What does more competition in the Canadian Wireless industry mean? Not much!!

So the doors to the Canadian mobile industry got kicked open over the past year with a number of new players. The thought was that more competition would drive pricing down & be better for the Canadian people. So has it worked? Are Canadians saving money on wireless?

·         The “competitive presence” of the new companies contributed to a reduction in the average monthly cellphone bill from $58.81 to $57.86, the CRTC said in a recent press release.

·         The new starts up companies captured just 2% of the overall subscriber share by the end of 2010,  reports show, meaning that Rogers, Bell and Telus continue to dominate the cellphone industry.

The Wireless industry in Canada is not just about money, it’s about quality & range of coverage….. it’s about device choice.  If you want an iPhone, go to one of the big 3…. because they don’t carry them at Wind & Mobilicity. Looks like Canadians are opting for better phones & coverages. 

Blackberry App World hits 1 billion downloads.

The first App was downloaded from Blackberry App World when it was launched in April 2009. Fast forward to July 2011 when the one billionth App was downloaded. Great job BB App World…. Or is it? To date the Apple App Store is at 15 billion downloads & Andriod Market is at 4.5 billion downloads. Ok let’s rub it in even more….. the Apple App Store is at 5 billion downloads year to date & Andriod Market is running a half a billion a month.  

Rim made the 1 billion milestone announce in their July 12, 2011 blog. Here’s a portion of the blog. ‘With BlackBerry App World™ 3.0 beta coming soon, I was thinking about the evolution of BlackBerry App World and how far we’ve come. The BlackBerry App World™ storefront launched a little over two years ago, and over that time, we’ve made many feature improvements, enhanced the look and feel, and added a ton of compelling apps. BlackBerry App World is now in over 100 countries, seeing an average of 3 million downloads per day, and we recently crossed the 1 billion app download milestone!’

More signs point to September iPhone 5 debut.

·        Apple and AT&T are both reportedly gearing up their employees for September, the month that the iPhone 5 is expected to launch, according to several reports.

·        Apple will be bumping up its staff in U.S. retail Apple stores early this fall, according to MacRumors.

·        This follows prior reports of Apple looking to increase staffing in the U.K. from August through October as noted by SlashGear and other tech news sites.

·        AT&T has also reportedly been revving up its employees to prepare for more foot traffic at its stores in September, a source told Boy Genius Report. The carrier has asked its managers and employees to finish any current training as soon as possible so that they can be available at that time.

Rogers Wireless adds 135k NEW subcribers in Q2 (2011)! Totaling 9.13 million!!

"Rogers delivered a solid performance in the second quarter both for financial and subscriber results, delivering solid growth in a highly competitive environment," said Nadir Mohamed, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rogers Communications Inc. "The strength of our asset mix combined with successful execution on our priorities - wireless data growth, customer retention and managing our cost structure - enabled Rogers to generate continued strong margins and substantial free cash flow."

Highlights of the second quarter of 2011 include the following: 

·         Wireless data revenue growth accelerated to 31% and net postpaid subscriber additions totalled 108,000, helping drive wireless data revenue to now comprise 35% of Wireless network revenue.  During the quarter, Wireless activated and upgraded 591,000 additional smartphones, of which approximately 40% were for subscribers new to Wireless, compared to 385,000 in the prior year quarter. This resulted in subscribers with smartphones, who typically generate ARPU nearly twice that of voice only subscribers, representing 48% of the overall postpaid subscriber base as at June 30, 2011, up from 35% as at June 30, 2010.

·         Wireless launched the first Canadian commercial deployment of Long Term Evolution ("LTE") network services in Ottawa.  Rogers expects to follow this launch with market launches of LTE in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver later this year, and in the rest of the top 25 Canadian markets in 2012.  LTE is a next generation technology that enables unparalleled connectivity, offering speeds that are between three and four times faster than HSPA+ with peak theoretical download rates of up to 150 Megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of up to 70 Mbps.

·         Rogers began a $80 million investment to further enhance our wireless voice and data network in the Maritimes, extending the Rogers 4G HSPA+ coverage to almost one million more people across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, representing a 130% increase over the current population coverage of our network in those provinces.

·         Rogers won an important contract to provision machine to machine ("M2M") wireless connectivity for Hydro-Quebec over the next six years.  Rogers will connect Hydro Quebec's central system with up to 600 Smart Meter collectors, which aggregate electrical service utilization data relayed from Quebec's approximately 3.8 million Smart Meters.

