By: RogersRob July 6th, 2010 at 5:27pm

Here at Rogers, we’re passionate about sports – whether it’s tennis (Rogers Cup), baseball (Toronto Blue Jays) or broadcasting (Rogers Sportsnet), just to name a few.

We’ve got some exciting news to share with Vancouver sports and live entertainment fans. Effective today, the home of the Vancouver Canucks will become known as Rogers Arena. This ten-year strategic alliance also makes Rogers the official telecommunications sponsor of the Canucks.

What does this mean for Vancouver?

British Columbia is one of our most important markets, and this investment is just the beginning. We plan to work with the Canucks to explore innovative ways to engage fans anytime, any place. We’ll also join forces with the Canucks on local charitable initiatives.

Looking forward to seeing you at Rogers Arena when the puck drops this fall!

Posted in: BlackBerry, iPhone, Android

FREE! LIVE Streaming of all 2010 FIFA World Cup Games

For iPad Customers

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

In preparation for the launch of the iPhone 4, Apple has launched a major software release for the iPhone. This new iPhone OS 4 software includes over 100 new features and enhancements available to users of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. The following are just a few of the many enhancements of this advanced operating system:

• Multitasking and the ability to run background applications
• Folders
• Improved mail
• iBooks
• 5x digital camera
• Tap-to-focus video and much more

Check out Apple’s website (at apple.com/iphone/softwareupdate) for more information about iOS 4.

If you would like to upgrade your operating system, please go to Rogers.com/iOS4 where you will find step-by-step instructions on how to do so.

Posted in: iPhone

Posted in: Rogers Wireless, Wireless Industry

Contact us or use your Corporate Log In to order now!

Posted in: BlackBerry

Posted in: Android

• Loop Mode: Set the time between slides and leave BlackBerry Presenter running as you deliver your presentation.
• Support for PowerPoint effects: Accurately show most of the slide animations and transitions from Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2003 and 2007.
• Freeze mode: Freeze a slide on-screen while you browse through the rest of your presentation on your smartphone.
• Bluetooth® connection: Roam up to 10m from your Presenter for a truly dynamic presentation.
• Single button operation: Use the button on top of your Presenter to put it to sleep, wake it up, or show a new presentation.
• Compatible with multiple video formats: Travel overseas or at home and present in NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) and PAL

Posted in: BlackBerry

The B.C. government has introduced legislation to ban B.C. drivers from chatting on cellphones while they're behind the wheel.

Six other provinces already have such legislation in place.

The B.C. government promised in its throne speech last August to restrict cellphone use while driving to create a safer driving and pedestrian environment across the province.

Solicitor General Kash Heed said Wednesday that the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act changes to crack down on cellphone use will save lives.

"We have all seen near misses on the road because drivers were not paying attention," Heed told the legislature. "And some of us have seen the devastating consequences of driver distraction."

If passed, the changes to the Motor Vehicle Act will take effect on Jan. 1, 2010. At that point, only hands-free cellphones and devices that require one touch to activate will be permitted.

A new fine of $167 can be handed out as of Feb. 1, 2010. If drivers are caught texting or emailing they will also receive three penalty points on their driving record.

New drivers in the province's graduated licensing program are not permitted to use hands-free phones and will receive the $167 fine and three penalty points for any violation of the amended legislation.

The B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police passed a resolution earlier this year asking for a total ban on cellphone use by drivers, even with hands-free devices.

The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General said independent research concludes that cellphone use while driving is the top cause of distracted driving.

On average, about 117 people die each year in British Columbia and 1,400 are sent to hospital because of distraction behind the wheel said the ministry.

Posted in: Wireless Industry

2-year contract: $149.99 (there will be no 3-year contract)
No contract: $399.99
$50.00 up to 3GB of data
$60.00 3GB to 5GB
$75.00 5GB to 10GB

Data only (Flex Plan)
$35.00 0 to 3GB
$45.00 3GB to 5GB
$60.00 5GB to 10GB

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

The Gmail™ plug-in is the first downloadable email client built by RIM, and it brings all the conveniences of this popular email service to your BlackBerry smartphone. Here, we look into some of the time-saving features you can take advantage of with the Gmail plug-in on your BlackBerry smartphone.

