text and picture messaging
1.3MP camera with night shot
Expandable microSD™ memory slot up to 16GB

For full features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

Rogers Launches BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 17:01:10 PST

Rogers has officially added the new BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520 to its smartphone line-up.

The key features of the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520 are:

2.0MP Digital Camera with 5X Digital Zoom
Video Camera Capabilities
Supports BlackBerry App World™
Wi-Fi® enabled
Bluetooth® enabled
Multimedia Player
Wireless Email

Available now in Black for $99.99 with activation on a 3-year voice plan and 3-year data plan (with a minimum combined service fee of $45).

Coming soon in Lavender!

For full features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Windows Mobile 6.5 Woos Enterprise

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 16:46:24 PST

Microsoft is trying to get business users to ditch their BlackBerry smartphones by offering many consumer-friendly features in the latest version of Windows Mobile.

For the IT department, the latest software retains its tight integration with Microsoft enterprise software. This means Windows Mobile 6.5 devices will be compatible and manageable at the base level through Exchange servers for push e-mail, contacts, and calendaring. The handsets will come with preloaded software to view Word, PowerPoint, and PDF files on the go, and these devices will also have built-in encryption, policy provisioning, security, and remote-wiping capabilities.

Microsoft is trying to replicate the success of Apple's App Store, but it claims its store will have a more transparent approval process. IT departments will be able to provision devices to not allow users to download apps.

Windows Mobile 6.5 also offers the My Phone wireless backup service for contacts, SMS, photos, and other data. This free service syncs content to a password-protected online portal, and customers can use this site to post photos on various sharing sites like MySpace or Flickr.

Of course, Microsoft is facing a steep challenge in trying to dethrone Research In Motion because the BlackBerry maker has a dominant share in the enterprise mobility market. Additionally, Apple's iPhone is making inroads in many companies, and Palm is looking to regain ground in enterprises with its webOS platform.

Posted in: Industry News

Kempler & Strauss Launch A GSM Watch Phone

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 13:17:53 PST

Kempler & Strauss says that it has launched the world's smallest full-function GSM quad-band cell phone watch, the W PhoneWatch.

The W PhoneWatch features a touchscreen with an intuitive micro-touch interface that enables users to operate the phone by fingertip, eliminating the need for a stylus to dial phone numbers or create text messages.

The W PhoneWatch allows users to store up to 4GB of music, voice recordings, photos, or video via the integrated micro SD slot, and supports playback of all multimedia files.

The feature set also includes: calendar, address book, voicemail, SMS, call log, speed dial, ring tones with vibration mode, calculator, stopwatch, and various games and utilities.

The W PhoneWatch incorporates a GSM phone that supports the 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, and 1900MHz bands. Fully compatible with Bluetooth v2.0 headset and hands-free devices, the W PhoneWatch incorporates a still camera and an integrated video camera.

The W PhoneWatch, which can be charged by USB or via the included battery charger, provides up to 150 minutes talk time, up to 150 minutes of music playback, and up to 100 hours of standby time.

The Kempler & Strauss W Phone Watch is backed by a one-year warranty and is available at a list price of $199 USD via authorized Kempler & Strauss distributors.

Posted in: Industry News

Apple iPhone Coming to Bell & TELUS Next Month

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 08:39:30 PST

Bell & TELUS have announced they will be adding the Apple iPhone 3G & 3GS to their smartphone line-up next month. This ends Rogers almost year and a half exclusivity with the device that saw it's market share jump during the same period of time.

The iPhone has helped drive Rogers' wireless growth through the recession by 7 per cent this year. Rogers has said its iPhone customers spend 11/2 times more than its average wireless subscriber.

No pricing has been announced by Bell or TELUS but not expect any discounted iPhone pricing. Apple controls pricing by the carriers so expect similar pricing as Rogers & Fido at launch. Right now the iPhone 3G & 3GS are selling for:

iPhone 3GS

16 GB - $199.00 on a 3-year contract
32 GB - $299.00 on a 3-year contract

iPhone 3G

8 GB - $99.00 on a 3-year contract
16GB - $149.00 on a 3-year contract

You can read each networks full press release here:

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Bell News, TELUS News

Bell to Launch their HSPA Network Next Month

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 08:26:58 PST

Bell is set to launch their state of the art HSPA network in November 2009. Bell had set a deadline of before the 2010 Olympics to have the network up and running. The new HSPA GSM network features:

Canada's wireless leadership role enhanced with state-of-the-art HSPA wireless network
Serve 93% of Canadians in almost 20,000 cities and towns
Joins existing 3G EVDO network - already Canada's largest - to offer Bell customers maximum worldwide coverage and maximum choice in smartphones

TELUS is also expected to launch their HSPA network later this year. Both networks will allow Bell and TELUS to compete with Rogers for GSM roaming agreements with worldwide carriers. This has been a market exclusively held on to by Rogers for years.

Other rumours of the iPhone coming to Bell and/or TELUS are also starting to heat up.

Posted in: Bell News

Rogers Implements New "Government Regulatory Recovery Fee"

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 10:48:47 PST

“The Government Regulatory Recovery Fee ranges from between $2.52 and $3.49 per line per month, depending on whether provincial 911 fees are applicable.” Also Rogers is throwing in some added value features for free: Call Forwarding ($3 value), WhoCalled ($3 value) and Call Manager ($5 value).

What is happening:

Rogers will no longer be charging the System Access Fee of $6.95, 911 Fee of $0.50 and Provincial 911 Fees (in selected markets) – a combined $7.45 to $7.98 per month.
To offset the revenue loss associated with the above, Rogers is increasing the price of its rate plans by $5 per month and levying a new Government Regulatory Recovery Fee (ranging from $2.58 to $3.46 per month – depending on region) for a new total of $7.58 to $8.46 per month.
Rogers has in fact increased their net prices to clients.
New clients will be automatically enrolled in the new pricing; existing clients may move to the new pricing model only by migrating to the new in-market rate plans.

Times are finally changing for us Canadians! Let’s just see some lower rates!

Posted in: Rogers News

Bell To Introduce "Astus Pico Asset Tracking Solution"

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 11:27:49 PST

It seems like all the carriers are jumping on board the “Lone or Remote Workers” banwagon. Last month Rogers put a solution together and starting October 5th, Bell will start to offer the “Astus Pico Asset Tracking Solution”.

So what is this exactly? Well, for $25 a month (with a one-time $25 activation fee) the Astus Pico allows you to track BlackBerry and Windows Mobile smartphones in real-time and generate usage and movement reports. This mainly for tracking fleet while they are on the go… and also ensuring your employees are safe.

Here are some more specs of this offering:

Work Alone Ready: Designed for Lone or Remote Workers, Astus provides Immobility sensing (through device G-sensor) and Panic Button functionality, which immediately pinpoints worker location and alerts dispatch and EMS for emergency assistance. This enhances security and speed of response in situations where personnel may not be in a position to describe the type of help needed.

