It looks like Canada's Rogers will be among the first carriers in the world to offer LG's first Android device, the
GW620 Eve -- and for North Americans, this is particularly notable since it means there's a version of the device at retail that'll theoretically work on Bell, Telus, and AT&T in addition to Rogers proper. We have no indication that AT&T's about to actually pull the trigger on this thing (or on
any Android device for that matter), though, so if you're into the 5 megapixel AF cam, full QWERTY slide, and 7.2Mbps HSDPA capability, we'd recommend putting your unlockin' pants on. For Rogers customers, we're not seeing a release date just yet, but it looks like you'll be paying a downright reasonable CAD $49.99 (about $47) on a three-year deal when it launches.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted Nov 3rd 2009 9:16PM
Chris,
Whats your opinion on why there is no Android phone on AT&T and not even a sign that one is coming? [iPhone maybe?]
Thanks,
Shawn
Yeah, pretty much iPhone. They're never going to come out and say that, but its pretty obvious. My work pays for my phone or I'd go STRAIGHT back to Verizon.
-Taylor
What Taylor said.
- Chris
I'm a mobile phone, and the LG GW620 was my idea.
Oh dear... I may have to buy your idea.
I'm Microsoft, and your joke was MY idea.
Dear AT&T;
The only thing saving you.. is the iPhone.. once other carriers have it.. what will you do?
*Emo AT&T sits in corner*
I have been an ATT customer for 16 years and for the first time am considering changing to another carrier. ATT and Verizon are now overpriced in the market. And no Android phones....cmon ATT.
agreed. i've been on AT&T for 3 years now and im pretty fed up with them. lame phones, spotty service and they keep changing their plans. i got a job 10 minutes out of town and i am lucky if i get 2 bars out there. i've been thinking about getting a DROID but Verizon isn't any better price wise. i might have to start looking into Sprint or T-Mobile for good Android handsets.
I have been a customer for 10 and I agree. While I have no qualm with their service as it has been excellent for me, I have a big problem with them refusing to compete price-wise and just assuming that everyone who wants a smartphone wants an iphone. All they offer is iphone, the most boring windows mobile phones and blackberries. Sprint is looking pretty good right now with their willingness to drop prices and their increasingly diverse phones. T-mobile still sucks coverage-wise and Verizon (other than the droid) locks theirs phones down and forces manufacturers to cripple their phones. They also charge to much.
android for the masses, 50 bucks only that's awesome
Three year mobile phone contracts are NOT reasonable or awesome.
missed it, it's canada like that or just rogers?
all of canada sucks
Canada is like that :(. There are alternatives from the smaller companies (Fido, Virgin, Koodo) who offer 2-year contracts or less, but they're not too big in the smartphone department.
Well, at least you'll get OS updates pushed out to your phone that will no doubt keep your phone relevant.
The contract would be a minimum of 45 per month plus data plan and package deal. It was one of a few reasons that suggest Canada is not awesome.
50 bucks is just for the phone. Then you pay $30 or so per month for the basic cell plan, then another $20+ for your data plan (which for smart phones, to get the cheap price on the phone, is required with Rogers - found that out the hard way when I was already set on getting my Magic), plus System access fee, 911 fee, then additions like call display, call forward, call answer, etc., etc. Add PST and GST (or HST if applicable) and you are looking at a nice tidy sum every month for the next 3 years. You end up paying for the phone in the end... Oh, and as for updates? Rogers is notorious for either delaying them in the extreme (have they given us Donut yet? No! Will they? Who knows, but money is on "not likely") or just not deploying them at all. So yeah, nice new phone and price, but be careful about taking a 3 year plan from Rogers...
THREE yeah deal!? over. my. dead. body. I hate 2 year deals
I have to agree. You couldn't pay me to take the phone and a three year deal.
Yeah, seriously engadget, how can you call anything under a 3-year contract 'reasonable'? $0 and a 3-year contract is still ridiculous with the monthly rates they all charge.
Sure changing the 'System-access fee' to a non-government regulated 'government regulatory fee' is a little better (because it's cheaper) but it's just as suspect a fee.
Fido - 2-year contracts, no system access fee, plans from $15/month + tax
The catch? Shitty phones...
36 month contract? but the phone only has a 1 year warranty... what am i supposed to do when my phone craps out after 14 months?
