A quick note to say that James Whatley is hosting his next Mobile Geeks event in Montreal, Canada tomorrow. It’s to kick off leg two of the Nokia Canada’s N97minitour.

All the details you need are right here and here are the key points:

Date: 16th July 2010
Time: 18:30ish – 23:00ish
Location: The Daylight Factory
Street: 1030 Rue Saint Alexandre
Town/City: Montreal

Get thee to Montreal!

Have a wicked time… and a few beers for me everyone!

However there may be some good news in the future on the twitter blog;

There is a realistic, scalable SMS solution for Canada (and the rest of the world.) We’re working on that and will post more details on the Twitter blog as we make progress.

UPDATE- Krystal (our resident Canadian) has informed me that you do pay to receive SMS in Canada

We heard a while back that the Samsung Cleo was on its way, and and
now it’s arrived — well, if you’re lucky enough to live in Canada,
anyway. It’s not the only square flip phone on the planet, but it’s
definitely the most fashion-conscious. As far as we can tell, specs
are pretty much beside the point, but it’s got a QWERTY keyboard,
color LCD screen, 1.3-megapixel camera, MP3 playback, and expandable
memory up to 8GB (we’re guessing in microSD format). More importantly,
this attractive little devil (it’s just over 2.5-inches wide and
3-inches tall) comes in pink, blue, and (our personal favorite)
champagne. Though it’s been officially launched, the Cleo’s not for
sale quite yet, and there’s no word on price. We also don’t know when
or if it’ll strut its way to the US, but we’ve got our fingers
crossed. We really do.

Hmmm, I’ll have to see it in person I think. (But I like being thought of as sassy & stylish!)

Rogers has reported a net income of USD 386 million, compared to USD 210 a year ago and the operator is highly crediting this to the sales of Apple’s iPhone 3G and the subscriber growth to go along with it. While two-thirds of the total iPhone sales were to existing subscribers who upgraded to the iPhone with new contracts, Rogers sold around 85,000 iPhone 3Gs to new subscribers, selling a total of around 255,000 iPhone 3Gs. The revenues of the company climbed to US$2.34 billion, a staggering 14% rise.

Speaking on the announcement, President and CEO, Ted Rogers, said:

The results for the quarter also clearly reflect the substantial and very successful investment Rogers has made to bring Apple’s iPhone 3G to more than a quarter million Canadians over a very short period of time. While the upfront cost associated with adding this many iPhone subscribers so rapidly is high, it is an investment that we expect will provide considerable returns in the form of higher revenue per customer and lower churn in subsequent periods.

All this makes me wonder what the fuss was all about.

Today is the first day of Bell charging to receive incoming messages, Telus starts on the 24th. As I’ve reported earlier, both companies were called in front of the Federal Industry minister to explain themselves, which they now have, and the the Minister, Jim Prentice has said the companies have assured him that they’ll reverse the charges for spam messages. Ok fine. Never mind just the unwanted ones your friend Sally sends you, you can’t get out of those.

But anyway,

Here is the absolutely most ridiculous uninformed thing I’ve ever heard out of a Canadian government official (and there has been some doozies in the past)

and I quote:

“I would encourage consumers dissatisfied with existing plans to seek alternatives,” Prentice said in a release.

“The telecommunications market in Canada is dynamic – choice is available.”

Pffffffffffffff. (Imagine water spitting out of mouth at this point) Are you flipping kidding me?

Ok so, you’re on Bell, big mean Bell is charging you now for your text messages. I know! I’ll go to Telus! Ok well, they’re going to start charging to, so they’re out. So with this dynamic telecommunications market, my choice is now…. Rogers.

Yup that’s it friends, you’ve got nothing else.

But what about the others? Sit down dear reader for a brief lesson in the Canadian mobile industry

You have Bell, Telus and Rogers.

“oooh! ooh! but what about Fido Ms. London?”

Well little Timmy, they’re owned by Rogers.

“oooh! but there’s Solo mobile!”

You’re right Susie, but they’re owned by Bell.