Scheduling: Astus Pico offers schedule dictation for auto-initiation and shut-down of the Astus Pico application. Auto-initiation/Shut-down can also be dictated by use of the G-sensor to place itself in stand-by mode if movement isn’t detected over a set period of time.

Reporting: Astus Pico offers various historical information reporting capabilities.

Geofencing: Take advantage of Astus Software high performance to trigger alarms if the smartphone is taken inside or outside a geographical territory on a certain day or week.

Posted in: Bell News

Rogers Releases Nokia E71 With Nuance’s TALKS Software To Help Those With Vision Loss

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 10:39:05 PST

Back in July the CRTC mandated the wireless carriers to request that wireless companies offer at least one type of cellphone to serve the needs of people who are blind and/or have moderate-to-severe mobility or cognitive disabilities by October 21, 2009.

Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC said “We understand that Canadians living with disabilities have increasing needs as communications technologies become more prevalent in our daily lives. The measures announced today are an important step in making it easier for them to use the latest communications services.”

Today Rogers has announced that the Nokia E71 is now pre-loaded with Nuance’s TALKS software. This will give those who are blind or have vision loss the ability to have their displayed messages converted into speech (such as any text messages, contacts, caller ID).

Posted in: Rogers News

Rogers To Release “Rocket Hub”

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 12:24:32 PST

Rogers has released a new wireless product called the “Rocket Hub” that will be available later this month, plans start at $35 per month, plus the cost of the hardware.

Basically this acts as an agent to give a wireless or voice connection when one cannot be found. All you have to do is plug this in and you’re good to go, it connects over “Rogers 7.2 Mpbs HSPA network, using either Wi-Fi or Ethernet to allow multiple devices to share one Internet connection and its UMTS network for voice.”

Pretty cool, especially if you are in really remote Canadian areas.

John Boynton, Senior VP and CMO said today that “The Rocket Hub, seamlessly integrating both voice and internet services in one simple, cost-effective solution, provides businesses and consumers the option of a reliable, portable voice and data connection where and when they need it. With the launch of the first fixed offering in the mobile internet category, Rogers is once again listening to our customers and delivering the newest innovations to meet their needs.”

Posted in: Rogers News

LG Electronics Shows Off Its Latest Touchscreen Phone

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 09:42:01 PST

The LG GD510, or more simply, "Pop," is said to be the most compact 3-inch full touchscreen phone ever made. LG's consumer research showed that a large group of consumers wanted the functionality of a full touchscreen phone without the extra bulk and unnecessary features that resulted in higher prices.

"We gave the LG GD510 an optimized feature set which allowed us to concentrate on making the phone more compact and simpler to use," said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "The LG GD510 delivers all the essentials in communication, multimedia and entertainment and comes in a compact form factor as well."

The LG GD510 plays music and movies in several popular file formats and 8 gigabytes of internal memory provides plenty of room for storing large collections. An easy-to-use browser compliments a 3.0 megapixel camera.

The 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen extends almost to the edges of the LG GD510 with a narrow 4.8 mm bezel giving the illusion of an uninterrupted sheet of glass. The LG GD510 is crafted from brushed aluminum which gives it a high-end look and feels solid in the hand even when squeezed.

Posted in: Industry News

AdMob August 2009 Stats: Canada Slips To 7th Spot

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:08:05 PST

AdMob has released their August 2009 statistics. As they report back each month on how Canada is shaping up in the mobile landscape. AdMob puts out a monthly report based on the number of requested ad impressions from their now 9,000 mobile publishers (plus mobile apps).

July stats showed that Canada barely held on to our 6th place but this time we massively decreased the number of ad impressions (possible page views) by 0.4% with to the total monthly requests of 152,215,011.

In August, Canada increased the number of impressions by 0.03% to a total of 195,600,724… but we slipped to 7th spot. Ahead of us are the United States, India, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Philippines and Mexico.

More here at AdMob.

Posted in: Industry News

TiVo Unveils BlackBerry App For Show Recording

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:44:37 PST

TV viewers can now TiVo using their BlackBerry.

TiVo Inc., the maker of digital video recorders that can pause and rewind live programming, unveiled a free application Wednesday for the BlackBerry that lets subscribers set up recording of TV shows from the phones. Subscribers also can search for details about their favorite shows.

Live streaming of shows is not available.

The application works with TiVo DVR Series2 or the Series3 standalone DVR, not with a cable box that has a TiVo interface. The BlackBerry phone must have browsing capabilities and operating system version 4.2.0 or later.

TiVo unveiled its app for the iPhone last November.

Posted in: Industry News

WIND Mobile Will Be A "Green" Company At Launch

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:18:02 PST

With WIND Mobile coming off their CRTC foreign ownership hearings last week they’re officially now waiting to see if they get the green light to launch… and speaking of green, nothing sounds better than a new carrier coming out and answering questions about their operation.

Chris Robbins, CCO (Chief Commercial Officer) of WIND has written a good piece titled “The Environmental Question” and it’s about how they’ll be implementing a number of “green” and eco-friendly practices that will help our environment.

Robbins said, “One of the questions we’re seeing frequently – both in-person and on this site – is what we’re planning to do around being green.”

We are having all invoices by default online for launch
We are enabling digital displays in all of our retail environments
We are trying to limit packaging for all of the products that we sell
We are putting manuals, terms, warranties all online
We are implementing a handset recycling program
Our store design is incorporating recycled materials
Our store design is incorporating high efficiency lighting and heating

Posted in: Industry News, WIND Mobile

Samsung Shows Off 12 Megapixel Camera Phone with Optical Zoom

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:47:54 PST

Samsung has announced the SCH-W880 AMOLED 12M, the world's first mobile phone that features both a 12.0 megapixel camera and an optical zoom.

The SCH-W880 comes equipped with a 3.3-inch AMOLED(INFO) WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) touchscreen display and a realistic digital camera look and feel. It includes a dedicated camera key, fast image writing, and 30fps video recording capability.

The AMOLED 12M cameraphone has an autofocus lens that allows users to select a spot on the touchscreen that they want the camera to focus on. With focus tracking, the device is also able to follow an object if it moves. The phone carries 4GB of internal storage memory and has a microSDHC(INFO) card slot for memory expansion as well. Users can connect hands-free headsets with Bluetooth or watch television with terrestrial DMB.

JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of the Mobile Communication Division, Samsung Electronics said, "The Samsung AMOLED 12M is another landmark and proof of our continuing commitment to providing the most advanced technology to enrich users' mobile experience."

Posted in: Industry News

Apple App Store Downloads Skyrocket

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:57:34 PST

The company announced today another set of outstanding numbers for the app store for the iPhone and iPod Touch. In the last year and a half, customers have downloaded over 2 billion apps - that's up from a billion in April and a billion and a half in July. Apple also states there are now 85,000 apps available for the iPhone (up from 65,000 in July).

