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Oh, by the way: July 13, 2009
Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of mobile for Monday, July 13th, 2009: Samsung has released a new firmware for its i8910HD that enabled AAC audio while recording HD video. The problem? Right now, only Italian firmwares seem to be eligible for the update, which comes through Samsung's PC Studio app. [Via Softpedia] Excellent music identification app Shazam is now available on the BlackBerry Storm. And let's be honest, Storm owners need all the entertainment they can get. In France, the Samsung S5230 Player One has been re-released in Zadig & Voltaire livery; we've never heard of 'em, but we bet it's a big, important fashion house somewhere. [Via Unwired View] NuevaSync recently launched its interesting push email service, which simply uses IMAP IDLE on the back end and Exchange ActiveSync to connect to your device (because as push goes, more devices support EAS than IMAP IDLE). [Via Smartphone Thoughts] GSM / CDMA dual-band versions of the HTC Snap and Touch Pro2 have been confirmed for launch on Telus, though dates and pricing haven't been given. [Via Smartphone Thoughts]
Telus to get BlackBerry Tour on July 15
We're hearing that Telus is primed to pick up the BlackBerry Tour right alongside -- if not before -- its US counterparts, getting real for customers on July 15. Pricing will come in at CAD $249.99 (about $220) on a promotional three-year deal, meaning that you need to be agreeing to a new contract on a voice plan of $20 or greater with a data package of $15 or greater. Otherwise you'll pay a whopping CAD $449.99 on a three-year all the way up to $649.99 contract-free. Of course, we suspect the Tour is so much better than the Curve and the 8800 series that people will be paying in droves at any price, but still, it's pretty painful to get in on this thing without springing for the promo.[Thanks, Riley Freeman and Pirate]
LG BL40 helping to kick off Telus' HSPA network?
So there's this awesome new LG handset in the works for Vodafone and T-Mobile (probably Europe, but we're not sure) -- we haven't seen it, but from LG's published specs, we know it's got a whopper 800 x 345 display, HSDPA, and likely a 5 megapixel camera. That's really nothing to write home about by 2009 high-end LG standards, but the mayhem begins when you realize that there's also a version of this sucker specified for Telus. Yes, Telus -- the Canadian CDMA carrier that is currently in the process of building out its HSPA network but doesn't have any commercial markets live yet. With HSDPA in tow, could the BL40 (which we still haven't seen, by the way) be one of the carrier's inaugural GSM devices? Seems likely, and with 800 x 345 pixels front and center, we're cautiously optimistic that it's a strong choice. [Via MobileSyrup]
Telus cuts employees, boosts spending on 3G network
In what has become an all-too-common theme across the telecom and wireless industries -- and just about every industry, for that matter -- Telus cut 1,160 employees from its payroll in the first quarter, a move that it says cost it roughly $28 million in restructuring fees. If it's any consolation, though, the reduction's being offset by capital investment in excess of CAD $2 billion this year to ramp up its 3G infrastructure buildout that'll ultimately see Rogers-fighting HSPA spectrum go live as an interim step on the way to LTE. With $700 million getting spent in Alberta, $500 million in British Columbia, and $300 million in Ontario, that work will undoubtedly create some jobs, so there's your silver lining right there. [Via MobileSyrup]
Motorola's i465 Clutch coming to Mike in Canada
Boost Mobile won't be the only iDEN network to launch Motorola's first QWERTY iDEN set -- according to a leaked screenshot, it looks like Telus Mobility's Mike wants in on the action north of the border, too. The i465 Clutch is a low-end device that concentrates on messaging capabilities -- a common theme across carriers and network technologies these days -- and we're not terribly surprised to see Mike make a play for it. Of course, here's the million-dollar question for you, Mike users: how's texting for you? Fast? Slow? Unbearable? Intermittent?
HTC Touch Pro2, Snap coming to Telus -- with GSM in tow?