“I know I know! There’s the new one! Koodo!”

Ahh yes Bobby, but (as much as they try and keep it quiet) they’re owned by Telus.

True you have Virgin and PC Mobile, and they’re basically PAYG, but both of those use Bell’s infrastructure, so they’re still making some money off it.

I just can’t get over how much choice I have.

Guys,

Just went to check my phone plan (I’m pissed at Telus, but that’s another story) and while at it checked to see if we would be charged for text messages once they started charging later in the month – we would be. So, I have had them disable text messaging on all our phones. This will not affect e-mail which is separate.

If disabling text messaging is a problem for you please let me know. However, keep in mind it will cost an extra $30 or so per phone to get it.

As Ewan would say, Ohhh dear.

Unfortunately he couldn’t really get much signal, until he climbed up a hill, with his injuries.

Link: B.C. plane crash survivor had to climb hill to get text messages out

It was Pomponio who was text messaging a friend about where the plane went down. The friend relayed the information to rescue crews, but it took several hours for them to find the site of the crash.

Pomponio told Young he had to climb a hillside to get a signal.

And, Young said, Pomponio wasn’t too thrilled with Telus for sending him two advertising text messages while he was trying to get help.

Oh dear. Ohhhh dear. Yet somehow they got through eh?

And the stickler, if it has been a bit later in the month, he would have gotten charged for the incoming messages!

I know it’s been law in the UK for awhile, but Ontario (where I live) may be facing the same thing soon.

Proposed new legislation to curb drivers preoccupied with “electronic distractions” is coming this fall, says Ontario Transportation Minister Jim Bradley.

Bradley’s office wouldn’t give more details on what will be in the legislation yesterday.

The new law could range from an outright ban on use of electronics while driving to measures to toughen Ontario’s existing laws. Currently, a driver convicted of driving “without due care and attention” can face fines of up to $1,000 and a prison term of up to six months.

Ok I know it’s probably not the best idea, and you should concentrate on your driving, but I’ll be the first to put up my hand and say I’m one of them. (Much to the annoyed looks of the husband) But I can honestly say, that I can go into my inbox, hit reply, type out a text message and hit send, without ever taking my eyes off the road, and be fairly confident it makes sense. (Except for some bizarre reason where my phone insists on substituting “yar” for “was”)

But what about all the other distractions in cars? I did have a lady run into the back of me once because she was busy looking through her purse sitting on the floor. I’ve seen women putting on makeup, men shaving (no lie!) and even once a guy tying his tie and driving with his knee.

How is talking into a hands free set any different than singing along to the radio? That’s a lot safer than tie guy.

Well here’s one for the “You could see that coming a mile away” category…

MONTREAL – Two of Canada’s cellphone giants are being served with another a class action lawsuit in Quebec over plans to charge customers for incoming text messages.

A Montreal law firm has filed its second class action suit in two weeks, this time against both Bell Mobility Inc. (TSX: BCE) and Telus Communications Inc. (TSX: T), on behalf of a Quebec man.

Eric Cormier, a Bell Mobility subscriber for the past decade, initiated the suit saying both companies are acting illegally by unilaterally changing the terms of cellular contracts with their clients.

Both cellphone companies have announced plans to charge customers 15 cents per incoming text message, with Bell introducing the charge on Aug. 8 and Telus on Aug. 24.

The law firm of Saint-Pierre Grenier filed a separate class action lawsuit against Telus on July 14.

Until now, incoming text messages have not been subject to charges.

Well we all knew the Canadian government released a percentage of our bandwith to other companies, here’s the results of yesterday’s auction.

OTTAWA – Canada’s wireless landscape faces a major shakeup over the next year with the potential addition of a national and several regional cellphone providers offering users more services, options and lower charges.

The federal government’s wireless spectrum auction concluded Monday with 15 firms – current and prospective entrants – bidding a surprising $4.25 billion for bandwidth space across the country.

“I think you will see significant changes over the next 12 months,” said Iain Grant of telecommunications consultants the Seaboard Group.

