Are Canadian Carriers Responsible for RIM’s Data Efficiency Focus?

RedNightHawk pointed out a very interesting article Michael Geist in The Star. In it Michael tries to explain why the Canadian government stepping in to help RIM is not exactly what it should do. Instead he flips the argument on its head claiming that RIM is partially a victim of its Canadian environment. I don’t know enough about the Canadian market but his argument definitely has some truth to it.

 

Geist points out that RIM has been catering to carriers which is why they had such a focus on data efficiency. This was to please carriers especially Canadian carriers with limited spectrum and limited data plans. While limited data plans are coming to carrier in the US Geist points out that RIM used data efficiency to make their products attractive to carriers while others focused on customers “compared to bandwidth hogging deices such as the Apple iPhone.

Definitely worth a read. Check out “RIM’s woes partly based in Canadian telecom policy” and let us know what you think.

via:bbreview

Verizon Wireless promos $20 plan for the data reluctant

For those of you living close to our nation’s circle of political puissance, Verizon’s got a promotional offer that’ll help you feel like one of the data-dependent elite. Available starting today and running through September 30th, existing voice subscribers in Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia can begin their trek towards an always-connected lifestyle by tacking on 300MB of data for $20 per month. The deal’s intended for cost-conscious customers who haven’t yet learned “the many benefits of… a smartphone,” and is open to any of the operator’s 3G or 4G LTE handsets. Be sure to hit the break to find out more in the presser below, but we warn you — internet addiction is a slippery, costly slope.

Tips & Tricks: BlackBerry Enterprise Activation on a BIS Data Plan

With the onslaught of new devices and device changes, there’s sometimes a need to activate your device on a Blackberry Enterprise Server Express.  With new devices, BES IT policies, software upgrades, difficulties explaining to users how to download from appworld, software compatibility issues occur (as a good friend of mine recently mentioned in his article) and one looks like a star when they have an alternate method to do this.  The point of this article is one such method.

 

On many carriers, when your Blackberry Device is on a BIS plan, the Enterprise Activation menu item is removed as an available feature. This is generally done by the change or  removal to the service books on the device with it’s interaction with the carrier’s network.

Now for the fun stuff!

Bell Mobility joins Telus/Rogers in offering 6GB/$30 Data Plan

 

Within the last 48 hours, Rogers & Telus have both come forth with offering a 6GB/$30 Data Plan. Well, it wouldn’t be a truely Canadian deal unless all the Big Three carriers had this deal. We’ve been told from reliable sources that Bell also is offering this plan. It is safe to assume that their plan offer will expire at the end of September, just like Telus & Rogers.

• Let Us Know If You’ll Be Getting Bell Mobility’s 6GB/$30 Data Plan in Comments BELOW…

Telus Launches 6GB/$30 Plan in response to Rogers

 

A few days ago, Rogers announced they’d brought back their 6GB/$30 data plan. It seems a good idea spreads like wildfire, as Telus has decided to follow suit & release their own 6GB/$30 data plan. Like Rogers, it’s available until September 30th.

• Telus $30 6GB Plan Details
• Let Us Know If You’ll Be Getting Telus 6GB/$30 Data Plan in our comments below..

AT&T announces throttling plans, gently reminds us why the T-Mobile acquisition is so great

AT&T today officially confirmed what so many had expected for some time now: the carrier will be throttling select users’ unlimited data plans. The move, which takes effect on October 1st, is a response to a “serious wireless spectrum crunch,” according to a message issued today. The changes will not affect most customers, according to the company, primarily targeting those who fall within the top five percent of heavy users in a given billing cycle. Once the new period begins, speeds will be restored. Even with this new plan in place, however, the company says that the spectrum problems still won’t be resolved — it does have a simple solution, however, explaining that “nothing short of completing the T-Mobile merger will provide additional spectrum capacity to address these near term challenges.”

Full text after the break.

Sprint reports big Q2 loss as it sheds 101,000 postpaid subs

Sprint on Thursday reported greater than expected losses in the second quarter despite modest revenue growth. The nation’s No. 3 carrier pulled in $8.3 billion in its June quarter, up 4% from the same quarter a year prior, but it wasn’t enough to bring the company back into the black. Sprint’s net losses in the second quarter totalled $827 million, 11% worse than the $760 million loss it reported in the second quarter of 2010. On the bright side, however, those losses include $588 million in bad investments and a $52 million tax charge from the state of Michigan, so Sprint would have shown sequential and year-over-year improvements if not for those losses. Sprint also reported its best subscriber churn of late in the second quarter, adding more than a million new subscribers despite shedding 101,000 net wireless postpaid customers. “Sprint’s second quarter results, including our fourteenth consecutive quarter of improved customer care satisfaction, our best ever postpaid churn, more than 1 million net wireless subscriber additions and wireless service revenue growth, validate that our focus on providing simplicity, value and an unmatched customer experience is working,” said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse in a statement. Of note, sprint also announced a deal with LightSquared on Thursday that will see it bring 4G LTE services to 260 million Americans by 2015.

 

Sprint’s full earnings release follows below.

