Rogers says that the Revolution is here – at least until June 19th
In a press release dated May 7th, Rogers asked cellphone users to “Join the Mobile Revolution on June 2”. Right up until a few days before, when pricing details ($149 on a 3-year term) leaked out, the only thing many users knew about this “revolution” was that Rogers was going to be selling the HTC Dream (a.k.a. “old” Google G1) and HTC Magic (a.k.a. “new” Google G2) Android OS smartphones.
While being one of a select few carriers worldwide (along with T-mobile and Vodaphone) to sell Android handsets was a big scoop for Rogers – especially given that the G2 Magic has yet to launch in the US – this hardly qualifies as a “mobile revolution”. Initially utmost on most people’s minds was, “Well, let’s see the plan(s)”, and it turns out the revolution ended up being just the exclusive re-introduction of last year’s iPhone 6 GB with a $30 data plan and the touted openness and features of the Android platform. In short, nothing new for Rogers who has been selling a Windows Mobile phone with Google Maps, HSDPA and GPS for quite some time – the HTC Diamond. Even worse, reports have been filtering out from message boards that the Rogers version of Android is really not as open as they claim.
A short week later it seems that Rogers’ Android Revolution might be put on hold for a while, since they’ve confirmed Apple’s announcement at WWDC that the new iPhone 3G S will be going on sale on June 19th, available through both Rogers and Fido. More details can be found here at iphoneincanada.ca
For more on the iPhone 3G S and our impressions of the HTC Magic…
Rogers has now put itself in the unusual position of having to market two phones from opposite ends of the smartphone spectrum – the openness of the Google Android OS versus Apple’s locked down iPhone – to one single demographic. While there are plenty of other carriers who sell both the iPhone and its competing devices (either Android or Windows Mobile) none of them have ever ventured launching them at the same time. It would sort of be like the Apple store deciding to sell Lenovo Thinkpads next to their brand new Mac Book Pros.
The Revolution is unfinished
On June 2, Rogers’ “revolution” seemed to be an underground one, as their attempt at building hype for the devices came down to a single catchphrase. The countdown timer on Rogers’ website eventually hit zero, but it was not until later that day any further details were revealed. The main focus, both online and at the launch event (see video below from MobileSyrup), seemed to be the integrated Google Apps and the openness of the platform. This should hardly be considered “revolutionary” for Rogers, given that they sell both the iPhone 3G and the HTC Diamond.
Rogers Android Revolution launch party from MobileSyrup
Visiting the flagship store on Yonge Street, we were told by staff that they didn’t have any live models on display (which was a surprisingly poor decision – even from Rogers). Eventually, we finally managed to track down a real HTC Magic at another Rogers location. During the brief time we spent with it, our initial impressions were quite favourable. The Magic is definitely a very compact phone, and feels nice in your hands. The screen is large, is a decent resolution, and has responsive capacitive touch like the iPhone. The Magic’s on-screen keyboard also has haptic feedback, making it very pleasant to type on.
Rogers has decided not to sell the phones as full Google-branded handsets, so they have the freedom to implement HTC’s Exchange corporate email support, something not offered in the T-mobile G1 (strictly Gmail). However, this comes at a price, since Rogers is now free to either improve, or cripple, the device as they see fit. Out of the box there are some Rogers shortcut icons on the home screen, and Rogers has control over what apps are available for download in the Marketplace — so much for openness. See this discussion on Howard Forums indicating that Rogers is currently blocking paid apps on the Android Marketplace. Oh, dear.
Luckily Android, like Windows Mobile and iPhone, is easily hackable and once someone figures out how to unlock the Rogers models, you will be able to install a custom ROM with more features and freedom, such as the ones at the XDA developers Android forum. Just looking at a few of the threads here does show that there is, despite all of Rogers’ hindrances, quite a lot of potential in their Android handsets.
Hands on with the HTC Magic, from MobileSyrup
At the end of the day, all this hardly seemed compelling or “revolutionary” enough for iPhone or Windows Mobile users to switch to a whole new platform, since the phone and the OS are only half the story. With the “6 GB for $30” promotion (that was initially exclusive to the Dream and the Magic) being the only carrot to entice you over to Android, it just doesn’t seem enough.