“You will see new players, more choices and for sure lower prices.”

Ok, please please please please please. Pretty please, with sugar on top.

It’s true I’ve been with Fido for awhile, it’s got to be close to 10 years now. I remember that day well that I walked home with my Nokia 5190 (with free silver face plate!) and activated my PAYG account. Ahh the memories.

Sure it’s been a bit of a rocky relationship. There was the time when they accidentally charged me for all my included text messages and I ended up with $300 bill, and the fact that they STILL can’t figure out how to change the name on my account since I got married, and the lack of sensible data. But other then that, it hasn’t been *all* bad.

I knew what this letter contained, it was their discreet way of saying “Your contract is going to expire soon, don’t leave, we beg you, stay with us, please! here’s what we can give you!”

I also knew that if I don’t respond to this one, quite a few more will arrive before my contract expires, but I’m always up for a good offer, so I ripped it open to see what they had.

First of all the generic form letter, (everything from Fido has some sort of dog on it, this one had a golden retriever, in a bow tie, we’re celebrating! Get it!)

“A great offer to celebrate years by your side!”

Awww. Shucks. It almost brought a tear to my eye.

Dear Kristal McMillan,

(see what I mean about not being able to change my name on the account!)

“To celebrate all this time by your side, Fido would like to thank you with an exceptional offer made even more attractive by your FidoDollars!“

I should take a moment to explain FidoDollars, you accumulate them, not sure of the exact rate, but anyway, when it comes time to get a new phone, you can use them to pay for it. You can also buy accessories etc.

Anyway, we continue.

Opt for a new Fido Agreement with this special offer!
> Upgrade to a brand-new phone!
Check out our enclosed brochure for a wide selection of phones and find the one that meets your needs. Plus discover a new experience in mobile technology with Fido’s 3G phones, giving you easy access to content where and when you want it. And don’t forget to use your 9 FidoDollars for an even better deal on your new phone!

I took a picture so you all could see I’m not kidding. Ok I know it’s the generic form letter and they just fill in the blanks, but come on now. How SILLY does it look with a little yellow box that says “Get a phone with your FidoDollars! You have 9 Fido Dollars!”

Can someone please find me a phone to buy for $9?

and WOW! NEW 3G technology! What will these inventors come up with next, here I was still using my tin cans and string.

I pulled the aforementioned brochure out of the envelope to see what exciting phones they were offering.

Oh dear.

“Select the phone that fits your lifestyle!”

Ummm….

I opened it up anyway, and the following dear readers, is exactly what I found

I know. I know. Pathetic isn’t it? and it doesn’t get any better. (and those are the “after signing the contract” prices) Upon turning page I am introduced to

3G! wow.

and then we get into the you know, high class, top of the line stuff.

Oooh. Ahhh. Windows Mobile.

And wow! 3G! I just can’t contain my excitement.

So really, they can’t offer me a phone that fits my lifestyle. Because what I need is either my N95, or maybe an iPhone (which you notice, they conveniently aren’t offering!) and a sensible data plan.

Oh and not a 3 year contract, (I’m sorry, “Fido Agreement” it sounds nicer.)

I remember back a couple Podcasts ago when Ben and Dan and Jay were talking about how they can’t believe that in Canada they were making people sign up with a 3 year contract to get the iPhone.

Well believe it boys, because you can’t really get less. For anything. If you want to pay a *decent* price for a phone ($0-$100) you’re locked in for 3 years. And sometimes they won’t even offer you the plans without the 36 months as well.

Here’s the proof, for the Razr2 and the JACK (all the other ones were the same, just couldn’t be bothered to take all the pictures)

(if you can’t read it, it says “After a $100 credit and a 3-year Fido agreement + Windows Mobile option with a data term for 3 years. $425 without Fido Agreement”)

(“After a $100 credit and a 3-year Fido agreement + Surfing option with a data term for 3 years. $500 without Fido Agreement”)

Unfortunately I don’t see very much to celebrate with Fido.

My ears perk up.

“Why do you say that?” I ask.

