Rogers
Latest
IRL: Testing the Moto X on Canada's Rogers network
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. After a two-week hiatus, we're back -- and we've got some new banner artwork in tow (don't all thank us at once, now). During that time, too, resident phone collector Jon Fingas has been testing the Moto X on Rogers in Canada. Turns out, he likes it, even if he can't deck it on Moto Maker.
Rogers caves to demand, will carry the BlackBerry Z30 after all
In a rather surprising about-face, Rogers announced today that despite earlier assertions to the contrary, the Canadian carrier will, indeed, carry the newly announced BlackBerry Z30. It initially told The Globe and Mail that it was going to pass on the latest BlackBerry handset due to limited shelf space and wanting to just pick "the biggest winners." However, apparently there was such demand for the phone from BlackBerry loyalists that Rogers has changed its tune. In a statement released today, Rogers not only states that this was in response to "customers' feedback and excitement about the device" but that it also has a "longstanding partnership with BlackBerry" and will "continue to be big supporters of the company and their products." There's no pricing or availability just yet, though Rogers did say it'll be available online, through its national reservation system and to its enterprise customers. So, if you're a Rogers customer who simply must get your hands on the latest handset from Waterloo, you're in luck. Because, let's face it, you might not have the chance ever again. Update: Of course, the news could have come at a better time, since Rogers is dealing with a nationwide wireless outage affecting "voice and some SMS services" that has stretched on for several hours. Update 2: As of 11:43PM, according to the company's Twitter account wireless voice and SMS services have been restored.
Rogers snubs the BlackBerry Z30, leaves Canadian sales to Bell and Telus
If current sales of the BlackBerry Z10 are any indication, it'd take a leap of faith to believe that the BlackBerry Z30 will fare much better. Now, Rogers is telling The Globe and Mail that it won't carry the 5-inch Z30 at all, which the Canadian carrier says is due to its limited shelf space and the need to "pick what we think are the biggest winners." The news is certainly a blow to BlackBerry, but it also forces consumers to choose between switching to Bell or Telus -- which will carry the Z30 -- or to compromise at Rogers with a BlackBerry Z10 or Q10. It's also quite a reversal from earlier this year, when Rogers celebrated the Z10's arrival as the most successful BlackBerry launch in the carrier's history. Now, it seems that Rogers' decision could be part of an unsettling trend, as T-Mobile USA recently chose to remove all BlackBerry smartphones from store shelves and instead sell them only through its online outlet. Naturally, determined Rogers subscribers may opt to purchase an unlocked Z30, which FCC reports suggest will offer LTE support over both the AWS and 2,600MHz bands. Consider it a very expensive 'Plan B.'
Nokia Lumia 1020 and 625 launch in Canada
After teasing its release plans in the summer, Nokia has finally launched two of its most recent smartphones in Canada. The Lumia 1020 is now available through both Rogers and Telus for $199 on a two-year contract ($600 to $725 contract-free) in either yellow or black. Aspiring shutterbugs can also buy the camera grip in either color for $75. If the 1020 is beyond your budget, you'll be glad to hear that Telus is also offering the Lumia 625 for free on a contract, or $300 with no commitment. The releases aren't well-timed when Nokia is unveiling new devices in a matter of weeks, but Canucks who've faced a recent drought of Windows Phones should be happy.
BlackBerry Z30 reaches the FCC with Canada-ready LTE
BlackBerry hasn't said exactly when the Z30 will reach North America, but we now know that it's getting close -- a GSM variant with compatible LTE has reached the FCC. The smartphone supports 4G on both the 1,700MHz and 2,600MHz bands, suggesting that it will soon launch through bigger Canadian carriers like Bell, Rogers and Telus. We'll still have to wait for an American model, however. Despite the US-friendly 1,700MHz LTE, this Z30 is missing both the 700MHz LTE needed for AT&T as well as the 1,700MHz 3G that T-Mobile would want. The promised Verizon model also hasn't received FCC approval. The news won't satisfy everyone wanting a big BlackBerry, but those who want to explore the Z30 in depth can check out both the Canadian phone and its just-launched European counterpart at the source links.
