High Tech Lounge » Telus

HTC Scorpion to reach Bell and Verizon networks

adina — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:06:34 +0000

The HTC Scorpion or Scorpio is believed to be the next major flagship handset of HTC on Verizon’s network. The Android phone is supposed to reach both Verizon and Bell Canada but the moment is no yet specified. It is expected to be one of the fastest handsets as it will be equipped with a 1.5GHz Snapdragon and will run Android 2.2. Its design would possibly resemble that of the Evo 4G.

Because of its possible appearance in Bell’s network, the phone is supposed to have either separate GSM and CDMA versions or a dual-mode model able to work on 3G bands available in North America for either network. Bell has significantly switched away from CDMA, like its competitor Telus, and is not supposed to engage an advanced phone for that portion of its network that is in decline.

Other HTC devices, based on Windows Phone 7, are known as already having carriers. The Spark, for example, is also addressed to Verizon and Bell. The Mondrian, which is equipped with a 1.3GHz Snapdragon, is meant to be a multi-carrier device and would work on both Telus and Rogers in Canada, but no US carrier has mentioned it. The Schubert is coming exclusively to Telus, while the Gold is only for Sprint.

Telus phones sport paid Android applications

adina — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:18:20 +0000

Telus has quietly become the second Canadian carrier that gets paid applications in the Android Market. Commercial applications initially limited to Rogers are now available to be bought on devices like the Motorola Milestone or HTC Hero. Paid applications are sold in the currency of the developer’s home country, usually in US dollars, if they are not made by Canadians.

It seems that Bell subscribers who are using the Samsung Galaxy cannot download paid applications. Unlocked Android devices that run Windows Mobile get similar treatment. Such paid applications have been available in countries like the United States and Japan and also in European countries, but they could not be bought in Canada until now.

LG’s smartphone Monaco headed to Telus

adina — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:16:48 +0000

LG has issued the Monaco IQ smartphone with a branding badge to enter the Canadian carrier Telus, as some photos published in the Mobile Ninjas show. The Monaco features a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a WVGA display, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a five-megapixel camera, as well as an optical trackpad to ease navigation through the operating system, Windows Mobile 6.5, paired with the S-class interface from LG.

No information has been provided on pricing or launch date for the IQ phone. Rumours suggest the handset could also head to AT&T in the United States.

The HSPA+ Telus Network Launched

adina — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:42:15 +0000

Telus, as announced earlier, has recently launched its HSPA+ network, as well as a full hand of new phones, including the iPhone 3G and 3GS, as well as other non-iPhone devices.

The HTC Hero smartphone, an import of the original European version device, is adapted for the North American 7.2Mbps HSPA, with Sense UI, a five-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi and GPS. The phone is available for $100 with a contract. The LG New Chocolate is a North American version of the LG BL40 phone, skinny and long, like a universal remote, with an ultra-narrow touchscreen and is selling at the same price of $100. The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is more expensive in this new network then at Bell, being sold at $250. The Nokia E71 is selling at $30. The Sierra Wireless 306, a 21Mbps HSPA+ USB modem is selling at $80 with a two-year contract.

As for iPhones, the iPhone 3G and the two iPhone 3GS, the 16GB and the 32GB, are all selling at prices similar to Rogers and Bell on three-year contracts, i.e. $100, $200 and $300, respectively. The plans start with the Clear Choice iPhone which provides 150 minutes and unlimited evening and weekend calls after 9PM, as well as 500MB of data transfer. It also supplies unlimited local calls, MMS or SMS messaging to five numbers of choice, double the number of minutes or 1,000 outbound messages. Another plan, at $65, provides 250 minutes and transfers up to 1GB of data. The $80 version includes unlimited calls to five numbers nationwide and unlimited number of messages on top of 400 minutes, as well as 2GB of data transfer. Finally, the $100 plan is going up to 500 minutes, as well as 3GB of data.

All these devices can be ordered now, as they are already available. The plans for the non-iPhone smartphones are identical to those of the iPhone devices. Any 3G modem plan can range from $30 for 500MB monthly, scaling up to $85 for a 5GB monthly usage.

Telus Will Launch iPhone in Canada

adina — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:55:58 +0000

November 5th is the date Telus, which is currently a CDMA carrier, has chosen to launch Apple’s iPhone 3GS, as soon as its HSPA+ network will be properly launched. Although Rogers and Fido already launched the handset in Canada, it seems that they won’t have it exclusively, and this might be a good thing for mobile subscribers all over the country. Like Rogers did, Apple’s handsets will cost $200 and $300 respectively on three-year contracts for the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS. $700 and $800 will be the prices for the contract-free versions. Prices for the 8GB iPhone 3G are set to $100 on contract and $600 for the contract-free version.

Telus didn’t announce whether its smartphone plans would be modified or not. The only smartphone plan Telus has for the moment provides 250 voice minutes with unlimited messaging and 500MB of data for $45. Adding messaging and data to an existing plan means $35 for 500MB of data or $45 for 1GB.

The HSPA+ network from Telus will run at 21Mbps through modems provided from Huawei and Sierra Wireless. Phones launching on the network will be the iPhone 3GS and other devices limited to at most 7.2Mbps and will include the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and LG Chocolate BL40 as well as other unknown for the moment phones from Samsung and HTC.

Another well known Canadian carrier, Bell, will launch its own HSPA network almost at the same time and will also include the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and the iPhone 3GS.

Telus – GSM Plans for Canada in 2010

adina — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:41:50 +0000

The imminent launch of the HSPA 3G network generated a series of rumors about the actors on this new stage. A specific timeframe was given for the announced November iPhone launch.

Some sources provided more details about the launch lineup and indicated that the HTC Hero will come to Telus in its original HSPA-aware form and not the CDMA version it would have had to use before the network expansion.

Besides the Apple and HTC handsets, the launch should also involve the BlackBerry Bold 2, the LG Chocolate BL40 seen as early as May, and the Nokia E71. The only device to take advantage of the full 21Mbps HSPA+ portion of the service, however, would be a Sierra Wireless 306 USB adapter.