·         Wireless launched Canada's first Wi-Fi voice service for smartphones to help business customers save time and money by enabling mobile calls from their smartphones over a Wi-Fi network that do not count towards monthly voice plan minutes. Calls that originate on a Wi-Fi network are automatically transferred to the Rogers wireless network when the person leaves the Wi-Fi coverage area.

·         Generated $559 million of consolidated free cash flow in the quarter, defined as adjusted operating profit less PP&E expenditures, interest on long-term debt (net of capitalization) and cash income taxes, relatively consistent with the second quarter of 2010 and reflecting steady levels of adjusted operating profit being offset by an increased level of PP&E expenditures. Free cash flow per share increased by 2% over the same period reflecting accretion from share buybacks which have decreased the base of outstanding shares.

·         Source CWN

Rogers, New! Roaming Data Passes – Launched Today!!!

Rogers is pleased to announce Roaming Data Pass a revolutionary new offer and experience for customers that use data services while roaming.

Features/Benefits:

• New real-time alerts sent directly to the customer’s mobile device allow them to monitor their data usage so they are aware about how much data they have used.
• Built-in service cut-offs ensure no more overage fees and complete cost certainty when using data services while roaming. Bottom line à No more “bill shock”
• Save up to 90% on regular data roaming rates

How to Purchase:

§  From your mobile browser go http://www.rogers.com/m/roam or text 'travel' to 7626

§  All Roaming Data Passes purchased while on Rogers’ Network or while Roaming outside of Canada only become active upon using data services while roaming in the respective region that the Data Pass is applicable for (IE: US data roaming usage will trigger the activation of a US Roaming Data Pass). Simply purchasing the pass does not activate it.

§  All purchased Roaming Data Passes expire after 30 days if still not activated.

Random Google+ Waitlist Guy...when is my turn?

Is anyone else still getting the ‘Google+ is in limited Field Trial’ & you are not part of it feeling? At the Google Plus page I’m getting the “At the moment, we're testing with a small number of people, but it won't be long before the Google+ project is ready for everyone. Leave us your email address and we'll make sure that you're the first to know when we're ready to invite more people.”  My name is not William Shatner, I heard he liked it or Mark Zuckerberg, I heard he wants to keep tabs on it. So I’m waiting for when they want to invite more people….but wait, it goes on to say “Already invited? We've temporarily exceeded our capacity. Please try again soon.” Don't you love the word SOON. My Dad used that word alot on trips. Ok….. they have learned from Disney, just when you think you are close to the front of the line you turn the corner and *presto*….tons more people.  It’s like waiting for your table to be called at a wedding reception. Hurry up and wait!!. Tables close to you are coming back with full plates that look great…… and smell good.  So far Google Plus rates a minus with me. Sincerly.... Random Google+ Waitlist Guy

A flock of 8” Angry Birds are coming to your town.

From the ‘now I’ve seen it all’ category….. Angry Bird Plush toys!! Where? www.futureshop.ca has a complete selection of them. Laugh if you want, but don’t wait…. as I’m predicting a sell-out. The birds come in a 5’ version for $11.99 & the 8” version for $15.99.

Now that is what you do want you make it big. ..... produce the action figure!!



Tweet

Blackberry OS7 changes the virtual keyboard.

 

Image by UrbanGlowCam

 

If you are going to make a change, best do it now. Blackberry OS7 will be making a few changes to the virtual keyboard, according to a recent post on Crackberry.com. With the wireless world opting for more screen & less keyboard, virtual keyboards will not be going away. RIM is moving a few keys around, to bring the Atl key & the Enter key into the two prominent positions anchoring the bottom corners.  Great move RIM…. Short term pain for long term gain.

What are those square bar code thingies that are showing up everywhere?

They are called quick response codes or QR codes. They can be scanned by Smartphones to take you to a website quickly. Do you have a Blackberry? Try it out.

Open App World

Hit the menu key (the BB logo button between the green send key & the main function key)

Scroll to ‘Scan a Barcode”

Start Scanning

Blackberry Instructional Video

Happy QR Code scanning!!

What do the numbers 9360, 9810, 9860 & 9900 have in common?

They are all new Blackberry style numbers that are rumored to be released soon by Rogers. Some rumors are more credible than others. At the Fraser Valley Wireless annual customer appreciation golf tournament yesterday I spoke with our RIM rep Gord Grant. He was eager to show off the new Bold 9900. Thinner, fast processor, fast HSPA speeds & crisper optics were the new upgrades that I felt & saw while handling the unit. Did I mention touchscreen!! This is a nice unit.  