Mobile Miscellany: week of September 23rd, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a new LTE phone to Boost Mobile, hints of consolidation between Sprint and T-Mobile, and lastly, hints of what we might see at Nokia's upcoming 'innovation reinvented' event. These stories and more await. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of September 23rd, 2013.
Rogers hires Vodafone UK chief Guy Laurence as CEO
Rogers' patience in finding a replacement CEO has paid off in spades. The Canadian telecom giant has just confirmed that Guy Laurence, Vodafone UK's current chief executive, will be its new leader as of December 2nd. The hire gives Rogers a CEO who's not only well-versed in mobile and media services, but has a reputation as a reformer -- he shook up Vodafone UK's corporate culture shortly after taking the reins in 2008. While it's not certain that he'll repeat history at Rogers, we wouldn't expect him to maintain the status quo for very long.
LG G2 ships to six Canadian carriers on September 27th
Canadians won't have to wait long for their version of the LG G2. The 5.2-inch smartphone is now due to reach Bell, Rogers, Sasktel, Telus, Videotron and Wind Mobile on September 27th, two days after it launches on T-Mobile in the States. The carriers haven't yet divulged pricing, although we're not expecting Bell, Rogers or Telus to charge much more than $200 on contract, like some of their American counterparts.
Nokia Lumia 1020 coming to Canada through Rogers and Telus
Canadians won't miss out on the Lumia 1020's photographic prowess for much longer. Following rumors and teases, Nokia has confirmed that its flagship Windows Phone is coming to both Rogers and Telus. There's no official word on ship dates or prices, but the company says the 1020 will be available in both black and yellow. Let's hope that it reaches Canada soon -- rumors persist of even bigger devices that could overshadow the 1020 in the near future.
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 19th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a free TV streaming service for Bell subscribers, the arrival of NFL Mobile to BlackBerry 10 and little bit of Windows Phone love from General Motors. These stories and more await. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 19th, 2013.
Moto X to launch early at Rogers stores, but only in 'limited quantities'
Canadians frequently wait longer for new technology than their American counterparts, but they're catching a break today. Following a MobileSyrup leak, Rogers has confirmed to Engadget that some of its stores will be selling the Moto X in "limited quantities" this weekend -- a full week ahead of the AT&T release. We wouldn't count on finding the Android flagship after dealing with spotty availability during previous early launches, but the news is still a pleasant surprise for Motorola-minded Canucks.
LG G2 coming to six major Canadian carriers this fall
LG was unsurprisingly silent regarding a Canadian launch for the G2 at its New York City event, but it's making up for that today with initial release details for the country. As in the US, LG plans to support most larger carriers: its 5.2-inch phone will be available this fall through Bell, Rogers, SaskTel, Telus, Videotron and Wind Mobile. There are no mentions of pricing at this stage, although the Canadian G2 will share the American variant's 3,000mAh battery and 32GB of storage. It will at least offer more variety in the local smartphone selection -- when the G2 ships, many Canucks will see at least two Android flagships on their network of choice.
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 5th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a smartphone inspired by TopGear's 2012 supercar of the year, leaks of a water-resistant handset for T-Mobile and an Android smartphone from LG that sells for under $100 outright. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 5th, 2013.
Moto X coming to Canada as a Rogers exclusive priced at $190 on a two-year contract
Motorola just made headlines here in the US with the official unveiling of the Moto X, and now it's making waves with similar news in the Great White North. That's right folks, the Moto X is coming to Canada, but will be exclusively available to customers of Rogers. The handset arrives in August for as low as $189.99 when attached to a two-year contract, and existing Rogers customers can reserve one for their very own right now. Unfortunately, the X will only be available in black or white (initially, at least), but hopefully additional colors and perhaps even the wood veneer versions will come later -- we're thinking maple's a good way to go.
LG G2 reaches the FCC with North American LTE
Want to know which North American carriers might offer the LG G2 after August 7th? The FCC is offering a big hint: it just approved a region-appropriate version of the Android flagship. Going under its D801 codename, the G2 variant cleared by the agency supports all the LTE and HSPA frequencies used by AT&T, T-Mobile and large Canadian networks. As such, it's likely that the smartphone will get a multi-carrier launch next month. The real question is whether or not any CDMA providers (which aren't included in the filing) will come along for the ride.