“Well it’s silly, it’s only 3 gig. iPod’s are more then that, you can’t do much with only 3 gig.”

and I said “No, it’s 8 gig, or 16.”

and got back an “Uhhhh no, it’s not.”

me “yes it is!”

“Ummm no, it says so, right in the name, iPhone 3G.”

Oh dear.

This is the point where I started to bang my head against my desk and then spent the next 15 minutes trying to explain connection speeds, data plans, etc.

It was painful.

Link: thestar.com

OTTAWA—The federal Industry Minister is calling the chiefs of Bell Mobility and Telus to a meeting to explain an “ill-thought out decision” to charge cell phone users for incoming text messages.

Jim Prentice issued a statement saying he doesn’t want to interfere in the operations of two private companies but has “serious concerns” that they will begin charging customers 15 cents for text messages they receive starting next month.

Bell plans to levy the new charge starting Aug. 8. Telus will follow suit Aug. 24.

“I do have a duty as Minister of Industry, when necessary, to protect the interests of the consuming public,” Prentice wrote in a statement. “I believe this was an ill-thought-out decision.”

One of the chief concerns is that cell-phone users, particularly the young, will be charged for spam text messages that they receive.

According to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, an average of 45.3-million text messages are sent by Canadians each day.

Spokespeople for the two firms have said that customers can contact them to have charges for spam messages deleted from their bills. Heavy text message users also have the option of signing up for a special plan that could reduce overall costs.

Prentice has sent letters to the chief executives of the two companies asking for a meeting before the new charges come into effect Aug. 8 to explain the decision “with a view to finding a solution that provides the best service to consumers at the best price.”

(Is it wrong that I’m enjoying this?

Rogers Communications Inc. has thrown a bone to potential iPhone customers by offering a limited-time promotional data rate plan that should silence complaints about Canadian pricing for the eagerly-anticipated device.

The wireless giant said today it would give iPhone subscribers who sign up before Aug. 31 the option of purchasing a 6-gigabyte data plan for $30 per month in addition to any voice plan.

While that still doesn’t match the unlimited data plans offered in the United States by AT&T Inc., the promotion offers significantly better value than the rate plans Rogers unveiled earlier this month.

Ok getting better! Maybe.

Link: Yahoo! – Apple to Rogers on iPhone: you’re on your own

Apple Inc. will not be selling the hotly awaited iPhone in its six Canadian stores when it is released this Friday, leaving Rogers Communications Inc. and its Fido subsidiary to sell the device on their own.

“The iPhone 3G will be available in Canada from Rogers and Fido,” said Simon Atkins, spokesperson for Apple. He declined to elaborate.

They say it’s cause there’s more Rogers store and therefore more accessible…but yeah ok. You can’t sell it in both?

Hmmmm….

Backwards Canada strikes again, I honestly checked the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1st.

Oh my god. I can’t believe it. Things should not be getting worse.

I just heard on the news that Bell & Telus are going to be charging 15 cents to receive a text message.

I CAN’T EVEN TELL YOU HOW LIVID I AM.

This is stupid, beyond stupid, like honestly, I think Fred Flinstone has a better mobile plan than I do. And he has to chisel out his text messages.

I can’t control who sends me a text message, why should I get charged for it?

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

If you happen to have a plan that includes say, 500 text messages a month. The received messages will just eat away at that.

Rogers doesn’t plan on charging to receive messages, honestly I think that’s only because they can’t afford anymore angry customers after the iPhone price plan fiasco.

Their excuse for starting to charge to receive messages? Canadians are sending more now than they used to, so they just can’t afford to keep the current system in place. Canadians sent 369,000 messages when inter-carrier service came to Canada in 2002, and last year they sent 10.1 billion.

DEAR GOD NO! DON’T TELL ME CANADIAN’S ARE USING THIS NEW FANDANGLED TEXT MESSAGING TECHNOLOGY!

I can just see all the mobile providers sat around a table

Mr. Bell
“They’re catching on! We have to figure out how to stop them! I know we’ll charge them more!”

