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Canadian iPhone 4 launch details emerge: Rogers offers 6GB for $30, iPad sharing for $20 (update: Bell's iPad deal cheaper)
The iPhone 4 may be launching on all the major Canadian carriers tomorrow, but we're only just now starting to get the actual details on what they'll be offering. Rogers is the first out of the gate and, for a change, it looks like folks in the US may just be a tad jealous of their northern neighbors. It's not only offering the iPhone 4 for a further discounted price -- $159 for the 16GB and $269 for the 32GB on a three-year contract (for both new and existing customers eligible for a hardware upgrade) -- but it's bringing back its 6GB data plan for $30 a month as well. On top of that, Rogers is also offering a new iPad sharing plan that will let you share those 6GB between the two devices for an extra $20 a month. Still no official word from the other carriers, but MobileSyrup has turned up a leak that suggests Bell will be offering 6GB for $30 as well, and iPad sharing for just $10 a month -- although that's yet to be confirmed. We'll keep you posted as more plans are announced. Update: Bell just flipped the switch, and their numbers are largely the same with one notable exception -- iPad data sharing is an additional $10 a month instead of $20, just as had been rumored. Thanks, everyone!
Bell's Galaxy S gets front-facing camera, rumored August 6 launch date
It's a crying shame that the American flavors of Samsung's otherwise stunning Galaxy S lack a front facing camera, but even those camped out in the Great White North should know that the European versions (i9000) do have such a feature. Lucky for them, Bell's Galaxy S Vibrant will also have a camera mounted on the front, enabling video chats with a lot less hassle. Oh, and if you're wondering exactly when you'll be able to grab hold of one and brag to your friends down south, a contest from Bell is providing reason to believe that August 6th is the day to watch. Furthermore, the fine print makes mention of a CAD$599 retail value, so we're guessing that you may be able to pick up an off-contract Vibrant for that very price. Fingers crossed, right? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Starbucks begins offering free two-click WiFi access in US and Canada
Mmm... nothing like the smell of a warm caramel macchiato in the morning being masked by the smell of fresh greenbacks being burned, right? All jesting aside, we're pretty stoked about the world's most recognized coffee joint turning off the paywall surrounding its in-house WiFi hotspots, and in case you missed the original announcement, we're here to remind you that the free-for-all begins today. As of this very moment, the next US / Canadian corporately-ran Starbucks that you enter should be offering free one two-click WiFi, meaning that no password is required and no time limits will be set. Of course, this also means that you'll never see an open chair in any Starbucks ever again, but hey -- that's why sidewalks were created, right? Update: Ha, as our good friend Dave Zatz points out, it's actually two-clicks, not one: 1) agree to terms and services, 2) connect. But let's not let the facts ruin a snappy press release.
iPhone 4 hits T-Mobile Germany in June, three Canadian carriers in July
Hot on the heels of a three-way UK celebration, Deutche Telekom's reportedly managed to continue its coup -- if the company's Twitter account is to be believed, German exclusivity of the iPhone 4 will go to T-Mobile this June. Meanwhile, the English (and French) speaking world is still rolling out iPhone launch dates, as Canada's Rogers, Telus and Bell Mobility have all quietly announced the new superphone will be available "in the coming weeks" or "coming soon." Americans at Engadget HQ are supremely jealous of your choices, Canada... and rest assured that we feel Germany's pain, too. Update: T-Mobile is also continuing its tradition of carrying the iPhone in the Netherlands, with another announcement that's light on specifics. [Thanks, Xylias]
Bell Novatel MiFi 2372 deemed unsafe for human use, recalled
We knew there had to be a catch with the Novatel MiFi 3G routers -- they were just too convenient. But, little did we know that catch involved danger to our health and wellbeing! Bell Mobility has been sending UPS couriers around (real people holding envelopes, not unicorns) to owners of the Novatel MiFi 2372, delivering dire-sounding letters (a copy can be found after the break) telling them to discontinue use of their routers due to faulty battery packs and, if that wasn't enough, they were all remotely deactivated yesterday morning. Owners are told to send their MiFis back to the company for replacement, a process said to take a whopping six to eight weeks. Novatel is sending U998 Turbo Sticks to those affected for use in the interim, but that doesn't do you much good if your device lacks USB ports, like our unfortunate tipster's iPad. We can understand the frustration of giving up your gadget for two months, the alternative doesn't sound too appealing either. Update: Kevin from Novatel dropped us a comment with the company's official statement. We have it after the break. Update 2: A Novatel rep would like us to clarify that the couriers in question are from UPS, and also come equipped with return envelopes for the affected 2372s. So, if anyone from FedEx tries to deliver any documentation about this situation, it's probably a trap. [Thanks, Justin]
Voices that Matter iPhone: Creating the Winter Olympics app
Xomo's Jeff Sinclair took the stage on day two of this past weekend's Voices that Matter iPhone conference to the tune of the Olympic theme music -- his company (well his most recent company -- he's worked on a few other ventures previously) was formed for one purpose: to provide the official iPhone app for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Eleven months before the games, in March of 2009, Xomo was formed around the idea of "disposable apps" -- the thinking was that since most people only use an app for a period of weeks anyway, they would create event-based and location-based apps that had a built-in time limit. The eventual goal was to provide an Olympic app, and so even before the games knew they would want an app, Xomo started up to build one. The story was actually pretty interesting -- Sinclair talks about the trials and tribulations of building both the app and building the funding and audience for it. Most iPhone developers start out with money and go from there, but Xomo really started out with the software, and then convinced the Olympics and their sponsors to pay for it. Read on to see how the award-winning app was eventually built.