Moto X's Open Mic demoed, enables voice command when screen is off (video)
Just when we're getting bored of all these static Moto X leaks, a couple of new video clips popped up to finally show off some of the software goodies. The first one appears to be a leaked Rogers promotional video (embedded after the break), in which a nice lady introduces us to a new Google Now voice command feature, which can be toggled with a custom phrase even when the screen is off (similar to a feature we've seen promised by a certain Wolfson audio chip). According to another clip uploaded by kronikbudz, said feature is called Open Mic, but there's no indication as to whether this will be exclusive to Motorola devices or whether it'll come with the next Android release. The Rogers video adds that the Moto X will provide ambient "active updates" notifications on the screen when the phone is locked, and this is pitched as a more sensible replacement for the meaningless blinking light. Later on, the same lady demonstrates how one can activate the phone's camera -- even when locked -- by simply twisting the wrist twice. We're a bit worried that this may allow accidental activations, unless the phone can detect whether it is inside a pocket or bag. Finally, the lady says the Moto X will be "exclusively" heading to Rogers this August in either black or white, thus confirming the "late Summer" window that we were previously told. Enjoy your very own exclusivity while it lasts, Mr. Schmidt! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
iPad and iPad mini coming to Rogers and Telus, iPhone 5 nano-SIMs reach Wind
While it's been easy for Canadians to get data plans for the iPad and iPad mini, they haven't had the luxury of picking one up at a carrier store like their American neighbors. They will soon, however: Rogers and Telus say they'll be selling the LTE versions of both iPads sometime in the "coming weeks." Details are scarce, although the two networks promise that they'll keep offering contract-free data plans. We've reached out to learn whether or not Bell is following suit. There isn't any talk of similar offerings with smaller providers, although Wind Mobile is offering an olive branch to iPhone owners. The carrier is now selling $25 nano-SIM cards for those who've bought an unlocked, AWS-friendly iPhone 5 through Apple. These customers won't have LTE, but they'll get HSPA+ data on less expensive (and less restricted) plans. Hit Wind's Facebook page to learn just which devices qualify.
Mobile Miscellany: week of May 27th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, a new addition to the LG L-Series surfaced in Russia, a Lumia 920 was sighted that'd make Oscar the Grouch flip, and TalkTalk added three new devices from Huawei to its roster. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of May 27th, 2013.
PSA: Samsung Galaxy S 4 now on sale at Canadian carriers
Samsung's launch of the Galaxy S 4 hasn't been as coordinated as the company would like, but it's making some amends with today's launch of its flagship phone in Canada. In one fell swoop, most of the larger Canadian carriers are now offering the 16GB model for a typical $200 on a 3-year contract. Bell, Rogers and Telus (as well as their sub-brands) are covering much of the country, while more region-specific carriers like Eastlink and Videotron are also joining in. Carriers like Mobilicity and Wind Mobile aren't yet included, however, and supplies are known to be tight -- we'd ask about stock before making a trip to the local store.
PSA: BlackBerry Q10 on sale in Canada, but only in Toronto (update: other cities too)
Today marks one of the symbolically more important launches in the BlackBerry universe: the Q10, the first keyboard-equipped BB10 phone, is at last available on the company's Canadian home turf. As promised, customers with Bell, Rogers and Telus (as well as their Virgin Mobile, Fido and Koodo sub-brands) can snap up what's arguably the true Waterloo flagship for about $199 on a 3-year contract, or between $625 to $700 contract-free. Shoppers are largely buying the same phone no matter the carrier, although Rogers is hoping to lure the undecided with both LTE on an extra frequency as well as access to the white model. Just be prepared for a slightly longer wait if you plan to buy one in person -- BlackBerry warns that it's limiting Q10 supply to the Greater Toronto Area for the first day or two to accommodate demand high demand in Canada's financial capital. Update: Although BlackBerry was emphasizing Toronto, readers in other cities have mentioned getting early access. We'd still call ahead if you're set on grabbing a Q10 at retail, however.
