Tuesday 27 November 2012

Thanks for Lunch Microsoft!!



I had lunch on Microsoft today on the 6th floor of the Shangri-La downtown Vancouver. They were showing off the benefits of the new Windows Phone 8 OS. I got to touch & feel the 3 Rogers Smartphones running the new Window OS. The Nokia Lumia 920 ($99 3yr V&D), the HTC 8X ($0 3yr V&D) & the Samsung ATIV S (coming soon). Looks to me this Window Phone OS is here to stay!!  Thank Microsoft for the sandwich & diet Coke.

Samsung ATIV S Great Screen & Thin


HTC 8X Great Sound
 
Windows Phone 8 Highlights include....

Live Tiles
The only phone with Live Tiles. These amazing little gems deliver automatic updates on what's happening in your world, right to your Start screen. Pin the ones you want, then move and resize them as you like.


Kid's Corner
It’s the only phone with kid-proofing built in, so you can control the apps, games, videos, and music they access, knowing that your stuff is safe.


Photos + SkyDrive
Snap photos, use Lens apps, and share your creations straight from the Camera. Plus you can store your photos safely in the cloud by automatically syncing to SkyDrive.

Learn more about Photos

Wednesday 12 September 2012

iPhone 5, How Does it stack up?


 
Apple iPhone 4S
Apple iPhone 5
SAMSUNG GALAXY S III
OS
Apple iOS 6
Apple iOS 6
Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich
(upgradable to
4.1 Jelly Bean)
Display
3.5-inch
LED-backlit IPS TFT
4-inch
LED-backlit IPS TFT
4.8-inch
HD Super AMOLED
w/ Corning Gorilla Glass 2
Pixel density
326 ppi pixel density
326 ppi pixel density
306 ppi pixel density
Resolution
960 x 640
1136 x 640
HD (1280 x 720)
Height
Width
Thickness
115.2 mm
58.6mm
9.3 mm
123.8 mm
58.5 mm
7.6 mm
136.6mm
70.6mm
8.6mm
Weight
140 grams
112 grams
133 grams
Processor
Apple A5
Apple A6
1.5GHz dual-core
Cortex A9 processor
Exynos 4212 Quad
GPU
PowerVR SGX543MP2
-
Mali-400MP
RAM
512MB
TBA
1GB
Storage
16GB / 32GB / 64GB
16GB / 32GB / 64GB
16GB / 32GB / 64GB
microSD card slot
No
No
Yes, up to 64GB
Primary camera
8 MP, 3264×2448 pixels,
autofocus
8 MP, 3264×2448 pixels,
autofocus
8 MP, 3264×2448 pixels,
autofocus , 4x Zoom
Primary camera extras
Touch focus, geo-tagging, HDR
Touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection, panorama, HDR
Simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilization
Front camera
VGA, 480P@30fps
1.2MP, 720p@30fps
1.9MP, 720p@30fps
Battery
Talk Time on 3G – 8hrs
Talk Time on 3G – 8hrs
Talk Time on 3G – 8hrs
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Hotspot
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Plus Cellular
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct,
Wi-Fi hotspot
Network
2G, 3G, 4G & LTE
2G, 3G, 4G & LTE
2G, 3G, 4G & LTE
USB
Yes, proprietary 9-pin connector
Yes, proprietary 9-pin connector
Yes, microUSB v2.0 (MHL), USB On-the-go
Bluetooth
Yes, v4.0 with A2DP, EDR
Yes, v4.0 with A2DP, EDR
Yes, v4.0 with A2DP, EDR
NFC
No
No
Yes
Sensors
Gyroscope, G-Sensor, Digital Compass, Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor
Gyroscope, G-Sensor, Digital Compass, Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor
Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor

iPhone 5 Coming to Canada September 21, 2012




 

The screen taller but not wider.

·         4-inch 1136×640

·         from 5:4 ratio on the 4S to 16:9 ratio

 

Its lighter & thinner.

·         It is 112g, 20% lighter than the iPhone 4S

·         7.6mm, 18% thinner  than the iPhone 4S

 

Faster

·         LTE baseband with support up to 100Mbps.

·         backwards compatible with HSPA+ and DC-HSPA+ at 42Mbps

·         A6 processor chip, 2X faster CPU and 2x graphics compared to the A5

·         WiFi, 802.11a/b/g/n, it's dual-channel, up to 150Mbps.

