RoW International Short Takes

Microcell begins selling Sony Ericsson handsetMicrocell Telecommunications Inc. has begun selling the Sony Ericsson T200 handset through its Fido retail outlets. The T200, which is exclusive to Fido, offers worldwide roaming, one-touch access to the Internet, personal picture messaging or multimedia messaging service (MMS) and blue backlighting. Microcell is also adding a data counter service to the phone, which allows subscribers to track the amount of data sent and received and keeps track of the time spent surfing. The T200 will be available for $100 after credits and upon activation of a monthly airtime package. Rogers Wireless offers software upgrade for TreoRogers Wireless Communications Inc. has announced the availability of a GPRS software upgrade for Handspring Treo 180 customers. Treo 180 users will now be able to take advantage of the features of Rogers’ GPRS network. At no charge, the downloadable software upgrades the Treo 180 making it capable of accessing the Internet and other corporate applications such as email. In other Rogers news, Rogers Communications Inc. has opened a new call centre in Moncton NB, which will serve subscribers of Rogers Wireless and Rogers Cable Inc. Call centre staff will serve the needs of Rogers Wireless’ 3.5 million subscribers and Rogers Cable’s 2.2 million cable customers. Aliant expands networks in two Atlantic provincesAliant Telecom Mobility has significantly expanded its wireless network in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia adding several new cell sites and increasing digital and cellular network penetration. In announcing the completion of a $2-million network expansion, the company also said that it had reached its goal of 60% digital wireless coverage in the province. Aliant added 15 new digital and two new cellular cell sites in the last two months. Specifically, cell sites were built in Edmundston, Meadowbrook, Route 880 and Fire Road between Salisbury and Jemseq, Charleston, Bristol and Hartland. As well, the digital corridor between Florenceville and Woodstock was completed. In Nova Scotia, two new digital cell sites were installed in the Halifax Regional Municipality, further expanding the network in the province’s capital. Both expansions are part of Aliant Telecom’s year-long program to add more than 75 cell sites in the region at a cost of more than $65 million. In a related announcement, the Atlantic wireless operator has also completed an analog cell site in Newfoundland. The cell site is located in St. Anthony, which is on the northern peninsula of Canada’s eastern most province. Aliant invested $250,000 to construct the cell site. Bell Mobility to offer new integrated deviceBell Mobility has introduced the Audiovox Thera, an integrated wireless device that allows users to access data and talk on the company’s 1XRTT 2.5G network. The Thera is a Pocket PC-based device offering several wireless data and voice features. Users can access the Internet, and send and receive email and text messages. The integrated device can also operate as a speaker phone, offers voice recorder functionality and has an MP3 player built in. The device comes equipped with Pocket PC versions of Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Outlook 2002 and Windows Media Player. The Thera retails for $1,149 with a two-year service plan and after a $100 mail-in rebate. In other Bell Mobility news, the company has officially launched its 2.5G 1XRTT network in Calgary as part of its $250 million digital expansion plan announced last September. Network expansion in Alberta and British Columbia is not part of the resale and roaming agreement Bell Mobility signed with Telus Mobility (RoW, Oct. 30/01), which means the company has to build out its network there. The company already has 30 Bell World stores throughout Alberta and British Columbia and more than 300 employees in offices located in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Bell Mobility plans to grow its employee base from its current level to more than 400 next year. A healthy portion of new employees will come from a new western call centre, which the company plans to open this fall.

RoW International Short Takes

News | September 16, 2002

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