Conversation View

 

Unlike a traditional email client, the Gmail plug-in displays your emails in conversation view, which groups a message and all of its replies into a single thread. This makes keeping track of complicated exchanges easy and allows you to quickly find any earlier messages or attachments sent in a conversation.

Labels and Stars

 

The Gmail plug-in includes advanced features for organizing your messages, including labels and stars. The label feature allows you to attach one or more descriptive labels (which you can create using the Gmail web client) to your message, such as “Work”, “Finance”, “Football” or “Read later”. You can later filter your inbox or search results by label, allowing you to view only a certain category of emails. You can also “star” messages, which applies a special label that identifies particularly important emails.

Search

Searching your email inbox is faster than ever with the Gmail plug-in. It allows you to quickly search the messages saved locally on your BlackBerry smartphone or in your entire Gmail inbox for a term in any field, including From, To, Subject and Body. You can also filter search results by label, or by starred status.

Initially, synchronization with the Gmail webmail client is only in the smartphone-to-webmail direction, meaning that changes made to messages (such as adding or editing a label) using the web client will not be reflected on the handheld, but two-way synchronization is expected to be implemented in the near future.

Get it Now

Already have Gmail integrated with your BlackBerry smartphone? Click here

If not, you’ll first need to integrate your Gmail hosted account with your BlackBerry smartphone by following the instructions here.

For more info visit blackberry.com/gmail.

Posted in: BlackBerry

At the end of June the company reported a record 5.2 million iPhones sold in its third quarter - a 600% increase over the same time frame a year earlier.

Steve Jobs was proud to announce that more than 1.5 billion applications had been downloaded from the App Store. Unsurprisingly, according to a new survey released by Compete, 72% of iPhone owners have downloaded 10 or more applications to their devices.

Meanwhile, in comparison only 27% of Blackberry owners have downloaded 5 or more applications.

Said Nohe, "With the massive number of applications downloaded to date, the iPhone has taken an early lead in getting owners to adopt app functionality and make popular applications a part of their daily lives…

Once users are hooked, they're very unlikely to give up their device - that makes mobile the next can't miss opportunity for marketers."

The top free application in the App Store's social networking category is Facebook and 71% of those surveyed reported accessing the site from their mobile device.

Nevertheless, Twitter usage appeared remarkably lower than expected.

Posted in: iPhone

Starting today, Canadians can pre-order the new HSPA+ Rocket Mobile Internet Stick for as low as $74.99**. Please email darelle@cellcomwireless.com to pre-order yours today.

Rogers plans to expand HSPA+ over the coming months to additional cities across the country. Rogers is the first wireless provider in North America to launch HSPA+ at peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps, reinforcing Rogers and Canada as a North American market leader in telecommunications technology and innovation.

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

Posted in: Wireless Industry

The company, which is often tight-lipped about its numbers, revealed a bit more about its user engagement today at the Nokia World conference in Stuttgart, Germany.

About half of its 250 million monthly users worldwide log in every day.

About a quarter, or 65 million, used the site from mobile devices in August, according to Henri Moissinac, director of Facebook Mobile. That’s more than three times what it was in December, when 20 million users were using Facebook through apps and the company’s mobile web page.

The U.S., U.K., Canada and Indonesia have the most active users.

The social networking site is trying to tighten its partnerships across all platforms.

Nokia and Facebook announced a lifecasting app, that would make it easier for users to send status updates and their locations on the N97 and N97 mini Nokia models.

Today, Facebook operates multiple mobile services worldwide:

Facebook for iPhone, which currently has over 13 million monthly active users (and is currently adding half a million active users per week)

Facebook for Blackberry which currently has nearly 9 million monthly active users

m.facebook.com the standard mobile interface

x.facebook.com an advanced mobile interface

Facebook SMS, through which users can update their status and receive notifications. This service is now available on 52 operators in 25 countries.

