Tag Archive: Bell


Android now powers 25 percent of mobile operating systems

Filed under: Android, Droid, Google, Technology, Telecom, Wireless by Ryan Boese — 2 Comments
September 7, 2010

Android continues to poach away market share from the iPhone and other mobile platforms, now accounting for 25 percent of mobile operating systems in North America.  That’s a 2 percent increase, month-over-month, and an 18.6 percent increase year-over-year.

The latest study in Android’s takeover comes from web metrics firm Quantcast, noting Android’s 17.2 percent representation of the global smartphone market.  The growth of Android is notable in its own right, but it also signifies the platform’s encroachment on Apple’s iOS turf.  Android is also staking its claim on BlackBerry’s market share, having overtaken RIM’s platform as the top-selling OS in the U.S., according to Gartner.

The myriad of partnerships and device support can account for a large portion of Android’s success, as its open-source diversity enables developers and manufacturers to create a wide range of devices and apps for Google’s mobile platform.

This is well-recognized in the IFA event, where several companies are revealing their Android-supported devices just before the holiday season.  The Samsung GalaxyTab and Sony TV with Android app inclusion are just a couple of items we’ve seen during the first days of the conference.

Android’s expansion across devices has also been encouraging to the gaming market, with Spin3 and Microgaming teaming up to offer new platform options for the Android Market.  All Slots Mobile Casino is the first client to launch a new title on Android, with more games emerging in the coming weeks.

Source: Appolicious

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Telcos told to share speedy Internet

Filed under: Internet, Telecom, Wireless by Ryan Boese — Leave a comment
August 30, 2010

Canada’s telecom carriers must share their expensive fibre-optic networks with wholesale resellers and provide to them the same Internet speeds that they do to their own retail customers, the CRTC has ruled.

The decision is a blow to Canada’s entrenched telcos, which had appealed an earlier version of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission’s decision to the federal cabinet, it may alter the expansion of advanced networks across the country and into rural areas.

“The cabinet’s decision was a message to the commission that they wanted investment, first and foremost,” Michael Hennessy, Telus Corp.’s senior vice-president for regulatory and government affairs, said Monday.

The CRTC decision, he said, is based on a “wrong” assumption that telcos will continue to invest despite having to share more advanced networks. Mr. Hennessy said that although this may be the case in cities, where telcos are building out Internet-based television (IPTV) to fight the cable companies, it will not be the case in rural areas, because returns on those investments are now even more uncertain.

Smaller Internet service providers (ISPs) applauded the CRTC’s reassertion of its original position, though some expressed concern about the telcos’ new ability to charge 10 per cent more than they did before. It is unclear how much money this will involve for the much smaller resellers.

“This was a good thing to a certain extent,” said Rocky Gaudrault, chief executive officer of TekSavvy Solutions Inc., a reseller based in Chatham, Ont. “As far as what comes next … it will be curious to see what the schematics of the pricing will be.”

In a dissenting opinion to Monday’s decision, commissioner Timothy Denton said it was a good ruling but does not go far enough. “The Commission has not seen fit to agree with the large carriers (cable and telephone) that the time has come to put an end to the leasing of parts of the networks owned by the large carriers, despite eloquent pleas by them to do so,” Mr. Denton wrote. “It has, by the same decision, not approved the means necessary for smaller ISPs to compete effectively.”

In the proceedings that led up to the decision, telcos argued that the current regulatory system favoured cable companies, because smaller ISPs preferred to hook into the phone company networks. The CRTC attempted to rectify this by ordering cable companies to make it easier for ISPs to share, but Rogers Communications Inc.’s senior vice-president for regulatory affairs, Ken Engelhart, said he is unclear what exactly the commission wants the cable companies to do.

Another appeal to cabinet is still possible. Telus said it is mulling further action and a spokesperson for Industry Minister Tony Clement said another review remains possible. “Because the decision by the CRTC can be reviewed by the Governor in Council, it would be inappropriate to comment further,” the spokesperson said in an e-mail message.

Source: The Globe And Mail

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JailbreakMe Exploits Serious iPhone Security Flaw

Filed under: Apple, Exploit, Hackers, Mobile, RootKit, Telecom, Unlocking, Wireless by Ryan Boese — Leave a comment
August 3, 2010

JailbreakMe makes the process of jailbreaking the Apple iPhone much simpler and less intimidating. Just visit a Web site on the iPhone, and voila! Jailbroken iPhone. Think about that for a minute, though. The simple act of visiting a Web site is able to fundamentally alter the core functionality of iOS.

jailbreaking the iPhone is technically legal–at least from a copyright and DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) perspective–having a tool that can accomplish it simply by visiting a Web site is awesome for less technically savvy iPhone owners.