“The rate of App Store downloads continues to accelerate with users downloading a staggering two billion apps in just over a year, including more than half a billion apps this quarter alone,” Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, said in a statement. “The App Store has reinvented what you can do with a mobile handheld device, and our users are clearly loving it.”

Posted in: Apple iPhone

Rogers Launches ZTE MF668 HSPA+ Rocket Stick

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:35:40 PST

The HSPA+ Rocket™ stick gives you safe and secure Internet access on your laptop without the need for a Wi-Fi connection. Featuring download speeds up to 21.6 Mbps, you will be able to access your files, send and receive email and attachments, browse the Internet and more, all from your laptop.

The ZTE MF668 HSPA+ Rocket Stick is now available from Rogers for as low as $74.99 on select 3-year plans.

For full features and specifications, please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Public Mobile Updates Website… Will Launch ZTE C78

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:59:18 PST

From the beginning they’ve stated they’ll offer a flat rate $40 unlimited talk and text plan with no credit checks, no contracts and no surprises… and guess what? That’s exactly what they are bringing to the table when they launch.

In addition, they’ll be launching the ZTE C78. According to the specs this is a candy bar style device that has dimensions of 110×50x14mm and weighs in at 80 grams. This also has the basic needs such as Phonebook, MMS, Bluetooth, Camera (0.3 megapixels VGA Resolution), Speakerphone, Contacts, Calendar, Tip Calculator, games and alarm clock.

Public Mobile purchased G Band license and spent $53 million in the auction, however they will reach 19 million people in Ontario and Quebec. They state on their site that “We have big plans for our network that will run from Windsor all the way to Quebec. In late 2009, we’ll be up and running in Toronto and Montreal. And throughout 2010 we’ll be adding new cities to our network.”

Good start Public!

Posted in: Industry News, Public Mobile

Dave Wireless Signs Tower Sharing Deal with Bell Mobility

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:06:36 PST

TORONTO — Data & Audio Visual Enterprises Wireless Inc. said Wednesday it has signed a licensing agreement with Bell Mobility to allow the new wireless service provider to use Bell cell sites for its equipment.

Under the deal, DAVE Wireless will be able to negotiate the placement of its own wireless equipment on Bell Mobility cell sites, where space is available.

Bell Mobility has thousands of cell sites across Canada, with digital coverage reaching more than 93 per cent of Canadians.

DAVE Wireless is one of several new players that are gearing up to compete against established wireless carriers Rogers, Telus and BCE Inc.'s Bell Mobility unit.

The company plans to sell wireless communications services in cities across Canada starting next year, including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.

The Toronto-based company is owned by Obelysk, a diversified Canadian holding company, and Quadrangle Capital Partners, a global investor in the telecommunications and media sectors.

From The Canadian Press

Posted in: Bell News, Industry News, Mobilicity (DAVE Wireless)

RIM to Launch BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:39:34 PST

Research in Motion on Thursday unveiled details about the Mac version of its desktop software. The company is prepping the offering for final release, but did not provide an actual date.

RIM said that sync times will increase, but how much depends on the amount of data actually stored on the BlackBerry.

If you have a BlackBerry with onboard memory, like the Storm or Bold, you will be able to choose whether to sync your music to that onboard memory or to a microSD card.

Some of the features will include:

Sync your iTunes playlists, calendars, contacts, notes and tasks
Sync for any software that can talk to Apple's Sync Services
A ‘Safer Sync’ feature to allow syncing of multiple computers
Backup and restore your device data with such features like automatically scheduled backups and optional encryption

To read more at Inside BlackBerry, please click here.

To visit BlackBerry and register for updates, please click here.

Posted in: Industry News

South Korean Government Accepts iPhone

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:40:35 PST

South Koreans will soon join the millions of others worldwide as its government on Wednesday approved the sale of the iPhone there.

For years, the Korea Communications Commission used technical rules to stifle competition, allowing homegrown companies like Samsung and LG to take over the market, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

With an estimated 93 percent of South Korea's population subscribing to a mobile service, Apple should be able to overcome one of the biggest barriers to smartphone success in South Korea--applications. Apple has been able to entice developers worldwide to build apps for the iPhone, with 75,000 apps available and 1.8 billion apps downloaded thus far.

There was no indication of a release date, price, or carrier for the iPhone yet in South Korea.

Posted in: Apple iPhone

Fido Launches the LG GB250G

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:12:26 PST

Price points for the LG GB250G are $35 with a monthly plan on a 2-year contract; and $175 prepaid or outright.

Features:

1.3 megapixel camera with video recorder
MP3 player
FM Radio
Bluetooth® technology
Handsfree speaker
Picture and Video Messaging
Flight mode, calendar, to-do list, calculator, unit converter, world time, tip calculator, alarm and note pad

For full Fido LG GB250G features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Fido News

Samsung Rolls Out Mobile Chips

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:21:50 PST

Samsung is paving the way for the next generation of mobile devices, and the company introduced various mobile chips aimed at improving the performance of sophisticated devices without raising power consumption.

The second-largest handset maker in the world rolled out two 1-GHz ARM Cortex A8-based application processors, and Samsung said these chips are capable of 3-D graphics rendering, high-resolution video support, and real-time Internet access, and both have low power architectures. The S5PC110 is targeted at smaller devices like smartphones, and the S5PV210 is aimed at portable computing devices like netbooks or tablets, Samsung said. These processors could eventually find their way into a wide variety of devices, as Samsung chips are found in multiple consumer electronic devices including Apple's iPhone.

"PC-level performance with lower power consumption will become mainstream requirements for mobile devices," said Dr. Kwang Hyun Kim, senior VP at Samsung, in a statement. "Samsung developed S5PC110 and S5PV210 application processors to satisfy these conflicting requirements to enable a new level of user experience not previously possible."

The company also introduced a chip that integrates capacitive touch-screen control in a display driver. Samsung said the Touch Embedded DDI chip will allow for slimmer form factors, and it is targeted at smartphones, MP3 players, and portable media players. Capacitive screens are found in handsets like the iPhone 3GS, Palm Pre, and myTouch 3G, and they enable things like multi-touch and soft-touch input. Industry watchers believe the market for capacitive screens will grow substantially over the next few years, but resistive screens will still garner a strong market share due to backwards-compatibility issues, as well as support for handwriting recognition.

Samsung also rolled out a system-on-a-chip image sensor that brings support for 5-megapixel cameras on mobile phones. The S5K4EA chip combines a CMOS image sensor with an image signal processor, which could lead to slimmer camera phones, Samsung said.

Posted in: Industry News

Rogers to Ditch SAF and Introduce ‘GRRF’

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:22:58 PST

On October 5th Rogers will be saying good-bye System Access Fee, and hello Government Regulatory Recovery Fee.