Posted in: Wireless Industry

That’s why I was psyched to test out the BlackBerry® Music Gateway (also available under our current 'Accessory Sale' on our Home Page), a device that lets you stream music from your BlackBerry smartphone to your home or car stereo. The files are streamed using Bluetooth, which means you don’t have to plug your phone into any sort of jack and it’ll never have to leave your pocket. The BlackBerry Music Gateway is easy to install—you just plug it into your stereo and into the wall and sync it like you would any other Bluetooth® device.

Posted in: BlackBerry

Solicitor General Kash Heed told reporters yesterday he is looking at three key changes for drivers:

• Limit cellphone use to hands-free operations;

• Ban text messaging;

• Prohibit the use of cellphones and other devices – even in hands-free mode – for new drivers who are under the province's graduated licensing program. 

He said the timing of the legislation and further details are still being worked out, but it will bring B.C. in line with at least four other provinces.

In April, Ontario passed a law that bans using handheld devices to talk, e-mail or send text messages while driving. The new rules, which will come into effect this fall, include a fine of up to $500. The law doesn't affect the use of hands-free devices such as those with Bluetooth or dialling 911 on cellphones.

Posted in: Wireless Industry

Key points:

Apple Inc. is shipping limited supplies of its smart phone to Rogers Communications Inc., the only Canadian wireless operator able to carry the device.

As the California company scrambles to try to meet global demand that appears to have exceeded its own forecasts.

Rogers is advising shoppers that it is out of stock of Apple's latest device, the iPhone 3GS, which was launched in June, as well as earlier models introduced last summer.

Liz Hamilton, a spokeswoman for Rogers, said the iPhone remains popular and demand is high. "We are out of stock and still taking orders as our inventory continues to come in week to week," she said.

"While we have continuous incoming inventory, we are filling back orders on a priority basis and we appreciate the enthusiasm and patience of our customers."

Posted in: iPhone

Posted in: iPhone

Text Messaging Travel Packs

• One-time fee means no pro-ration. The full fee amount will appear on the customer’s first invoice after purchase.
• Message pack expires one month from date of purchase.
• Any unused text messages will be lost once the SOC drops off the account one month from the date of purchase.
• SOC is automatically removed from the account at the one month from the date of purchase..

TA RGET CUSTOMER:  

• Customers (individuals, families, couples) going to the U.S. or internationally for personal travel, who want to stay in touch with friends and family back home or with each other while away.
• Customers who are reluctant to use their phone due to their perception of roaming charges being expensive and price uncertainty.
• Customers looking to save while roaming.

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

Activate on a Business Single Line voice plan and receive a 40% MSF discount – for the FULL 3 year term! These plans are perfect for the customer who needs tons of talk time, to keep their business going.

Activate on a Canadian One Rate plan and receive a 50% MSF discount – for the FULL 3 year term! These plans are perfect for frequent business travelers within Canada and Canadian long distance users.

All of this on Canada’s most reliable wireless network!

Eligibility & Restrictions:

• Available only on 3 year term plans only
• Eligible for new subscriber activations (MSF discount will be automatically applied)
• Eligible for existing subscribers on a reactive basis with renewal to a 3 year term
• Promotion is subject to change and may expire with limited notice.

If you have any questions or are looking to activate or upgrade your line, please contact my office at 1-866-487-1717

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

Posted in: Wireless Industry

Where do my apps go when I install them?

Any app you install on your BlackBerry smartphone (from BlackBerry App World or anywhere else) is installed in flash memory.  Each BlackBerry smartphone has a different amount of flash memory – and this is what determines how many apps each device can have installed.  With the new archiving feature, you can store the app on the microSD™ card and restore it when you want to use it.

What will happen to our current applications?

All the apps you’ve downloaded and purchased from BlackBerry App World are currently stored in your “My World” account.  After upgrading to BlackBerry App World 1.1, you can still archive the app – it will just be quickly downloaded again and then stored on your microSD™ card. 

How to Archive Applications on your BlackBerry:

In “My World”, you now have the new menu option “Archive”. 

 When clicked, BlackBerry App World will uninstall the application from the device memory and store it on the microSD™ card.  

Some apps require a reboot – some don’t – it all depends on the app.

 The icon for the app will still appear where ever you have it (default on 4.5 and below is the home screen, on 4.6 it is the Downloads directory). 

