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Fido outs the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
While Fido is sometimes known as a storehouse for the less-than-stellar handsets in the Rogers family, its launch of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro may well renew some of its gloss. Packing such niceties as an 8.1 megapixel camera, a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 CPU, 854 x 480 3.7-inch display, GPS, WiFi, and even an 8GB memory card, we're convinced it's set to become a rather popular device. With this launch, Fido's Android stable has now been bumped up to an even four sets -- including the Samsung Nexus S, Acer Liquid E, LG Optimus 2X -- and with pricing set at a pretty reasonable $50 for a three-year stint and $350 contract-free it's immediately the most affordable. Do feel free to drop us a line in the comments below if you find yourself inexplicably drawn into a bricks and mortar to pick one of these up.
Nexus S immigrates to Canada, Future Shop commemorates event with gingerbread muffins
It's been a good week for Canadians to get a taste of Gingerbread, with today marking the official release of the Nexus S for our friends up north. To mark the event, lucky Toronto residents were greeted with a release party at Future Shop, replete with ginger-themed treats and giveaways. With availability spreading across the country, Samsung's homage to Android purity is now available online through Mobilicity, Telus, Koodo, Wind, and Videotron, effectively tempting the majority of Canada with Google's finest offering. If you'll remember last week's report on Mobilicity's soft launch of this praised handset, we assumed Fido and Rogers were nipping at their heels... and while the Nexus S has yet to hit their online stores, you might find them sitting in your local Best Buy. So, Canada, how does it feel to get this awesome slab of engineering coming at you from all corners? Don't worry, we'll understand if this is an emotional time. %Gallery-121302%
Nexus S with AT&T bands available in white for $600, headed to Fido and Rogers
It's been a long time in coming, but it looks like Google and Samsung's love child, the Nexus S -- a favorite around these parts -- is finally available with AT&T's 850 and 1900 MHz 3G bands from online retailer Negri Electronics, for $600 in your choice of black or white. It's not the first time we've seen the elusive Samsung GT-I9020A in the wild: it's already appeared both in the hands of the FCC and on the Bluetooth SIG's website. We've also seen pictures of a Nexus S with a white battery cover before. And here's more: we already knew the AWS version of the Nexus S was coming to Canada via Mobilicity, but according to MobileSyrup, you'll soon be able to pick up the Nexus S on Fido and Rogers for C$500 contract-free or C$100 with a three-year commitment, and these two carriers use the same 3G frequencies as AT&T in the US. So, until we hear something official from Samsung or Google, hit up our plethora of source links below.
Fremont Motors shows off Fido electric scooter prototype
Most scooters are generally a bit offbeat in appearance, but Seattle's Fremont Motors has truly gone the extra mile with its new, all-electric Fido prototype. That eye-catching design also incorporates a good bit of practicality, however, including wheels that are the same size and can be easily removed, a battery beneath the floorboard that can also be easily replaced (and charged indoors), and even a removable storage case under the seat that can be worn as a backpack. In terms of performance, you can expect to get a range of up to 35 miles on a charge, and hit a top speed of 45 mph. Of course, it is still just a prototype, but Fremont Motors is planning a "limited" in the third quarter of next year, with the scooter expected to run $5,000. Head on past the break for a look at the (stationary) scooter on video. [Image: orinoneill / Flickr]
Rogers, Fido offering iPhone unlocks for $50
Bringing this up with your local AT&T rep is liable to get you laughed out of the store, but things are a little different up in Canada where one of the major carriers is now offering an unlock service -- for a fee. If you're on Rogers (or its budget subsidiary, Fido) and you're a customer in good standing with an iPhone that you've previously purchased from them and you're not currently in a contract, you can pay $50 Canadian -- that's $50 US, for those of you not up to speed on current conversion rates -- to have Rogers' customer service reps flip a switch that'll cause the phone to magically unlock the next time you restore it while connected to iTunes. Considering the restrictions, they should probably be offering the service for free, but it's a start.
Kin firmware torn apart, reveals provisioning for AT&T, T-Mobile, Fido?
In public, Microsoft has been adamant about its relationship with Verizon in bringing the Kin to market, even saying that the research and development process involved regular trips to Big Red's New Jersey offices -- but how strong is that bond behind the scenes? Well-established WinMo hacker Conflipper seems to have stumbled across a Kin ROM in recent days, tearing it apart in search of interesting tidbits, and here's a doozy: the firmware appears to be ready for provisioning on a variety of North American, European, and Asian carriers, including T-Mobile and AT&T in the US, Fido (a Rogers subsidiary) in Canada, O2, 3, TeliaSonera, China Mobile, China Unicom, Bharti Airtel for India, and both NTT DoCoMo and SoftBank in Japan. Amusingly, launch partner Vodafone is misspelled as "Vodaphone" in the files, but seriously, we're wondering how close any of these deals are to actually going down. Fido would make a lot of sense since Microsoft has yet to announce a Canadian partner, but we've previously heard that Microsoft has no intention of taking the phone to Asia -- so this could be a completely meaningless list after all.