The Blackberry 9860 is a new full touch screen unit that will give the user the iPhone/Android feel. So that leaves the 9810 & the 9360, which I’m guessing are the Torch 2 & the Curve. We will see.

With the new enhanced BB o/s 7, I for one am looking forward to a new Blackberry.  My only problem will be which one??? Oh Yeh….. I forgot….. I’m the Rogers Corporate rep… so I will take one of each.  After all, I need to demo what I’m selling.

Rogers announces LTE-enabled smartphones available later in 2011

According a news release from Rogers Communications Inc. on July 7, 2011, LTE-enabled smartphones from Samsung and HTC will be available later this year.

LTE is a true 4G network with speed 5 times faster than 3G+.

Experts claim that the new network can chew through 1 GB of data per hour when pushed to the max with streaming HD videos. Is this good news or bad? You be the judge. More speed has always cost more.

Expert states that Rogers LTE Data Plan pricing is in line.

·        Rogers Communications Inc. has launched Canada's fastest cellular network in the nation's capital, giving Ottawa residents first crack at a wireless Internet network that rivals wired high-speed connections.

·        To show off the service's capabilities, officials used LTE connections to perform such data-heavy tasks as video conferencing, streaming high-definition video to a big-screen TV, showing ondemand movies and playing head-to-head video games over the Internet.

·        Monthly LTE packages will start at $45 for 1.5 GB of downloaded data and range up to $90 for nine GBs. Every gigabyte after that will cost an extra $10.

·        Lawrence Surtees, lead analyst covering the Canadian telecom sector for IDC Canada, a market intelligence firm, said the pricing is in line with what a consumer would expect to pay to access a premium service, but the data caps seem light. HD video can chew through a gigabyte in less than hour.

Rogers Launches Canada's first LTE network in Ottawa today!

July 7th, 2011: Ottawa LTE Launched.....

Vancouver Coming Soon!!

From the Rogers website....
LTE is the future of wireless - the global gold standard in wireless network technology and Rogers customers will be among the first in the world to experience it. You'll use your mobile device differently, and replace today’s boundaries with endless possibilities.

LTE is the fastest wireless network technology on the planet. At launch, the LTE Rocket™ stick (Sierra Wireless AirCard® 313U model) will be capable of speeds of up to 75 Mbps download on the Rogers LTE network¹. Maximum speeds are dependent on the combination of the network spectrum and technical specifications of the hardware being used. Typical speeds can range from 12 Mbps to 25 Mbps, significantly faster than any other Canadian wireless network. As device selection evolves, customers will be able to take advantage of the full potential of the Rogers LTE network and maximum theoretical speeds will increase to up to 150 Mbps(1).

LTE delivers significantly lower latency than previous wireless technologies which means a better experience for customers using highly interactive applications like multi-player gaming and rich multi-media communications

LTE provides more usage capacity, meaning more users can access the network at top speeds without affecting performance.

WiFi calling for Business

Rogers Wireless has 3 WiFi calling options for business.

$5 MSF for Wi-Fi Network Access

Access to make & receive calls on wireless device over a Wi-Fi connection.

Any voice usage within Wi-Fi coverage is applied against voice minutes

allocated in existing wireless voice plan.

$10 MSF for Unlimited Local Wi-Fi Calling

Unlimited local calling on wireless device over a Wi-Fi connection.

$15 MSF for Unlimited Canada-wide Wi-Fi Calling

Unlimited local and Canadian long distance calling on

wireless device over a Wi-Fi connection.

What is Wi-Fi Calling?

Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) enables a mobile phone to connect over a Wi-Fi network and then handover seamlessly to a GSM cellular network if the caller moves beyond the Wi-Fi range. The handover process is transparent to the user, just as a user passes from one wireless network cell to another. The key requirements for Wi-Fi calling are:

1. UMA-enabled Dual mode handsets.
2. a Wi-Fi network capable of supporting voice service.
3. a Wi-Fi calling plan from Rogers.