Thursday 3 May 2012

Samsung Galaxy S III Smartphone


So there you have it…… the official phone of the 2012 London Olympics games was announced today by Samsung in London. It’s slated for a May 29th European release with over 250 worldwide carriers, including Canada, this summer. It’s being dubbed the super-smartphone, with its 1.4GHz quad-core processor, a 4.7-inch HD display, an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD recording, 1GB of RAM, 4G LTE & only 8.6 millimeters thick.
Posted on the Samsung Canada Facebook page…..’Today’s a BIG day for our fans who’ve been waiting for information about the Galaxy S III. Samsung Canada is pleased to announce that we are planning to release a Canada LTE version of Galaxy S III, along with the newly announced global variation, both of which are optimized for the fastest LTE and HSPA+ networks in Canada. Product availability is scheduled for summer of 2012, with exact timing and retail channel availability details to be announced in upcoming weeks. We believe the Galaxy S III is the most anticipated product in the 16-year history of Samsung Mobile; therefore, we will continue to share information as it becomes available.’

Check out the Samsung full press release......

Tuesday 1 May 2012

New Area Code in BC June 2013



Thanks to the wireless industry, phone numbers are being snapped at a record rate. So step aside 250 / 604 / 778 there is going to be a new number in town.

A new area code is coming to British Columbia on June 1, 2013. The 236 area code will be introduced in the region now served by 250 / 604 / 778 in British Columbia with an overlay method. The overlay method simply involves adding a new code to the geographic region served by existing area codes. The four area codes will co-exist, providing for a substantial increase in available telephone numbers in the region without affecting existing numbers.

Thursday 26 April 2012

Samsung Galaxy Rugby

The Samsung Galaxy Rugby - $49.99 Voice only on Rogers


Works as Hard as You Do

Whether users are exploring the outdoors or trying to find their way with Google Maps, this 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth®-enabled smartphone is the perfect choice. With its Android2.3 operating system, users can access over 250,000 apps, download games and books, and get access to the Google native apps like Google Talk & Gmail, all on the go. The Galaxy Rugbyis also IP certified, which means that it is water- and dust-proof. The Galaxy Rugby is also equipped with an anti-scratch screen made of Corning® Gorilla® Glass and extra-long-life battery.

Galaxy Rugby Specs
• Protection from the elements
• Android 2.3
• Incredibly powerful battery
• Illuminating Torchlight
• 3.0 MP Camera with flash
• Stay in touch
• Multi-Media play back
• Take productivity anywhere you go
• Google goes with you

Monday 23 April 2012

More BBM-Connected Apps Set to Launch

Series of BlackBerry App Updates Will Make It Easier to Keep Your BBM Community In The Know

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 11, 2012) - A series of updates of popular BlackBerry® apps will be released over the coming days to make it even easier for users to stay connected with their BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger) community. Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced that Facebook® for BlackBerry smartphones, Twitter® for BlackBerry smartphones, BlackBerry® Travel™, BlackBerry App World™ and BBM Music will now include BBM connectivity, making it even easier for users to stay in touch with their contacts, share experiences and content, and discover new things from their BBM community.
"Since we provided developers the means to build BBM connectivity into their apps, we have seen more than 800 new BBM-connected apps come to market, which has been followed by a huge uptake by users - about one of every five apps being downloaded on BlackBerry App World is a BBM-connected app," said Alec Saunders, VP of Developer Relations at RIM. "Today we're excited to announce that RIM has also integrated BBM connectivity into a number of our own popular apps and the BBM-connected revolution continues to grow."

Facebook and Twitter Apps Integrated with BBM
Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones (version 3.0) and Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones (version 3.0) now allow users to automatically share their Facebook status or latest Tweet with their BBM friends right from within the app.

BlackBerry Travel Goes Social
It is now easier than ever to update those who matter most about your travel plans. The new BlackBerry Travel app (version 2.5) is now BBM-connected, allowing users to share their travel plans and flight changes directly with select BBM contacts or with their entire BBM community.

App Sharing Made Simpler
With BBM (version 6.2) and BlackBerry App World (version 3.1.2), users can easily update their BBM profile to let their friends know about the great new app they've just downloaded on BlackBerry App World. With this updated version of BlackBerry App World, users can also instantly share info about their favorite app or a list of their installed apps with friends using BlackBerry® Tag*.
BBM Music - Music Discovery Made Better
With the enhanced BBM Music (version 1.2), discovering music and making friends is easier than ever. New BBM Music friends can be recommended to users right from within the BBM Music app itself, making it easier for users to connect and expand their music collection. The new feature even allows users to sample others' songs before accepting new contacts on BBM Music.

BBM Made Better
In addition to integration with BlackBerry App World, BBM (version 6.2) offers a polished, enhanced and more personal experience. It includes a new selection of animated avatars, a simpler way of updating one's personal message in their profile, and now allows users to quickly send voice notes.