The 7 Solid Reasons To Keep Your Faith And Hold On To Your BlackBerry

CIO’s Al Sacco wrote a great article on the 7 Solid Reasons To Keep Your Faith In RIM, BlackBerry which I wanted to share with our readers. The article outlines some great points why BlackBerry is strong and not going anywhere. Despite what negative comments fly, the truth holds strong. Check it out…

 

Al’s honesty and truth doesn’t make excuses for BlackBerry, and he does go over the rough points, he also points out the best of BlackBerry.

What are the 7 Solid Reasons?

1. Love that BlackBerry QWERTY Keyboard. I have to agree with Al on that one. I’ve tried touchscreen devices, but I really love my BlackBerry keyboard and can’t use simple phones anymore. I’ve played with the phones and the Apple iPhone, but I really love the BlackBerry’s keyboard for it’s ease of use and functionality.
2. BlackBerry Battery Life Can’t Be Beat. This is another truth to be said. Compared to the Android devices, the BlackBerry’s battery life is longer. Though many of us keep our BlackBerry on the charger most of the day anyways. I find that most people who move to the Android are shocked by the battery life difference.
3. Enterprise Security and Manageability. Even though the gap is being filled, BlackBerry is still the dominant business phone. Even overseas they hold the majority of the Enterprise use. Secure and efficient, there’s Enterprise and BES Express.
4. BlackBerry Messenger and BBM Social. BlackBerry Messenger is definitely unique and it’s my favorite means of communication. And with the apps connecting with BBM v6, even better. You can connect with Foursquare, Facebook, games, and the possibilities go on. BBM is definitely a strength of BlackBerry.
5. The Future Is Bright With the BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet. While the BlackBerry PlayBook came out without the native email, it really was a neat device. With the QNX system powering the Tablet and the ability to load apps via the Android player, and the BlackBerry Bridge, it has a lot of potential. I know native email to me isn’t a big issue, and I’m loving the apps and how easy it is to use. And to be honest, I’m checking World three times a day looking forward to the next updates and newest apps.
6. Seven New Handhelds In 2011, Promise Of QNX-Based BlackBerry Devices. We will see seven new devices, and we’ve seen the leaked photos of them, with RIM even displaying the 9900/9930 on it’s very site. All will have the OS 7 which is a transition OS preparing for the QNX-Based devices to come. More memory, more power, thinner. From what we’ve seen, they’re very nice devices.
7. BlackBerry Data Compression. With the unlimited data becoming a legend known only to those grandfathered with their carriers, and limited data plans for the new customers and those choosing to go to a smartphone, the BlackBerry’s compression of data makes it easier to be online as much as you want without having to worry about your data. Sure one can argue about turning on wifi, but how many of us are fortunate to have wifi with us 24 hours a day? With the BlackBerry, it’s peace of mind and wallet.

While these are actually my additions, you should read Al’s article and his points as he goes into detail. I would have to say it’s even more than just that. The ability to bank on your phone, the security of the phone, the convenience of the apps and the native apps of BlackBerry. I don’t game really, but I do socialize and use Twitter and BBM most with my email. So for me the BlackBerry is my device. I bank on it, never worry about data usage, and love that my BlackBerry and BlackBerry PlayBook work hand in hand together.

I don’t dwell on what it lacks, because there’s always way when there’s a will. I’m happy with what I have but I’m so grateful when changes are made and new apps and features are available. Rome was not built in a day, but nonetheless it is an icon.

[via: CIO.com]

via: bbsync

T-Mobile unveils flexible new Value plans: unlimited talk, text, and / or data for any device

We’ll give T-Mobile credit, it isn’t afraid to shake things up to try to gain ground on Big Red and Ma Bell in the cellular arms race. Mere months after rolling out new prepaid options for its customers, T-Mo is bringing Value plans to the people. These new plans come in various configurations, but all are available with any of the carrier’s phones, tablets, or broadband accessories. In exchange for a two year commitment, you get 2, 5, or 10GB of high speed data, with limitless websurfing at slower speeds. Full pricing hasn’t been announced, but we do know you’ll be able to get two lines with unlimited talk, text, and 2GB of data for $100, while the data alone will run $20 per month. Sound good? Well, the plans go live next Monday, so you’ve got plenty of time to read up on your options in the PR after the break.

T-Mobile Unveils Affordable And Worry-Free Unlimited Data Plans

T-Mobile Value Plans Offer Better Rates if You Prepay your Phone

T-Mobile announced some new Value Plans today for their customers. They will only fully details the plans on July 24th but until then they have given us a taste of what is coming. The idea is that they are offering up cheaper monthly rate plans for users who either pay for their device up front or break up the payments over 20 months with lower interest free payments. This is a model that is used in Europe and other countries but has never really caught on in the US.

 

It is a model that makes sense and will offer plans like unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited data with 2 GB of high-speed data for $49.99 per line for two lines which is not bad. We will definitely be keeping an eye on this. It is great to see T-Mobile still innovating even though their acquisition by AT&T looms in the background. This is one of the main reasons I am afraid the AT&T-Mobile combo will not be good for customers.

Check the full Doc