The new fee, being introduced in just a couple of weeks, will only affect new customers. Existing customers will have the option of staying on their current plan, but will have to continue paying their SAF and 911 fees. New customers or existing customers migrating to a new plan will have it all rolled in to one.

“The Government Regulatory Recovery Fee is applied per line to help fund fees, costs and other amounts related to federal, provincial and/or municipal mandates, programs and requirements such as provincial 911 fees, spectrum acquisition, licensing charges, and contribution charges to help subsidize telephone service in rural and remote areas.” states Rogers.

The Government Regulatory Recovery Fee ranges from $2.46 to $3.33 (per line, per month) depending on where you live, and whether provincial 911 fees are applicable. Rogers will also be including Call Forwarding, Call Manager and WhoCalled™.

Think you’re going to save money? Think again. Leaked internal documents posted on MobileSyrup indicate that plans will also be increasing in price, so you may end up paying a little more.

From Rogers.com

To read more and view the internal documents on MobileSyrup, click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

WIND Mobile Puts Call Centre In Canada

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:20:57 PST

Even with the CRTC foreign ownership hearings coming up this week, WIND Mobile continues to plow ahead with their plans to become a new wireless player in Canada.

They announced their new brand about 6 weeks ago and at that time declared to hire 300 customer service positions immediately and a whopping 2,000 within 12 months. We first saw an ad in the paper about WIND hiring shortly after. The tag line stated: “Hey people. We’re hiring people who treat people like people.”

Today they have announced that the City of Peterborough will be the location for their call centre. The location will be at 364 Water Street and employ 40 and ramp up to 200 over the next year. It’s good to know that a Canadian wireless company will have their call centre in Canada. Mayor Paul Ayotte stated “We are proud to welcome WIND Mobile to the City of Peterborough. Given the current economic climate, the announcement of the creation of these new jobs in Peterborough is very welcome news.”

“As a new wireless company that is in the process of preparing for launch, I am thrilled that WIND Mobile has chosen our community and our people to help them build their business,” said Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough.

Posted in: Industry News, WIND Mobile

Charity Donations By Text Message Comes To Canada

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:21:23 PST

With close to 100 million text messages sent in Canada on a daily basis the new age of mobile donating has arrived.

Starting today, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) has partnered up with U.S.-based Mobile Giving Foundation to make it possible for you to send donations to via text messages to the following Non-profit organizations: Plan Canada, Jays Care Foundation, Best Buddies and the Children’s Wish Foundation.

Bernard Lord, head of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association said “We thought this was a way to help new donors be charitable. In some cases people, can only give small gifts,” Lord said. “They don’t know how to do it and they don’t want to write a cheque for $5 or $10, but they can give $5 or $10 through their cellphone. We think it will reach mostly a younger generation, the new generation coming up, the 20s or 30s, but it could be anybody.”

Even with these small donation amounts, the CWTA confirms that 100% of the donation will go to the charity. In addition, you’ll get a tax receipt and the amount will show up on your wireless bill.

Although all of the above charities are not actually set up yet… to give to Plan Canada text HOPE, to shortcode 30333. A special event for Rogers customers is taking place at the Jays game on September 25th. You’ll be able
to make donations to the Jays Care Foundation by texting CARE to shortcode 20222.

Posted in: Industry News

Apple Denies Rejecting Google App

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:06:13 PST

Google Inc. says Apple Inc.'s top marketing executive rejected its Google Voice application because it duplicates the dialler on the iPhone and could be used as a replacement.

Apple earlier denied it rejected the program, and said Friday that the two Silicon Valley companies are still discussing the application.

Google Voice lets people pick a new phone number, then route incoming calls to cell, office or home phones. It also lets users place calls from within the application.

Google says Phil Schiller of Apple told Google's Alan Eustace, a senior vice president, during a July phone call that Apple rejected the program.

That's according to an updated letter from Google posted on the Federal Communications Commission's Web site. A previous version redacted the specifics.

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Fido News, Rogers News

WinMo 7 for Social Networking?

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:01:36 PST

Microsoft plans to make social networking a major component of Windows Mobile 7, the company revealed today through a new job listing. The post demands a Senior Program Manager for a "Mobile Social Platform" that, in Microsoft's early view, would show multiple social networks' news feeds in a single location. Alternately, it might hook data from those networks into other apps: an incoming call could show status updates from the contact.

It's not clear whether Microsoft expects the feature to be a part of Windows Mobile 7 when it ships. In the past, Microsoft has announced Windows Mobile updates early in a given year and shipped it in the second half. Both timeframes would give the new executive less than a year to implement the social platform for launch.

See the job posting here.

Posted in: Industry News

Bell Launches Eco-Friendly Samsung Reclaim

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:47:23 PST

Bell introduces the eco-friendly Samsung Reclaim™. It is the first mobile phone available in Canada built using biodegradable corn-based plastic. And when recycled through the Bell Blue Box program or Samsung Recycling Direct, 97% of the phone material is recyclable.

Key Features:

Available in Ocean Blue or Earth Green
Camera & Camcorder
Full QWERTY keyboard
Built-in autonomous GPS
Threaded text messaging
Expandable memory up to 32 GB

For full Samsung Reclaim™ features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Bell News

Nokia Siemens Makes First LTE Call

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:23:35 PST

Telecom equipment maker Nokia Siemens Networks said on Thursday it has made the world's first call using next generation LTE mobile technology.

The call was made at the company's research and development site in Ulm, Germany, using a commercial base station and fully standard-compliant software, Nokia Siemens said.

"It's a proofpoint of the direction we are going to. Our strategy is focused on deployments and being first to the mass market," Marc Rouanne, the head of radio networks unit at Nokia Siemens, told Reuters in an interview.

All telecom equipment vendors are rushing to sell LTE networks to operators as the overall equipment market is shrinking amid fierce price battles and due to operators' slowing investments.

First LTE services will be opened later this year, with mass deployments in 2010, Nokia Siemens said.

The world's telecom carriers are lining up infrastructure vendors as they prepare to launch LTE technology, which will enable faster uploads and downloads of movies, music and other data to mobile devices.

Nokia Siemens has missed out from some first high-profile deals, but Rouanne said the firm has built up a good position, selling LTE-ready base stations -- which can be upgraded with just new software -- to some 80 operators around the world.

"Wherever we have deployed LTE-capable base stations it gives us an edge to quickly multiply and deploy LTE networks," he said.

Posted in: Industry News

Opera Launches Mini 5 Browser

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:33:26 PST

Opera Software released Wednesday a beta version of its popular mobile browser, and Opera Mini 5 boasts multiple new features and a new user interface.

The browser is available for a wide variety of devices including feature phones with Java ME, as well as Windows Mobile and BlackBerry smartphones. Opera Mini is compatible with multiple platforms because it uses server-side compression technology that eases the bandwidth and hardware requirements needed to surf the Web from a mobile device.

