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Samsung Galaxy S III shows in Best Buy Canada leak due June 20th, maple syrup uncorked to celebrate

Jon Fingas — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:45:00 EST

Jitters have persisted that the Canadian release of the Galaxy S III might face the customary weeks-long delays that those north of the border are used to. If we go by what looks to be an escaped Best Buy Canada flyer graphic, Samsung's Android 4.0 beast should be going up for pre-orders soon -- MobileSyrup hears May 30th -- with launches on at least Bell, Rogers, Telus and a Bell-owned Virgin Mobile around June 20th. We know that Samsung has publicly promised a US release in June, so there's a real chance that we could be seeing a simultaneous North American appearance that brings everyone together in TouchWiz harmony. There's still some big questions left open even if we're seeing an accurate snapshot, such as when Mobilicity, Wind and other LTE-less carriers will get their units as well as whether or not the LTE versions use Snapdragons instead of the Exynos 4 Quad.

[Thanks, Imdad]

Samsung Galaxy S III shows in Best Buy Canada leak due June 20th, maple syrup uncorked to celebrate originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mobile Miscellany: week of May 7th, 2012

Zachary Lutz — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:40:00 EST

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Sprint reassured us with optimism for Windows Phone 8, and T-Mobile's CEO found a new partner to continue the fight against Verizon's AWS acquisition. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of May 7th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of May 7th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of May 7th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 May 2012 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S III gets a Canadian girlfriend as Bell, Rogers, Telus, Wind Mobile line up

Jon Fingas — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:42:00 EST

If you live north of the 49th parallel, you're no doubt frustrated that Samsung teased a summer launch for the Galaxy S III in North America but made no initial mention of its Canadian plans. Don't fret, as virtually every Canadian carrier and its mother has now pledged to carry the giant Android 4.0 smartphone while you're on your summer vacation -- the first carrier commitments in North America that we've seen. Bell, Rogers, Telus, Virgin Mobile and Wind Mobile have all stepped up as national providers, while regional carriers such as SaskTel and Videotron have also signed on. The Galaxy S III is a special milestone for Virgin, as it's the first 4G LTE phone on the Bell-run budget network. We're still waiting for Mobilicity and other cellular services to hop on the Galaxy S III bandwagon, and details like pricing and exact ship dates are still elusive, but odds are that Canucks will have a wide choice of carriers when the 4.8-inch flagship hits stores. Update: Sure enough, Mobilicity is also onboard, which along with Wind Mobile makes it pretty clear that T-Mobile-friendly AWS frequencies are baked in.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S III gets a Canadian girlfriend as Bell, Rogers, Telus, Wind Mobile line up

Samsung Galaxy S III gets a Canadian girlfriend as Bell, Rogers, Telus, Wind Mobile line up originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canada's WIND Mobile lists Nokia Lumia 710, says it's coming soon

Edgar Alvarez — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:31:00 EST

It's now been a few months since we first laid our eager palms on Nokia's Lumia 710, and although it isn't getting any younger, some carriers are still adding the device to their lineup. We'd previously seen Rogers land the entry-level 710 as an exclusive in Canada, but now it's looking like the deal's expiring and WIND Mobile's ready to give its users a taste of the Mango-flavored handset. So far, WIND's keeping deets to a minimum, with the site only listing the device as "coming soon." One thing we do know, however, is that specs-wise it's likely to be a clone of any other network's variant. Needless to say, WIND may have to match, if not best, Rogers' prices in order to attract a new breed of customers to its white and orange shop. While you wait for the rest of the info to spill, you can always give those free Nokia covers a gander and decide which one you'd like to snag if the promo ever hits the True North.

Canada's WIND Mobile lists Nokia Lumia 710, says it's coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mobile Miscellany: week of February 13th, 2012

Zachary Lutz — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This week, we bring you announcements of LTE expansion from AT&T, US Cellular and Verizon, along with news of three Samsung smartphones that received WiFi certification -- each are thought to be high-end devices and bound for US carriers. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride. Let's explore the "best of the rest" for this week of February 13th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of February 13th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of February 13th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mobile Miscellany: week of January 30th, 2012