The icon will have a green arrow in the bottom corner indicating it’s been archived.  

You can click on the icon and you’ll be prompted to see if you want to restore the app.  

You can also restore from inside BlackBerry App World.

Download BlackBerry App World 1.1(Desktop and OTA Download)

Posted in: BlackBerry

He also thinks this factor is already reflected in their stock prices.The analyst anticipates that new entrants will focus on lower-end, less profitable subscribers – at least in the near term.

Mr. Huang believes Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron and Shaw Communications Inc. are in position to launch sustainable wireless businesses. For Shaw, he thinks the company has shifted its long-term strategy from discount to premium wireless services.

As for the new entants, Mr. Huang does not think they are doomed to fail, but nonetheless face many challenges. The analyst sees Public Mobile, with its unlimited plans representing a differentiated offering, as the first new entrant to launch service.

Mr. Huang expects Rogers Communications Inc. to remain the leader in wireless due to its high quality network and ability to offset pressure on wireless voice with data growth.

Posted in: Wireless Industry

iPHONE all models 3 Year $35 + Voice Plan &  Data Activation

$299.99 3 year voice & data activation Built-in GPS Wi-Fi capable Dual transfer mode

HTC MAGIC $149.99 3 year voice & data activation Android OS Google Apps built-in Built-in GPS and Wi-fi

HTC DREAM $149.99 3 year voice & data activation Android OS Google Apps built-in Built-in Wi-Fi and GPS

SONY X1 XXPERIA$249.99 3 year voice & data activation 3.0" Touch Screen Unique Panel Interface Built-in GPS and Wi-fi

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

Posted in: BlackBerry

The demand for the iPhone 3G S has been so high since its launch that Apple is unable to quench consumer's thirst for the smartphone. 

Speaking on a conference call to disclose Apple's third quarter financial results. 

Peter Oppenheimer, CFO and senior VP, said that Apple sold a whopping 5.2 million iPhone 3G S devices since its launch last month, up from 717,000 smartphones a year ago. 

"Response to the new iPhone 3GS has been tremendous, with over 1 million 3GS handsets sold by the third day after its June 19th launch," Oppenheimer said, according to a transcript of the conference call.  

"We are currently unable to make enough iPhone 3G S [phones] to meet robust demand, and we are working to address this." 

Currently the iPhone 3G S is available in 18 countries, each of which is strapped for supply, noted Tim Cook, COO of Apple. 

Posted in: iPhone

The Sony Ericsson MD400g Rocket stick provides safe and secure internet access on a laptop without the need for a Wi-Fi connection, virtually anywhere on the Rogers 3.5G network. Featuring download speeds up to 7.2 Mbps and a memory storage capability of up to 8 GB, you will be able access yourr files, send and receive email and attachments, browse the internet and more, all from your laptop. An internal GPS receiver provides added functionality while on-the-go.

Promotional pricing: $0

Promotional pricing is available on activation of a 2 or 3-year term data plan with a minimum monthly service fee of $25.

Top Sony Ericsson MD400g features:  

• Download speeds of up to 7.2Mbps on the Rogers 3.5G Network
• Up to 8 GB of memory storage capability with Memory Stick Micro (M2) or microSD external memory cards (external memory cards not included)
• Built-in GPS receiver is fully compatible with most location-based services such as Google Maps
• Integrated antenna plus an additional swivel antenna maximizes reception performance and boosts data transmission
• Easy installation for Microsoft Windows 2000 (SP4), XP and Vista , & Apple Mac OSX
• Supports text messaging services via the mobile network
• Multi-colour LED indicating connection status and GPS status
• Small and compact USB 2.0 interface form-factor
• Connection Manager provides data usage information, connection speeds and signal strength

Target Market:

• Consumers who want to connect to the internet from their laptop any time, anywhere
• Business professionals and mobile workers who are looking to increase productivity on the road and save time with less trips back to the office

The Sony Ericsson MD400g will be in stock later this week, reserve yours today by emailing me directly at darelle@cellcomwireless.com

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion vowed to keep innovating its products in the heavily competitive smartphone space, a

The company, known as RIM, told shareholders Tuesday that while applications such as music, games and screensavers are important, its plans are to leverage the technology into more "substantive" areas. 

