If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a smartphone inspired by TopGear's 2012 supercar of the year, leaks of a water-resistant handset for T-Mobile and an Android smartphone from LG that sells for under $100 outright. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 5th, 2013.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Want to know which North American carriers might offer the LG G2 after August 7th? The FCC is offering a big hint: it just approved a region-appropriate version of the Android flagship. Going under its D801 codename, the G2 variant cleared by the agency supports all the LTE and HSPA frequencies used by AT&T, T-Mobile and large Canadian networks. As such, it's likely that the smartphone will get a multi-carrier launch next month. The real question is whether or not any CDMA providers (which aren't included in the filing) will come along for the ride.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, AT&T, LG, T-Mobile
Source: FCC
Canadians can finally say goodbye to the dreaded three-year cell contracts they've been strapped with for too long: Telus is now offering a two-year contract per Canada's new wireless code. The company announced as much today in a statement which said the new plans kick off on July 30th, with both unlimited talk and text included (not to mention shareable data on a single account). It's the latest addition to the company's long-standing "Clear and Simple" plan. The plans are available for individuals, families, and small business as well -- with up to 15 devices connected under a single plan with the latter option.
Most importantly, of course, Canadians can now enjoy the same two-year cycle of buyer's remorse that us Americans have been dealing with for years now. Just 23 months and 30 days until you can get that new phone!
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Mobile
Is it worth spending $40 on a laptop stand? How about $299 on a Nexus 4? Yes and yes, at least if you ask the Engadget staff. After the break, Don Melanson explains why he splurged on a solid wood notebook stand, and Jon Fingas makes a case for the Nexus 4 as a budget handset.
While it's been easy for Canadians to get data plans for the iPad and iPad mini, they haven't had the luxury of picking one up at a carrier store like their American neighbors. They will soon, however: Rogers and Telus say they'll be selling the LTE versions of both iPads sometime in the "coming weeks." Details are scarce, although the two networks promise that they'll keep offering contract-free data plans. We've reached out to learn whether or not Bell is following suit.
There isn't any talk of similar offerings with smaller providers, although Wind Mobile is offering an olive branch to iPhone owners. The carrier is now selling $25 nano-SIM cards for those who've bought an unlocked, AWS-friendly iPhone 5 through Apple. These customers won't have LTE, but they'll get HSPA+ data on less expensive (and less restricted) plans. Hit Wind's Facebook page to learn just which devices qualify.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Wireless, Mobile, Apple
Source: Rogers, Telus, Wind Mobile (Facebook)
Telus' bid to acquire Mobilicity was primarily a play for more spectrum, and the Canadian government's obligation to block the related frequency deal largely killed the merger's reason for being. However, the carrier isn't fighting that fatal setback to the bitter end, AT&T-style -- instead, it's backing out entirely. That's undoubtedly a relief for Canucks wanting a competitive cellular marketplace, although we wouldn't cheer too loudly. Mobilicity was partly hoping the deal would eliminate its financial woes, and it now has to fend for itself once again. There's also no guarantee that we'll avoid an eventual repeat: it could be open season on Mobilicity when there's no longer a moratorium on spectrum transfers.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
Via: MobileSyrup
Source: Canada Newswire
Oh, Canada. Just one day after we received word of the CRTC's new wireless code, Industry Canada -- its government's equivalent of the FCC -- announced further postponements of the country's pending 700MHz spectrum auction. Already delayed from the first half of this year to November, IC is pushing the auction back yet another two months to January 14th, 2014, while the application deadline has been reset for September 17th of this year. The main reason for the setback? This morning, the government denied Telus' request to transfer AWS spectrum from Mobilicity -- one of the most important factors in the potential merger of the two networks. As a result, IC decided to allow more time for the affected companies to figure out what to do next; more than likely, Telus will need the extra two months to pull an AT&T and rethink its acquisition strategy. Read the release below for a few more details behind the rationale.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
Via: MobileSyrup (1), (2)
Source: Marketwire
Telus may be near taking over one of its competitors, but it could soon offer an olive branch to Canadians wanting a choice in budget carriers. MobileSyrup understands that prepaid service PC Mobile (which uses Telus' network) is going postpaid on June 5th, and introducing smartphones at the same time. The provider will reportedly embrace Koodo-style installment payments, as well as frugal plans that range between $35 and $60. It should also support a range of 3G and 4G phones that mostly line up with Telus' offerings: an inventory leak shows the higher-end BlackBerry Q10, Nexus 4 and Galaxy S 4 joined by the cheap-as-chips Lumia 520. Although we doubt that PC Mobile's expansion will completely make up for a shrinking market, we can't object to a small carrier entering the big leagues.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
Source: MobileSyrup
Regulators in Canada have been making a push to enhance competition in the mobile space, with Industry Minister Christian Paradis going so far as to lay out a set of rules for the nation's upcoming 700MHz spectrum auction that he promises will give citizens "more choices and more access at better prices." Granted, that ideal world only works if the carriers can stay afloat long enough to bid. According to William Aziz, Mobilicity's own chief restructuring officer, the operator has been "losing a significant amount of money every month." To that end, he reckons that an "acquisition by Telus is the best alternative," and he seems to think that the $380 million deal will receive a hasty approval considering the circumstances.
The purchase price is thought to be high enough to cover the debts looming over Mobilicity, and it'll give its 150 employees a secure job at Telus. If it sails through, a quarter-million Mobilicity customers should see no interruption in service as the integration takes place. Of course, a secondary benefit for Telus is gaining access to the spectrum Mobilicity currently uses. The end result for customers in the world's nicest country? We'd love to say that one fewer player will result in better service, lower prices and greater fulfillment for all... but something tells us that's probably wishing for a bit much.
[Image credit: Andrew Currie, Flickr]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Telus
Samsung's launch of the Galaxy S 4 hasn't been as coordinated as the company would like, but it's making some amends with today's launch of its flagship phone in Canada. In one fell swoop, most of the larger Canadian carriers are now offering the 16GB model for a typical $200 on a 3-year contract. Bell, Rogers and Telus (as well as their sub-brands) are covering much of the country, while more region-specific carriers like Eastlink and Videotron are also joining in. Carriers like Mobilicity and Wind Mobile aren't yet included, however, and supplies are known to be tight -- we'd ask about stock before making a trip to the local store.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Via: MobileSyrup