New inventory items in Telus' system are setting these old, weary interwebs ablaze, especially those parts of the interwebs where HTC devices are discussed with great love and passion. Specifically, the Snap and Touch Pro2 have made appearances -- not surprising, considering we know other CDMA carriers have these on the roadmap already -- but what's extra delicious here are the "World Edition" tags listed in the description field. That would imply that these are dual-band devices capable of supporting GSM abroad, which is music to any globetrotting suit's ears and a surefire way to sell a few more of these biz-oriented things. We've received similar inventory screen shots corroborating Boy Genius Report's which makes us even more certain they're on their way -- it's just a question of when and for how much. [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Telus gets 4.7.0.122 for BlackBerry Storm, too
Bell gets the gold star on its forehead for being the first CDMA carrier out of the gate with a newish build for the BlackBerry 9530, but Telus isn't far behind, releasing 4.7.0.122 -- the very same build Bell released, in fact. This leaves only Verizon with one of the worst cases of firmware lethargy we've seen in recent memory -- at a time when one of its hero devices needs as much love as it can get, no less -- so we're definitely taking some comfort in the information we're getting that build 141 is on track for May. Cross you fingers, folks.[Via CrackBerry]
Telus picks up the Treo Pro, Bell says "so?"
If you've got $150 worth of Canadian loonies and three years' worth of your life to spare, you're in a perfect position to pick up a brand spanking new Treo Pro from Telus, which launched this week hot on the heels of its sworn rival Bell. Of course, these guys have a similar challenge to Sprint right now -- it's hard to get people amped about any Palm product other than the Pre -- but seeing how Telus hasn't made any announcements about Pre availability, this could be the only Palm action subscribers are getting for a while for all we know. Could be worse, right?
Samsung Omnia coming to Bell and Telus next month
It's a little sad that Samsung's 5MP Omnia is just now getting around to Canada's CDMA carriers -- you know, given that you're already savvy on the OmniaHD -- but at least it's coming, right? The WinMo 6.1-equipped handset won't be changing in terms of specs, but we are told that it'll be splashing down on both Bell Mobility and Telus this April. The pain? MobileSyrup has it that Bell's Omnia will run $549.95 outright or as low as $349.95 on a three-year contract, which sounds patently absurd and completely believable at the same time.[Via MobileSyrup]
BlackBerry Pearl 8230 comes to Telus
Alright, Telus, you can dial down the that envy-induced shade of green you've developed while pining for Bell's BlackBerry 8230. Actually, you can't -- green is a part of your color scheme -- so allows us to rephrase: the Pearl Flip is now available on both CDMA nationals in Canada. It'll run you $49.99 CAD on a three-year deal, which delivers the promise of the $50 KickStart we'd hoped for before the GSM version was originally announced; it's just a damn shame it's going to take a three-year contract to get down to that level (of course, the $449.99 contract-free option is always available, too). Grab it now in your choice of black or pink. [Via Howard Chui]
Telus' BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 appears on site, launch imminent
So with Bell's 8230 launch out of the way, Telus has now stepped up and dropped this set on the web. While it's not talking specifics just yet, seeing the flippy thing heralded as "coming soon" should at least whet a few fan's appetites. We had heard the set's price was originally set at $99 on a three year, but Telus may have spiked that in favor of a more reasonable $50 or $449 off-contract price. While we wait for the official news out of Telus, feel free to peruse the tiny gallery we've cobbled together or hit the read link to learn a little bit more.[Thanks, RileyFreeman]%Gallery-46911%
Telus' BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 gets a plan and pricing, rumor-style
Our friend (and oft correct) RileyFreeman over at HowardForums tipped us off that Telus' BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 is pimping and pruning its pricing prior to launch. Word has it that this flippy debutante will be priced at $100 on a 3-year contract, and $500 completely off-contract. Other info mentions that Telus has prepped a special plan just for this pink or black set, running at $32.50 it'll include 200 minutes, evenings and weekends after 6 P.M, 3 months free local calling, and unlimited mail and instant messaging. Of course, with Bell's launch of the same set at $29 on a three-year today -- and competition with its own BlackBerry Curve 8830 at the same price point -- we suspect Telus may want to rethink a tad -- if indeed, this proves true -- before they open the floodgates wide.[Thanks, RileyFreeman and agent_whitevan]
Best Buy spills beans on Telus' BlackBerry Pearl 8230
So, is the BlackBerry Pearl 8230 headed to Telus this month after all? Yeah, maybe. Best Buy's gone ahead and revealed a product page for the Telus-branded, CDMA-packing version of the Pearl flip, though you can't buy it online -- and until we hear otherwise, we're going to go ahead and assume that they're still plenty hard to find in stores. Pink or black, your choice, for $499.99 CAD (about $398) off contract.[Via MobileSyrup]
Telus BlackBerry Curve 8350i review
The Telus Mike-branded BlackBerry 8350i Curve is a monstrous step in device technology for the Canadian giant as the only other BlackBerry in the lineup is the BlackBerry 7100i *cough*. So we'll start this off by saying goodbye to the year 2006, welcome Mike to the year 2009, and share a few thoughts -- and an enormous gallery -- about this new Direct Connect set.%Gallery-45863%
Mystery 3G network appears in Canada -- tomfoolery from Bell and Telus?
