Canada

T-Mobile USA’s Nokia 5230 Nuron to come with Ovi maps

On 03.09.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The first U.S. device to arrive preloaded with Nokia’s popular Ovi Maps navigation application has been announced by Nokia. It is T-Mobile USA’s forthcoming Nokia 5230 Nuron. It is also the first from a national U.S. operator to come preloaded with Nokia’s Ovi Store mobile content marketplace.

T-Mobile is also offering carrier billing as well as credit card purchases. Free turn-by-turn navigation and directions, weather forecasts and Facebook-based location sharing, the 3.2-inch touchscreen Nurion device Android Develops Enhanced OpenGL Support are some of the features of the smartphone.

Ovi Maps also features recommendations from Lonely Planet guides. Scheduled to be shipped in the next few weeks, T-Mobile USA exclusive comes preloaded with maps for the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The announcement that more than 3 million consumers have downloaded the Ovi Maps application since its debut in late January was made by Nokia during last month’s Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona.

According to Niklas Savander, the handset giant’s executive vice president of services, Ovi Maps now averages more than one download per second, 24 hours a day, translating to around 100,000 downloads on a daily basis.

Rogers Navigator for iPhone to hit the market soon.

On 03.08.10, In Mobile Phones, By Editor

New iPhone navigation app from Canada’s ‘Big Red’ is on its way to hit the markets very soon. After launching the Samsung Galaxy ‘Spica’ powered by android 1.5 and the new Rogers ‘RedBoard’ the Rogers is all set to launch ‘Big Red’.

The navigator for iPhone will be made available by March 26^th and it will be priced around $4.99. The prominent features of the set will be voice turn by turn directions, real time traffic alerts, one touch reroute, 2D or 3D maps, business finder, listen to music while navigating, and integration with address books.

The turn-by turn directions is expected to be voiced by Kenny Rogers.

Tagged with: Android • Canada • iPhone • Launch • Rogers • Samsung • Samsung Galaxy • TIM

Apple IPad to hit the stores in April

On 03.06.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The technology oriented people waiting anxiously for the much anticipated Apple iPad to adore their gadgets collection will have to wait a little more as the launch of the device has been delayed and will now hit the stores on April 3.

Earlier, Apple scheduled the launch of the device worldwide by end March. No reasons have been cited by the company behind the delay. According to analysts, Apple might have to delay or limit the size of the launch because of an unspecified production problem but denied any affect of the delay on the sales of the iPad during Apple’s fiscal third quarter, which ends in June.

Depending on the data storage capacity, the range of the first iPad will vary between $499, $599 or $699 and will be connected to Wi-Fi networks only. The cost of those versions which can also be connected to 3G cellular networks will range between $629, $729 or $829.

Orders can be placed by the US customers from March 12 and all models will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K. by late April.

12 new applications will be included in the iPad, especially designed for the touch-screen device. According to Apple, it will also run “almost all” of the more than 140,000 apps already available for the iPhone and iPod Touch and users will be able to access the applications they bought for those devices through the iPad.

Tagged with: 3G • Apple • ASIA • Canada • Europe • France • Germany • iPad • iPhone • iPOD • Italy • Japan • Launch • North Amercia • Spain • Switzerland

Wind Mobile launches in Edmonton (Canada)

On 02.26.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news Globalive’s WIND Mobile has been launched in the city of Edmonton in Canada. The network will be opened at six retail locations across the city, with another one in the Edmonton City Centre set to open next month.

The company made a history in December last year by becoming the first national wireless provider to launch in Canada in over a decade. WIND will launch in Ottawa and Vancouver in the coming months.

According to Anthony Lacavera, Chairman of Globalive and WIND Mobile, people want a mobile experience that is free of contracts, system access fees, high prices, poor service, limited technology, and complicated billing, and Wind Mobile built its offering to deliver on just that.

Tagged with: Canada • Mobile • Wind Mobile

Video calling interoperability completed by Canadian telcos

On 02.25.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Two-way mobile video calling trials has been successfully completed by Canada’s big-three mobile networks – Bell, Rogers and TELUS. With the launch of inter-carrier mobile video calling, video calling will be possible across multiple carrier networks and will create North America’s largest two-way mobile video calling community.

According to Stephen Howe, chief technology officer for Bell Mobility, by breaking down the barriers between video calling clients in Canada, the company anticipates strong demand for the service as it saw with past inter-carrier initiatives such as text and picture messaging.

Video calling handsets that support the internationally accepted open 3G-324M Video Telephony standard are offered by Bell, Rogers and TELUS, ensuring compatibility with other systems and carriers supporting the standard.