Motorola Backflip, DEXT, and Quench all inbound for Canada in the first half of the year
Without naming names, Motorola's Canadian outpost dropped some teasers today that versions of all three of its midrange Blur-powered Android handsets for GSM networks -- the Backflip, DEXT, and Quench -- will be coming to the country in the first half of 2010. What's more, they'll be hitting "all three national wireless carriers" -- a little bit of a slap for Mobilicity and WIND, yes, but generally good news for the overwhelming majority of subscribers. Perhaps the most interesting bit here is that they've called out the DEXT by name, continuing Moto's tradition of going with European branding over American for its Canadian launches, a trend started by Telus' Milestone. We don't yet know which carrier will get which phone, what they'll retail for, or precisely when they'll be on shelves, but needless to say, the Google-powered situation north of the border just got a whole lot prettier.
Bell, Telus, Rogers trial inter-carrier video calling
Even as American carriers continue to resist it, a variety of Canada's GSM networks support video calling on so-enabled 3G handsets -- but currently, the problem is that you're only able to video call other phones on the same network. Fortunately, Rogers, Bell, and Telus have been hard at work playing nice long enough to ensure that their respective video calling services play nice one another, and they've just announced the successful completion of inter-carrier trials. The companies are quick to point out that this makes them the "first inter-carrier partnership in North America" to support 3GPP-compliant video calling, something that should hopefully make AT&T and T-Mobile feel at least a fleeting moment of shame. No word on exactly when the service will be available to end users.
Bell scores 163K net adds in Q4, has HSPA launch to thank
Bell and Telus' massive, sudden addition of nationwide HSPA networks to succeed their legacy CDMA towers was an experiment unlike anything the wireless world had ever seen; at no other time had carriers that large jumped from one 3G technology to another, and it was anyone's guess how well it'd go and what effect it'd have on their bottom line -- clean-slate network build-outs aren't cheap, after all. We've got part of that answer now that Bell has reported fourth quarter earnings, and in a nutshell, it seems like this may have been a huge gamble that paid off. The company's wireless unit saw a 2 percent decrease against the previous in EBIDTA -- and ARPU fell by CAD $1.48 to CAD $51.08 -- but here's where the bubbly gets broken out: it saw a 39.3 percent increase in gross activations to 523,000, up 11.3 percent year-over-year. That works out to 163,000 net adds, almost certainly attributable to the launch of HSPA service and a variety of hot new handsets (and some older ones -- the iPhone 3GS, for instance) that gave some disgruntled Rogers customer the ammo they needed to bolt. It'll likely be a good long while before Bell actually goes net positive on its massive network investment, but early signs certainly suggest that it was the right move to make.
Bell's Remote PVR software ensures you won't miss the Canadiens Leafs game, even you're stuck in traffic
When DirectTV started teasing an iPhone app about a year ago our interests were certainly piqued -- and then disappointed when it was revealed it would only allow remote scheduling. When the Android version came along we got our hopes up again for remote streaming of content, but again got them dashed again. Now Rogers is doing the disappointing, launching the charmingly titled "Remote PVR Access from your Bell Smartphone" in Canada just before the Olympics on February 12, though it's unclear right now which smartphones will be covered. It too allows remote scheduling of content and, sadly, not remote viewing. Some day we'll get our wish -- some day.