Seems Howardforums user Treatz glimpsed a new MCC / MNC (Mobile Country Code / Mobile Network Code) tuple in Toronto Canada early yesterday, say hello to 302-640. Why should you, and why do we care? Well, each network uses an MCC / MNC, to uniquely identify itself and Fido has 307-370, Rogers 302-720, and Telus 302-86. We hunted down a great reference in the CNA (many thanks to Glenn at Canadian Numbering Administrator) and what do you know, 302-806 is Telus / Bell shared but 302-640 is Bell Canada. So the question is, could this be some late night testing of Bell and Telus' upcoming 3G network by some Bell people? We're not in the Toronto area, but would really dig it if anybody who happens to be up late at night could have a peek and see if this pops up for them -- because if people are seeing this all over, that's nothing but a good thing.[Via Howardforums]
HTC's Footprints app making tracks to other devices
Look ma, users at XDA-Developers are up to shenanigans again, and this time NFSFAN has posted up a new version of his Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM with some of HTC Touch Cruise's (Iolite) magic in it. The list of goodies added -- this is still Beta -- is long, but high on the list are Footprints, HTC's geotagging app, and some TouchFlo2D. So if you're an HTC Vogue user on Sprint, Alltel, Verizon, Bell, or Telus, get to it (but make sure to stay safe by reading, reading, and reading!) and do let us know how it turns out for you.[Via wmpoweruser]
Telus launches BlackBerry Curve 8350i
Telus has launched the BlackBerry 8350i right on schedule and for just a few more pennies than we'd guesstimated last week. As the pic explains, it is yours for $249 on 3-years, $449 on two years, $549 on 1-year and completely off contract for an earth wobbling $599. So to recap: push-to-talk? Check. Push mail and all the other wonders of one of BlackBerry's finest? Check. Text messaging on Telus' Mike? Nope, though we hear it's coming soon. Missing messaging aside, anybody looking for the finest in iDEN on Telus has found home.[Thanks, Rileyfreeman]
Telus' Mike prepping to launch BlackBerry Curve 8350i
Seems everybody has some BlackBerry Curve, though Telus' Mike brand's BlackBerry Curve 8350i iteration is more a-la Sprint Nextel's Curve due to its push-to-talk nature. Featuring a 2 megapixel camera -- it can also be ordered without -- GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and, well, it's a real frickin' BlackBerry on Telus' Mike! Rumor has it the coming soon sign will roll over to now for sale on the 27th of January for $200 on a three-year deal.[Thanks, Rileyfreeman, kjb_ninja, and Pirate]
Motorola's rough and rugged V750 now available on Telus
It won't fill the void left in your heart from not being able to acquire a BlackBerry Storm, but it will withstand the beating you probably feel like dishing out. Motorola's surprisingly stout V750 has made its way across the border and onto Telus Mobility, bringing with it EV-DO Rev. A support, a 2.2-inch 320 x 240 internal display, 3.8-hours of talk time (83-hours in standby) and military-grade resistance to things like drops, water and extreme temperatures. If you're headed up to Yellowknife (or even crazier, Tuktoyaktuk), one of these could certainly come in handy. It's available now for between $199.99 and $399.99 depending on contract length.[Via mobilesyrup]
Telus Mobility officially launches BlackBerry Storm
If you've been hemming and hawing about pre-ordering a BlackBerry Storm 9530 from Future Shop, you can stop now and ponder on all the time you've wasted. Once that's done, you can saunter on down to your local Telus shop (or, you know, the carrier's website) in order to purchase RIM's very first touchscreen BlackBerry. Nothing too special about this version -- just that it's $249.99 on a 3-year contract, $449.99 on a 2-year agreement, $549.99 on a 1-year deal or $599.99 with no strings attached.Update: Seems we're hearing and seeing all kinds of hollering that while the Storm has launched, it's more of a soft launch and the real meat of the shipping won't get underway 'til January 2009. Telus' online store shows the handset's status as "on backorder" and a tipster's told us the same. Though to appease the masses Telus has kicked the LG Dare and BlackBerry Pearl out for $0 and the BlackBerry Curve for $49. Decisions, decisions, huh?[Thanks, kjb_ninja and RileyFreeman for the update][Via mobilesyrup, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