Opera said the latest version of its mobile browser compresses pages by up to 90% before they are sent to a phone, which improves page-load times. Opera Mini 5 also adds tabbed browsing, a password manager, improved scrolling, and a refined user interface that has better support for touch-screen handsets.

Opera has brought some of the features of its desktop browser to Opera Mini 5, including the "speed dial" feature which is a set of visual bookmarks for Web pages when the user opens a new tab. The beta version is available for multiple devices, and it can be downloaded directly to a phone from Opera's Web site.

Download Opera Mini 5 beta here.

Posted in: Industry News

LG to Launch Android Phone

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:12:13 PST

Google-designed Android operating system is clearly the flavor of the season as seen by the launch of LG’s latest phone. Also known as the Etna KS360, the new LG phone, unimaginatively re-named LG-GW620, will the company’s first Android-based device. It will feature a 3-inch full touchscreen and slide out QWERTY keypad.

LG did not offer detailed specs for the phone.

The new device is expected to be first available in Europe in the fourth quarter of this year. The company has not disclosed the pricing for the device and hasn’t said when it will be released in North America.

“Our objective is to provide a wide selection of smartphones to satisfy the diverse preferences of today’s consumers,” said Skott Ahn, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile. “This Android phone is just one of many smartphone models we plan to introduce worldwide in the years ahead.”

LG’s Android phone comes on the heels of its rival handset maker Motorola introducing an Android-based device of its own called Cliq. Other companies such as Samsung and Sony Ericsson are also looking to introduce new Android-based phones later this year.

Unlike Motorola, LG won’t focus on Android alone and will continue to churn out phones running Windows Mobile, says the company. LG plans to announce three new Windows Mobile-based smartphones in the next few weeks and a total of 13 new smartphones that run Windows Mobile over the next 16 months.

Posted in: Industry News

Rogers Next Generation 21 Mbps HSPA+ Network Goes Live in 5 Cities

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:54:28 PST

TORONTO, Sept. 14 /CNW/ - Rogers Wireless today announced the commercial availability of Rogers' next generation super-charged High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) network in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, clocking in at maximum speeds of 21 Megabits per second (Mbps). Millions of Canadians can access the fastest wireless speeds in North America through the new 21 Mbps HSPA+ Rocket Mobile Internet Stick, which customers can pre-order online only at rogers.com starting today.

"With Rogers 21 Mbps HSPA+ network, customers in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal are the first in North America to experience the fastest world-class wireless speeds," said John Boynton, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President, Rogers Wireless. "Rogers continues to remain at the forefront of offering Canadians the most innovative mobile technologies and first-to-market products, including the new Rogers Rocket Mobile Internet Stick that lets consumers enjoy mobile Internet access across Canada's fastest wireless network just as conveniently as you use your wireless phone."

Rogers began the Canada-wide deployment of a 21 Mbps HSPA+ wireless network earlier this year, tripling the current download speeds of Canada's fastest high-speed mobile network, making the Rogers network up to seven times faster than the Canadian competition. Rogers Wireless customers - who today already experience the fastest wireless data speeds in Canada - will experience even better performance with peak wireless download speeds that are as fast as any available in the world.

The new 21 Mbps HSPA+ Rocket Mobile Internet Stick brings Canadians the freedom to enjoy mobile Web experiences at speeds that are as fast as those you would find at home or at the office. The HSPA+ Rocket Mobile Internet Stick features a USB connection to a laptop or a desktop PC, easy installation with no CD required for Windows or Mac Operating Systems, integrated antenna for maximized reception performance and data transmission and multi-colour LED indicating connection status.

Starting today, Canadians can pre-order the new HSPA+ Rocket Mobile Internet Stick for as low as $74.99 only from rogers.com.

Rogers plans to expand HSPA+ over the coming months to additional cities across the country. Rogers is the first wireless provider in North America to launch HSPA+ at peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps, reinforcing Rogers and Canada as a North American market leader in telecommunications technology and innovation.

For more information on Rogers HSPA+ network, click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Motorola Announces Google Phone; Shares Jump

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:26:08 PST

The market's initial response to the announcement was modest and the shares closed up just 1.5 percent on Thursday, but many analysts took a closer look at the phone --called Cliq in the United States-- later in the afternoon and issued upbeat reports.

Analysts were particularly positive about the phone's features like easy access to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. RBC analyst Mark Sue raised his price target on the shares to $10 from $8.

"Our initial take is favorable, and it seems that Motorola is carving out a niche in the crowded smartphone market by focusing on socially minded demographics as opposed to enterprise users or pro-sumers," Sue said.

The Cliq goes on sale in the United States through Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA in the fourth quarter, and it will be branded Dext in the rest of the world. France Telecom's Orange plans to sell it in Britain and France; Telefonica in Spain; and America Movil in Latin America.

Motorola is launching another phone using Google's Android software later in the year, and Wall Street sees the series as its last big hope to regain the market share lost to rivals like Apple Inc's iPhone, as well as those sold by Nokia and Samsung.

While many analysts' first impression of the phone on Thursday had been that it was no iPhone killer, many said it could still help revive the business.

"We believe Motorola needs to sell about 2 million smartphones a quarter to return to profitability in handsets, and the Cliq is a good first step to achieving this level," said Morgan Keegan analyst Tavis McCourt.

Motorola shares were up 52 cents to $8.49 in late morning trading. They briefly touched a high of $8.62.

Posted in: Industry News

Palm to Launch Second WebOS Phone

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 12:20:48 PST

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Palm, which is putting all of its hopes on its webOS operating system, has just announced the “Pixi,” which is the follow-up to the Palm Pre.

As with the Palm Pre, the device will be available through Sprint, but not until the holidays for an unknown price. The phone essentially sounds like the second-generation of the Pre. It is thinner and has a full keyboard, rather than a slider. It also has a number of “personalization” options, like limited-edition Artist Series covers, that are expected to attract younger users.

The unveiling of the Pixi was likely undermined by a pricing snafu that listed the Pre as $100 today, or 50 percent off. The promotion was pulled by Sprint before it even got off the ground. However, now it appears that deal was not too far off. In the same release announcing the Pixi, Palm said that the Pre is now available for $149.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a $150 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate—that’s 50 bucks off the original price tag.

Posted in: Industry News

TELUS Buys Black's Photography for $28 Million

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 14:22:42 PST

TELUS announced announcing Tuesday that it has acquired Black's Photo Corp. for approximately $28 million. The move automatically adds 70 Ontario store locations to help TELUS increase it's presence in Eastern Canada.

Black's owns and operates more than 110 store locations throughout Canada.

Bell made a similar purchase earlier in the year by acquiring the Source with it's 750 locations across Canada. The Source will begin selling Bell cell phones and smartphones in January when their Rogers contract expires.

