Sony Xperia SP Soon Available Through Rogers
Rogers will soon be getting the Xperia SP in their arsenal, an Android 4.1.2 packing device. Sony recently announced that an OTA update to 4.1.2 will be available. The Xperia SP is also equipped with the following hardware:
- 4.6-inch 720p display
- 1.7GHz dual-core processor
- 1GB of installed RAM
- 8GB of internal storage
- 8MP rear facing camera
- 4G LTE support
There’s no word on an exact release date, but it will likely be within the next few weeks.
Rogers Unveils Customer Reward Program
Rogers is kicking into gear a new customer loyalty program called “First Rewards.” Existing customers will earn points that can be redeemed for goods. More specifically, customers can earn products and services like travel add-ons, internet packages, On Demand content and more.
Cable, internet and wireless customers alike will be able to benefit from the program, and it will be split into three tiers.
- Silver- 1 point per dollar
- Gold- 1.5 points per dollar
- Platinum- 2 points per dollar
Rogers has yet to announce the point ranges, but we’ll update you accordingly as soon as we know more. The service is set to rollout by region sometime this summer. You can always check out RedBoard for more info, as well.
Mobilicity Puts a Hold on the Recapitalization Plan Vote
Man, Mobilicity is really having a rough time lately. The $380 million purchase by TELUS fell through, so the company is still looking for a buyer. As such, their new plan is to enter a recapitalization program which was pretty much the company’s Plan B scenario. They’ve pushed the date back for their shareholder voting to July 10th.
Mobilicity’s President and COO said “the Board has rescheduled the vote on the recapitalization plan to allow it to consider additional potential alternatives for the Company and its stakeholders, including customers, dealers and employees.”
Of course, there were rumors that Verizon is interested in purchasing the company and this date change could signal potential news on that front. Something needs to be done soon though, Mobilicity is hemorrhaging money. Currently the company is $450 million in debt, and they’re losing nearly $30 million every month.
Bell Opens Up LTE Network to Saskatchewan
Bell expanded their LTE network again to include Saskatchewan, or specifically Moose Jaw and Prince Albert. Wireless customers can now connected to the LTE network and receive faster speeds between 12-25Mbps. According to the company, their network is now available to “more than 24 million Canadians.”
Companies Team Up with Mastercard for a Mobile Payment Developer Challenge
When I say a bunch, I really mean a bunch. Mastercard has teamed up with MaRS Discovery District to open a new outdoor patio area which they’ve rightfully dubbed ‘The Mastercard Deck’. That’s quite an original name, right?
They’ve also kicked off a mobile payment developer challenge called “MasterCard N>XT,” which is sponsored by Rogers and CIBC. The company aims to hone in on a developer that is capable of producing “breakthrough payment solutions.”
Developers will be working in teams to create the next innovative payment solution. Essentially, they will also get all the hardware they need to create a mobile payment concept, including energy drinks for plenty of body fuel. They will use MasterCard’s SDK and API to design an app which uses some type of mobile payment solution.
The best ‘professional app developer’ will receive $10,000, the best ‘student’ developer will receive $10,000 and the best ‘people’s choice’ developer will receive $10,000. If you do your math correctly, that’s a total of $30,000 in prize money.
Registration for the event will begin on July 18th, and you can check out more info on it here.
Wireless Carriers Challenge CRTC’s Code of Conduct Concerning Relatively New Contracts
According to wireless carriers, they’re afraid customers signed to a three-year contract before December 2nd will be able to cancel their contract prematurely thanks to the new wireless code of conduct, thus destroying chances at recuperating subsidy payments.
The CRTC’s wireless code of conduct is supposed to be set into motion starting June 3rd through December 2nd. Customers will no longer be held accountable for three-year contracts. Instead, they can cancel with no fear of incurring charges after two years.
Barbara Motzney, the Chief Consumer Officer of the CRTC says that all contracts signed after June 3rd of this year, will have been active for 24 months by the time the Code actually kicks into gear on June 3rd, 2015.
Rogers, Bell, TELUS, and SaskTel have joined up to appeal the process so that the code will not apply to contracts signed between June 3rd and December 2nd of this year.
If you’re thinking of signing a new contract, you should probably hold off for a little while.