Mr. Rogers “Well we know they’ll pay it! Look at those data plans we’ve had, and our stupid new iPhone plans! They’ll fall for anything!”

Mr. Telus “Tee hee hee”

I’m done, honestly, I’m going to start carrying around two tin cans and a piece of string.

I am in that situation. My parents are ok with technology, my Dad can almost program the VCR, and is pretty good with his computer. Mom on the other hand won’t touch it. They don’t understand how people can sit for hours on the Internet.

The thing that baffles me most is their mobile phones. They’re both on PAYG, Mom with Fido and Dad with PC Mobile (our version of Tesco Mobile) but it just doesn’t really make sense to me.

First off, they don’t really need two cell phones. (I know, I know, I’m usually throwing phones at people and yelling at anyone who doesn’t have one, but bear with me)

They are of the “I have my phone in case of an emergency” species, you know the ones. Those who keep the phone in their car/handbag and only ever turn it on if the car breaks down. (Which by the way, annoys the hell out of me every time I try and call my Mom on hers) It made sense for them to have two before, Dad was working 100 km away and in the winter it made sense. But now he’s retired, and they’re down to one car, two cell phones is almost silly, considering they never get used.

Here’s my problem, what I need help with, what I can’t wrap my head around.

Like I said, they’re both on PAYG, Dad buys a $15 refill card from PC mobile. This gets him $15 worth of credit, .20cents a minute, for 30 days. (He could buy a $25 which gives him 60 days, but apparently it makes more sense in the world of parents to be a $15 every 30.)

The problem is, he barely uses the phone. Like I mean barely, once a month if you’re lucky, maybe twice. But every 30 days his credit expires, so, on the 29th day, he has to buy another $15 card.

He currently has $110 worth of credit.

It’s ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. If he misses refilling that account by one day, woooosh! There it all goes. What a waste of money.

Mom isn’t much better, although she uses hers a little more often, but still sits with giant account balances. (Fido only makes you buy a $10 card every 30 days.)

I had this conversation with them the other day when I found out how high their balances were.

(K is me, D is Dad, M is Mom)

K: “So, why don’t you just use it more often, use it up.”

D: “I do, I used it twice last week”

K: “But you still have tons of credit! If you miss refilling that by one day, it’s all gone. GONE! What a waste of money!”

M: “he’s done that before.”

K: “So just use it, like all the time, for every call you make!”

D: “I do use it, I call Mom when she has to come pick me up at the golf course” (which is like once every 2 weeks)

Anyway, at this point I started banging my head against the table and gave up the conversation.

Sure he could use it a lot to use up his credit. But then he’s back in the same boat again after awhile unless he uses it constantly, which he doesn’t.

So what do they do? Is there another option out there for the “emergency”/”occasional” user?

Or are they forever doomed with lots of credit?

That’s great! Canadians keep it going please! You have until July 11 to sign it, when they’ll present it to Rogers.

The device will run on Rogers third-generation, or 3G, network and will cost either $199 or $299 with a 3-year contract, depending on memory size.

The iPhone will only be available with the purchase of a monthly voice and data plan, with the cheapest priced at $60 a month for 400 MB of data, 150 weekday minutes and unlimited evenings and weekends.

There are also $75, $100 and $115 monthly plans that offer increasingly bigger buckets of minutes and 750 megabytes, 1 gigabyte and 2 gigabytes of data respectively.

All of the packages include unlimited access to Rogers and Fido Wi-Fi hotspots.

However, users won’t be allowed to mix and match voice and data plans and will face overage charges if they go over their plan’s allotted amounts of voice and data.

“The main difference between the Rogers and Fido plans and those in other countries is that there is a ceiling,” said Kevin Restivo, an analyst at market research firm IDC Canada.

“These plans are still quite Canadian, but they put the iPhone in the realm of reality for prospective smartphone users.”

By contrast, consumers in the United States will be able to buy the second-generation iPhone from AT&T Inc. with a $30 unlimited data plan that’s available with any voice package – a model that some observers had hoped Rogers would adopt in a bid to drive wide-scale adoption.

