Rogers Wireless was the first carrier to bring Android smartphones to Canada with the HTC Dream and Magic — two devices that weren’t exactly cutting edge — and now it’s trying to generate some excitement with the Eve, LG’s first Android offering. Pre-loaded with the Social Networks Manager app, an aggregate for Facebook, Twitter and Bebo, the Eve is being positioned as the “ultimate smartphone for social media enthusiasts”. There isn’t anything extraordinary going on spec wise, but the Eve should get the job done for most with a 3″ touchscreen display, sliding QWERTY keypad, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS and 7.2Mbps HSPA. All of this can be yours for $49.99 on contract or $399.99 without. You know, unless you want to wait until Thursday to see just how much the TELUS’s HTC Hero is going to set you back.Read

Canadians with a ravenous appetite for all things BlackBerry should take note that Rogers Wireless has begun selling the BlackBerry Bold 9700 on its website. Available for $299.99 on a 3-year with voice and data, the Bold 9700 is also being offered for $599.99 with no strings attached. As for when HSPA newcomers Bell and TELUS will be offering up the 9700, the latest word is that both carriers will offer the device the day they launch their new networks. For Bell, that’s the 4th of November with TELUS following the very next day.

Thanks, ILLIONAIRE!

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It’s always a lot of fun for us — and hopefully for you, the readers — any time we can run wild with pictures, news, and even reviews of an unannounced handset. Today, however, RIM spoiled our fun and formally announced the BlackBerry Bold 9700. Things like carriers, release dates and pricing have been withheld for the time being, but RIM has made a statement saying that we should all expect to see the BlackBerry 9700 go on sale “around the world beginning in November.” Spec wise, nothing has changed since our pre-release review, but just in case some of you forgot or weren’t paying a whole lot of attention, here’s a quick refresher on the critical specs:

• BlackBerry OS 5.0
• 624MHz CPU
• 256MB flash memory and support for microSD cards up to 32GB
• Quad-band UMTS/HSDPA (800/850/1900/2100 MHz) or tri-band UMTS/HSDPA (900/1700/2100 MHz)
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g with UMA support (carrier dependent)
• A-GPS
• 2.44″ HVGA+ display
• 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash
• Optical trackpad
• Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP/AVCRP
• 1500 mAh battery
• 6 hours of talk time and 17 days of standby (3G)
• 109mm x 60mm x 14.1mm, 122g

In short, this is the BlackBerry device of your dreams. We’re expecting pretty much every single major GSM carrier on the planet to pick up the 9700 sooner or later, so we’ll be sure to keep the updates coming. As always, high res pics and a few other odds and ends are available after the jump.

UPDATE: AT&T, Rogers and T-Mobile have announced they will be carrying the Bold 9700 in the weeks ahead. AT&T and T-Mobile’s 9700 will go for $199.99 after a $100 MIR on 2-year deals while Rogers will be asking for $299.99 on a 3-year contract with a monthly minimum voice and data plan of $45. Bell and TELUS have yet to come forward with pricing but have confirmed they will be carrying the device.

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Even though we here at BGR think that the BlackBerry Bold 9000 is so Summer/Fall 2008 (and even that’s one hell of a stretch considering it was announced that May), it seems that RIM and its partner carriers don’t. Best Buy Canada’s internal inventory system shows that both Bell and Rogers still have plans for the 3G device even though the new hotness is but a few weeks away. From Bell we have the Bold 9000, a rather strange offering considering that it is going to be selling the BlackBerry 9700. Still, we must concede that it makes a bit of sense in that Bell can offer up the 9000 as its mid-end BlackBerry while Rogers is already stuck with positioning EDGE-only devices like the Curve 8900 and Curve 8520 as its more affordable devices. Speaking of Rogers, it is going to be picking up the white BlackBerry Bold — the very same one we’ve been going on about for months — although we’re not entirely clear when it will go on sale. That is to say we don’t know if, just like AT&T, the white Bold will be released to select markets on the 18th of this month. If you’d like to relish in what is surely straight up BlackBerry Bold fire, larger screenshots after the breakage.

Thanks, REMS!

Uh oh. We’re slowly moving across the board here… First with a rumored T-Mobile launch date, now we have a Rogers one for you guys. One of our Northern connects just let us know that Rogers’ BlackBerry 9700 launch is currently pegged for October 26th. We don’t have pricing information, but imagine it will run around $299 with a three-year agreement. Not confirmed, of course, but hey, besides Christmas not much is.

