Latest News

If you own a small business and need a “business makeover”, Bell has announced a new contest called the “Small Business Makeover” Contest. All you have to do is in 250 words or less tell Bel why your business deserves a makeover. You can win up to a total value of $33,700 that includes prizes such as a BlackBerry Curve 8330 with $25 Anytime Local Monthly Plan, Internet, Long distance package, furniture and website design. (With all the restructuring Beller has been through this would be a perfect contest for them to actually enter, but they are big business). More info here

Chalk this beauty down in the history books. The first business book has been released for the iPhone and Canadian “Clemmer Goup has done it. The book is called “Moose on the Table: A Novel Approach to Communications @ Work” and is available at the Apple AppStore for $4.99. The book is about a middle manager struggling to regain control of his life. Check it out here

According to website Pocket-lint, Nokia will be releasing their touchscreen device that is currently known as the “Tube” on October 2nd. This will be a global launch and will likely fall under the XpressMusic sub-brand, and will be announced with the introduction of Nokia’s Comes With Music service.

In July, Anssi Vanjoki, Senior Vice President of Nokia Markets said: “Currently, the market for touchscreen products is a niche market. We always aim for a situation where we can cover all the segments with all the options. We will introduce products from the very low segment to the highest one featuring this type of functionality. Our first touch device will be aimed solidly at the ‘mid-range’ or ‘volume’ part of the market. This device will be competitively spec-ed – especially considering the price point and will be announced in a few months”

If this is true, Rogers will be releasing this one in Canada. We will did deeper and find out more info on this release and see if the global launch is valid. More here from source

Here is a video that shows the “Tube” in action:

RIM Co-CEO, Jim Balsillie will receive the ‘Men of Distinction’ Award by the Israel Cancer Research Fund. If you’re in Toronto today you can wait outside the Osgood Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel between 11:30am – 2:00pm and congratulate him!

We reported on this earlier, now pricing has come forward. In co-ordination with Fashion Week (October 25th) Bell Mobility will exclusively launch the LG Wine… and a creative contest will come out that gives you the chance to win a wine fridge. The LG Wine… a “vintage” flip phone that “combines an elegant design with an unassuming simplicity”. This will be available in black and gold for $79.95 with a 3 year contract. The LG Wine has a 2.2” display, GPS, 1.3 megapixel camera, external speakerphone, Bluetooth and picture messaging. More soon.

With the 6GB plans expiring on September 30th, the new iPhone plans and Data plans have been confirmed. Thanks to HoFo member Brian you have the pleasure of seeing these before they are officially released:

New Fido Data Plans – October 1st – Confirmed!
$15 – 2MB w/ Unlimited Emails for WM Devices – Overage = $5/MB for the first 5MB then $0.03/MB thereafter
$25 – 500MB w/ Unlimited Emails for WM Devices
$30 – 1GB w/ Unlimited Emails for WM Devices
$50 – 2GB w/ Unlimited Emails for WM Devices
$60 – 3GB w/ Unlimited Emails for WM Devices
$80 – 8GB w/ Unlimited Emails for WM Devices
Overage on the $25-$80 DSPs will be $0.03/MB

Now for the Flex Rates:
$30 – 500MB
$35 – 1GB
$50 – 2GB
$65 – 3GB
$85 – 5GB
Overages on the Flex Rate plans will be $0.03/MB

All data plans are available with or without contract! (If a customer goes over, the maximum they will pay in total for their data plan including overages is $100 thanks to the new Internet Overage Protection)

iPhone Combo Plans (Only available on a 3 Year Term):
Fido is releasing new iPhone Combo Plans to replace the current ones on October 1st!
$60
1GB Data
250 Daytime Minutes
Unlimited Evenings and Weekends from 7
Visual Voice Mail
75 SMS
Rogers / Fido Hotspots

$75
2GB Data
400 Daytime Minutes
Unlimited Evenings and Weekends from 7
Visual Voice Mail100 SMSRogers / Fido Hotspots

Want the latest BlackBerry OS? RIM BlackBerry OS 4.5 device upgrades available at blackberry.com/upgrades

With all the hype behind the new Google’s new open-source operating system called Android – Canada will not be getting this for a very long time – it will be available exclusively with T-Mobile starting in the USA on October 22nd for $179.00,  with 2 different data plans at $25 and $35. Then be rolled out early November to the United Kingdom and Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and the Netherlands  first quarter of 2009.

We wish now T-Mobile made a bigger push to invest some cash in the wireless spectrum auction so we can get this. Here is a video that explains what Android is:

This is the first of many new phones that Rogers will be launching over the next several weeks. The Motorola Extreme VA76r or code name called the “Motorola Extreme” is exclusive with Rogers Wireless and is available for $199.99 with a three-year commitment.

For us tough Canadians this is “certified to military standard 810 F for dust, drops, vibration, temperature extremes, and humidity”… is perfect for any construction site or “harsh and remote regions of the country.” The Motorola Extreme has a 2.2″ display, 2 megapixel camera with 8x zoom, holds up to 4GB optional removable memory, Internet browser and high speed 3G downloading capabilities.

Here are some features of this phone:
- Can withstand temperatures from 10 degrees C to 55 degrees C
- Can be “accidentally” dropped from a distance of 48 inches
- Can withstand extreme precipitation rates (280 l/m2/hr, 9 m/s velocity for 15 minutes)
- Designed to withstand most humid and dusty conditions

Jim Madigan, director of GSM sales, Motorola Canada said “The Motorola Extreme on Rogers HSPA network is the perfect handset for Canadians working in extreme conditions. The rugged design of the Motorola Extreme and the speed and reliability of Rogers’ network make staying connected in virtually all situations a reality.”

We were watching the season premier of Heroes and found ourselves staring at RIM TV commercial promoting the BlackBerry Bold. Even though the quality is not the best you can get a flavour of how RIM is sticking to the branding of the Bold: “Connect to everything you love in life, in a Bold new way. Introducing the BlackBerry Bold. As beautiful as it is powerful”… and ends with the tagline “Life on BlackBerry Bold”.

Sounds like they even made room for the exclusive music by Stewart Copeland. Check it out here: