Canada -- Engadget

canada posts

Palm Pre price keeps sinking on Bell, down to $100

by Darren Murph posted Nov 7th 2009 at 7:41PM

Just weeks after Palm's Pre sunk to CAD $149.95 on Bell, the outfit's first-ever webOS phone has now stooped to just CAD $99.95. That still requires a 3-year contract, of course, but man -- a single bill for a smartphone like the Pre? Anyone tossing out guesses on how long it takes Sprint to follow suit (and embarrass the Pixi)?

[Thanks, David]

LG GW620 Eve coming to Rogers, Android deftly avoids AT&T yet again

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 9:16PM

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]

Telus kicks off HSPA+ network with iPhone November 5th, HTC Hero, LG New Chocolate and more to follow

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 26th 2009 at 9:10PM

Telus already announced that it'd be launching the iPhone in November, but it's just now gotten official with an actual date: November 5th -- which just so happens to also be the day that it lights up its brand new HSPA+ network. Unfortunately for anyone hoping that a little competition would spark a price war, Telus is matching Rogers' prices across the board, starting at $99.99 for the basic 8GB iPhone 3G, and moving up to $199.99 for the 16GB 3GS, and $299.99 for the 32GB 3GS (all on a three-year contract, of course). What's more, Telus has also taken the opportunity to offer the first official confirmation of some of the other devices that'll take advantage of its new network, including the HTC Hero, the previously rumored LG New Chocolate (a.k.a BL40), the Blackberry Bold 9700, and the Nokia E71 (plus a USB stick, for good measure). No prices or release dates for any of those just yet, unfortunately, but the Hero and New Chocolate are apparently Telus exclusives.

CRTC sets net neutrality rules for Canada, allows throttling as 'last resort'

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 21st 2009 at 2:18PM

The FCC may be yet to act on Chairman Genachowski's proposed net neutrality rules, but the agency's Canadian counterpart, the CRTC, has made a fairly significant ruling of its own on the matter today, and it seems like it may have manged to disappoint folks on both sides of the debate in the process. The short of it is that the CRTC will allow internet service providers to practice "traffic shaping" (a.k.a. bandwidth throttling), but only as a "last resort," and only after it has issued a warning that the throttling will take place (30 days in advance for regular users, and 60 days for wholesale customers). What's more, the CRTC is also recommending that ISPs "give preference to Internet traffic management practices based on economic measures" before cutting into customers downloads -- in other words, charge more for extra bandwidth, or offer discounts during non-peak hours.

Read - CRTC ruling
Read - The Globe and Mail, "CRTC sets Web 'throttling' rules"

Telus joins the fun, gets itself an iPhone this November

by Ross Miller posted Oct 6th 2009 at 10:41PM

Not that we're surprised, but Bell isn't the only Canadian carrier stealing the iPhone exclusivity limelight from Rogers. Telus is proudly proclaiming on its home page that it, too, will have the iPhone 3GS in November. No word on prices, but we doubt the companies will stray too far from the current trends. Now that the playing field's a bit more even, may the best carrier (or the one with the best advertising, at least) win!

Bell nabs iPhone deal in Canada, ends Rogers' reign of terror

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 6th 2009 at 8:25AM

It's official, Bell and Apple have agreed to sell the iPhone 3G and 3GS in Canada starting November. The move ends the Rogers exclusive in while christening Bell's new 3G network with Apple's darling. Hmm, first O2 lost it exclusivity then Rogers, we're sensing a trend.

[Thanks, Sean]

iPhone headed to Telus and Bell's fancy new HSPA networks next month?

by Paul Miller posted Oct 5th 2009 at 10:07PM

Rogers is losing its iPhone exclusivity in Canada next month, if a new report by The Globe and Mail is to be believed. Telus and Bell -- traditionally CDMA-bound -- have been prepping GSM networks of their own in a joint effort, and it sounds like they'll be getting this off on the right foot with the iPhone 3GS as a launch device. Nothing's official just yet, but those in the know expect an announcement tomorrow or Wednesday. Rogers isn't the best-loved carrier in Canada, and a bit of choice never hurt anybody, so this seems like pretty good news all-round for our friendly northern neighbors

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Zune HD International launch hopes crushed by Microsoft, others raised

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 11th 2009 at 3:08AM

Don't be sad. We know it hurts but that's what happens when your emotions exceed reason. The Zune HD will be a US exclusive when it goes on sale September 15th just as it was when the original Zune brownie went on sale back in November 2006. Here's what Microsoft told Ars:

"For the time being the Zune HD device will remain US only. Right now we are focused on deploying an exciting service in the form of Zune Video to 18 markets. We are looking at potential future hardware experiences for these markets, but do not have anything to announce right now."

Plenty of fodder for conspiracy types here. First, that means Canada is out, even though older Zune models are already on sale there. But the words "for the time being" leave plenty of wiggle room for an international launch window. And what does Microsoft mean by the generically phrased, "future hardware experiences?" Are they referring to a Zune service destined to "transcend Zune the device" later this year? Perhaps. One thing is clear: consumers are far more excited about the Zune HD than the original -- especially now that Apple's cat is out of the bag. Microsoft could be leaving a ton of money on the table if they don't go global, quick.

