Rogers Wireless -- Engadget Mobile

rogers wireless posts

Rogers Wireless' Dream un-safing and hands-on

by Sean Cooper, posted May 23rd 2009 @ 10:56PM

So, Friday rolls around complete with cryptic "you'll get something awesome tomorrow" message from Rogers. Of course we bite, and something awesome did show just after lunch today. Rogers first Android sets launch on the June 2 with both HTC's Dream and Magic taking center stage to usher in the OS' proper christening north of the border. Bundled in the safety of the fireproof (yes, fireproof) safe are a charger, USB cable, headset, and the HTC Dream proper. While T-Mobile's patrons south of the border wait for version 1.5 to arrive, Rogers seems set to launch the devices with the latest build already loaded and good to go. We've not had more than a few hours with the phone, but we're loving it -- and the fact that we finally have an Android device for the US 3G flavor we love doesn't hurt either. Pricing is still firmly in the land of chalk drawings, but we've heard tell that $199 would be the price of admission -- and to be honest, that seems about what we'd expect. Follow on for a pile of pics of the un-safing of Rogers first steps in the land of Android.

Gallery: Rogers Wireless' Dream un-safing and hands-on

Rogers Wireless' "relolution" coming tomorrow?

by Sean Cooper, posted May 22nd 2009 @ 3:34PM

We just had this just drop in the mansion's mailbox courtesy of Rogers Wireless. Apparently, the "relolution" is coming, and coming tomorrow. So like the dutiful souls we are, we've cancelled our appointments chez the coiffeur and are gonna just chill and wait. We're not exactly sure -- but we can certainly guess -- what may be arriving: one of two Android-powered sets set to bow on Rogers shortly, that's what (and given a choice, we'd happily take both). Now, will this come pre-packaged with some Cupcake Android 1.5 love, or are we gonna have to wait for the same slow rollout many of you are still dreaming about? More tomorrow, you can count on it. Oh, and Rogers? Please remember, before every "relolution" comes a spellcheck.

Rogers getting the 5 megapixel LG GT500?

by Chris Ziegler, posted Apr 27th 2009 @ 5:25PM

Juicy XML metadata on LG's own site suggests that the GT500 -- which has yet to be officially announced for any market, though it was originally rumored for T-Mobile in Europe -- should be destined for Rogers at some point. That's pretty awesome news for Canadians of all shapes and sizes, considering the spec sheet has this one rolling deep (well, somewhat deep) with 3G, a 5 megapixel cam, and a WQVGA touchscreen. The only GT500 we've seen pass the FCC so far only received approval on EDGE bands, suggesting that Rogers will have to wait for a second version with North American 3G or forge ahead with EDGE alone; for everyone's sake, we're hoping they take the former option.

[Via MobileSyrup]

Nadir Mohamed in as Rogers CEO

by Chris Ziegler, posted Mar 31st 2009 @ 9:33AM

It's not terribly often that Canada's Rogers Communications names a new chief exec -- hell, the last one was none other than the company's founder himself -- so needless to say, it's a pretty big deal that the company has concluded its search and sealed the deal. As expected, Nadir Mohamed, who already has plenty of executive-level experience within the company serving as president and COO of its Communications Division, has been named to the CEO post, concluding a search both outside and inside the wireless giant for Ted Rogers' successor. Congrats, Nadir -- you've got big shoes to fill. [Warning: PDF link]

[Via MobileSyrup]

Rogers begins selling white Nokia E71, Americans consider relocating

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 18th 2009 @ 11:42AM

You Yanks may bang on the Canucks for having to deal with those ridiculous three-year contracts, but every so often, something goes down in the Canadian mobile space that flat-out silences everyone beneath the border. Take this, for instance -- Nokia's white E71, which can only be scored over in Europe and now in Canada with support for native 3G bands, is finally on sale at Rogers Wireless. Oh sure, the only difference between this E71 and the black E71 is the colors involved, but we all know just how important that becomes when exclusivity is mixed in. The pain? $99.99 on a lifetime, er, three-year contract. Sorry, we had too.

[Via MobileSyrup]

Rogers bumps BlackBerry prices skyward to help with "acquisition expenses"

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 17th 2009 @ 2:38PM

As with any major company out there, Rogers Wireless has been burning through some cash in order to move its business forward. So far as we can tell, however, it's acquired nothing substantial enough to warrant a $30 million hole in the overall acquisition budget. According to a poorly scribed email that was allegedly whisked out by a Rogers bigwig, the senior executive team just realized that it was $30 million in the red when it came to acquisitions, and coincidentally (or not), the price of select BlackBerry handsets has crept up anywhere between $25 and $50 on a 3-year contract. Granted, there's no confirmed link between the price hikes and the budget fiasco, but simple logic could bring us to believe that one is definitely in reaction to the other. Who knows -- maybe those gigantic Bolds were way, way more expensive that anyone assumed.

[Image courtesy of BlackBerry News]

Rogers ready to launch LG TU750 Secret and TU330 Globus?

by Sean Cooper, posted Feb 18th 2009 @ 11:29AM

While we wade through the quagmire of MWC releases, Canada's Rogers Wireless (the only GSM deal in town, though one of two brands) seems to have prepped the launch of LG's TU750 Secret and the TU330 Globus. The TU750 packs a touchscreen, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash into a thin sliding handset. The TU330 is a lowend flip with a 1.3 megapixel camera, GPS, snores, and Bluetooth and as the ad shows, pricing on this seems set at $19 on a three-year. Pricing on the Secret and shipping dates for either? We've no thought on that, but the image above looks like it could come from a flyer, so we'll hopefully hear more soon.

