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This could be the first Huawei device to make it onto Virgin Mobile. If you’re looking for a low-cost device that has an older version of Android loaded onto it (probably won’t ever be upgraded) then the Huawei Y201 might be for you. The Y201 runs OS 2.3 Gingerbread, has a 3.5-inch touchscreen (320 X 480 resolution), 3.2MP camera and has a 1,250 mAh battery. This is available now on Prepaid for $80.

Source: Virgin
(Thanks tipster!)

Mobilicity, who’s currently going through their own carrier issues, has one of the best deals going for a BlackBerry Z10. Originally launched on their network a couple months ago for $599.99 now sees a cut of $100. This seems to be a Father’s Day promo and only available ‘while supplies last.”

$500 outright for the Z10 is a solid deal. Check out our Z10 review here.

Source: Mobilicity

A few weeks ago Motorola announced their new flagship smartphone – the Moto X. The Android-powered device will comes with some unique specs and features. Dennis Woodside, Motorola’s CEO, was quoted as saying “We know when it’s in your pocket, we know when it’s in your hand, it’s going to know when you want to take a picture and fire up the cameras… The device will know when you’re in the car and it’s moving at 60mph and you’ll interact with it differently, more safely.”

Specs of the Motorola X have surfaced online before, but reputable and reliable device leaker evleaks has put his stamp on the device, noting it’ll come with a 720p touchscreen display, 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor (MSM8960), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, 10-megapixel camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

Previous rumoured specs of the X phone were 4.7-inch full HD screen, NVIDIA Tegra 4i processor, 16MP camera, 5MP front-facing camera and come in various colour options. So for now, consider this a rumour until something official from Motorola arrives.

Moto confirmed the Moto X will be “available this summer, every Moto X sold in the USA will be assembled in Fort Worth, Texas, making it the first smartphone ever assembled domestically.”

Source: Twitter (evleaks)

The Samsung Galaxy S4 – “Your Life’s Companion” – has seen sales surpass 10 million since its release in May. We have one here, courtesy of Rogers, and have decided to give it away!

A refresher of specs has the Galaxy S4 packing Android OS Jelly Bean, 5-inch display (1920 x 1080), 1.9GHz Snapdragon quad-core processor, LTE-enabled, 13MP camera that shoots 1080p HD video, 2MP front-facing camera and a 2600 mAh battery. You can have a gander at our full in-depth review here.

Like all of our contests, this one is easy to enter. All you have to do is either follow us and re-tweet this contest on Twitter (@mobilesyrup), “Like Us” on Facebook (Facebook.com/MobileSyrup), or join us on Google+. All current Facebook, Twitter and Google+ followers are automatically entered. This contest closes on June 30th and we’ll announce a winner shortly after!

Good luck to all who enter!

Here’s the first of three Sonim rugged handsets coming to Bell’s Push-to-talk (PTT) network. The Sonim XP5560 BOLT 2 will arrive on July 4th and we’ve been informed the no-term price will be $489.95 and on contact for $229.95. According to the internal doc we received it states that “this device is exclusive to Bell until September 30, 2013.”

As for specs, this is a slight upgrade from the original BOLT (pictured above) and comes with a 2-inch QVGA display, 2MP camera with LED flash, 16GB internal storage, 128MB RAM, NFC and 1950 mAh battery. As this is a rugged device, targeted to lone workers or those in the field, the BOLT 2 can take a beating. It’s approved by the US military to handle “extreme temperatures, vibration/shock, rain, blowing sand/dust, humidity.”

We’ll have more info on this launch shortly. Bell will also be releasing the Sonim XP1520 Bolt SL and the XP5560.

(Thanks tipster!)