Rogers and Fido announce new smartphone tethering policy
Many Canadian Rogers and Fido subscribers have been waiting anxiously to hear about how they were going to get dinged once the current smartphone tethering promotion expired on May 3, 2010. The current plan sees all customers with a data plan including more than 1GB get tethering free of charge but rumors swirled that this would become a pricey extra when the current promotion expired. Canada, rejoice! The new plan has been announced and -- with a few exceptions -- sees tethering carry on into the future with no change. Exceptions include the new 1GB+ One Rate Roaming plan, Family Shared Data and Voice plans, Smartphone and Rocket stick shared plans, and anybody not on a 1 GB plus data plan. So now that all your fears of having to re-mortgage your home have been assuaged, why not take those extra $thousands you've saved in the piggy bank and ponder an upgrade instead. Follow the read link for all the details and a handy FAQ.
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]
Will Canada's iPhone be unlocked?
The iPhone is slowly making it's way around the world. In Canada, there are now four major carriers that support the device: Rogers, Fido, Telus and Bell. So how will Apple continue to stock and support the iPhone with that many carriers? That's where the story get's interesting. According to iPhoneInCanada.ca, to make stocking and inventory easier, the iPhones in Apple's Canadian retail stores will arrive completely unlocked without any SIM card. Once a carrier is chosen and a SIM card is placed in the device, it will then be locked to that carrier. So what happens if you put in a SIM card from a carrier other than the four in Canada? The simple answer: we have no idea! While we're not entirely sure what this means, it does present some interesting ideas. The Canadian iPhones could only recognize the four possible carrier's SIM cards, but may also be entirely unlocked. It'll be interesting to see how people that want to use the iPhone on unsupported carriers will take this news.
Fido getting ready to give 16GB iPhone 3G the pink slip?
Well, that was quick. Actually, not really -- it's not altogether unheard of for a phone to last less than a year on a carrier before getting pulled off shelves -- but when that phone happens to be the iPhone 3G, it's bound to raise a few eyebrows. MobileSyrup reports that the 16GB version of the device will not be reordered in April by Fido once current stock depletes, leaving just the 8GB model to soldier on. Why only 8GB? Two theories, and in all likelihood, the truth lies somewhere in between both: one, since Fido's been rebranded as Rogers' value brand, it makes more sense for the high-end iPhone to live on Rogers alone; two, there's one (or more) new devices on the way in the next few months. For the world's sake, we hope the latter theory figures prominently in the equation.
Fido's LG Neon: seen, priced, and oh so available
Fido, everybody's fave low cost GSM alternative in Canada -- and yes, we do know they are owned by Rogers but are different brands, we live here, we use them -- has ponied up an LG Neon of its own today. While Rogers offering rumbles in off-contract at $199, Fido has chosen $179 as its entry point and a 2 year stint costing you $50. Well done Fido for a handset that while lacking the extra 3G speed certainly makes up for it with a bit 'o style and hard to beat messaging functionality.[Via MobileSyrup]
Canada's Fido deep-sixes Hiptop service
So, if you're on Fido with a Hiptop, your days are numbered as it appears Fido has starting informing customers -- by text, no less, not even a call -- that as of April 30th, the service is shutting down. Of course, having your service dumped from underneath you may put you in a pretty good position to bargain for goods and new sets, though, we have to ask: what would you move to? Samsung Jack? BlackBerry 8100? Yeah, sadly that's about it, though, there's always Rogers, Telus or Bell if you can't get what you want. Bye bye Hiptop, you'll be missed.
Fido launches low-end slider, the Samsung SGH-F266
Samsung and Fido are having a wee bit of a party today and have released the SGH-F266 to help us join in the new handset fun. The F266 is the first in a series of sets listed in the questionable raodmapp (that's intentional, so don't yell at us) we saw appear yesterday. Apparently priced at $25 on two-years, or $150 outright, it is loaded with a 2 megapixel camera, 37MB of internal memory (upgradeable to 8GB), a 2.1-inch display, and rounds out with a bit of Bluetooth, an FM radio, and only weighs 99 grams. Oh, and Fido? Your site still makes us feel queasy / stings our eyes, seriously.[Via Mobilesyrup]
Leaked Fido roadmap shows Q1 sets, typos, errors?