• 512MHz CPU
• 2 megapixel camera, fixed focus, no flash
• 320×240 display
• 256MB of RAM
• 3.5mm headset jack
• QWERTY keyboard
• Trackpad
• Wi-Fi with UMA
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE

In terms of pricing and availability, the BlackBerry 8520 is available starting tomorrow, October 8th, for $99 on a three-year agreement with minimum combined service fees of $45/mo or more.

We’ve known for the longest time that Rogers will soon be releasing the wallet friendly BlackBerry Curve 8520, but up until now we’ve (or anyone, for that matter) been unable to figure out the exact release date and pricing of one of the worst kept phone secrets in recent memory. The release date, as tipped off by Best Buy, is apparently October 9th, while the same source also indicates that the 8520 will be unreasonably expensive. We’ve no major qualms with the $499.99 non-contract price (other than it’s a rip-off and $200 more expensive than the $299 USD T-Mobile customers pay) but $99.99 on contract when the Pearl Flip 8220 is $9.99? That’s just not right, now is it. Anyway, hit the jump for some screenies.

Thanks, ILLIONAIRE!

Read – Contract

Read – Off Contract

Yes, yes, we know — Canadians hate the System Access Fee just as much as they hate American beer. “Thankfully” as of October 5th, new and existing Rogers customers will finally be able to ditch the SAF. It’s not that Rogers has all of a sudden found its heart and decided to give its customers a respite. Oh, no, no. It’s simply going to lower the fee, rename it the Government Regulatory Recovery Fee and jack up the price of each and every plan by about $5. If the GRRF gives you the impression that it’s a government mandated fee then you’re sorely mistaken. It’s just another way for Rogers to pass the buck on all of the various federal, provincial and municipal fees and taxes that it itself pays in order to offer its services in a given area. For the most part, all existing consumers need to know is that they are free too keep their current plan with SAF, but any voice plan changes after October 5th (or anyone who joins Rogers, for that matter) will result in their account being switched over to the GRRF system. But hey, it’s not all that bad: Rogers is going to give you Call Forwarding, WhoCalled, and Call Manager for free. Wait a tick, those are already included most value packs…

In case anyone had doubts that Rogers is on the cusp of releasing the BlackBerry Curve 8520, Rogers dealerships across the country have just begun receiving literature for RIM’s latest low-cost QWERTY smartphone. No surprises were included with the official documentation, but the appearance of the literature so early indicates that Rogers might be planning to push out the 8520 ahead of schedule. If this is the case, it’s likely because Rogers doesn’t want to draw attention away from the Bold 9700, which still seems to be on track for a release before November.

Canadians with a serious need for speed might want to pack their bags and move to one of Canada’s five largest cities — Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal — as today Rogers announced that its 21Mbps HSPA+ network upgrade has gone live and is ripe for the picking. Almost. No current Rogers handsets are capable of reaching such speeds, but if mobile internet is something you’re absolutely smitten with then you should definitely consider pre-ordering the new 21Mbps HSPA+ Mobile Internet Rocket Stick. It starts off at $79.99 on contract (which is $79.99 more than Rogers’ current Rocket Stick offerings), but c’mon; not owning the latest and greatest gear flies straight in the face of what we here at BGR are all about. As for the general benefits for current 3G handset owners, the upgrade also comes with an overhaul of the network’s backend, meaning more people should be able to simultaneously use data without making the network come to a screeching halt.

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Well would you look at that? Rogers Wireless has become the last Canadian carrier to enter the 21st Century by allowing its subscribers to track their voice, data and SMS/MMS usage in near real-time. All one has to do is log into his or her MyRogers account at Rogers.com, click “Manage My Wireless Services” and select “Voice & Data Usage” to see exactly how bad the damage is. There does appear to be a four hour delay in the information provided, but we’re too elated to care at this point. What we do care about however, is the fact that Rogers’ mobile portal currently does not have any mention of Voice & Data Usage. It’s coming soon, right Rogers? Anyway, while we try and get some answers, hit the jump to check out the screenshots.

We recently told you that both the Curve 8520 and the Bold 9700 were entered in Rogers’ upgrade system, and now the former can finally be found in its natural habitat — and by natural habitat, we mean leaked shots on BGR. Currently running OS 4.6.1.274, the Rogers 8520 appears to have escaped from one of RIM’s manufacturing plants without having been horribly disfigured by physical branding. We think it would be foolish to assume this will be the case once the device launches, but at least there’s hope. You know the drill; hit the jump for a couple more pics.