The Vancouver Sun has a great article up breaking down the reasons behind the acquisition that can be found here: www.vancouversun.com/business/Telus+tackles+photography+buying+Blacks+million/1972641/story.html.

Posted in: TELUS News

Shoppers Still Hesitant to Buy Via Mobile

Fri, 4 Sep 2009 15:00:04 PST

Almost everyone has a mobile phone.

Mobile Web usage is spiking, as more and more Americans adopt smartphones like Blackberrys and the iPhone. And retailers are starting to produce no-paper mobile coupons.

But mobile e-commerce remains nascent, as both businesses and consumers have demonstrated a hesitancy to adopt the medium as a shopping vehicle, according to a new report issued by eMarketer.

Privacy and security concerns are a major obstacle both in the minds of consumers and retailer advertisers, says the report. Many people are still fearful about sharing personal information and credit-card numbers via their mobile devices—and that fact makes brands cautious about offering bigger-ticket items through mobile.

Plus, for brands wishing to sell product on mobile devices, execution is challenging in the current marketplace. For example, since there are so many different phones and different mobile operating systems, it’s not easy—and not always worth the effort—for retailers to create shopping applications for ever single mobile platform.

As as result, “most retailers are either standing on the sidelines or in the midst of planning their mobile commerce strategy,” said eMarketer senior analyst Jeffrey Grau, who authored the new report, Mobile Commerce: Ahead of Its Time.

According to the report, consumers are showing an early willingness to make smaller mobile purchases, such as buying movie tickets and ordering pizza. But currently, “mobile commerce is still immature,” reads the report. “Web-enabled mobile phone users are much more likely to employ their devices to get weather forecasts, read news, find movie times and bank online than to buy products.”

Posted in: Industry News

Brand Refresh for Sony Ericsson

Fri, 4 Sep 2009 14:54:44 PST

The handset manufacturer is going to align brand tagline 'make.believe' with all Sony companies to leverage consumer offerings.

Sony Ericsson has announced a brand refresh that will align its marketing message with that of other Sony companies.

The company's new tagline, "make.believe" (pronounced ‘make dot believe'), will be used for all consumer-facing communication from Sony brands including Vaio laptops, televisions, Play Stations, cameras, Sony Music and Sony Pictures.

A new advertising campaign is to launch within the next month, to be focused mainly online using images of cartoon spacehoppers that the company hopes to spread across the internet virally. Viral campaigns will also be used for the new Satio, Aino and Yari phones. There will also be a global campaign around the 2010 FIFA World Cup, of which Sony Ericsson is the official handset sponsor.

Sony Ericsson will take on a new brand with seven new colour variations. The company also wants to encourage greater consumer participation in the brand through a stronger focus on interactive digital and social media channels.

The company hopes the brand refresh and alignment with other Sony brands will see it pitched as an entertainment company to rival Nokia's Ovi and services strategy. It also hopes to turn around ailing profits by boosting consumer loyalty through the new drive.

Sony Ericsson head of brand strategy Cathy Davies said: "Fusing communication and entertainment has been at the core of Sony Ericsson's offering since the start of the joint venture. ‘make.believe' aligns Sony Ericsson with the Sony Group companies and reflects the coming together of communication and entertainment. By realigning our brand and adopting ‘make.believe' we further highlight our entertainment offering to consumers."

Sony Ericsson global head of marketing Lennard Hoornik added: "Our ongoing business transformation is laying the foundations for the new Sony Ericsson. Our realigned brand is a vital part of this strategy. Combined with a new culture of openness it marks a shift in the way we plan and build our propositions, as well as how we invite consumers to engage with us via digital and social media platforms."

Posted in: Industry News

A Quarter of Facebook Users Connect Via their Mobile Phone

Thu, 3 Sep 2009 14:11:28 PST

Facebook announced today that 65 million of their 250 million users connect to Facebook via their mobile phones on a monthly basis. These are incredible stats that how embedded in our lives Facebook has become.

Facebook has seen incredible growth of their Facebook mobile where only 9 months ago, only 20 million people were getting to Facebook via mobile devices.

Facebook's mobile sites can be accessed through one of the following url's:

m.facebook.com - designed for any mobile phone
x.facebook.com - designed for touch screen phones like Android, Palm, iPhone and Nokia

Posted in: Industry News

Canadian Cell Phone Companies Adopt Code of Conduct

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 13:55:00 PST

Today the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) announced a cell phone industry "code of conduct" adopted by all of Canada's cell phone providers. This code of conduct is meant to is meant to allow customers to refuse changes made partway through their contract's term or to get out of the contract at no additional cost.

As per the CWTA code of conduct the following cell phone providers have adopted the code:

The following service providers subscribe to the code: Bell, Dryden Mobility, EastLink, Fido, Koodo Mobile, MTS Allstream, (currently operating as MTS), Public Mobile, Rogers Communications Inc., SaskTel, Solo, TBayTel, TELUS (including Mike), Videotron, Virgin Mobile Canada and WIND Mobile.

You can find the full CWTA code of conduct here: www.cwta.ca/CWTASite/english/codeofconduct.html.

Posted in: Industry News

Facebook 3.0 iPhone App is Now Available

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:00:59 PST

The much anticipated Facebook 3.0 iPhone app has now been released is available through the iPhone App Store. The updated app features:

iPhone 3GS users can now upload videos
Built-in web browser: All links can be viewed without leaving the Facebook iPhone App!
The ability to zoom in to photos.
Full photo management. You can create/delete albums, delete photos/photo tags.
Photos can be uploaded to any album
Profile Picture can now be changed.
View upcoming events and RSVP See your upcoming Events and RSVP
View your friends’ birthdays your friends’ birthdays
The ability to view pages and post updates and photos to Pages you administer
Write/read your friends’ notes
You can like posts or photos.
See the same news feed on the Facebook website
All of your friends’ friends and pages can be viewed
View your mutual friends
Easy searching for people and Pages
Make friend requests
Become a fan of Pages
Quickly call/text your friends
Create shortcuts to favorite friends/Pages
You can sort friends according to first or last name in settings.
Chat friends are sorted alphabetically.

