| 29 July, 2010 | Last updated 16 hours 14 minutes ago |
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Having Trouble Logging In?Rogers launches discount Chatr brand to compete with new entrants July 28, 2010 - 9:57am — The Wire Report
Rogers Communications Inc. launched its wireless discount brand Chatr Wednesday after a month of speculation about the company’s new offering. The new brand, which analysts say is designed to compete directly with new wireless entrants Wind Mobile, Public Mobile and Mobilicity, will offer an unlimited calling plan for $35 a month, which covers calls within the same province, and an unlimited text-and-talk plan for $45 a month, which covers unlimited calls anywhere in Canada. But the unlimited calling plans are only good for calls made from within “Chatr zones” that cover five of Canada’s largest urban areas. The service is available in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Vancouver, with plans to launch in Montreal. The service does not include smart phones or data plans but gives customers a choice of four handsets from Nokia, Samsung or LG. "Canadians have indicated they want unlimited talk and text with simple, worry-free plans on a network that is trusted to deliver quality service," Garrick Tiplady, senior vice-president of Chatr, said in a release Wednesday. "With chatr, customers will have a no worry, talk happy experience." Retail partners for the service include Wireless Wave, Future Shop, Best Buy, Telephone Booth, London Drugs, Costco and Zellers. John Bitove, Mobilicity’s chairman, has said his company will challenge Rogers’ new brand under the “fighting brands” sub-section of the Competition Act. In an effort to draw customers from the incumbents, Wind Mobile is offering a $150 “porting credit” to new customers who make the switch from another wireless carrier to Wind. The new entrant is holding a media event Wednesday outside the Rogers store at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto, where it will be selling $1 hot dogs. Shaw proposes $203-million benefits package for Canwest deal July 22, 2010 - 6:49pm — Simon Doyle
OTTAWA--As part of its $2-billion purchase of Canwest Global Communications, Shaw Communications Inc. has proposed a $203-million “tangible benefits” package to the CRTC to ensure a public benefit from the deal. But in the company’s proposed benefits package, Shaw says it wants to include spending on digital television transmitters and an outstanding $95 million in tangible benefits leftover from the 2007 Canwest-Aliance Atlantis deal. “I can’t say I’m surprised they’re trying to get a bit of a bargain that way,” Gregory Taylor, a broadcasting expert in Montreal who is currently conducting research for Ryerson University, said in an interview. CBC, CTV urge commission not to give Sun TV 'preferential treatment' June 28, 2010 - 5:22pm — Simon Doyle
CBC and CTV say a CRTC decision granting Sun TV News a limited-term “must-carry” licence would amount to “preferential treatment” and a move “backwards” as the broadcasters’ all-news channels prepare to lose their must-carry status and convert to competitive news services next year. In interviews with The Wire Report, Steven Guiton, vice-president and chief regulatory officer at CBC, and Paul Sparkes, executive vice-president of corporate and public affairs at CTVGlobemedia, said it would be unfair for the CRTC to grant Quebecor Media an application for a Category A (i.e., “must-carry,” or Category 1) all-news channel when the news genre is moving to a new, competitive regulatory environment next year. “I would have thought that considering a Category A application would be going backward in time,” Guiton said. New wireless market entrants to push smart phone penetration, but unlikely to affect data services market: report February 9, 2010 - 6:29pm — Karen Fournier
New market entrants in Canada’s telecommunications industry are expected to push smart phone penetration, prepaid services and wireless substitution, but they are unlikely to affect the market for data services, says a new report. Canadian groups say Google Books agreement would violate international law February 8, 2010 - 5:16pm — Simon Doyle
Canadian lobby groups have filed objections with the US court considering the proposed Google Books agreement, arguing that it violates international law such as NAFTA and the Berne Convention on copyright. New HSPA network 'make or break' for MTS Allstream, say analysts February 5, 2010 - 6:53pm — Karen Fournier
MTS Allstream Inc.’s ability to survive in the telecommunications market is dependent on its ability to operate on a HSPA network, according to analysts. NFB, Radio Canada move ahead with free content, 'the way of the past' February 5, 2010 - 5:39pm — Stefan Dubowski
Public organizations like the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and Radio Canada seem to be on the leading edge of digital media, providing free access to films and TV shows online. One industry analyst says the future of content delivery could look an awful lot like the past. One Laptop per Child Program to increase connectivity in Canadian aboriginal communities February 1, 2010 - 6:52pm — Jonathan Migneault
In September the Belinda Stronach Foundation, working with aboriginal groups and potentially businesses and the federal government, will bring the One Laptop per Child Program to Canada’s aboriginal communities, expanding Internet access in many remote First Nations areas. Industry Canada official to launch campaign for position as ITU director January 29, 2010 - 7:09pm — Karen Fournier
Industry Canada Communications Research Centre (CRC) president Veena Rawat is putting forward her candidacy as radiocommunication director at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Government will not accede to ACTA unless 'fully satisfied' that it’s in best interest of Canadians: Van Loan January 27, 2010 - 6:58pm — Jonathan Migneault
The Government of Canada will not accede to the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) unless it is “fully satisfied that it reflects the best interests of Canadians,” International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan says. In response to a questions about a letter received this week from NDP MP Charlie Angus, which demanded answers from the government about secret trade negotiations affecting Canada’s intellectual property regime, Van Loan released a statement to The Wire Report through his press secretary, Monika Bujalska. |
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