Bell's Palm Pre now free -- in exchange for three years of your life
How long does it take for a smartphone to go from two hundred bucks on contract all the way down to a big, fat goose egg? If you're Bell -- and the phone is the Palm Pre -- the answer is right around five months, apparently. Following its August release and a couple of mid-course pricing corrections, Bell's now making Palm's first webOS-based device available for free just as long as you're willing to commit to three years at a minimum spend of CAD $50 (about $47) a month. The move likely comes on the announcement of the Pre Plus, perhaps as a preemptive strike against any of its competitors planning on carrying it -- and if we were Sprint right now, we'd be paying very, very close attention to these guys.
Bell Labs spearheads Green Touch initiative to improve network energy efficiency
Normally we might not cover the formation of a new consortium with ridiculously lofty goals like this, but check it: Bell Labs has managed to corral a who's-who of carriers, universities, government agencies, and industry labs with the goal of making communications networks more energy efficient than they are today. What makes the goal so lofty, though, is the fact that Bell wants to improve efficiency by a whopping 1,000 times -- a number it says should be possible based on research it has done suggesting a 10,000-fold improvement is theoretically possible. Heavy-hitting members include China Mobile (the world's largest carrier), AT&T, Swisscom, Telefonica, MIT, Stanford, Freescale, and the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, so we're feeling good about the plausibility of Green Touch's first proposed milestone: a reference architecture and sample components within five years capable of meeting the 1,000-fold improvement mark. The group's first meeting is next month -- just be sure to drive your plug-in hybrids to the gathering, guys.
Bell launches visual voicemail on BlackBerry, but it isn't cheap
Just how badly do you want an alternative to pressing and holding the "1" key? With Canada's Bell, you'd better want it pretty badly -- because its new visual voicemail service for BlackBerry devices isn't going to be cheap. The service is available with pretty much every modern BlackBerry, ranging from the older 8830 and Pearl 8130 to the most modern models like the Bold 9700 -- and as you might notice from that model range, it also spans both Bell's CDMA and HSPA networks. Here's where it gets tricky, though: it runs a stout CAD $8 (about $7.65) a month, which is a good deal more than the $2.99 Verizon charges for a similar setup. Obviously it's not much a difference, but it feels like $2.99 is below some magical psychological barrier where no serious mulling occurs; $8, though -- that's a different story.
Reversed decision enables Globalive to enter Canada's cellphone market 'immediately'
Tired of being badgered by your contemporaries over in the Northwest Angle about having to deal with those silly "three-year contracts?" Buck up, 'cause a new player has just been cleared to go head-to-head with the likes of Telus, Bell and Rogers in the Great White North. In a surprising reversal of an October CRTC ruling, the federal government in Canada has cleared Globalive to begin operations as a wireless cellphone operator in the country. The most amazing part? No changes are required in the outfit's debt structure or ownership hierarchy. You see, Canada generally requires that its wireless carriers be Canadian-owned, but as it stands, the majority shareholder in Globalive is Egypt's Orascom. Whatever the reasoning, we're just stoked to hear that the company can kick open the doors "effective immediately," and we're hoping to hear that it's doing just that in short order. [Thanks, Martin] Update: Whoa, that was quick! Looks like WIND (the brand this will all fall under) already has a site ready to rock. No sales or anything yet, but it looks like they won't be taking this reversal of fortunes lightly. Thanks, Leon!
Samsung Galaxy, Nokia N97 go where no man has ever gone before: Bell's HSPA network
Okay, that's not quite true -- Bell's HSPA network has been live for a few weeks now -- but the Galaxy from Samsung and Nokia N97 become two of the first few devices to take advantage of it now that it has made the bold jump from rumor to reality. The Galaxy looks to be a near-perfect replica of the Galaxy found internationally, bringing over the same 3.2-inch glass AMOLED display, 8GB of internal storage expandable to 40GB, 5 megapixel camera, and Android guts (1.5, we sadly presume) that you find elsewhere. What makes this one a little special, though, is the fact that it's got HSPA 850 / 1900 instead of the T-Mobile-friendly AWS bands that you find on the version sold unlocked in the US, so we imagine you'd be able to find a way to sneak this onto AT&T in the States if you were really desperate for it. The N97, meanwhile, looks to be a dead ringer for the version offered in the States; it runs a staggering CAD $199.95 (about $190) on a three-year contract, while the Galaxy is a little closer to reality at CAD $99.95 ($95) for the same duration.
