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BlackBerry Bold hits Rogers on August 21st, so get your thumbs worked-out

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Aug 19th 2008 at 3:08PM Breaking News


Well, it looks like that long, painful wait is finally over. According to all kinds of tipsters, the BlackBerry Bold touches down for the first time in North America (in its home country of Canada, obviously) come August 21st (that's this Thursday, in case you don't own a calendar, computer, or have any friends). That's right -- the Bold will land on Rogers (where else?) with a price tag set somewhere between the dark valley of $300 and $400, according to Research In Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie. Reports say the phone will be available from other carriers by the end of the week, though we don't have any definitive rumblings that confirm such heavenly ideas. You'll know more when we do, of course.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Rogers' regular sized BlackBerry Bold gets priced: $399.99 on a 3-year contract

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 16th 2008 at 7:52PM


Though the pricing is a bit (and we emphasize "bit") easier to swallow than the $600 Movistar is charging in Chile, it's not even close to free. Rogers will soon be offering up a palm-sized version of its gigantic BlackBerry Bold (which will hopefully swap those informational cards with cell radios and such) for a staggering $399.99 on a 3-year contract. Who knew highway robbery was legal, anyway?

Elephantine BlackBerry Bold promo kit arrives for Rogers

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 13th 2008 at 1:08PM


We understand the need to catch eyes these days, and while Rogers will certainly not be the first nor last to promote a new piece of kit with an obscenely large version of said kit, this one just takes brobdingnagian marketing to a new plateau. The absolutely gigantic Rogers Bold launch kit includes a plethora of Bold flyers, informational pamphlets and all sorts of other goodies that'll be handed out to prospective buyers shortly. The real question is: who gets to take this thing home once the buzz dies down?

[Thanks, Michael]

Motorola ROKR E8 officially lands on Rogers

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 12th 2008 at 5:01PM


Best Buy may have beat it to the punch, but Rogers has now finally gotten official with its launch of Motorola's ROKR E8 handset, and it's given the phone a bit of a price cut in the process. According to Rogers, the phone will now run you $99 on the usual three-year contract but, coincidentally, Best Buy now looks to be offering it for just $65 on the same three-year deal. Rogers Chief Marketing Officer John Boynton also assures us that the phone will finally let us "rock out in style" and, as we're sure you'll agree, that's something you just can't put a price on.

Rogers' Q3 lineup revealed?

by Chris Ziegler, posted Aug 10th 2008 at 9:02PM


Dealer documentation seemingly intended for Rogers dealers has, of course, leaked out onto the interwebs, possibly revealing the entirety of the carrier's third quarter offerings. With the exception of the Bold and KickStart / Pearl 8220, there's nothing terribly mind-blowing in the mix, though the lineup does include a pretty healthy range of goodies from the low end to the reasonably high. Highlights include the Sony Ericsson W350a music flip, a phone we've already seen meandering about in AT&T livery, so it comes as little surprise that we'd see it up north as well; the iPAQ 910c Windows Mobile smartphone from HP; and a refreshed RAZR 2 that'll probably mirror the V9x. All of these chewy technological morsels launch (in theory, anyway) by the end of September, which really only serves to makes us wonder: what's on tap up there for the holiday season?

Rogers renames Home Calling Zone to Talkspot

by Chris Ziegler, posted Aug 7th 2008 at 12:35PM


Rogers' in-home WiFi calling service -- think T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home but with more polar bears, poutine, and curling -- never had the most elegant name. "Home Calling Zone" just doesn't roll off the tongue in the way that any marketing department-friendly brand should (not to suggest that "HotSpot @Home" does), and Rogers has acted swiftly to rectify its faux pas by rebranding the service simply "Talkspot." The features and pricing remain the same, as does the two-strong lineup of the BlackBerry Pearl and Nokia 6086, but at least customers will now enjoy a slightly less-awkward experience trying to describe the service to their friends and family.

[Via MobileSyrup]

Fido offers up Motorola's MOTOROKR U9

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 31st 2008 at 9:40AM


Merely hours after Motorola began selling its simplistic U9 through its own webstore, along comes Fido to give interested Canadians another option for procuring it. Starting right now, those enamored by that ghostly external display can grab one for just $75 on a 3-year contract, $175 with a 2-year agreement or a grossly overpriced $350 with no strings attached. Any takers... anyone?

[Via MobileSyrup]

Rogers extends $30 data plan to full 3G smartphone range

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jul 16th 2008 at 5:55AM


Rogers' new $30, 6GB data plan -- unveiled at the collective relief of virtually every would-be Canadian iPhone 3G owner -- is going to end up seeing duty outside the Apple realm. Canada's largest GSM carrier (and only GSM carrier of consequence, really) has mercifully decided to let all devices in its 3G smartphone range in on the $30 party, a range that includes winners like the Nokia N95, HTC TyTN, and Samsung Jack, among others. Good call, Rogers -- now let's just remove that limited-time offer label and make this a permanent part of your plan menu, shall we?