Tagged with: 3G • Bell Mobility • Canada • Launch • North America • Rogers • Telus • Video Calling

Kodak claim against RIM, Apple to be probed by US agency

On 02.18.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: After receiving a complaint from Eastman Kodak Co, an investigation has been launched by the International Trade Commission in to the smartphones containing digital cameras manufactured by Apple and RIM.

A patent infringement suit was filed by Kodak with the ITC on January 14 against Canada’s Research In Motion Ltd, maker of BlackBerry smartphones, and Apple Inc, maker of the iPhone.

Kodak has demanded for compensation and at the same time it has expressed its willingness to talk with Apple and RIM. It has also asked ITC to prevent Apple and RIM from importing infringing devices, including certain mobile telephones and wireless communication devices featuring digital cameras.

Tagged with: Apple • Blackberry • Canada • infringement • iPhone • ITC • Kodak • Launch • North America • Patent • Research in Motion • RIM • U.S

Canadian telco Rogers reports 4% rise in revenue

On 02.18.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Due to the growth in the mobile and cable operations, 4% increase from a year earlier to CAD 3.06 billion in the fourth quarter revenue has been reported by Canadian operator Rogers Communications. 14 percent increase to CAD 1.10 billion has also been recorded in operating profit.

As a result of cut in CAPEX, the free cash flow for the full year rose 29 percent to CAD 1.9 billion and 10% hike in the dividend to CAD 1.28 per share. A net 128,000 new customers in the quarter has been gained by Rogers Wireless, for a total 8.49 million, up from 7.94 million a year earlier.

Revenues rose 5 percent to CAD 1.73 billion, and operating profit was up 16 percent to CAD 744 million. The company also renewed its share buyback, for up to CAD 1.5 billion over the next year.

Tagged with: Canada • CAPEX • North America • Operating Profit • operator • Rogers Communications • Rogers Wireless

Acer announces three new Android and two Windows mobile phones

On 02.17.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Acer displayed the seriousness of its aim to penetrate the market with various prices and features for its phone lineup by announcing five new smartphones, out of which three would be coupled with the Android OS and two with Windows Mobile 6.5.

E, BeTouch E400, and BeTouch E110 are the android phones and the NeoTouch P300 and NeoTouch P400 both run Windows Mobile 6.5. However, with the announcement of Windows Phone 7 Series, the two Windows phones already look a bit dated.

All of Acer’s newly announced phones will be available overseas and in Canada in 2010, with the possibility of Acer handsets coming to the U.S. in 2011.

Tagged with: Acer • Android • BeTouch • Canada • NeoTouch • U.S • Windows Mobile • Windows Mobile 6.5 • Windows phone 7

Canadian telco Telus records 45% drop in Q4 profits

On 02.15.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Fourth quarter 2009 financial results has been released by Canadian telecoms network operator, Telus Corp which showed a slight decrease of CA$11 million in the revenue. The fall reflects continued declines in traditional voice services, which offset growth in data and wireless revenues.

EBITDA decreased by 16 per cent because of higher restructuring costs from ongoing operating efficiency initiatives and higher defined benefit pension plan expenses.

Net income for the quarter also decreased from CA$253 million for the same period a year ago to CA$146 million. Wireless ARPU declined by 7.7% to $57.38 compared to the same quarter a year ago. Meanwhile, TELUS added 105,000 net new customer connections in the fourth quarter.

According to Darren Entwistle, TELUS president and CEO, there is no question that the last year was a challenging one economically, but also one where the company progressed game-changing capital projects and made significant investments in operational efficiency to improve the cost structure

Tagged with: ARPU • Canada • EBITDA • Net Income • North America • operator • Telus

Canadian telco Manitoba’s Q4 profit drops

On 02.08.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Lower net income in the final quarter of 2009 has been posted by Canadian Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. but the company maintained its dividend at 65 Canadian cents a share. Revenue fell to C$453 million from C$464 million a year earlier. The company’s full-year revenue from continuing operations was also down 2.3% while EBITDA was off 6.2%.

ccording to Manitoba Telecom, results were in line with its latest expectations, adding the growth-services assets reported a 4.7% revenue increase in the latest year and continue to increase in importance in its overall revenue mix.

2010 results of the company is expected in the line with 2009 results and in this year the projected overall earnings is C$2 to C$2.50 a share and revenue of C$1.78 billion to C$1.88 billion. Allstream is targeting an additional C$30 million to C$40 million in cost cuts in 2010.

Tagged with: Canada • EBITDA • Manitoba • Net Income • North America