Samsung Galaxy looking confirmed as Bell's first Android phone
Canada's Bell and Telus are going hog wild with handset selection since the launch of their new Rogers-matching (if not beating) 21Mbps HSPA network -- one need look no further than the launch of the LG BL40 for evidence of that -- but there's at least one glaring issue: Bell's yet to launch an Android set. That puts 'em at a distinct disadvantage against Telus, which already has an HSDPA 860 / 1900 cut of the HTC Hero on shelves -- but it looks like that won't be an issue for long. A scanned poster that's apparently already up in Bell stores has turned up on the ever-reliable interwebs this week clearly showing Samsung's Galaxy posing alongside the already-launched Omnia II and Impact; the carrier doesn't do us the favor of mentioning a date here, but it can't be long -- wouldn't want to lose the Google lovers to Telus and Rogers, right?
Virgin Mobile Canada: Fifth Canadian outlet for iPhone
The iPhone is getting yet another carrier in the great white north. Virgin Mobile Canada has announced that it'll start selling the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in the coming months. When exactly? How much? Can I get a Richard Branson ringtone? Actually, I can make my own ringtones, but what about the rest of it? We'll have to wait to find out. All the company said in its incredibly short notice was that it'll sell the phones online and in its brick-and-mortar stores at some point. Well, that and that its gotten some love from J.D. Power and Associates for its prepaid and postpaid wireless services. The phones are already on sale north of the border through Rogers Wireless, its subsidiary Fido, Bell Canada, and Telus. While a Canadian friend tells me Virgin Mobile Canada has a reputation for inexpensive phones with prepaid service, Canadian mobile news site MobileSyrup expects Virgin to charge roughly the same prices with the same three-year contracts as Canada's other iPhone carriers. Thanks EZ Mac Mike for the tip! [via iLounge, MobileSyrup]
Palm Pre WebOS 1.3.1 update available now
webOS 1.3.1 was always destined to come alongside the launch of the Pixi, but it's surprised us by showing its face a day early. No app catalog bombshells here, but there are a slew of more minor fixes and updates that should make users experience a great deal smoother. Is this the update that finally unlocks access to the GPU and provides the speed boost Pre owners are waiting for / advances the iTunes chess match another step? We'll let you know once our unit reboots, for now here are a few highlights from Palm's list of changes: Update: Downloaded, applied and rebooted. iTunes still isn't spotting our Pre as a device to sync with, and at least for the moment there's no great speed increases to speak of, but we have noticed a few more key tweaks that owners are sure to like -- setting a specific ringtone for text messages is exactly what we've been looking for. Yahoo! now appears as a Calendar/Contacts/instant messaging synchronization account. You can forward a text or multimedia message by tapping the message > Forward. A new option is available for restarting the phone: press and hold power > Power > Restart. The prior restart method (Device Info > Reset Options > Restart) is still available. Widescreen videos (including YouTube) now display in widescreen mode on the phone by default, instead of being cropped. If you tap to play a YouTube video embedded on a web page, the YouTube application launches and the video plays in the app. You can select a unique ringtone for new message alerts: Open Messaging > application menu > Preferences & Accounts > Sound > Ringtone. While listening to a song with album art displayed, you can tap the screen below the art to display a playback slider. Dragging the slider jumps forward or backward in the song.
Palm Pre price keeps sinking on Bell, down to $100
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]
Imagine that: Bell offers video calling on the cheap
As expected, Bell lit up its shiny new HSPA network today, officially marking a magical transition from CDMA to 3G GSM over a year in the making as it prepares for an LTE upgrade in the coming years, and with it, a few cool phones launched -- most notably the iPhone 3GS and the Samsung Omnia II (you listening, Verizon?). That's not what really caught our eye, though: like Rogers, Bell's now offering video calling, a feature standardized with UMTS and arbitrarily disabled both by T-Mobile and AT&T in the States (though the latter offers the far less useful one-way Video Share service at $4.99 a month for just 25 minutes of usage). Granted, video calling hasn't exactly caught on like wildfire in Europe where it's widely deployed -- but when you consider that they're charging CAD $5 (about $4.70) a month for unlimited use, it seems like a worthwhile add-on even if you only use it for a few minutes now and then. It also makes AT&T Video Share -- and its pricing structure -- look even more ridiculous than it already did, doesn't it?
