Latest News

We reported earlier that Rogers will have the Motorola Rokr E8 soon – well it’s now available at Best Buy Canada for $149.99 on a 3-year commitment

As reported in an earlier post, Bell has released the exclusive Samsung m530 “Canadian Olympic Team” phone. The phone proudly displays the Canadian Olympic Team logo and the 2010 Olympic Winter Games logo.

The Samsung m530 includes a 1.3 megapixel camera, video recorder, GPS, Music Player, speakerphone and expandable memory. Available in white for $49.95 on a three-year contract with a Fun Bundle. You can also splurge and go for the Bell “Beijing 2008 video bundle” for a one time fee of 8 bucks that gives you ongoing coverage of the Olympic Games from August 8 to August 24.

Some of the features of this devise are the ability to watch live coverage of the Olympic Games’ live, video highlights, medal standings, exclusive interviews and also if you want you can also vote text your vote in for the top “Bell Olympic Moments on CBC”.

Loring Phinney, Vice President, Olympic and Corporate Marketing for Bell said “This phone delivers the ultimate sports and entertainment experience for Canadian Olympic fans. The exclusive content and interactive functions of this one-of-a kind, limited edition Canadian Olympic Team branded phone
will enable fans to connect to athletes any time and anywhere.”

“This feature-rich, multi-media phone supports a variety of our most popular multimedia and messaging services, all powered by the fastest and largest network across Canada,” said Adel Bazerghi, Vice President, Products for Bell Mobility. “We are pleased to offer Canadians a phone that lets them so directly demonstrate their Olympic spirit.”

You can now look for deals and buy your favorite electronics from Future Shop on your BlackBerry. To make the user experience “seamless”, the new mobile browser works with RIM’s BlackBerry Wallet application. Robert Pearson, Director of E-Commerce said: “this new way to shop futureshop.ca on your BlackBerry smartphone, customers have the enhanced shopping experience they are looking for.” Give it a go and download the application here. (As always, please keep in mind your data plans when browsing)

CBC reports on the uproar of Rogers iPhone 3G data and voice plans (VIDEO)

Here is the link to the Global story

Round 185: Canadian Wireless Spectrum Auction is up to $4,190,988,087. Also, the bidding schedule has been set and continues until the end of next week

Telus Summer promo: Buy any phone online on a 3-year contract and receive a $50 gas card (Offer ends August 5th, 2008). Make sure you read the fine details.

Telus has promoted the glorious HTC Touch Diamond on their website by saying that it is “Coming Soon!” -becoming the first carrier in North America to offer this!

The device has plans that start at $149.99 with a three-year contract, $349.99 for a 2-year contract, $399.99 for a 1-year contract. If you feel like splurging you can score this gem for $449.99 with no contract.  (Rate plans vary at $15 for unlimited email and IM or $30 for unlimited email, web browsing and IM).

On the Telus website is describes the Diamond as a “sexy smartphone that can do it all”. This is what Telus hopes to be the iPhone “killer” for them. It comes loaded with the TouchFLO 3D interface, Windows Media Player and 4 GB internal memory, 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus, Built-in GPS. The size is 102 x 51 x 11.5mm and weighs 110 grams with a display of 480 x 640 pixels (2.8 inches) and has Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional.

More to come soon

Ted Rogers receives the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008 Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award

Samsung, Bell Mobility and Telus have all confirmed the highly popular Instinct will be released in Canada. The launch date is August 8th and is perfect to compete with the iPhone and Bold. Both Bell and Telus are banking huge on this device.

Telus has not yet announced a price plan. However, the Samsung Instinct will be available from Bell Mobility for $149.95 on a three-year contract, $249.95 on a two-year contract or $399.95 on a one-year contract. Or if you want this with no contract it is $449.95.

The Instinct is what some are calling the iPhone killer as it has features such as a touch screen interface, full QWERTY keyboard, GPS, a music player that has the ability to call, text or surf the net (full HTML browser), watch movies, mega pixel camera with 4x digital zoom and video camcorder.

Paul Brannen, General Manager, Wireless Terminals Division, Samsung Electronics Canada said: “Millions of people around the world own Samsung wireless handsets. Our company is known for its innovative, stylish and reliable wireless products and now, with the upcoming launch of INSTINCT, we’re raising the bar higher in terms of delivering the ultimate mobile experience”.

Adel Bazerghi, Vice President, Products for Bell Mobility said “We are thrilled to offer Canadians this beautifully designed and intelligent device. Accessing the Internet, listening to downloaded music or satellite radio, watching TV or using it as a GPS system, it’s all a real pleasure with the Samsung Instinct thanks to its powerful touch screen and easy interface. Data pricing plans available with the Samsung Instinct will offer also exceptional value and let clients take full advantage of Bell Mobility’s wide range of data services.”

To compete with the iPhone data plans, Bell seems to have it correct: voice and data plans include the $10 Unlimited Mobile Browser add-on data plan that allows unlimited Internet access.

Samsung Instinct – More to come soon.

Google Maps for Mobile – get transit information & schedulesGoogle Maps for Mobile has now made it possible to “check bus and subway schedules, determine what transfers you need to make, and plan adventures in more than 50 Cities around the world”. In Canada, you can have access to this free service (check your data plan before using) in: Vancouver, BC (TransLink), Fredericton, NB (Fredericton Transit), Ottawa, ON (OC Transpo), Montréal, QC (AMT).

Here is a video to show you how it works:

Google Maps for Mobile – Transit