But Rogers seems to have taken a middle-of-the-road approach.

“We’ve designed a pricing structure that offers affordable, flexible voice and data packages so Canadians can truly unleash their iPhone 3G experience on Canada’s fastest wireless network,” John Boynton, the chief marketing officer of Rogers Wireless, said in a statement.

While a $60 per month entry-level plan promises to put an iPhone in a lot of Canadian pockets, subscribers may still suffer sticker shock when they receive their first monthly bill.

That’s because many will likely opt to pay another $15 or $20 a month for an optional package that includes Caller ID, text messages and call forwarding, among other things.

That brings the cheapest iPhone to just over $90 per month once a $6.95 “system access fee” and taxes are included.

Restivo said Rogers’ cheapest iPhone plan would be most suitable for a subscriber who treats mobile Web browsing as more of a novelty as opposed to a core function.

“If you’re a heavy data user, you’re probably going to move up to the $100-per month package.”

PAH. USELESS. I GIVE UP.

I am clearly useless in the using of my N95′s video feature. I’m a newbie. I have taken few videos with it and therefore unbeknown to me, I was holding it sideways. I apologize for the fact that I am sideways. I will do better for all of you next time, feel free to mock me now.

Moving on!

We had a reader leave a comment on my earlier Fido Uno post, about how it was working out, as they were thinking of getting it. Never one to leave you all hanging, I took a video of it in action. It’s been working great, it seamlessly drops the router and picks up the Fido network without dropping a call or you having to phone the person back to allow it to switch networks. Genius.

Thankyou.

Caught this on thestar.com

Bigger, more affordable buckets of data on offer for Web browsing, email
Jun 20, 2008 04:30 AM
CHRIS SORENSEN
BUSINESS REPORTER

There’s still no official word on the monthly cost to own an iPhone in Canada, but Rogers Wireless will today reveal a new data-pricing model that aims to make mobile email and Web browsing more affordable for average users.

Though still a far cry from American-style “unlimited” plans, the division of Rogers Communications Inc. is preparing to offer subscribers significantly bigger buckets of data at lower rates than previously.

The move follows comments made by COO Nadir Mohamed this week that Rogers’ wireless pricing would “evolve” to accommodate the rising popularity of smartphones, which offer mobile Internet access and multimedia functions in addition to voice calling.

“This is the right move and a bold move on their part,” said analyst Amit Kaminer of consulting firm The Seaboard Group. “I think they delivered what they promised. It’s good for (CEO) Ted Rogers and company and … for the users, too.”

Under the new model, smartphone users can choose between “flex” and “non-flex” plans with buckets of data that range in price from $60 for 1 gigabyte to $100 for 6 gigabytes. The plans are purchased in addition to a voice plan.

By contrast, BlackBerry users are currently paying about $100 for 1 gigabyte of data on Rogers.

While the new “flex” plans are slightly more expensive than “non-flex,” subscribers who use more than their monthly allotment are automatically bumped up to the next tier to “guarantee them the best rate,” whereas “non-flex” users are simply handed overage charges.

A Rogers spokesperson said the new data plans are meant to be “device-agnostic,” meaning they can be used with different smartphones.

Apple Inc.’s iPhone is an exception. There was no word from Rogers yesterday on pricing when it begins selling the iPhone on July 11, but Internet rumours said the cellphone, iPod and Web browsing device would be sold alongside a $30 “unlimited” data plan.

$60 for a gig, not bad, $100 for 6, not bad.

If they’re going to offer $30 unlimited with the iPhone…where do I sign?

Stay tuned!

So Rogers and Fido (same company) are getting the iPhone. July 11, the BIG day.

I figure, they must have a plan, they MUST have a sensible data plan coming.

And not just this “unlimited browsing” they keep trying to throw at me, I’m talking real honest to goodness data.

So the countdown is on, I’m being optimistic, this could be it, this could be the start of sensible data in Canada!

29 days to go….

Exciting stuff! Stay tuned…