Thanks, Guiscard!

Get ready, BlackBerry adoring Canadians, because both the Bold 9700 and Curve 8520 have popped up in Rogers’ upgrade system. There’s no official word yet on when we’ll see both devices launch, although the smart money is that the Curve will come sometime in early October followed by the Bold in late October (this could change at any moment). As for how much they’ll run for is even more of a guessing game, but we would imagine the Curve will be heavily discounted (likely under $100) while the Bold should go for around the same price as the Bold 9000 which should go down in price. Good stuff. Hit the jump for some larger pics.

Thanks, ILLIONAIRE!

A day we thought would never come is upon us as the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, whose members include all of the major Canadian telcos and their subsidiaries (including all new entrants other than DAVE Wireless), have agreed to a code of conduct that benefits not themselves but their customers. Just like in the US, Canadians will now be able to walk away from their contracts penalty free if a carrier makes material changes to the terms of the contract. If the customer doesn’t wish to leave their carrier, he or she will have the option of staying on board at a grandfathered rate. Other new rules state that charges and contracts must be more clearly explained, privacy must be more fiercely protected (remember a few years ago when hundreds of pages of Rogers subscribers’ personal information were found in a dumpster?) and customer service must, well, be of service. All in all the new rules sound amazing, but only time will tell whether or not they actually have an impact on the Canadian wireless market.

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Ahhh, the Nokia N900. You want it. You need it. You’ve got to have it. If you’re on T-Mobile you’re sitting pretty knowing that 1700 MHz is included in the N900’s three WCDMA bands, just waiting to gobble up T-Mobile’s 3G services. If you’re on AT&T in the US or Rogers up north however, the tears may still be streaming. A glimmer of hope found its way to light last week when rumors that a forthcoming 850/1900/2100 MHz WCDMA version were seemingly substantiated. We just spoke to Nokia however, and yeah… Not so much. Nokia’s official statement:

Regarding the Nokia N900, we have announced a tri-band WCDMA version that utilizes the 900/1700/2100 MHz networks. There have been no announcements regarding a version that supports the 850/1900/2100MHz bands.

As it turns out, The Nokia Blog’s tipster completely fabricated the last line of Nokia’s email — you know, the part that said, “An announcement will be forthcoming” — and the whole story is bogus. We suppose AT&T and Rogers subscribers might be able to keep hope alive considering Nokia still hasn’t flat out denied the possibility of a WCDMA 850/1900/2100 MHz version, but if you ask us it’s time to break out the Ben & Jerry’s and drown your sorrows.

AT&T and Rogers customers may be able to breathe a sigh of relief in the coming months as rumors of an inevitable AT&T/Rogers WCDMA-compatible version of the N900 may have accidentally been confirmed by a Nokia employee. This is 100 percent hearsay for the time being, but the following is reportedly Nokia’s reply to a customer’s request for information about an AT&T 3G-ready N900:

Alvin,

You are correct, we’ve announced the Nokia N900 yesterday. We have not announced where it will be available but have just said that it will be released in select regions.

Regarding the network bands, you are correct – we announced a WCDMA 900/1700/2100 MHz bands. We have not made any announcements regarding an 850/1900/2100 MHz band device. An announcement will be forthcoming.

Thanks,
Joe

Hmm. Now, customer service reps at carriers and phone manufacturers alike do have a tendency to get, shall we say, confused. At the same time, ‘Joe’ didn’t really leave much room for interpretation when we wrote, “We have not made any announcements regarding an 850/1900/2100 MHz band device. An announcement will be forthcoming.” So boys and girls, while T-Mobile subscribers are already sitting pretty ahead of an AWS-ready N900 touching down in October, AT&T and Rogers subscribers might not have long to wait before they can join in on the celebration.

UPDATE: Nokia’s official statement with regards to a WCDMA 850/1900/2100 MHz version of the N900 can be found here.