For instance, Balsillie said he has been in discussions with health care and insurance companies about special uses for the BlackBerry. 

RIM recently launched a new online application store for Black-Berry users for upgrades and purchases, but it has been criticized by some as not being user friendly. 

What is considered essential is clearly not just food and shelter in today's tech-consumed society.

Posted in: BlackBerry

Over the past year or so RIM has taken major steps to connect to their customers and potential customers. First they started with targeting the business people with their Smartphones, then a full marketing plan was announced with BlackEyed Peas member Will.i.am and guitarist John Mayer as the lead roles. Followed by launching affordable youth targeted devices like the Pearl Flip… recently joining forces with mega band U2. A few weeks ago they launched the official BlackBerry

Blog called InsideBlackBerry and now an official BlackBerry Community aptly named “MyBlackBerry” has been launched.

 The new site is a place for people who have a BlackBerry or want a BlackBerry to interact with people from around the world and ask for help, give answers or learn tips and tricks. There are currently many reputable BlackBerry forums out there with millions of members… from the looks of the MyBlackBerry it brings a Facebook like social aspect to the game.

 Here is a quick video of what RIM wants it to be:

Posted in: BlackBerry

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

Posted in: BlackBerry

Posted in: BlackBerry

I got to handle this for a few minutes and work my way though it. First, it feels really great in the hand and has this beveled look to it that screams to be held. Next, this is meant to crank out your music as the speakers are impressive. The 5800 has a 3.2 inch touchscreen and is incredibly easy to navigate your way around. In addition, this also has an accelerometer that makes it easy to type your e-mails/messages with. At launch (very soon) they will include an 8GB micro SD and can hold up to 16GB. With the short time I got to play with this I was impressed with the 3.2 megapixel Carl-Zeiss camera (has a dual-LED flash). Viewing images on are easy and show up great… you can use the screen to scroll through to the next image. I didn’t take a video but when we do a full review will report back.  

Surfing the web was decent, nothing too spectacular but with the touchscreen it makes it easier to get to the places you want. From the few sites I initially visited the 5800 loads and renders web pages well. Over the next week I will report back with a full review:

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

I let you know about “Zoompass” last week, this is the Rogers, Bell and Telus joint venture that allows their customers to to send, receive and request money using your mobile phone. They want you to use the service by making this a household name by saying “Do you want me to Zoom you the money?”.

Robin Dua, President of EnStream said “The launch of Zoompass represents an important milestone in financial services that makes the mobile phone the central device consumers use to transfer money and make purchases. The Zoompass mobile service ushers in a new era in electronic payments  that addresses a growing desire to move money quickly and easily between friends, family, and merchants.”

There are fees for this service though, to register an account, receive money and add funds from a bank account is free. There will be a $0.50 charge send money and withdraw finds to a bank account. A 10 spot will be charged for any insufficient funds.

More here at Zoompass

Posted in: Wireless Industry

On June 15th customers on Bell, Solo, PC Mobile, Rogers, Fido or TELUS will have the ability to send, receive and request money using your mobile phone. This service will not be under the EnStream name, but a sub company called “Zoompass“. Their website is unfortunately not active yet, but when this goes live you can register online for your free Zoompass account to your bank account and credit and start using at your free will.

There are fees for this service though, to register an account, receive money and add funds from a bank account is free. There will be a $0.50 charge send money and withdraw finds to a bank account. A 10 spot will be charged for any insufficient funds.

Once you do all the activations and preform the mobile money transfers you can expect to get a text message confirmation receipt.

More to come soon

Posted in: Wireless Industry

At the Rogers Android Launch Party event last week I had some one-on-one hands on time with both Google-powered Android devices, the HTC Dream and HTC Magic!

“Android” is Google’s operating system that they have created for mobile phones. Both of these devices have a 3.2 inch LCD HVGA (320×480 resolution) touchscreen with an accelerometer and full HTML browser and can be synched with your Outlook, WiFi, Bluetooth compliant with a built-in GPS. Also, both the Dream and Magic have a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and video capabilities and store up to 16GB of expandable memory with a microSD card. Overall dimensions of the Dream are 117.7 x 55.7 x 17.1mm, weighs in at 133 grams with the battery and has a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard. The Magic has dimensions of 113 x 55 x 13.6 mm and weighs in at 116 grams with the battery. The estimated talk time of the Dream is 6.5 hours and the Magic is 7.5 hours.