We're not so sure what to make of this -- and would put very little weight in it until we hear otherwise -- as the title's typo and obvious lack of 3yr plans that carriers love up here make it seem a bit sketch. Though, as the pic is hollering, we can purportedly expect the Samsung F266 tomorrow, SE T303 in early March, LG TE365 late March, and the recycled Motorola W233 on April 22. This thing is all a mess, though stranger things have happened, and it could all pan out. Hopefully we'll hear something either way in the near future.Update: As reader clay rightly points out, feature phones no longer have 3-year deals -- though they do still exist for sets like the recently launched BlackBerry. So with that out of the way, we just have the shifty typo left.
Fido's shops start stocking BlackBerry Pearl 8100
Fido's BlackBerry 8100 has been rumored, caught in the wild, confirmed, and now we finally see it on the site and priced. First the price, apparently Fido really wants you on contract for 3 years, as it is $25, with 2 years hopping up to $350 -- as a side, on T-Mobile 2-years is $49, on AT&T, you could get a Bold or Curve for less -- and off contract cost is $400. On the service side, there's a $15 unlimited personal IM and email package, or 500MB for $25, 1GB for $30, or 3GB will ring in at $60. So if you're on Fido and have been dreaming of the day you'd be able to get on this bandwagon, go forth and spend.
BlackBerry 8120 filters into Fido outlets, still can't be sold
Hold tight, Fido fans -- that BlackBerry you've been yearning for is almost here. Just days after hearing that BlackBerry and Fido would be getting together in the Great North, Boy Genius Report is providing a few sneak peeks at what's likely to be the first one available. The only marginally blurry shots clearly show that RIM's Blackberry 8120 is now Fido-branded, though there's practically zero chance for you to buy one even if you happen upon it. Why? Fido's POS machines aren't yet equipped with BB plans, so it looks like you'll have to wait until February 4th or so before exchanging cash for goods. Tough, we know.
Fido and the BlackBerry, friends at long last
Beautiful isn't it? About time they got it, too, wouldn't you say? So the story goes that Fido CSRs (Customer Service Representatives) have gotten word from above that training for BlackBerry is set to begin some time next week -- so we'll go out on a limb here and say that you can take this launch to the bank. We don't know what set is going to be offered -- so don't let the photoshoppery get you too jazzed -- but rumors are circulating that the old BlackBerry 8100 might be what's up for bids. Can we just add that while we are stoked Canada's other GSM carrier's finally seeing a BlackBerry, how about releasing something that's not reached end-of-life on some carriers, Fido?
Fido's rebrand complete, yellow figures prominently
Fido, Canada's other GSM carrier -- though, wholly owned by Rogers Wireless -- has finally found its new identity. The faithful, straightforward, and trust-inspiring pooch is still present in the new look and feel as well as the hammer-like subtle use of yellow. New plans being launched include "all-in" price plans starting at $15, a $25 deal with unlimited text messaging, and all feature per-second billing and no system access fee. The new site's up now if you're inspired to switch up your plans a bit and we have to say, if the fine type's not too fine, things are definitely looking rosy for budget-minded consumers up north.
Fido to revamp image, become more than a Rogers clone on Tuesday
Fido's experienced a bit of an identity crisis ever since being snatched up by GSM giant Rogers several years ago, struggling with product and pricing lineups that don't really project the quirky, young image that the brand's supposed to be all about. That might all change Tuesday, though, with rumors swirling that the carrier's poised to totally remake itself with new branding, a new, expanded hardware lineup, and lower fees. This might be largely in response to Telus' creation of the low-cost Koodo Mobile network, but also in preparation for an onslaught of competitors brought about by Canada's recent AWS auction. Either way, it sounds like it's probably good news for Canadian consumers looking for another (only?) source of budget GSM stuff.[Via MobileSyrup, image via HowardForums]
Nokia's E71 swiped from FIDO, reserved for Rogers launch?
From a corporate standpoint, we can sort of understand the parent company's desire to have the best handset launches all to itself, but it sure would've been kind of it to throw FIDO a proverbial bone. If you'll recall, whispers were in the air that Rogers, FIDO's parent company, would be reserving the Nokia E71 for a fall / winter FIDO launch; now, we're hearing from a number of directions that those plans may have been scrapped. In fact, Rogers could now be hosting the phone all by its lonesome next month in Canada. Of course, we'll have to wait until then to see if hearts change once more, but boy, the tug-of-war between parent and child here is really bringing back some frightening memories.[Via mobilesyrup]