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A lot of people were understandably upset when Rogers increased its smartphone HUP policy from every 12 months to every 24 months citing high costs, but now even dumbphone users have a reason to cry foul as the same conditions will soon apply to them. Retroactive as of August 21st, the minimum length between HUPs must be no less than 24 months regardless of handset type. Rogers told its employees in a memo circulated Friday that there are two reasons for the move: Network upgrades are costly (that upcoming 21Mbps HSPA+ deployment and eventual transition to LTE isn’t going to come cheap) and the high quality of modern handsets means it’s not necessary to replace a phone each year. We’d hit up Rogers PR and ask them some questions such as why the company is making decisions like these when a spunky new carrier like WIND is about to launch — not to mention that Rogers customers with 3G handsets will soon be able to cancel and join either Bell or TELUS — but we’re pretty sure that each query would be answered with “Neener, neener, neener…  You signed a 3-year contract.” Maybe. Anyway, hit the jump for the internal memo.

**IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT**

Policy change to Hardware Upgrade Program eligibility

(applies to non BPR/MSD customers)

The Hardware Upgrade Program will now provide a consistent minimum eligibility rule for all customers and eliminate the 3-5 day wait time between a data to data HUP cancellation and the processing of the new HUP.

Effective August 21, 2009, a minimum tenure of 24 months since initial activation or last upgrade will be required before a customer is eligible to participate in the hardware upgrade program.  This change aligns all upgrades (voice, voice to data and data to data) with the current data to data HUP policy.

This change also reinforces the importance of explaining to customers that HUP eligibility and quoted hardware/plan pricing are subject to change without notice and cannot be guaranteed beyond the time of quotation.

Update to HUP eligibility:

The updated HUP eligibility rule of 24 months minimum tenure since a customer’s last upgrade or activation date will be system enforced and no exceptions will be allowed. All other standard HUP eligibility rules still apply.

Reasons for the update to the HUP:

• Rogers Wireless heavily invests in providing the latest data devices at affordable prices to our data customers. This update to the Hardware Upgrade Program is designed to offer a consistent upgrade eligibility to an outstanding selection of the most advanced devices for the best value.
• In addition to the outstanding selection of available devices, there has also been improved level of quality and technology that has gone into the line-up over the past years allowing a longer hardware lifespan.

Customer impacts:

Please always check the customer’s account in Vision21 for HUP eligibility to ensure the customer is provided with correct eligibility information.

• Customers may have been eligible and now eligibility may have changed as a result of this update.
• Customers may have been aware of their eligibility prior to the update, but did not take advantage of the program at the time and are currently not eligible as a result of the update.

Positioning:

• HUP eligibility as well as quoted hardware/plan pricing are subject to change without notice and cannot be guaranteed beyond the time of quotation.
• Rogers Wireless sells devices at a significantly lower price than the true value/cost of the device. This update to the Hardware Upgrade Program allows us to continue to offer the best devices at the best value in a fair timeframe for all of our customers.

Please note that the information in this bulletin applies to the standard HUP program, and does not take into consideration any existing promotions that may require different eligibility. Always remember to consult the Sales Central bulletins to read the latest in HUP offers.

Thank you for your continued support.

Oh Rogers, Rogers, Rogers. A short and sweet PRified denial isn’t going to get you out of this one just yet. Rogers claims that all past references to the 8GB iPhone 3GS, whether in its internal sales system or on its own consumer website, were nothing more than a mistake that has been since been corrected. If this were really the case, why is it that an entry for the “IPHN8BLKR 3GS GSM” is still alive in kicking in SalesCentral? Beyond pretty clear visual evidence, we’ve been in contact with several Rogers dealers who have confirmed references to an 8GB 3GS coming and going from the system quite often in the past week. Yeah, we can’t help but think that someone is lying here — and we bet you can all guess whose pants we think are on fire. Hit the jump for a bigger version of the image above.

Thanks, MrWizard

An iPhone 3GS versus 3G comparison chart on the Rogers website seemingly confirms the existence of an iPhone 3GS 8GB as we scooped exclusively earlier this month. Even with a casual glance, one can not miss that big blue check mark clearly marking the iPhone 3GS as being available in an 8GB capacity. Whether this is an errant check mark that needs to be wiped from the chart or a cleverly designed leak remains to be seen but with the previous intel we unleashed last week, we’re obviously leaning towards the latter. No other details are available but it looks like those of you who haven’t yet snagged an iPhone 3GS will have an 8GB model to look forward to soon enough.