[Via Mobilesyrup]

Read - LG TU330 Globus
Read - LG TU750 Secret

Rogers Wireless $20 Value Pack adds unlimited text messaging

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 25th 2009 @ 10:10AM

Nothing too exceptional here, but the texters in attendance should certainly have a listen. Just a week after Rogers Wireless launched two new unlimited packs for BlackBerry users, the Canadian carrier has upgraded the $20 Value Pack (for standard handsets) to include unlimited texting, up from 2,500 previously. Like we said, nothing too incredible -- unless you've been burned of late for sending over 2,500 texts in a month.

Rogers toots its own horn and 7.2 Mbps network update

by Sean Cooper, posted Dec 11th 2008 @ 6:15PM

Canada's Rogers Wireless made official today what some of us had already noticed: its coast-to-coast 3.5G HSPA network (read: 7.2Mbps of fast) lives. Of course, while we may never see "real world" speeds that even get close to this -- nor will the Europeans be particularly impressed -- we're sure Rogers is loving the fact that it's the first wireless network in North America that can brag about it at wireless operator conventions, or something. Rogers currently lists the HTC Touch Diamond, the LG Vu T915, the Novatel MC950D Rocket Stick, and the Novatel X950D Express card as 7.2 Mbps-ready. So start hitting Speedtest already, and let us know how the bits are flowing.

Rogers selling the BlackBerry Curve 8900? UPDATE: Yes indeed

by Chris Ziegler, posted Nov 28th 2008 @ 11:08AM

Word on the street is that people have suddenly (and rather unexpectedly) started to be able to buy the Curve 8900 on Rogers for $179.99 on a three-year contract with support for the carrier's Talkspot UMA service. Why this wasn't heavily advertised leading up to the release, we don't know -- folks seem to be red-hot for this release -- but at any rate, you should be able to stroll into your local shop in the next few days and pick this sucker up. That eternal question comes up yet again: Curve, Bold, or Storm?

Update: Game on -- according to Boy Genius, the Curve is now listed in Rogers' internal database and retail stores are starting to get stocks. So what's it gonna be?

Fido's rebrand complete, yellow figures prominently

by Sean Cooper, posted Nov 4th 2008 @ 8:58AM

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.

Rogers holds hands with RBC / Visa for mobile phone payment pilot

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 30th 2008 @ 11:43PM

If you're tired of paying for random snacks and such the old fashioned way (you know, swiping your credit card and handing over your John Henry), Rogers Wireless feels your pain. While not the first mobile payment initiative to hit the Great North, this one has some pretty notable backers. Starting in mid-2009, Rogers, RBC and Visa will join together to allow customers "to pay for small purchases" so long as they're holding one of the "specially-equipped mobile phones that can be waved at Visa payWave-enabled checkout readers at select retail stores and quick-service restaurants in Toronto's downtown core." The pilot will utilize Motorola handsets outfitted with Near Field Communication (NFC) contactless chips, while Gemalto will be managing the transfer of credit card information from RBC to the secure SIM card. There's no word on plans beyond the trial, but here's hoping it does something more than just fizzle out.

[Via mobilesyrup]

Rogers gets rugged with Motorola VA76r

by Chris Ziegler, posted Sep 29th 2008 @ 6:22PM

Mil-spec (and mil-spec-esque) hardware seems to be all the rage lately, so Motorola was more than happy to oblige when Rogers asked for some rough-looking gear to slot into its lineup. Meet the VA76r, a beefy set that'll take pretty much all the drops, dirt, and spills you can throw its way and keeps things rockin' on the data side with triband HSDPA. You've also got a QVGA display, Bluetooth, 2-megapixel cam, and microSD expansion; the $199.99 CAD (about $194) you're going to pay on a three-year contract isn't the cheapest we've ever heard, but for those that need this kind of toughness (you know who you are), it's probably worth the cost of admission. No word on a US release, but we suspect Moto would love to launch this sucker on AT&T to do battle with Samsung's Rugby.

[Via MobileSyrup]

WiFi-equipped BlackBerry 8320 on tap for Rogers?

by Chris Ziegler, posted Sep 18th 2008 @ 1:50PM

There's an old saying in the wireless industry: "As AT&T goes, so goes Rogers." Actually, that's not a saying, we just made it up -- and it's not terribly accurate, either. But in the case of RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8320, there's at least a little bit of truth to it. New documents floating around indicate that Rogers intends to add the WiFi-packin' version of the Curve to its Talkspot lineup, giving users yet another smartphone option after the 8120 launched earlier this year. It'll apparently be offered in "Sapphire Blue" for $149.99 CAD (about $140) with a launch expected before the month's out.

Rogers embraces N-Gage, Nokia Maps

by Chris Ziegler, posted Sep 16th 2008 @ 5:58PM

Rogers has gained the notable distinction of becoming just the first carrier in North America to partner with Nokia to distribute its N-Gage and Maps clients, an unprecedented move that could lead to tighter (dare we say, more Europe-like?) relationships in the future. Both products are initially available on the N95 8GB -- a phone that Rogers officially offers through its own channels -- and will presumably see wider launch as other S60 handsets are brought into the fold. What's next, Rogers, full-on Ovi support?

[Thanks, James]