Videotron will be holding a press conference on Thursday, September 9th to introduce their newly built 3G+ network to Quebec residents. The new network, which will provide significantly improved data speeds and quality of service, is finally ready for consumers. We'll be at the Montreal event to keep you informed on all of the launch details, but in case you'd like to watch it yourself, it will be broadcast live on VOX (Channel 9 or 609 with Videotron), and on the internet at webcast.videotron.com. No word yet on exactly which devices will be available at launch, or if the 3G+ network will cover all of Videotron existing wireless coverage areas, but check back tomorrow for all the details!
Telus recently sold out of the HTC Desire - one of the most feature-packed, anticipated Android devices to hit the Canadian market, and are now offering up a $50 mail-in rebate for customers "who had to wait". Though there are no details available as to exactly what Telus deems as "waiting", it seems those who visit a retail location between August 20th - October 20th and have to wait due to stock being sold out will receive a coupon to offset the inconvenience of waiting for the device stock to replenish. With the offer expiring October 20th, we can be fairly certain that stock will be replaced by that date at the latest, so if you're looking to pick up a Desire any time soon, visit a retail Telus outlet to see if you might be able to take advantage of the $50 rebate.
We recently saw Rogers launch the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini, the smallest Android handset on the market. Thanks to an update from Rogers on Twitter, we now know they'll be launching the Mini Pro sometime later this year. The X10 Mini Pro features a 2.5" (240x320) touch screen, horizontally sliding QWERTY keyboard, and a 5MP camera with LED flash. The X10 Mini Pro will launch running Android 1.6, and is powered by a 600MHz processor, and features all of your standard connectivity options including 3G, Wi-Fi, bluetooth, and GPS. No word yet on exactly when this new X10 variation will launch, or the pricing, but we'll be sure to let you know once more information is available!
With Rogers, Bell, Telus, and Virgin Mobile confirming that the BlackBerry Torch 9800 will arrive on September 24th, Best Buy has recently started accepting pre-orders for those looking to secure one for themselves. All it takes to reserve your Torch 9800 is a trip your nearest Best buy location and a $50 deposit, which should ensure you're one of the first to own one in Canada.
The BlackBerry Torch is RIM's first sliding handset that features a touch screen along with a full QWERTY keyboard, and it features the new BlackBerry 6 OS, along with a significantly improved web browser, improved user interface/menus, and more.
BlackBerry recently released App World 2.0 to the public, but many were disappointed to see that the long-awaited carrier billing feature had not been implemented. Within the Telus Torch 9800 launch announcement, there's a small piece of interesting information - Telus will be the first to offer carrier billing through App World, and it will be available "prior to the BlackBerry Torch launch", though no word on exactly when that will be. Hopefully the easier payment method will encourage developers to create more apps for the platform, which currently lacks compared to iPhone and Android in that department.
A rumour surfaced recently claiming the BlackBerry Pearl 3G would be coming to WIND Mobile soon, and at a price point of $320 outright. It turns out the rumour was true, and this handset is finally available and no longer labeled "Coming Soon". WIND Mobile are currently offering a $20 discount on the device as well, bringing it down to just $300. Even without the discount, this is the lowest unlocked price in the country currently, and is a great device for those who like the Pearl look and feel, but want 3G speeds and the upcoming BlackBerry 6 operating system.
Just a couple days ago, we let you know that Rogers and Telus confirmed the BlackBerry Torch 9800 would officially be available on Friday, September 24th. Since then, both Bell and Virgin Mobile have also confirmed that they would be launching the device on the same date, just one day after the last of the three launch events. The Torch has been getting a lot of news lately, and rightfully so, since it's unlike any BlackBerry we've seen as of yet. No confirmation on pricing, but it's assumed that all four carriers will offer it at around $200 with a 3 year contract.
Sasktel has been getting decent attention lately since launching their HSPA+ network, providing faster data speeds to a number of Saskatchewan residents. Today, they've officially launched the Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant, with pricing coming in at $150 on a 3 year contract, or $645 outright. The Vibrant is the first Android device to join Sasktel's handset line-up, and is a great choice for anybody looking for the benefits of Android on one of the most powerful devices available right now.
We recently let you know that an internal screenshot leaked from Futureshop showing that the Torch 9800 could be up for pre-order on the 15th of September, and today Rogers confirmed that it will officially launch on September 24th. Shortly after the announcement, Telus also confirmed the same launch date, though Bell hasn't said anything official as of yet. Rogers also confirmed contract pricing for the new device featuring BlackBerry 6, which will be $199 on a 3 year term, and the other carriers should come in around the same price point.
Rogers has updated their website and inventory to include a new "smokey violet" version of the recently launched BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300. The new version has all of the same specifications, including a 2.4" (320x240) display, full QWERTY keyboard, and a 2MP camera. The new handset from RIM supports 3G, GPS, Wi-Fi, and bluetooth connectivity, and will get the upgrade to BlackBerry 6 early next year more than likely.