In addition, since this is based on Google’s “Android”, you can access the “Android Market” and customize your device with over 3,500 available apps. Plus the HTC Dream and HTC Magic comes fully loaded with Gmail, Google Search, Google Maps, YouTube and widgets that you can put on your desktop for quick access to your favorite apps.

The HTC Dream and HTC Magic are available for $149.Other price plans are: Outright for $599.99; 1-year for $524.99 and 2-year $499.99.

Posted in: Android

Posted in: Rogers Wireless, Android

The Sony Ericsson W705 is more than your standard Walkman device that we’ve seen in the past. Yes it does come with a wicked speaker and also a great set of earphones. Yes it does have a great music player and comes loaded with a 4GB M2 Memory card (can take up to 8GB). The greatest features that come with the W705 is the quick access to YouTube and Facebook.

The W705 is a slider and has a nice finish to it. We had the “Luxury Silver” colour, this also comes in “Passionate Red”. It looks high class for the price point. The overall dimensions are 3.7 x 1.9 x 0.6 inches and weighs only 98 grams so this feels great in your hand and will not be nuisance in your pocket.

The screen is 2.4 inches and has a resolution of 320 x 240. I was impressed by the screen as there are some screens that are 2.4 inches and when used only use 2 inches. The W705 is a 2.4 inch screen that used 2.4 inches and makes viewing your pictures and videos that much more enjoyable. Viewing web pages was nice as it renders them well, the only downside is that you have to use the directional pad to get to where you want to go. No biggie though as it’s simple to use and incredibly fast.

The Facebook application is one of the most impressive additions to this device. Once you log in you can upload pics, change your profile, see what your friends are up to all with the click of one button. Your friends updates are scrolling across your homescreen and gives your quick access to have a conversation with them.

With the 3.2 megapixel camera the pictures are of high quality and more impressive is the ease of taking video and uploading them straight to YouTube. We took a quick 40 second video and after logging into YouTube the whole process: saving, upload and viewing took less than 2 minutes to accomplish.

The Walkman is again impressive by Sony Ericsson, they always do this very well. Speakers are dominant and comes with a set of premium earphones which are incredibly clear sounding. The “Shake Control”, now a standard feature allows you to change the volume and track simply by sharing the device. This also comes with an FM Radio.

The only downside of the W705 is the keyboard. Dialing your contacts is fine, but it’s a bit small especially when you are typing your text messages. The solution for this is that Sony Ericsson has ensured to include predictive text so it’ll help you find the words you want to type and all you have to do is press the OK button and move to your next word. This just takes some getting used to.

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

Andy Rubin, senior director for Mobile Platforms for Google and the spearhead of the Android operating system, said the number could be as high as 20. (That figure does not include devices made by manufacturers that use a basic Android system but have not apprised Google of its use). The 18 to 20 devices Google knows about will be made by eight or nine different manufacturers, Mr. Rubin said.

He declined to say which manufacturers will make said phones or for which wireless carriers. At present, there are at least two Android-centric phones — Rogers’s 'Magic' and 'Dream' available in Canada June 2nd.

Mr. Rubin said that, in general, carriers will be slower in the United States to introduce Android phones than in Europe and Canada. The reason, he said, is that the domestic market is so competitive that carriers and handset makers want to create highly distinctive versions of the Android phone to give themselves an edge.

Indeed, the ramp-up of Android phones intensifies a battle among some of the world’s biggest software companies to create the operating system for the world’s phones (of which there are now 4 billion). Android goes up against a coming-soon new version of Microsoft’s mobile version of Windows, Apple’s proprietary iPhone system, the Blackberry platform, a new Palm OS for its Pre called WebOS, Symbian (mostly proferred by Nokia) and a host of Linux-based systems.

It is, in short, while the carriers and handset makers battle, a pitched and wide-open contest to control a new generation of higher-powered mobile devices is underway.