Zachary Lutz — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:02:00 EST

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This week, we've spotted a leaked Android 4.0.4 ROM for the Nexus S 4G, and we've also come across a price and release date for the Droid 4. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride. Let's explore the "best of the rest" for this week of January 30th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of January 30th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of January 30th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Optimus 2X caught on camera wearing WIND's clothing, it's a G2x in disguise

Zachary Lutz — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:53:00 EST

LG's first foray into dual-core was recently spotted in full WIND Mobile attire, where it appeared ready to soar on the provider's AWS spectrum. Of course, given the LG-P999 designation, this handset reveals itself to be the same as its 1700MHz-capable US cousin -- the T-Mobile G2x -- and we're hoping this version of LG's flagship will also ship with plain Android (unlike the skinned affair on the Optimus 2X). With no firm announcement from WIND, it's difficult to know what customers should expect from this beast -- but as long as those troublesome reboot issues don't interfere, this could be a smooth flight indeed.

Optimus 2X caught on camera wearing WIND's clothing, it's a G2x in disguise originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexus S immigrates to Canada, Future Shop commemorates event with gingerbread muffins

Zachary Lutz — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:28:00 EST

It's been a good week for Canadians to get a taste of Gingerbread, with today marking the official release of the Nexus S for our friends up north. To mark the event, lucky Toronto residents were greeted with a release party at Future Shop, replete with ginger-themed treats and giveaways. With availability spreading across the country, Samsung's homage to Android purity is now available online through Mobilicity, Telus, Koodo, Wind, and Videotron, effectively tempting the majority of Canada with Google's finest offering. If you'll remember last week's report on Mobilicity's soft launch of this praised handset, we assumed Fido and Rogers were nipping at their heels... and while the Nexus S has yet to hit their online stores, you might find them sitting in your local Best Buy. So, Canada, how does it feel to get this awesome slab of engineering coming at you from all corners? Don't worry, we'll understand if this is an emotional time.

Gallery: Samsung Nexus S now available throughout Canada

Nexus S immigrates to Canada, Future Shop commemorates event with gingerbread muffins originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vimpelcom moves forward with $6 billion Wind Mobile merger, intends to hurdle regulatory snags

Darren Murph — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:19:00 EST

If you thought Verizon Wireless and Alltel's marriage underwent a good bit of scrutiny, you'll soon be swearing that Vimpelcom and Wind Mobile are on some sort of global watch list. The Amsterdam-based Vimpelcom has taken a giant leap towards the completion of a $6 billion merger with Wind Telecom, the latter of which has around 117 million subscribers spread across Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, North Korea and Canada. If and when the two link hands, the combined effort will be home to a staggering 173 million customers, creating the fifth largest mobile operator by subscriber count. Wind Mobile's head honcho seems more than enthused about the news, and he's hoping that the tie-up will allow prices to sink for just about everyone involved. Claiming feats such as "more access to international cooperation for roaming and long distance services" and the ability to utilize "more leverage and increased scale" to drive down prices, Anthony Lacavera isn't showing any public signs of worry when it comes to regulatory hurdles. In months past, the CRTC took issue with Globalive Wireless -- operator of Wind Mobile -- starting up in Canada, primarily due to the company's largest lender (Orascom) residing outside of the Great White North. As of now, things seem to be sailing right along, but you can bet this marriage won't be formally recognized before a borderline-obnoxious amount of investigating goes down behind the scenes.

[Thanks, Kelvin]

Vimpelcom moves forward with $6 billion Wind Mobile merger, intends to hurdle regulatory snags originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WIND Mobile outs $40 unlimited plan, but you better act fast

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:56:00 EST

Not to be outdone by fellow Canadian upstart carrier Mobiilicity, WIND Mobile has cobbled together its own special holiday plan that more or less matches its competitor's offering: unlimited voice, messaging, data, and long-distance calling and messaging to the US, all for $40 Canadian (a little over $39 in American currency). That's a pretty fantastic deal, but as you can probably gather from the plan's name -- "Holiday Miracle Plan" -- it's not going to be around for long: you've got to get activated on it by December 24th. No better way to celebrate Christmas than with a crazy cheap all-you-can-eat package for your phone, right?