[Via MobileSyrup]

Rogers caves on iPhone 3G plans, offers up 6GB for $30 a month

by Paul Miller, posted Jul 9th 2008 at 10:27AM Breaking News


Those kind, gentle Canadians have been oh-so-politely demanding a few heads on sticks ever since Rogers' super-spendy iPhone 3G price plans were announced. Well, apparently their cries have been heard, and now Rogers is launching a promotional offer along with the iPhone of 6GB of data for $30 a month -- not quite unlimited data, but close enough -- which can be added on top of any regular voice plan. The promo will be available for iPhone buyers who activate with a three year contract before August 31. Also, perhaps in a bid to dispel some nasty rumors about a major iPhone shortage, Rogers will be hosting 8AM launch day events at six Rogers Plus stores in major Canadian cities, complete with a free breakfast. Mmm, breakfast.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Everyone peeved at iPhone 3G pricing on some carriers -- Apple included?

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jul 7th 2008 at 9:02AM


To call customer reaction to Rogers' iPhone 3G pricing plans "lukewarm" would be doing them an enormous favor. The plans -- which start out at $60 for just 150 voice minutes and can't be had with unlimited data at any price -- have spawned a pretty big grassroots effort in the form of an online petition that's managed to collect five figures' worth of signatures so far, and while an online petition won't likely net any results, drawing Apple's ire just might. Rumor has it that Cupertino has diverted a portion of Rogers' allotted launch handsets to Europe, leaving some retail stores in Canada with just 10-20 units for the 11th. It's all hearsay at this point, but honestly, a phone that thrives on data perhaps more than any other getting launched without a single unlimited data plan? Come on now, really.

[Via Mac Rumors]

BlackBerry Bold, KickStart, Javelin on Rogers' 2008 radar

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jul 6th 2008 at 7:08PM


A pretty believable roadmap for upcoming BlackBerry devices on Rogers has surfaced, and by and large, we're looking at a whole bunch of good news here. First, let's start out with the best: the rumor that Canadians will be able to pick up their Bolds before the month of July is out is still holding strong, with this particular document suggesting that the 25th will see an official announcement followed by in-store availability on the 29th. Next, the KickStart -- RIM's first flip -- should make an appearance in the second half of September, and finally, the Javelin is targeted for the tail end of the year in late November or early December. Happily, this is one of those rare situations where it looks like we'll be getting the good stuff (read: the Bold) first, since the Javelin's rumored to keep 3G out of the equation.

Motorola ROKR E8 comes to Rogers by way of Best Buy

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jul 5th 2008 at 2:56PM


Alright, Rogers customers, stop your poutin' that your friends south of the border on T-Mobile got the ROKR E8 and you didn't -- because yeah, now you guys have it too. Best Buy is now offering the E8 on Rogers for $149.99 CAD (about $147) on one of those crazy three-year deals, and since local stores are stocking it, you'll be able to freak out your friends with the morphing keypad before the day's out. Get to it!

[Via MobileSyrup]

Rogers iPhone 3G in-store activation process gets detailed

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 30th 2008 at 9:39AM


For the smattering of Canadians wealthy enough to pick up an iPhone 3G from Rogers Wireless without worrying over the lack of an unlimited data plan, we've stumbled across what appears to be internal verbiage detailing the in-store activation process. Quite frankly, there doesn't seem to be any real surprises here, but it is somewhat interesting that retail locations will be required to download and use a special version of iTunes with an "Activation Only Mode," which will enable employees to unbrick the mobiles before customers leave. In any case, feel free to hit the read link if you're anxious to know exactly what the sure-to-be-hair-raising experience will be like come July 11th.

[Via GearDiary, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Rogers announces iPhone 3G plans, unlimited data isn't one of them

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 27th 2008 at 9:05AM Breaking News

Here we have it, iPhone 3G pricing for our better mannered, gun-toting friends up north. All the plans from Rogers Wireless require that lovely, three-year contract and include visual voicemail, free evenings and weekends, and unlimited WiFi at all Rogers and Fido hotspots. The plans start at $60/month for 150 minutes of voice and just 400MB of data before topping out at $115/month for 800 minutes voice and up to 2GB of data. None of these plans offer unlimited data as previously rumored. See the details after the break.

Continue reading Rogers announces iPhone 3G plans, unlimited data isn't one of them

Rogers launches BlackBerry 8820, expects no rah, rah, sis boom bah

by Sean Cooper, posted Jun 20th 2008 at 7:23AM


Rogers has seen fit to add yet another 'Berry to its collection, we give you the BlackBerry 8820. This sorta winsome device packs everything you know and love about the 8800 into a strikingly familiar package -- OK, identical -- package and adds WiFi for the Rogers Home Calling Zone UMA service. Excited about finally having some WiFi for all that web wandering you're doing during coffee break or while chilling at the water cooler? No need to be, like the recently announced BlackBerry 8120, the WiFi here only plays with the UMA service. Of course, it could well come with an OS refresh, so that might make a few smile, but other than that we think putting your money back in your pocket's the way to go. Pricing is set at $349 on 3 years with voice and data, $449 on a straight 3-year, and $499 (ouch!) on 2. Seriously Rogers, until you can release a half decent data plan -- iPhone data plan aside -- don't you think your loyal following deserve a little wireless break?




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