[Via Macrumors]

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We’ve had a number of unconfirmed tips over the last few days about this so we figured we’d post it… apparently it seems that Rogers in Canada is in the process of shipping iPhone 3GS 8GB flavor handsets to stores. Again, unconfirmed, no idea on pricing (we have no clue where to start on that) but we felt it was newsworthy to at least let you guys know what we’re hearing. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Maybe the iPhone 3G stock is finally sold out and Apple will quietly (or not quietly) replace the $99 model iPhone with an 8GB 3GS?

UPDATE: Added screenshots. Definitely looks legit to us! One more shot after the breakage.

Thanks, sneaky tipsters!

We here at BGR know how difficult it’s been for Canadians to secure an iPhone 3GS due to low levels of inventory, so we thought we’d pass along some good news for those of you who are still waiting. The discount promotions for original Rogers/Fido iPhone 3G owners as well as the 6GB/$30 data plan has been extended. The details are exactly the same as they were the first time around except now the entire deal stays alive through September 15th. For those of you who are still waiting on your iPhone 3GS, it shouldn’t be much longer now. We’ve been told that stock levels are rising and everyone should be taken care of ASAP.

Just one day after it was officially announced by LG, a super special variant of the incredibly sexy BL40 surfaced on the FCC. Dubbed the BL40g, it contains absolutely no surprises save for two of the things we love most in life — the 850 and 1900 MHz bands of UMTS. Now before any of you get jumping to conclusions such as “holy crap, it is coming to AT&T” we should remind you that the BL40 has long been known to be TELUS-bound in time for the launch of its HSDPA network. You know, seeing how it runs on the same bands as AT&T and Rogers… You get the idea.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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Sammy fans in the US (and perhaps Canada) have cause for celebration as the FCC has just given the upcoming Omnia2 its coveted nod of approval. Preliminary documentation is limited but at least one tasty tidbit can be gleaned — this little guy is packing UMTS 850/1900. That’s right people, AT&T and Rogers’ 3G frequencies are confirmed to be on board, though it remains to be seen whether either carrier will offer the handset. A quick refresher:

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 850/1900 MHz, HSDPA 7.2Mbps, HSUPA5.76 Mbps
• 3.7-inch WVGA (480×800) AMOLED touchscreen, Advanced R touch (Resistive)
• Memory: 8/16GB storage memory, hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 32GB total)
• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, TouchWiz 2.0 UI with 3D effects
• 800 MHz processor
• 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, dual LED flash, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, image stabilization, Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) and D1 video recording at 15 fps
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth with A2DP, standard microUSB port, standard 3.5mm audio jack, GPS receiver with A-GPS
• Accelerometer
• DivX/XviD video support
• FM radio with RDS
• DNSe
• Dimensions: 118 x 59.6 x 11.9 mm
• 1500 mAh battery

Anyone excited, or enough with the full touchscreen Windows Mobile phones already? Hit the jump for a nice little video showing this little guy off.

Thanks, William!

[Via CellPassion & Nowhere Else]

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We’ve got some new info that leads us to believe the BlackBerry 9550 will be the model number of the BlackBerry Storm 2 due out later this year on Verizon and probably Vodafone. Besides a much better (hopefully) screen tech, the big news with the BlackBerry Storm 2 is the inclusion of Wi-Fi. Here’s a run down of the specifications for the BlackBerry 9550:

• CDMA 1xRTT/EVDO Rev. A
• Quad-band GSM/EDGE
• Single-band UMTS/HSDPA (2100MHz only)
• Wi-Fi b,g
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• 360×480 resolution capacitive screen
• OS 5.0

And oh yeah… remember those rumors of a BlackBerry 9520 (AT&T/Rogers 3G Storm)? We’ve confirmed that unit does in fact exist and could possibly be released relatively soon.

UPDATE: Not to completely confuse everyone, but we wanted to clarify that if and when AT&T, Rogers and other carriers get the Storm, it will be the Storm 2 (new version) not the first 9500/9530-based model.

Well lookie what we have here. One of our ninjas just hit us with the skinny on a big announcement from up North scheduled to hit the wire tomorrow. How does a 7.2Mbps HSPA embedded netbook for $299.99 CAD with a 2-contract sound? That’s right, Rogers is apparently ready to announce its first 3.5G embedded netbook offering tomorrow and it’s all set to attack that fresh (kind of) new HSPA network. The netbook, an HP Mini 110, will feature an Intel Atom processor, up to 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and a keyboard that is 92 percent the size of a standard laptop keyboard. It will also require a data plan of course, starting at $25 CAD per month plus fees. If you decide to snag one of these puppies however, we definitely recommend going for one of the bigger monthly plans as $25 only gets you 500MB per month. At 7.2Mbps, or somewhere close at least, that’s just not going to cut it. Hit the jump for the full release.