Availability
Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones version 3.0 is available now and Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones version 3.0, BlackBerry Travel version 2.5, BlackBerry App World version 3.1.2, BBM Music version 2.1 and BBM version 6.2 are scheduled to be available for download over the next ten days on BlackBerry App World (www.blackberry.com/appworld)**. Stay tuned to BlackBerry social channels to confirm when each app becomes available.
* BlackBerry Tag requires an NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphone running BlackBerry® 7.1 OS or higher.
** Some apps may not be available in some countries.

About Research In Motion
Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.
Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend," "believe", and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause RIM's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of RIM's Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM's forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.


Thursday 19 April 2012

The Puck is in your Palm with the Playoffs on your Smartphone

Apr 11, 2012 - The Puck is in your Palm with the Playoffs on your Smartphone

Never miss a minute of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada on the Rogers Live Mobile app

TORONTO, April 11, 2012 /CNW/ - From the first face-off to the final goal, Rogers wireless customers across the country can root for their favourite teams while streaming the playoffs live on their smartphones. With the Rogers Live Mobile app, starting today, subscribers have access to playoff games beginning with the opening round all the way to the finals.

"Canadians live and breathe hockey and at Rogers we're dedicated to delivering world-class sports content for our customers who are just as passionate about the game as we are," said Lawrence Kuo, Vice President, Current and Next Generation, video and entertainment, Rogers Communications. "Now you can be a live hockey spectator while you're on the go or at the gym, watching every pass, hit, or powerplay on your smartphone."

Available on Rogers smartphones through iTunes, Google Play and BlackBerry® App World, the app streams CBC's Hockey Night in Canada* broadcasts of the 2012 playoff games. For a subscription fee of $5/month, fans can enjoy unlimited hours of viewing until October 31st, after which, users can stream 5 hours per month, with $1 per each additional hour.

The Rogers Live Mobile app and RogersAnyplaceTV.com are the go-to destination for sports fans with live streaming of Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Blue Jays games and Rogers Cup matches. Music fans have streamed live concerts from bands like Coldplay and Foster the People using the app.

About Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high speed internet and telephony services. Through Rogers Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, sports entertainment, magazines and trade publications, and digital media. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit www.rogers.com.

*Hockey Night in Canada is the official mark of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.


Wednesday 18 April 2012

An Update on FVW Richmond

FVW is making a few changes at our Richmond location.

This location is being converting into a corporate sales office only. We will not be open for walk in traffic. This will allow us to focus 100% on our existing & new corporate accounts. This location will still be fully staffed. We will still be able to meet with you & your employees for all of your Rogers needs, by appointment.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions that you have.

Garth McFadden, 604.889.1000 | Fraser Valley Wireless

Tuesday 7 February 2012

New LTE Rocket Sticks to double current speeds!!

In a press release yesterday Rogers announced 2 new LTE Rockets products that will double the current LTE Rockets speeds. The Sierra Wireless AirCard® 330U model of the LTE Rocket™ stick as well as the Sierra Wireless AirCard® 763S LTE Rocket mobile hotspot connect to the new 2600 MHz spectrum, making the faster speeds possible. Look for the new LTE Rocket Stick release this month & the new LTE Mobile Hotspot release this spring. See below for the complete Rogers press release...



Feb 06, 2012 - Rogers to launch Canada's fastest LTE devices and new price plan options

TORONTO, Feb. 6, 2012 /CNW/ - To continue bringing more speed and choice
to Canadians, today Rogers Communications announced the addition of two
new Long Term Evolution (LTE) devices that will offer the fastest
speeds in Canada, as well as more LTE plan options.

Rogers will soon be launching the Sierra Wireless AirCard® 330U model
of the LTE Rocket™ stick as well as the Sierra Wireless AirCard®
763S LTE Rocket mobile hotspot which offer maximum theoretical LTE
download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. These devices will be the first to
support connectivity on both the 1700/2100 MHz and the 2600 MHz
spectrum on Rogers LTE network, offering typical LTE download speeds of
up to 40 Mbps, compared to 12-25 Mbps for devices using 1700/2100 MHz
only.

"We are thrilled to offer Canada's fastest LTE devices on Canada's
fastest and largest LTE network," said John Boynton, Rogers Executive
Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "We were the first to
launch an LTE network in Canada and we have invested in the network
technology that enables us to keep raising the bar for our customers to
experience faster speeds, more devices and more LTE plan options."