TELUS and Rogers have announced plans to start selling the 4th gen iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular and iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular “in the coming weeks.” There’s no specific dates or prices listed on their respected sites, only that it’s coming soon. Rogers declined to comment on the versions they’ll stock, but TELUS will have the iPad with Retina in black and white in 16GB and 32GB variations, plus the iPad mini in black and white in 16GB and 32GB models.

iPad with Retina display ranges in price at the Apple Store:
16GB: $629
32GB: $729

The iPad mini prices are:
16GB: $459
32GB: $559

In addition, similar to other retailers, Rogers and TELUS will be selling the iPads on a no-contract model so you’ll just need to sign up on one of their tablet plans – which they note you “can activate or cancel a plan at any time.” No word yet if Bell plans to join the iPad party.

Source: TELUS, Rogers

The Samsung Galaxy Ace IIe doesn’t have the latest specs and it’s a far cry from being a flagship device, but the price is solid for an entry-level smartphone. Both Quebec-based Videotron and Halifax-based Eastlink have added this Android Jelly Bean device to their lineup. The specs of the Ace IIe have it powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, 3.8-inch display (480 x 800), 5MP camera that captures 720p HD videos. If you’re considering this on Eastlink you’ll have LTE speeds and the prices range from $249 outright, or $29 on the EasyTab. Over at Videotron, the Ace IIe is free on a 3-year reduced plan or $299.95 outright, with 4G HSPA+ speeds.

Source: Videotron, Eastlink
(Thanks Todd!)

In January Tony Lacavera, WIND Mobile’s Chairman and CEO, stated that he would be stepping down and “enter into an agreement to transfer” his shares (AAL Corporation) of the company to Orascom Telecom, which is owned by Netherland-based VimpelComm, which would see them take controlling command of the wireless carrier. Half a year later, Lacavera is still spearheading the company and finding a new wave foreign issues that might delay his exit.

According to the Globe and Mail, the Canadian government is having “national security concerns” of how WIND Mobile is so tightly connected to Huawei. This is not the first time China-based Huawei has faced this issue. The United States government believes the Chinese government can tap into various telecom systems and grab sensitive data via their equipment. As for Canada, Huawei helped build-out WIND’s core network, which now powers their 600,000 wireless subscribers.

Huawei has been operating in Canada since 2008, employs over 400 people, and have also worked in some capacity with Bell, TELUS and SaskTel. On the security concerns, WIND said they have a “ring fence” with levels of firewalls and equipment from over 12 suppliers that protects its network. WIND noted that “we work co-operatively and proactively with CSIS and other law-enforcement agencies (federally and provincially) on both security and emergency/9-11 matters… Although we regularly work alongside these agencies on security matters, we must emphasize that we have never had any security issues with our network.”

A decision on the WIND/VimpelCom acquisition is expected to be completed before July 4th.

Source: Globe

Toronto-based Whirlscape developed Minuum, the one-dimensional simplified keyboard for smartphones, tablets and wearable technology. This idea gained a great deal of attention back in March when they went live on crowd-funding site IndieGogo. Their initial goal was to raise $10,000, but they’ve dominated and accumulated just over $87,000 – which is 874% above their goal – and about 10,000 supporters.

Those who backed the initiative were promised early access to the beta app for Android sometime in June. Minuum seems to be on track as we’ve been informed that the beta app for Android is scheduled for release “early next week.” We’ll keep you updated on the specific date, but in the meantime check out our hands-on with the Minuum below.

It’s true. Another tablet. This time its Amazon’s attempt to crack the Canadian market. The Kindle Fire HD and the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ are now available.

While Amazon’s Wi-Fi only tablets take their own unique spin on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, the Kindle Fire HD has some limited services when compared to its US counterpart, namely access to apps via Google Play as it ops for their own Amazon Appstore for Android. In addition, missing from the experience, due to Canada’s licensing terms, is the streaming video service Instant Prime Video. If you can get passed these then the Kindle Fire HD tablets are a good choice, especially as they do have the Kindle eBook store that offers a great selection of material.

As far as specs, the Kindle Fire HD comes with a 7-inch 1280×800 display, a 1.2Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, a front-facing HD camera and is priced at $214 for the 16GB and $244 for the 32GB. The Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ has an 8.9-inch display (1920×1200), a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, a front-facing HD camera and costs $284 for the 16GB and $314 for the 32GB.

Source: Amazon