[Thanks, Safir]

Microsoft says no plans for Zune HD in France, other markets still up in the air

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 10th 2009 at 6:41PM

Those in the U.S. may finally be getting their hands on the Zune HD next week, but it looks like folks elsewhere could well be in for a longer wait than they may have been hoping for. That's been the speculation since the device was first announced, of course, but Microsoft is only now getting a bit more specific about the matter, with Microsoft France exec François Ruault telling PC World that the company has "no plans" to launch the Zune HD in France, although he adds that doesn't necessarily mean it'll never be released there. That presumably also means that the rest of Europe is similarly up in the air, but if past history is any indication, it seems likely that the Zune HD will indeed land there eventually, sometime after it finally makes a trip north of the border.

[Via MobileTechWorld]

Bell's latest Pre ad insults Americans, old people, and bloody roller derby girls in one pass

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 31st 2009 at 4:31AM

With the latest installment of Bell's "Meet my Palm Pre" series, paid spokesman Bradley here has basically guaranteed himself that he'll be visited by elderly American roller girls with bad attitudes and a taste for justice. Some of the gruesome highlights:

"Unlike our neighbors to the south, Canadians are an active people."
"Coupe de Kill is kinda scary. I should probably get out of here before she goes on Twitter."
"According to Wikipedia, this game was first played in 1299. And, uh, I think some of these people were maybe there."

Follow the break for the video.

[Via MobileSyrup]

Continue reading Bell's latest Pre ad insults Americans, old people, and bloody roller derby girls in one pass

Video: Palm Pre jumps the border, now shipping on Bell

by Thomas Ricker posted Aug 27th 2009 at 4:21AM

Right on schedule, the Palm Pre has started shipping to Bell Mobility customers. The Bell exclusive marks the first international launch of Palm's little savior and to celebrate, we've got commercials -- a pair of knee-slappers featuring real live Canadians. And you thought that the mirror on the back of the Pre was only for the ladies.

Continue reading Video: Palm Pre jumps the border, now shipping on Bell

Bell's Palm Pre commercial couldn't be more Apple if it had an Orba Squara soundtrack

by Ross Miller posted Aug 21st 2009 at 12:33AM

Far from being creepy this time around, the latest Palm Pre ad -- this one specifically for Bell's Canadian customer base -- is familiar. Very familiar. Plain white backdrop? Check. Peppy male narrator? Check. Hip, upbeat music? Check. Mysterious hands showing off mobile apps and other smartphone capabilities? Check. Side-by-side comparison videos after the break. Hey, at least this one isn't gonna creep you out.

Update: Looks like someone read our minds and spliced the commercial with Orba Squara's infamous "Perfect Timing" found in the iPhone ads. Video's after the break.

[Via Pre Thinking]

Continue reading Bell's Palm Pre commercial couldn't be more Apple if it had an Orba Squara soundtrack

More evidence mounting of an 8GB iPhone 3GS?

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Aug 10th 2009 at 10:01AM

Well, kids, we don't know if this is a typo, a Freudian slip, or both (or neither), but according to this handy graphic on Rogers' website the rumored 8GB iPhone 3GS exists -- if not for sale, at least for comparison. Keen readers of charts will note that the price listed for the 3GS still starts with the 16GB model, and if you scroll through to the ordering page there is no 8GB 3GS option listed. So, what do you think? Do we have a promising development here, or a simple case of a misplaced check mark? Feel free to sound off in the comments.

Update: Yeah, that's right: An email from Rogers has confirmed that it is just a typo after all, and that it's "being corrected asap."

Continue reading More evidence mounting of an 8GB iPhone 3GS?

Apple phasing out iPhone 3G in favor of 8GB 3GS?

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 5th 2009 at 1:41PM

As brilliant as the $99 subsidized iPhone 3G strategy might seem on paper, the fact remains that the 3G now is a 13 month-old device -- the better part of a lifetime by smartphone standards -- and it stands to reason that Apple wouldn't be interested in consuming manufacturing capacity indefinitely with outdated equipment, especially since that game plan cuts into economies of scale on the 3GS' chipset and superior camera hardware. The solution? Let iPhone 3G inventory cool down for a few months -- $99 is a nice, round number after all that's plenty low enough to move units -- and when the carnage is over, phase it out in favor of a new lower-cost 3GS. That's sure to leave new 3G owners fuming, but newly leaked screens out of Rogers seem to indicate that's exactly how this is likely going to go down: add a black 8GB 3GS into the mix that can serve as the company's new entry-level device below the 3GS in two colors, likely for $100 less than the 16GB model. There's no word on when this might happen, but Apple's likely to host its usual Fall event to roll out new iPods (and more?), so this could serve as an interesting -- if not ultimately predictable -- footnote.

Palm Pre comes to Bell on August 27

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 4th 2009 at 11:35AM

Up until now, Bell's been coy about an exact availability date for the Palm Pre -- a tactic borrowed from Sprint prior to its release -- so we're happy to hear that they've finally decided on August 27 to get it out of the door. It'll run CAD $199.95 (about $187) on a three-year deal, ramping all the way up to $599.95 contract-free with a minimum 500MB / month data plan (trust us, you'll want every megabyte of it). Preorders are now being accepted online and in Bell stores, so if you want it on day one, you might want to get moving on that.