However, if JailbreakMe is capable of unlocking the iPhone operating system by taking advantage of a flaw in the way the iPhone renders Adobe PDF files, then other applications can also exploit that same flaw for less-benevolent goals. What JailbreakMe illustrates is that the iPhone has a serious security issue that Apple needs to address.

For companies that allow the iPhone to connect with network resources, or that have embraced the iPhone as the business smartphone of choice, both the JailbreakMe tool itself, as well as any other malicious attacks that might circumvent iOS controls using the same method represent a security concern.

IT admins can use a tool like MAD (Mobile Active Defense) for the iPhone to monitor and enforce security policy on iPhones. Winn Schwartau, chairman of M.A.D. Partners, LLC–developers of Mobile Active Defense–explains that, with jailbreaking, “iPhone users can now download apps from anywhere they choose, not just the iTunes store. This signifies a far greater risk to companies who are trying to leverage the unique capabilities of the Apple platform. But, Mobile Active Defense provides a strong, workable and automatic solution that solves the jailbreaking problem on corporate networks.”

Companies have compliance mandates such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act), and PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) to follow, and the requirements dictate that IT admins must have control over the devices that connect to the network or process company data and communications. A jailbroken iPhone can interfere with the ability to do that.

Schwartau says that the MAD Mobile Enterprise Compliance and Security (MECS) server “can detect jailbreaking within one minute. That’s pretty cool. Once this clear violation of security policy is discovered, the MECS managed firewall issues immediate remediation options to the administrator.”

Detecting jailbreaking could mean intentional jailbreaking from a user trying to implement the JailbreakMe tool on an iPhone, or unintentional jailbreaking from a malicious attack exploiting similar means to take control of the iPhone. Either way–legal or not–IT admins need tools in place that help to monitor and enforce security policy on the iPhone and prevent users from jailbreaking the device.

Source: Yahoo!

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Apple to sell iPhone 4 unlocked in Canada

Filed under: Apple, Mobile, Technology, Telecom, Unlocking, Wireless by Ryan Boese — Leave a comment
July 26, 2010

When the iPhone 4 goes on sale in Canada on Friday, it will bring with it something relatively new for Canadian wireless customers — the ability to pit the big three service providers against each other.

Apple on Monday said it will sell its wildly popular device to customers online and through its own retail stores, as well as through Bell, Rogers and Telus.

The difference with buying the phone directly from Apple is that it will be unlocked and contract-free, so customers will be able to shop around for a service plan with the big three.

The iPhone 4 is compatible with all three companies’ networks, so customers would only have to pop in a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, which carriers generally sell for between $5 and $10, to make it work.

Customers will also be able to switch providers whenever they like and use the phone in other countries with SIM cards from local carriers, which will allow them to avoid roaming charges from Canadian providers.

Industry analysts say Apple’s move puts a higher value on the iPhone 4 in Canada than in the United States, where customers currently have only one carrier, AT&T, as an option for the device.

Not only does AT&T have an exclusive deal with Apple to sell the iPhone, but its network technology is also incompatible with most of the other big U.S. service providers.

“The offers or plans of the big three Canadian carriers might look similar, but for some customers who know how to bargain on a specific service or within a bundled backdrop, there may be some opportunities for cost savings,” said Amit Kaminer, an analyst with The SeaBoard Group telecommunications consultancy.

“And, having no contract? Some might say that you can’t put a value on freedom.”

Source: CBC News

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RIM Needs a Lift with Blackberry 6

Filed under: Android, Apple, Blackberry, Google, RIM, Technology, Telecom by Ryan Boese — Leave a comment
July 8, 2010

Research In Motion (RIMM) presented Queen Elizabeth II with a white BlackBerry during a royal visit to the Canadian company’s headquarters on July 5. Her Royal Highness is an apt representative of RIM’s customer base: established, traditional, and likelier to use a phone to e-mail instructions to staff than download Lady Gaga videos. In short, not the audience co-Chief Executive Officer Jim Balsillie has to woo as RIM loses ground to Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone and handsets running Google’s (GOOG) Android operating system.