[Thanks, Dave]

WIND Mobile outs $40 unlimited plan, but you better act fast originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WIND Mobile picking up BlackBerry Curve 3G, it seems

Chris Ziegler — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 16:20:00 EST

With their limited footprints and subscriber counts -- and therefore, clout with manufacturers -- it stands to reason that Canada's nascent AWS operators would be keen to get in on as many phones designed for T-Mobile USA as they possibly can. Sure enough, fresh evidence on BGR points to a release of the AWS-capable BlackBerry Curve 3G on WIND Mobile at some point in the future, though we don't know exactly when -- and we're assuming that $9,999.00 listed price is a bit on the high side. There are two line items in this inventory system screenshot, and we wouldn't be surprised (as BGR suggests) if they're for different colors -- perhaps the violet and gray options on T-Mobile's shelves. We think we'd prefer a 9780, of course -- and considering that T-Mobile will be getting it next month, we wouldn't be surprised if WIND wasn't far behind.

WIND Mobile picking up BlackBerry Curve 3G, it seems originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 Oct 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rogers' budget-friendly chatr brand launches in Canada

Ross Miller — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST

We knew it was coming, and now it's official: Rogers Wireless has today launched its entry-level "chatr" wireless brand for Canadians everywhere -- and by "everywhere," we mean Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa (Montreal is coming soon, as is possibly elsewhere). Two plans are available: $45 monthly for unlimited talk-and-text and $35 for unlimited talk and 50 free texts. As of now, the official website's showing four devices to choose from, available at full price only (no subsidizing). On the low end, relatively speaking, there's the Nokia 1661 candybar for $60, followed by the LG GB125R flip for $75, the Nokia 2680 portrait QWERTY slider for $95, and Samsung's Gravity landscape QWERTY slider sitting at the top of the chain for $130. Rogers -- whose name appears nowhere in Chatr's branding so far -- expects "hundreds" of chatr kiosks to be rolled out at Future Shops, Best Buys, Costcos, and other retail outlets.

The brand will compete with other budget-conscious options from the likes of Wind Mobile and Mobilicity, but this one's got the advantage of Rogers' more established, wider-reaching network. According to The Globe and Mail and CBC News, Wind will be offering a whopping $150 credit for those who switch to its network from Rogers / chatr. Mobilicity's chairman John Bitove has a different strategy altogether, threatening to complain to the Competition Bureau that Rogers' possible goal here is to drive other discount phone brands out of business before dissolving chatr and leaving the market with only a higher-priced segment. And if you were wondering where Telus and Bell Mobility stand, well, both companies are reportedly expected to follow suit with entry-level brands of their own. Data plan-averse Canadians should have quite the selection from which to choose.

Rogers' budget-friendly chatr brand launches in Canada originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WIND Mobile: there can be only one (and we're it)

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:18:00 EST

It seems unlikely that Canada -- a country with a population a little over one-tenth of the US' -- could realistically support six national carriers over the long term, and WIND Mobile's parent company agrees. Speaking with an Ottawa newspaper, Globalive's chairman didn't pull any punches, saying that "there is room for only one more national operator in [his] opinion" and that he intends to be that operator, acquiring others along the way if need be. WIND is going up against fellow newcomers Mobilicity and Public Mobile in a bid to compete against the big trio of Rogers, Bell, and Telus, and it stands to reason that a merger or joint venture would probably help the little guys in their quest. Four is enough -- isn't it?

WIND Mobile: there can be only one (and we're it) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WIND Mobile launches in Canada, T-Mobile gets a spectrum buddy

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:03:00 EST

Despite some last-minute drama with the government, Canada's WIND Mobile has launched today, bringing to the table an interesting new low-cost competitor to the nation's giant incumbents, Rogers, Bell, and Telus. Though its network -- based on last year's AWS auction -- lacks the footprint of the bigger guys, the pricing is pretty compelling: its $15 voice plan offers twice the minutes of low-cost competitors Koodo and Fido (which are really just fronts for Telus and Rogers, anyway) and CAD $35 (about $33) wins you unlimited data on your BlackBerry. Speaking of BlackBerrys, WIND is rolling out the Bold 9700 as one of its launch devices alongside the HTC Maple (known as the Dash 3G in the States), the Samsung Gravity, the Huawei U519, and the E181 USB modem. Service is only live in Toronto and Calgary at the moment, but the limited distribution doesn't seem to be holding people back -- WIND's site has been up and down all morning.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

WIND Mobile launches in Canada, T-Mobile gets a spectrum buddy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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