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

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]

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LG GW620 Eve coming to Rogers, Android deftly avoids AT&T yet again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

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.

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Telus kicks off HSPA+ network with iPhone November 5th, HTC Hero, LG New Chocolate and more to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

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”

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CRTC sets net neutrality rules for Canada, allows throttling as ‘last resort’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Telus joins the fun, gets itself an iPhone this November

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!

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Telus joins the fun, gets itself an iPhone this November originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone Gets Another Carrier in Canada

Following the lead of Orange and Vodafone in the UK, a second Canadian wireless carrier is set to get its hands on the iPhone. Bell Canada will join Rogers Communications in carrying the popular handset, breaking that carrier’s exclusive contract with Apple.

Bell is set to begin selling the phone next month, utilizing its new $1 billion wireless network. Does this signal the coming of a similar move in the US? Fingers crossed.

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

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]

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Bell nabs iPhone deal in Canada, ends Rogers’ reign of terror originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

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]

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iPhone headed to Telus and Bell’s fancy new HSPA networks next month? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune HD International launch hopes crushed by Microsoft, others raised

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]

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Zune HD International launch hopes crushed by Microsoft, others raised originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

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]

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Microsoft says no plans for Zune HD in France, other markets still up in the air originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

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

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Bell’s latest Pre ad insults Americans, old people, and bloody roller derby girls in one pass originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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