Despite an 11 percent drop in RIM’s share price on June 25 after the company released first-quarter results, Balsillie is buoyant. With RIM poised to unleash a wave of new technology, he says, “the wind is about to gust on our back.” Consumers, he promises, will be “blown away.”

Investors are skeptical. The problem isn’t just Android and Apple, with their hip handsets and vast libraries of applications that let users customize their phones. (The latest tally gives the iPhone about 225,000 apps and the Android some 65,000, vs. roughly 7,000 for BlackBerry.) They’re worried about RIM’s growing reliance on lower-revenue customers and the erosion of its once-airtight lock on the business market. Add to that the challenges of using a BlackBerry to surf the Web, watch video, or do much other than e-mail, text, or talk, and Balsillie has a lot to prove. BlackBerry’s “weak browser capability is a huge issue,” says Paul Taylor, chief investment officer at BMO Harris Private Banking in Toronto, which owns Apple and RIM stock. “The right thing to do is to invest every dollar they need to refresh the product and excite people again.”

That’s the reaction from a self-professed fan who expects new devices will close the gap with rivals. Dean Crutchfield, senior partner at branding agency Method in New York, is less optimistic. RIM “is a bit of a one-trick pony,” says Crutchfield, noting that the technology that made BlackBerry famous—wireless e-mail—is “no longer a game-changer.” While the stock is trading at about nine times estimated earnings, vs. a multiple of 19 for Apple, “it’s only cheap if they come up with a sexy device,” says Buzzy Geduld, chief executive officer of New York hedge fund Cougar Trading, who recently sold his RIM stock.

Source: Businessweek

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RIM shares drop, BlackBerry shipments disappoint

Filed under: Android, Apple, Blackberry, RIM, Stocks, Technology, Telecom, Wireless by Ryan Boese — 1 Comment
June 24, 2010

Research in Motion on Thursday reported subscriber and shipment figures that disappointed investors and rekindled fears that the BlackBerry maker is losing market share to Apple Inc and other rivals.

Shares of RIM tumbled more than 5 percent in after-hour trade even as the company said its quarterly profit rose almost 20 percent. The profit topped expectations, but failed to calm edgy investors, who are concerned by RIM’s waning fortunes in its core North American market.

Adding to the concern, a 24 percent jump in revenue fell short of the Wall Street consensus view, due to weaker-than-expected unit shipments and fewer-than-expected subscriber additions. Gross profit margins also receded, suggesting that low-priced models were a growing part of the sales mix.

Overall, the results did little to dispel the perception that competition from the likes of Apple’s iPhone and Motorola’s Droid is stiffening.

Charter Equity analyst Ed Snyder said investors were hoping to see more phones sold, with stronger profit margins.

“It’s a mixed report. It’s a little light on revenue and light on units for this quarter,” he said. “It’s not the strong report everybody had been hoping for. The market is in a bad mood so its a tough time to be giving a mixed bag.”

RIM’s results came in the same day as the global launch of the iPhone 4, the latest version of Apple’s wildly popular touchscreen smartphone. Apple sold 600,000 of the new devices in pre-orders in a single day last week, and analysts expect over 1 million sold in stores on the first day.

“RIM’s doing a good job in profitability. They’re just not showing as much unit growth as people would have liked,” said CIBC analyst Todd Coupland.

“They’re still showing 43 percent year-on-year growth. They’re still growing but there’s concern Android and Apple are nipping a their heels. That’s why the stock if off,” he said.

Shares of RIM settled $2.83 lower at $55.75 in post-market trade in the United States, even as RIM’s board authorized a share repurchase program to buy back up to about 31 million common shares.

Source: Yahoo!

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Wireless carriers could be forced to ‘unlock’ phones

Filed under: Technology, Telecom, Wireless by Ryan Boese — 1 Comment
June 17, 2010

Large wireless service providers in Canada should be forced to “unlock” subscribers’ cellphones if requested, says a bill being tabled by the NDP on Thursday, which could dent carriers’ profits and lead to subscribers moving more easily between cellphone companies.

If passed, the proposed “Cell Phone Freedom Act” would require wireless companies, such as Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI.B-T37.540.130.35%) or Telus Corp. (T-T39.850.571.45%), to tell customers that a phone is restricted to their own networks, and then remove the lock either when handsets are bought at full-cost without a contract or when a customers’ contract expires.