Starting June 9, Rogers has decided to offer that carrot to everyone. The 6 GB plan is no longer exclusive to the Android phones. The plan is available, once again, for all current and future Rogers and Fido iPhone users. If Rogers really wanted to start a revolution, perhaps they should have launched the Magic and Dream phones a month ago. Now that the old 8GB 3G iPhone’s price has dropped to $99, the $150 Android handsets will need something more than just an empty slogan if Rogers wants to sell beyond the “Linux is Life” crowd.
Great article!!!!
I totally agree, “the revolution is coming” is a pointless catchphrase, backed up by a design style that means nothing.
The fact that Rogers doesn’t have a functioning display model is disappointing , especially after holding the non-functioning version in my hand. I still have yet to play with an actual working Magic.
I feel like a Delacroix painting sort of kicks it off its rails a little bit though. I guess “Let them have iPhones” was what you were going for?
~ it’s almost as if the Apple store started selling Lenovo Thinkpads next to their brand new Mac Book Pros…~
Well, no not even remotely. Rogers doesn’t make either the iPhone or the G1/G2; they just sell them. What do they care if they sell 2 competing devices to the same demographic? Either way their bases are covered.
And there are plenty of people who don’t want an iPhone.
Add to that the fact that Rogers (or any carrier) isn’t allowed to advertise the iphone indepentantly, and Rogers is suddenly free to devote that remainder of their ad budget to the G1/G2 and make it desireable. (a task at which they have failed, pretty much monumentally.)
Rogers now sells HTC Diamonds, G1s, G2, iPhones, and all blackberry devices except the Storm. Hax0rs will buy HTC, business-types will buy Blackberrys, and the rest will buy iPhones. It’s probably as basic as that. A blanket statement like they’re “in the position of having to market 2 phones aimed at the very same demographic” is a little short-sighted, as this demographic is highly fragmented and extremely fickle.
Or maybe they’re hoping the HTC handsets will prove an epic failure, in a pre-emptive attempt to take all the wind out of MobilLive’s sails. Market it badly and no one will want it. Considering the Magic is GL’s flagship device, that almost makes sense, in a conspiracy theory sorta way 🙂
oops GlobalLive
sorry to be geographically obtuse but global live wont make many dents unless they figure quebec out…
THat might be true but it can’t hurt to kick them before they’re even up.
Sides they’re a fledgeling startup; their biggest hook right now is that they’re not Rogers or Bell. Other than that they pose basically no threat IMHO.
…though I might get one, who knows 🙂 They’re GSM after all, and Yell0wsn0w does a good job of unlocking iPhones 🙂
k but you realize they dont have a roaming deal here…
dead zone
videotron’s cockblocking them
you will have zero connection between ottawa edmunston… well fuck new brunswick but you get my point…
its not the fact that they arent available in quebec thats the problem so much as it is simply a non option for anybody in the country that does business in montreal…
Yeah I knew bout that but I wasn’tsure if that’s a “for now” or “Forever” thing
Like I said, who knows 🙂 Obviously for travellers, it’s the worst decision out there. End of the day, they are the ONLY option available if you;re sick of the cockballin that is the Canadian Duopoly, and that means they have potential is all I’m sayin’ 🙂
Right now, though, ya, anything but coast-to-coast coverage is teh ghey
love videotron as a service but the way they conduct business, quebecor are ruthless twats…
id say forever, peladeau is that much of a turd…
and theres a shitload of planes, trains and automobiles that zip back and forth between toronto and montreal… ever book a flight between the two cities… the selection is quite impressive 😀
on a related note
http://habsinsideout.com/files/hio/imagecache/bigimage/images/quebecor.jpg
im moving to fucking toronto 🙁
The good news here for me is that even though I have heard a very annoying (and *totally* unsubstantiated) rumour that Fido told somebody they will not allow *any* form of upgrade pricing at any point during my three-year plan, if something goes wrong with my iPhone at least I can consider an Android phone…
yeah i was on the phone with fido today… the only upgrade option will be a unsubsidized phone… at least you dont have to nuke your contract that way…
looked into the $30 6 gig plan… decided not to do it considering ive had my phone since october and i just got past the 600mb mark haha 😀
HAHA that’s awesome 🙂 I’ve had mine for a month and I just hit 75MB 😛
I have the $30/6GB plan for 2 reasons: 1, it was available when I got it, and 2, the next cheapest option is $25/500mb. And extra $5 for 6X the bandwidth is a no-brainer to me 🙂
I have a feeling the tethering app is going to come in extremely handy.
they could only give me the 6 as an add on
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