Posted in: Apple iPhone

Palm Pre Now Available from Bell

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:42:45 PST

Today Bell added the Palm® Pre™ to their smartphone line-up. The Palm® Pre™ is seen as a direct competitor of the Apple iPhone currently available from Rogers & Fido in Canada. The Palm Pre starts at $199.95 on a 3 year contract and features:

3.1-inch touch screen with 24-bit colour 320x480 resolution HVGA display
Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
Email and instant messaging
Text, picture and video messaging
Built-in GPS
3.0 megapixel camera
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth® 2.1
MP3
Internal memory: 8 GB

For full Bell Palm Pre features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Bell News

Koodo Mobile Adds the Motorola Rival™ A455

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:35:27 PST

Today Koodo Mobile added the Motorola Rival™ A455 to their cell phone line-up. The Motorola Rival was previously made available by TELUS (who owns and operates Koodo Mobile). The Motorola Rival starts at $225 and features:

Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
2.2" screen with touch dial-pad
2.0 megapixel camera with video capture
MP3 player with microSD™ slot (expandable up to 8GB)
Bluetooth
One-touch access to instant messaging and email applications

For full Motorola Rival™ A455 features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Koodo Mobile News

Fido Launches the Nokia 1661

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:22:30 PST

Today Fido added the Nokia 1661 to their cell phone line-up. The Nokia 1661 is available for $0 on a 2 year Fido agreement. This basic cell phone features:

FM Radio
Integrated handsfree speaker
Loud ringer tone volume
Large Keymat
Flashlight
Alarm Clock

For full Nokia 1661 features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Fido News

Rogers Samsung Hype™ A256 is now Pay As You Go

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:14:44 PST

Rogers has brought the Samsung Hype™ A256 to their Pay As You Go cell phone line-up. The Samsung Hype™ A256starts at $89.99 and features:

Full QWERTY keypad
Sleek design and large display which allows for easy messaging and convenient portability
Bluetooth
Built in VGA camera

For full Samsung Hype features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

TELUS Releases the LG KEYBO 2™

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 12:48:11 PST

Today TELUS released the LG KEYBO 2™ for $99.99 on a 3 year contract. The LG KEYBO 2™ features:

QWERTY for efficient text, and instant messaging
Expandable MicroSD™ slot up to 8GB
Play your favourite tunes in the background
Dual display for quick and easy menu access
3.0 megapixel camera with flash and video capture
Available in Black and Pink

For full LG KEYBO 2™ features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

Samsung Link™ now available from Virgin Mobile & Solo Mobile

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 12:41:58 PST

The Samsung Link™ is now available from both Virgin Mobile & Solo Mobile. The Samsung Link™ has been available through Bell since the middle of July. The price starts at $25 on a 2 year term for both Virgin & Solo.

Virgin Mobile Samsung Link™

Available in Grey and White

Solo Mobile Samsung Link™

Available in Red

Posted in: Solo Mobile News, Virgin Mobile News

TELUS Launches the Motorola Rival A455 and LG Masterpiece

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 13:25:19 PST

Today TELUS added the Motorola Rival A455 and LG Masterpiece to their cell phone line-up. Key features and prices are listed below.

Motorola Rival A455

Available for $99.99 on a 3 year contract. The Rival features:

Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
2.2" screen with touch dial-pad
One-touch access to instant messaging and email applications
Available in Tin Silver and Purple

For more Motorola Rival A455 information please click here.

LG Masterpiece

Available for $49.99 on a 3 year contract. The Masterpiece features:

Slim design, only 10.4 mm thick
1.3 megapixel digital camera
Bluetooth

For more LG Masterpiece information please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

TELUS HTC Touch Pro2™ & HTC Snap™ Now Available

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:17:53 PST

Today TELUS added the HTC Touch Pro2™ & HTC Snap™ to their smartphone line-up. Both smartphones feature a QWERTY keyboard for easy typing with the Touch Pro2 having a larger slide out keyboard.

HTC Touch Pro2™

Available for $399.99 on a 3 year contract. The Touch Pro2 features:

Type Email and IM messages easily with the slide-out 5-row QWERTY keyboard.
Wi-Fi® capable with one-touch access to the web from a dedicated short-cut button.
Enjoy browsing the web on the high resolution 3.6” touchscreen with adjustable tilt.

For more HTC Touch Pro2 information please click here.

HTC Snap™

Available for $299.99 on a 3 year contract. The HTC Snap features:

QWERTY keyboard and the enhanced Windows Mobile OS
HTML browser that supports file downloading and streaming audio / video
2.0 megapixel camera with flash and video capture

For more HTC Snap information please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

MiKe Adds the Rugged Motorola r765

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:07:50 PST

MiKe has added the Motorola r765 to their rugged phone line-up. The Motorola r765 features:

Meets US Military 810 Specs for Dust, Shock, Vibration, High and Low
Temperature, Pressure, Humidity, Salt Fog, Blowing Rain and Solar Radiation
Fixed antenna for improved reception
Integrated Bluetooth technology for wireless data and hands-free accessories
Integrated GPS
Dual SIM contact card slots
Talkgroup knob and emergency button for easier use when needed

For full MiKe Motorola r765 features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: MiKe News

Rogers Sony Ericsson MD400g USB Modem Now Available

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:57:00 PST

Rogers has added the Sony Ericsson MD400g USB Modem to their Rocket Stick line-up. It is currently available for $0 on a 2 or 3 year contract and features:

download speeds up to 7.2Mbps
memory storage capability of up to 8 GB

Full features and specifications for the Rogers Sony Ericsson MD400g please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Virgin Mobile Samsung m320 now available in Pink

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:41:23 PST

The Virgin Mobile Samsung m320 is now available in pink. The Samsung m320 is availabe for $0 on a 2 year plan and $49.99 on prepaid. The Samsung m320 features:

Bluetooth ®
VGA camera
Speakerphone
Speed dial
Voice dialing
Voice memo
500 phone book entries

For full Samsung m320 features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

Bell Adds the Samsung Link™ and LG Bliss

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:36:14 PST

Bell has added the Samsung Link™ and LG Bliss to their cell phone line-up. Key features and starting price-points for each cell phone can be found below.

Samsung Link™

Starts at $19.95 on a 3 year contract and features:

Available in Purple and Red
2.2” LCD display featuring QCIF and 262K TFT
Full QWERTY keyboard
1.3 megapixel camera
MP3 player
Expandable memory compatible with up to 16 GB MicroSD cards

For full Samsung Link features & specifications please click here.

LG Bliss

Starts at $79.95 on a 3 year contract and features:

Touch screen with Vibration Feedback.
2.0 megapixel camera & camcorder
MP3 player
GPS Nav

For full LG Bliss features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Bell News

Koodo Mobile Adds the Motorola VE465 and LG 5500

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:27:09 PST

Koodo Mobile has added the Motorola VE465 and LG 5500 to their cell phone line-up. The Motorola VE465 tops out at $200 and the LG 5500 at $175. Key features for each cell phone can be found below.

Motorola VE465

Rubberized easy to grip body and keypad
1.3 megapixel camera with video capture
MP3 player with built-in microSD slot (expandable up to 4GB)
Bluetooth®
Voice-activated dialling & speakerphone

For full Motorola VE465 features & specifications please click here.