That's why they offer you mobile phone insurance cover for $5 per month.
"That's why they offer you mobile phone insurance cover for $5 per month."
Great. Just awesome.
/sarcasm
Wow. 3 year contract.
Holy shhh!
Yay, more Android for Canada :)
Yeah it's getting sad. I dont know if I can hold out til Q1 in hopes that the X10 wont be insanely priced unsubsidized. ATT seems dead set on not bringing anything to the table that might compete with their IPhone exclusivity. We would all be foolss to think Apple/IPhone exclusivity has nothing to do with it. But I am with cb2000a, nothing...I mean NOTHING..come on ATT this is just lame. Not everyone wants to be,own,love the iphone. I really think they could hurt themselves on this move, but some beancounter someonewhere has already calculated the cash flow comparisons. I am sure they figure that they can make more money by keeping IPhone to themselves and overcharging those user, versus having more people paying lower rates on other devices.
I can't see myself selling my soul to verizon, but being that I live in Charlotte,NC and spring just spun up 4G here, that $99 plan is starting to look really inviting. If only they hadnt uglified the Hero! I liked the chin and distint OEM styling over the bland, blobphone style they have.
{sobs to himself in the corner...want me a new phone...}
Yeah, seriously. I went from an AT&T Tilt to an iphone 1G to an unlocked Tmobile G1 still with AT&T, so I haven't had 3G in YEARS and i am getting so sick of it! I don't want to live in the past and I don't want an iPhone just to get something nice. I'm also not going back to windows mobile. I just want a damn android phone with 3G! I don't want to have to buy an unlocked european DROID, because that's gonna be crazy expensive and I'm not even sure if that's the right 3G frequency. I JUST WANT TO HAVE THE PHONE I WANT AT&T!
-Taylor
I've never seen someone want AT&T so badly. Are you delusional or something? O_o
@dagamer
despite the popularity of bashing AT&T on tech sites, AT&T is very good. I bet a majority of people with problems have samsung phones and the iphone. I never had a problem with their network except when using samsung phones and iphones.
This phone sucks sooo bad. the touch screen is unusable, and Android feels even more buggy on this than it does on the HTC.
in canada it seems like we get better coverage and service than american carriers but we get shafted on price and contracts. 3 years is long time but i have no problem with it since i like rogers the best. they are kinda the best of the worst haha telus blows bell sux.
btw hey americans i get 3g service all over my city and no dropped calls. i heard u guys are no so lucky.
I've seen the maps, and I'm not sure if you actually get better coverage up there. I think us Americans just like to complain more.
You guys can still bring your own phone out of contract, right?
In Canada there technically isn't as much coverage as the US, but we're not nearly as populated as the US, and where we are densely populated, there is great coverage.
That doesn't change the fact that we're all getting shafted by the big 3, but there's not much we can do. Sure Bell & Telus have the iPhone now, but there won't be any competition, prices will be fixed.
paying full price>>>>3 year contract
even though phone companies in the us are going to start pushing for this its only a matter of time
Looks like Cupcake, not even Donut let alone Eclair.
AUGH!!!
I want this phone in the USA! on GSM!
why the hell would they talk about AT&T if they're talking about canadian networks....
i also wish i didnt have a 3 year contract with bell now.
I'm about ready to switch to Verizon. I don't like Verizon, and I hate AT&T, but I'm not stupid enough to buy an iPhony. AT&T is too stupid to offer any interesting Android phones, so I just might switch.
I don't see what's holding you back unless Verizon has shitty coverage in your area (I'd be surprised).
Hmmmmh
hmm i cant believe nobody has said this yet, so, on behalf of everyone who reads engadget:
528mhz? pass.
A three-year contract, locked on to ridiculous voice and data fees, and what does our awesome CRTC do?
They reject a new wireless telecom company.
Oh how I just love government institutions!
/sarcasm
Actually, the CRTC is not controlled by the government - it's completely in the pockets of the wireless carriers.
Which is why they eliminated Globalive/Wind Mobile before it launched, even after Industry Canada gave it the thumbs-up.
The new carrier in Quebec has already launched, as far as I know. For once, Quebec gets something first (or at all). :)
I really would have liked to have Globalive/WIND, though.
You can actually win one of these new LG GW620 phones on facebook (LG are running a worldwide promotion at the moment) - http://www.facebook.com/lggw620