Rogers Introduces Canada’s First 3.5G Embedded Netbooks

Rogers mobile Internet ready netbooks offer built-in mobile broadband technology for the ultimate access to your online world

TORONTO, ON – July 10, 2009 – Another innovation first from Rogers was announced today with the launch of mobile Internet ready netbooks.  Canada’s fastest network is now the mobile Internet service provider for the first 3.5G embedded laptops in Canada – exclusively from HP.

The HP Mini 110 netbooks now available include embedded mobile broadband technology to connect to the Web over Rogers 3.5G wireless network across Canada – three times faster than any other – offering customers the freedom to choose when and where they enjoy a true broadband Internet experience. With download speeds up to 7.2 Mbps, Rogers mobile Internet ready netbooks deliver the ultimate convenience and productivity for work or play online with just a few clicks – no need to search for WiFi or wired access.

“Just as voice communications have long expanded beyond finding a pay phone or waiting until you get home to make a call, as the Internet evolves from a source of information to an enabler of communication, mobile Internet ready netbooks are the perfect companion to our richly connected lives,” says Mansell Nelson, Vice President of Business Product Management, Rogers Wireless. “Rogers is proud to lead this innovative new product category and now offer our customers an even wider selection of wireless products to meet their mobile needs.”

The HP Mini 110 is available for $299.99, exclusively at Future Shop and Best Buy stores across Canada with a two year plan. Wireless data plans for Rogers mobile Internet ready netbooks start at just $25.00, plus $6.95 system access fee and other fees a month for 500 MB.

HP Mini 110 Series PC

• Featuring a 10.1-inch display and a keyboard that is 92 per cent the size of a standard notebook PC, the HP Mini 110 starts at 2.57 pounds and measures just over one-inch thick.Powered by an Intel Atom Processor, the HP Mini 110 supports up to 1 GB of memory and comes equipped with a 160 GB hard drive.

“Whether it’s for business or personal use, Canadians want a fast connection to the Internet whenever and wherever they happen to be,” says Jeff Cates, Vice President of Consumer Marketing at HP Canada. “Through this first-of-its-kind offering in Canada, HP wants to continue to deliver the technology our customers need to meet the needs of their increasingly mobile lifestyles.”

The Rogers 3.5G HSPA network is now available in more than 25 of Canada’s top markets from Victoria to Halifax, reaching more than 75 per cent of the population. For more information on current coverage areas, please visit www.rogers.com/coverage.

Though they have only been on sale in Canada for one month, Rogers Wireless has just lowered the 3-year contract price of both the HTC Dream and Magic by $50. This means anyone who wants to pick up either device will be able to do so for $99.99, a very good price for such capable and feature-rich smartphones. As for the reasoning behind the quick price drop, we’re hearing it’s twofold: 1) Rogers wants to make it easier for people to pick up smartphones along with the required (and highly profitable) data plans. 2) The carrier is apparently also having a hell of a time convincing Canadians to snag a smartphone that isn’t made by Apple or BlackBerry — the two most sought after and coveted smartphone brands in Canada. Apparently the “Revoution” was anything but.

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Let’s face it, cell phone usage in Canada is expensive but making a few phone calls while abroad can result in a bill that can do more more damage to your wallet than your mortgage payments. So call it a response to the global recession or a way to lure people into using their phones overseas but Rogers has come out with some new Travel Packages that can actually save subscribers anywhere from $15 to well over $100 dollars. The Travel Packages are good for one month once added to your account and require no contract. They’re also automatically removed from your account at the beginning of your next billing cycle. Hit the jump to check out the new rates.

Africa

• $35 – 15 minutes
• $70 – 40 minutes
• $110 – 70 minutes

Asia, Mid-East & Oceania

• $30 – 15 minutes
• $70 – 40 minutes
• $110 – 70 minutes

Caribbean & Latin America

• $25 – 15 minutes
• $55 – 40 minutes
• $90 – 70 minutes

Europe

• $20 – 15 minutes
• $50 – 40 minutes
• $75 – 70 minutes

USA

• $15 – 15 minutes
• $25 – 40 minutes
• $40 – 70 minutes

Thanks, Brian!