LG 5500

0.3 megapixel camera
Bluetooth® technology for hands-free accessories
Voice-activated dialling using speech recognition
Speakerphone
1000-entry phone book

For full LG 5500 features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Koodo Mobile News

TELUS BlackBerry Tour™ 9630 Now Available

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:07:24 PST

The BlackBerry Tour™ 9630 is now available from TELUS starting at $249.95 on a 3 year contract. The BlackBerry Tour was first released by Bell a week earlier at the same price point. The BlackBerry Tour™ 9630 features:

Full QWERTY keyboard
3.2 megapixel camera with geo-tagging, auto focus, flash, image stabilization and full-screen preview
Bluetooth® 2.0
Autonomous/Standalone and Assisted GPS

For full TELUS BlackBerry Tour features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: BlackBerry News, TELUS News

MiKe launches the Motorola Clutch™ i465

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 11:58:08 PST

MiKe has added the Motorola Clutch™ i465 to it's Motorola iDen phone line-up. The Motorola Clutch™ i465 features:

full QWERTY keyboard
Military tough
GPS Enabled
Camera
Quick-launch keys for messaging, web-browser, and camera

For full Motorola Clutch™ i465 features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: MiKe News

Fido 3G Mobile Internet Stick Now Available

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 11:53:12 PST

Fido has released a 3G Mobile Internet Stick allowing you to surf the web anywhere. The Internet Stick is available at no cost and can be paired with a $7 per month Unlimited On-Device Mobile Browsing option.

The 3G Mobile Internet Stick is plug and surf with no installation cd. It can obtain wireless download speeds up to 7.2 Mbps, faster than home lite DSL

For full 3G Mobile Internet Stick features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Fido News

Bell Launches the BlackBerry Tour™ 9630

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 15:30:57 PST

Bell has launched the Blackberry Tour™ 9630 in Canada a week ahead of TELUS starting at $249.95 on a 3 year contract. The BlackBerry Tour™ 9630 features:

Full QWERTY keyboard with trackball navigation
3.2 megapixel auto focus camera, with image stabilization
Expandable memory up to 32 GB (microSD)
GPS capabilities
Media Player

For full BlackBerry Tour™ 9630 features and specifications please click here.

Posted in: Bell News

TELUS Launches the Samsung U430™

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 18:20:35 PST

TELUS has released the very basic Samsung U430™ for $0 on a 3 year contract. The Samsung U430™ features:

0.3 megapixel camera
Bluetooth
Speakerphone
Voice activated dialing

For full Samsung U430™ features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

Virgin Mobile Releases the LG Rumour 2 and Samsung VICE

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:40:53 PST

Virgin Mobile brings the LG Rumour 2 and Samsung VICE to their cell phone line-up. Both are bar type cell phones with slide-out QWERY keyboards and possess cameras.

LG Rumour 2

The LG Rumour 2 is available for $49.99 on a 2 year plan and features:

Slide-out 4 line QWERTY Keyboard
1.3 Megapixel Camera
Expandable Memory up to 12 GB (microSD)

The LG Rumour 2 has been available through both Bell and Solo Mobile since May 21st.

For full LG Rumour 2 features and specifications please click here.

Samsung VICE

The Samsung VICE is available for $79.99 on a 2 year plan and features:

Slide-out 4 line QWERTY keyboard
2.0 megapixel Camera
Jog wheel for music navigation
Expandable Memory: up to 8 GB

The Samsung VICE has been available through Bell since April 30th.

For full Samsung VICE features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Virgin Mobile News

Rogers launches the Nokia 7510

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:14:29 PST

Rogers has launched the Nokia 7510 for just $29.99 on a 3 year contract. The Nokia 7510 features:

Supports TalkSpot™
Stereo Bluetooth®
2.0 megapixel camera with video capture
512 MB of expandable memory included with support up to 4GB MicroSD

For full Nokia 7510 features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

TELUS Launches the Samsung M220

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:06:41 PST

TELUS as launched the Samsung M220 to their basic phone line-up available for just $29.99 on a 3 year contract. The Samsung M220 features:

Bluetooth® technology for wireless accessories
Speakerphone
Voice activated dialling using speech recognition

For full Samsung M220 features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: TELUS News

Rogers launches the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:01:37 PST

Today Rogers released the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic starting at $199.99 on a 3 year contract. The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic phone features:

3G World phone
Built in urMusic™ application
Widescreen 3.2" touch screen with 640 x 360 resolution
3.2 megapixel camera featuring Carl Zeiss optics, video capture and front-facing camera for video calling
8GB of expandable memory included with support up to 16GB MicroSD

For full Nokia 5800 XpressMusic features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Rogers launches the Sony Ericsson C510

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:55:01 PST

Today Rogers released the Sony Ericsson C510 for $49.99 on a 3 year contract. The Sony Ericsson C510 features:

3G world phone
Advanced Cyber-Shot™ features
3.2 megapixel Camera with video capture
2.2" high resolution screen
1 GB Memory included with support up to 8 GB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™)

For full Sony Ericsson C510 features & specifications please click here.

Posted in: Rogers News

Apple Announces They've Sold Over 1 Million iPhone 3GS Models

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:37:05 PST

Today Apple announced that they've sold over 1 Million iPhone 3GS smartphones. The news comes just 3 days after the launch of the Apple iPhone 3GS.

The Apple iPhone 3GS is currently available from Rogers & Fido in Canada and AT&T in the US.

You can view the full Apple news release announcing 1 Million iPhone 3GS units sold here:

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/06/22iphone.html

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Fido News, Rogers News

Apple iPhone 3GS Now Available

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:57:17 PST

The much anticipated Apple iPhone 3GS is now available in Canada and the US. The iPhone 3GS is Apple's fastest and most powerful iPhone yet. Features of the new iPhone 3GS include:

Speed - Load web pages, launch apps, open attachments, and take pictures faster than ever before. iPhone 3GS makes your entire iPhone experience more responsive. (up to 2x faster)
Video Camera - iPhone 3GS now lets you shoot and edit video, then share it via email, MMS, MobileMe, or YouTube. And still pictures get better with a 3-megapixel camera, built-in autofocus, and a tap-to-focus feature.
Voice Control - With Voice Control, you can use your voice to call a person in your Contacts list, dial a number, or play a song.

Pricing:

Canada - Rogers & Fido
16 GB - 3 Year Term - $199
32 GB - 3 Year Term - $299

US - AT&T
16 GB - 2 Year Term - $199
32 GB - 2 Year Term - $299

Posted in: Apple iPhone, Fido News, Rogers News

Mark-up on Text Messages may be as much as 4900%

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:46:20 PST

The Vancouver Sun has posted an interesting article detailing a Canadian computer scientists findings that text messages are marked up an estimate 4900%. Srinivasan Keshav told US lawmakers that the maximum cost of a single text message "very unlikely" exceeds 0.3 cents.

Bell, TELUS and Rogers all charge pay-per-use users $0.15 for sent and received text messages.

Click here to visit the VancouverSun.com web site to read the full article.

Posted in: Industry News