Rogers will also extend its range of 4G HSPA+ mobile internet plans to
LTE models including the Flex Rate plan for Rocket stick and mobile
hotspot starting from $22.93 per month and Flex Rate plans for tablets
starting from $7.93 per month. Rogers continues to offer the LTE
Introductory Plan of $52.93 for 10 GB/month on a three-year-term and
plans include no overage fees for the first month.

The new LTE pricing options will be available this week. The Sierra
Wireless AirCard® 330U model of the LTE Rocket stick will be in
stores in the next few weeks and the Sierra Wireless AirCard® 763S
LTE Rocket mobile hotspot will be available this spring. Rogers
customers can reserve the new LTE devices online at www.rogers.com/lte.

Rogers was the first to launch an LTE network in Canada, starting in
Ottawa last July, followed by Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver in
September as well as surrounding cities. Rogers will expand to more
than 25 additional cities to bring the benefits of LTE to more than
half the Canadian population by the end of the year.

Rogers was the first to launch LTE devices in Canada and continues to
expand its selection with innovative devices such as the recently announced
Samsung Galaxy Note™, an all-in-one LTE tablet and smartphone hybrid. Rogers
also carries the Sierra Wireless AirCard® 313U model of LTE Rocket stick, the
Sierra Wireless AirCard® 754S model of LTE Rocket mobile hotspot, the Rogers
exclusive Samsung Galaxy S II LTE™ smartphone, the HTC Raider™ as well as
Canada's first LTE tablet, the Rogers exclusive, HTC Jetstream™.

The national launch of the LTE network reinforces Rogers proud history
of innovative firsts and commitment to investing in Canada's digital
future. Rogers was the first carrier in North America to launch an
HSPA+ network and offers Canada's only coast to coast GSM network.
Rogers was the first in the world to launch BlackBerry® devices; and
the first in Canada to launch both Android products and the iPhone.

About Rogers Communications Inc.

Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media
company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data
communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable
television, high speed internet and telephony services. Through Rogers
Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised
shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and
digital media. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange
(TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).
For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please
visit rogers.com.


Monday 30 January 2012

Rogers is moving at LTE speeds when it comes to the LTE roll-out!!

Rogers announced today that 11 million Canadians currently live within the Rogers LTE footprint. Plans are under way to push that number to 20 million by the end of 2012.


Here's the Rogers Annoucement:

Jan 30, 2012 - Rogers LTE Network now live in communities surrounding Montreal with plans to expand to more than 25 Canadian cities this year

TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, Rogers announced that its Long
Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network, Canada's fastest and largest, is
now available in more cities surrounding Montréal, including; Laval,
Terrebonne, Brossard, Longueuil and Vaudreuil with plans to expand to
more than 25 additional cities this year. This will bring LTE to more
than half the Canadian population by the end of the year.

Rogers was the first to launch an LTE network in Canada, starting in
Ottawa last July, followed by Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver in
September. This year, Rogers will continue to expand the LTE network
bringing the benefits of speed and the LTE experience to more Canadians
across the country.

"We were proud to be first to bring the LTE network to Canadians," said
John Boynton, Rogers Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing
Officer. "Today, we reach over 11 million and we are continuing to
expand. By the end of 2012 we will double this with 20 million
Canadians able to use LTE devices to download apps, stream HD videos
and music or play on-line games, with no delays or buffering."

Rogers was the first to launch LTE devices in Canada and continues to
add to its line-up with the addition of the Samsung Galaxy Note™ in
February. The all-in-one LTE tablet and smartphone hybrid has a
5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED touchscreen display. Running on Android OS
2.3, the Samsung Galaxy Note™ is made of tough Gorilla Glass, has an "S
Pen" stylus pen to take notes, and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. With
the eight megapixel camera users can record 1080p HD videos, and since
it runs on the LTE network they can upload videos to YouTube in
seconds.

Other LTE devices that Rogers carries include two smartphones, the
Rogers exclusive Samsung Galaxy S II LTE smartphone™ and the HTC
Raider™ as well as Canada's first LTE tablet, the Rogers exclusive, HTC
Jetstream™. Rogers also offers its LTE Rocket stick™ (Sierra Wireless
AirCard ® 313U) and the LTE Rocket mobile hotspot (Sierra Wireless
AirCard® 754S), another Rogers first, allows customers to connect up to five
laptops, gaming units, music players and more, at LTE speeds.

The national launch of the LTE network reinforces Rogers proud history
of innovative firsts and commitment to investing in Canada's digital
future. Rogers was the first carrier in North America to launch a HSPA+
network and offers Canada's only GSM network. Rogers was the first in
the world to launch BlackBerry® devices; and the first in Canada to
launch both Android products and the iPhone.