Features and Benefits

• In-Building/On-Campus Coverage & Inherent Redundancy. If you have no coverage or "trouble spots" in your facility or campus, Wi-Fi calling can reduce or eliminate dropped calls and interruptions by improving coverage. If your business is located at the edge of the Rogers network and does not normally receive a cellular signal, you can extend the wireless network within your workplace and, if immediately adjacent to the outdoor network, roam seamlessly without dropping a call.
• Cost Predictability. Most businesses pay "overage" fees when users exceed their capped minute plans. Rogers Wi-Fi calling plans enable subscribers to make unlimited local and national calls without impact to monthly a subscriber's minute bucket.
• Increased User Productivity. Wi-Fi calling enables seamless, reliable coverage that allows users to focus on business, not connectivity. Wi-Fi calling can act as a desk phone replacement, allowing employees to move freely throughout the facility and beyond, untethered to their desks.
• Ease of Deployment. UMA is embedded in devices by several manufacturers including Research in Motion. Configuring smartphones to connect with and remember access points is a quick process using a connections manager on the devices. Beyond the initial set up, Wi-Fi calling requires no learning or changes in behaviour for current smartphone users.

Minimum Requirements

• Wi-Fi calling-compatible wireless device
• Subscription to a Wi-Fi calling plan
• A Wi-Fi connection

Supported Devices

BlackBerry® 8120, 8220, 8320, 8820, 8520, 9100, 9300, 9700, 9780, 9800

Q. Are there any services, such as mobile WAP browsing, text messaging (SMS) or video/picture messaging (MMS) that cannot be used with Rogers

Wi-Fi Calling for Business?

A.

charges will still apply for any text, picture, or video messages or WAP browsing.

Mobile WAP browsing, SMS and MMS are GSM/GPRS/EDGE mobile services only, and cannot be used with Rogers Wi-Fi Calling for Business. Regular

Q. How are Canadian long distance calls charged on the Rogers Wi-Fi Calling for Business Unlimited Local plan?

A.

code that your phone is assigned to. For example, if you are is Vancouver (604 area code) and you place a local call to another Vancouver number, but

your own number is Toronto (416), then you will be charged for placing a long distance call from 416 to 604 at your existing LD plan rate.

Long distance calls are rated the same over the Rogers Wi-Fi Calling for Business Unlimited Local plan as if you are placing a phone call from the area

Q. How are U.S. or International long distance calls charged on Rogers Wi-Fi Calling for Business?

A.

Long distance calls to U.S. or International locations will continue to be charged at the rate of your existing voice plan.

Q. Can Rogers Wi-Fi Calling for Business be used when roaming outside Canada?

A.

are roaming on.

No. Rogers Wi-Fi Calling for Business is not supported when roaming outside of Canada. All calls will continue to use the carrier network that you

Today is more than Canada's Birthday

Yes... Happy 144th Birthday Canada & Happy 20th Birthday to the GSM Network. The first GSM phone call was made 20 years ago today. Now, over half on the world's population uses this popular SIM Card based wirsless phone system.

Helsinki, Finland, July 1 1991: The prime minister of Finland, Harri Holkeri making the first GSM phone call.



In December 2001 Rogers Wireless overlaid our existing TDMA network with the GSM/GPRS global standard network, which allows roaming to over 200 countries worldwide and large advancements in wireless data transmission speeds. These networks and our global partnerships enable us to offer the most competitive corporate plans, roaming and long distance rates while in Canada and worldwide.

The GSM/EDGE/HSPA technology is now the world standard for wireless communication.  In addition to the great voice quality and improved data speeds, you will have a greater selection of handsets at lower pricing as many major manufactures spend more time in research & development servicing the technology selected by the better part of the world.

What is GSM/EDGE/HSPA?

GSM (Global System for Mobiles) is the worldwide technology of choice for wireless voice and data capabilities.  Today, only 8 countries in the world do not have GSM/GPRS technology.

Rogers Wireless overlaid a GSM voice network integrated with Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) data capability.  The final result is an expanded network that delivers “always on” data services along with traditional voice services.  GSM-EDGE-HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) technology enables a dramatically increased amount of information to travel at higher speeds than ever before. HSPA is now available across the country and runs at speeds of up to 21 MBps.

Why GSM/EDGE/HSPA? 

·        Advanced Data Capabilities: Our network will provide access to data services (email, corporate LAN’s and Internet) from a wireless device that is now limited to desktop computers due to technology and transmission speed constraints. 

·         Worldwide Roaming: This “next generation” wireless technology will eventually mean the most highly evolved wireless data and worldwide roaming capabilities, on the same wireless device you use at home.

·        Economies of Scale: If 75% of the world has adopted the world standard technology, it means that Manufactures and Developers have invested the majority of their Research & Development teams into producing products, giving you a better selection at better pricing.