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If you’re a Nokia fan who lives in Canada and just so happens to have $199.99 burning a hole in your pocket, it might interest you to know Rogers has released the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. Available nation-wide as of today, the 5800 XpressMusic is a multimedia-centric S60 5th Edition smartphone with specs that include a 3.2-inch 640×360 resistive touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss lens, auto-focus and dual-LED flash, 3.6Mbps HSDPA connectivity, Wi-Fi and aGPS. An 8GB microSD card also comes in the box to help pique your interest, though after playing around with one ourselves we’re not exactly convinced many Canadians are going to be picking up this device considering how many other awesome options there are in the same price range.

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Do you see anyone you know standing in that line? Today is the day to pack up your toys, gadgets and snacks, and head out to Apple/AT&T/Rogers/Fido/Carphone Warehouse or wherever else if you didn’t order your iPhone online to be shipped. After all, it’s either lines today or a test of patience down the road. Be sure you are well prepared and are up to date on pricing and details on grabbing your iPhone; we wouldn’t want to see anyone turned away after spending an entire morning or afternoon (or both) braving the elements, wherever you are. After all the pics and updates we’ve given you, everything has finally culminated to this moment. Let us know what lines in your area are like — if there even are lines in your area — and how easy or difficult it was to leave the store with your shiny, new iPhone 3G S in hand!

Over the past few weeks we at BGR have been pestering the folks at Rogers and Fido for information on their iPhone 3G S pricing and policies. Well guess what — they’ve just given us the goods. Hit the jump, because we’re pretty damn sure that you’ll like what you see.

There has been a lot of excitement around the new iPhone 3G S and we wanted to recognize the early adopters who helped make the iPhone the hottest-selling handset in Canadian wireless history. We will be discounting the price of the iPhone 3G S by between $250 and $500 to provide savings to many of our iPhone customers.

What this means is that eligible iPhone owners can acquire the iPhone 16GB 3G S for as low as $199 or the 32GB for as low as $299 until July 31, 2009.

For Fido customers, we’re offering the Fido Rewards iPhone 3G S promotion. This enables iPhone customers to redeem FidoDollars towards a new iPhone 3G S with an additional $100 top-up from Fido.

For customers who don’t qualify for these extra savings, we are pleased to offer Rogers Wireless customers the iPhone at our cost on rogers.com. This cost – $580 for the iPhone 3G, $680 for the iPhone 3G S 16GB and $780 for the iPhone 3G S 32GB – represents the price we pay for the device plus a nominal fee for the SIM card. Customers can access these devices at retail locations for just $19 more for the three devices.

We’re also happy to announce that Rogers and Fido are extending the 6GB/$30 data promotion until July 31. This offer is valid for customers on a new or existing iPhone plan or customers buying an Android-powered HTC Magic or HTC Dream.

Five ways to save

1) For Rogers Wireless customers who bought an iPhone 3G between July 11 and Sept. 30, 2008, and with an average monthly spend of at least $100, Rogers will provide $500 off the cost of an iPhone 3G S. This special offer expires July 31, 2009 and comes with the addition of a one-year term to the customer’s existing service agreement.

·      16GB 3GS $199
·      32GB 3GS $299

2) For Rogers Wireless customers who bought an iPhone between July 11 and Dec. 31, 2008, but aren’t eligible for the above offer, Rogers will provide $250 dollars off the purchase of an iPhone 3G S. This special offer expires July 31, 2009 and comes with the addition of a one-year term to the customer’s existing service agreement.

·      16GB 3GS $449
·      32GB 3GS $549

3) All Rogers Wireless customers can upgrade to the iPhone 3GS at our cost at Rogers.com, or for a suggested retail price of just $19 more than our cost through our retail channels.

·      8GB 3G $580/$599
·      16GB 3GS $680/$699
·      32GB 3GS $780/$799

4) Fido customers can take advantage of the Fido Rewards iPhone 3G S promotion:
·      Use FidoDollars towards the purchase of a new iPhone 3G S
·      Fido will top up the FidoDollars amount by $100
·      This promotion does not include an extension or renewal of their service agreement.

5) New and existing iPhone customers can take advantage of a limited-time promotion of 6GB of data for $30, now extended until July 31. Other Rogers and Fido data plans will remain the same, including the only national standalone data plan at $25 per month for 500 MB. We know that this is the right plan for most Canadians – 93 per cent of current iPhone customers on a data plan use less than 500 MB of data per month.