For Google, what was important about Mr. Rubin’s disclosure was both what he said but also where he said it. His comments came at a conference in San Francisco for developers of applications for Android phones. These are the behind-the-scenes folks who will help distinguish Android from Apple’s iPhone or the Palm Pre, the Blackberry and Nokia app stores, etc.

On the question of apps, Mr. Rubin reinforced Google’s position that Android is an “open” platform, though, critically, that concept has some nuance to it. It goes like this: there are three flavors of Android. Each is free. But the versions place different requirements on the handset manufacturers and wireless carriers. The differing versions — and the way they’re being adopted - gives an insight both into Google’s goals and to the way the market is receiving those goals.

1. The obligation-free option: device manufacturers can download a free version of Android, load onto their devices and provide access to as many or as few apps as they want. But the manufacturers cannot preload popular Google applications, like Gmail or Google calendar.

2. The small strings option: Same as Option 1, except that manufacturers sign a distribution agreement to include on the phone Google applications. Of the 18 to 20 phones coming out this year, Mr. Rubin said, 12 to 14 subscribe to this option.

3. The bigger strings option or the no-censorship version: These phones Google calls “The Google Experience.” They are physically distinguishable by the “Google” logo on the phone. They include a range of Google applications that the carrier and handset maker agree not to remove from the phone. The carrier and handset maker also agree not to censor access to the Android market. Meaning: if some developer comes up with an application that some people find distasteful, or that gets bad press, it must nevertheless remain available to consumers. Of the phones coming out this year, 5 to 6 belong to this category, Mr. Rubin said.

The third category provides risk and reward opportunities. The openness of the store could be a hit with consumers, but could also lead to poorly constructed applications or ones, like the baby shaking app for the iPhone, that could give Google a taint (however temporary and press driven).

When it comes to apps, Mr. Rubin said: “We want to abide by the law, but not rule with an open fist.”

Posted in: Android

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

Posted in: Rogers Wireless, Wireless Industry

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

When asked about RIM’s future products he said “Form factor is a personal preference but it’s got to be something that lasts the better part of the day and you can hold up to your ear and clip onto your belt. Those are a very tight systems constraints for a netbook”.

However, people are buying netbooks more these days since it is smaller than your typical computer and alot bigger than your Smartphone. If you want a bigger keyboard, Balsillie says “If you want richer keyboards and richer displays you can just use perphiperals and bluetooth".

Posted in: Rogers Wireless, BlackBerry

It’s Android time, Canadians. Mark your calendars for June 2nd as Rogers Wireless has just announced the exclusive arrival of both the HTC Dream (aka G1) and HTC Magic (aka QWERTY-less G1) next month. Details are a bit scarce for the moment but Rogers’ release promises that clarification is forthcoming. For the time being, it’s safe to say that at least the HTC Dream will become available on June 2nd. The HTC Magic will arrive in June as well though it is unclear if the actual launch date will be June 2nd or some time later in the month. In any event, Canadians waiting to get their Android on most definitely have cause for celebration! Hit the jump for the brief press release and hit the read link to sign up for more info.

Canadians to Get Android-Powered Smartphones: Rogers Wireless prepares for the Mobile Revolution with the exclusive Canadian launch of the HTC Dream and HTC Magic

TORONTO, May 7 /CNW/ - Rogers Wireless today announced the exclusive Canadian launch in June 2009 of the HTC Dream(TM) and HTC Magic(TM) smartphones, the first cell phones in Canada powered by the Android platform, allowing for fast and easy access to a wide range of Google(TM) mobile services, including Google Search(TM), Google Maps(TM), Gmail(TM) and more.

“Who else but Rogers would be the first carrier to offer Canadians the first chance to join the mobile revolution with a choice of not one, but two, handsets powered by the Android platform?”, said John Boynton, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Wireless. “The HTC Magic offers a responsive touch screen and the HTC Dream delivers both a touch screen and a slide out QWERTY keyboard. Both devices offer outstanding wireless internet search capabilities and a full suite of applications that run two times faster on Canada’s fastest mobile network.”

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

Posted in: Rogers Wireless

Posted in: BlackBerry