In an interview, NDP MP Bruce Hyer, who is bringing the bill forward, said empowering consumers to move more easily between companies would force wireless providers to compete more aggressively on price and services to lure consumers, benefiting consumers and making the industry more competitive.

“Network locks will become even more important as new competitors offer services consumers might want to try,” Mr. Hyer said. “Consumer choice, in the near term, is not always wanted by companies that have an oligopoly.”

Currently, Canada’s big wireless companies put locks on cellphones that prevent users from taking the phone to other carriers. This is due to a combination of factors: The carrier kicks in a subsidy to reduce the cost of handsets in exchange for a contract, works with handset makers to optimize a phone’s compatibility with a network, and profits when people roam internationally and are unable to pop a foreign provider’s SIM card into their handsets.

Mr. Hyer says this nurtures an uncompetitive wireless sector by giving a provider unfair control over the subscriber even after contracts expire, since many Canadians may not know phones can be unlocked and brought to other companies.

Source: The Globe and Mail

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More info on Bell’s HTC Legend

Filed under: Android, Google, OpenSource, Telecom, Wireless by Ryan Boese — 1 Comment
June 14, 2010

We’ve been covering the HTC Legend for sometime – this is coming to both Bell and Virgin. Thanks to our Bell tipsters who let us know the official launch date has been set for June 16th.

In the internal document that we received it states that “The HTC Legend is one of the most anticipated Android smartphones. From a hardware perspective, its form factor has captured the attention and praises of the press with its sleek aluminium unibody design, vibrant 3.2” AMOLED capacitive touchscreen and brushed metallic finish. The design is certainly one-of-a-kind, conveys a confident message of class and feels expensive yet solid in your hands… The user also benefits from the same features offered to any other Android users out there. Legend comes with Android 2.1 out-of-the-box, the latest and greatest version of Google’s mobile platform with a range of updates including a revamped Android Market, improved virtual keyboard, support for more apps from the Market and more”

In addition, it looks like Bell is targeting this device to go head-to-head with the Rogers Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and the Telus HTC Hero. They have broken down the specs and features and compared it to each device. Pricing is set to be $79.95 on a 3-year contract, $249.95 on a 2-year; $349.95 on a 1-year and $399.95 no contract.

Source: MobileSyrup

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Apple iPad hits Canada amid controversy

Filed under: Apple, Tablets, Technology, Telecom, WiFi, Wireless by Ryan Boese — Leave a comment
May 27, 2010

The iPad officially hits Apple stores in Canada on Friday, and like seemingly all much-hyped products, it’s coming with a healthy dose of controversy.

On one hand are the all-too-familiar complaints about pricing for the device’s 3G wireless capabilities. On the other are criticisms that Apple is trying to maintain too tight a control over what users can and can’t do with their gadgets, or that the company is trying to remake the web to its liking. Either way, the iPad is generating buzz that many electronics makers wish they could get for their products.

Rogers Wireless got the ball rolling when it announced its pricing plans for the iPad earlier in May. The tablet computer comes in two different flavours — one can connect to the internet through Wi-Fi, while the other can use Wi-Fi or a 3G cellular connection, which requires an extra monthly charge through a wireless provider.

The company announced it would offer two plans, one allowing for 250 megabytes of monthly usage for $15 and another giving five gigabytes for $35. That angered potential customers, who pointed out on the company’s Redboard forum that AT&T in the United States was offering a superior plan — unlimited usage — for less money, or $30 (U.S.).

Rogers staff responded by saying that five gigabytes was more than enough usage based on its existing customers’ usage of smartphones and laptop data sticks.

The company further fanned the flames, though, by offering customers the ability to share their existing smartphone data plan with the iPad for a small fee, a deal not offered by AT&T. Rogers quickly reneged and said the offer had been made in error, which prompted hundreds of angry comments on the Redboard.

Bell Canada said earlier in the month that it, too, would accommodate the iPad and on Wednesday announced service plans identical to those of Rogers, with the added incentive that customers will be able to use its Mobile TV app for free until the end of August.

Telus has said it will offer a plan for the iPad but hasn’t yet provided details.

Many potential customers have suggested that a 3G connection for the iPad is unnecessary, and that users can simply rely on its Wi-Fi capability, since the device duplicates much of the functionality of a smartphone or laptop computer. However, Apple is marketing the touch-screen iPad as a computer for everyone, including people who have little technical know-how. The 3G connection is therefore a simple, no-fuss way to access the internet for such users.

Source: CBC

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