- Watch the Toronto @MapleLeafs play their first playoff home game in 9 years live now on #Rogers @Anyplace_TV: http://t.co/DHkxfnWXGr ^SM
Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category
Weekend Reading: Canadians social media score, digital detox camp and summer’s hottest devices
May 3rd, 2013 a 2:57pm
Some weeks provide more interesting digital news than others. This week, amid the BlackBerry Q10 and Samsung Galaxy S4 releases, what caught my eye were two stories geared towards social media use among Canadians and a camp for digital detox. Catch up on all this and more in this week’s edition of Weekend Reading.
How active are Canadians with social media?
Being an avid social media user both personally and professionally, I’m always eager to see new stats revealing its popularly, particularly how Canadians compare to the rest of the world.
Maclean’s published an article this week looking at social media usage in Canada, revolving around popular social sites Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Among the 4,001 Anglophone Canadians surveyed, seven out of 10 were regular social media users. What defines regular? About 63 per cent of them admitted to checking updates on these sites every day.
What surprised me most was Twitter’s results – less than one in five users claimed they were on Twitter last month, the second largest social network next to Facebook! Why is this, and how does LinkedIn measure up? Check out the article for a full analysis and trends and let us know where you fit in. Of the three mentioned, I definitely use Facebook the most as well, but I see the benefits of the other networks, too.. What about you?
Camp Grounded – a digital detox summer camp for adults
Obviously, Canadians depend on social media, but have you ever wanted to just turn it all off for a few days? Surprisingly, many of you have – enough to warrant the creation of a camp designed to help people disconnect from the digital world for four whole days!
Mashable recently uncovered the retreat in California, which has over 200 participants already signed up and eager for a “digital detox.” While at Camp Grounded, there is no technology use or talk whatsoever. Campers get to participate in old-school activities such as archery, capture the flag, arts and crafts workshops, pillow fights and yoga.
The first session, taking place in June, is already sold out, so if you’re interested in giving it a try, you’d better sign up for the waiting list now! It definitely sounds like a cool experience that I could handle … for a day … or maybe an hour. Forget it, I miss my iPhone and apps already!
Summer’s hottest devices are here!
If you’re thinking Camp Grounded looks like a walk in the park, then you haven’t seen what you’d be missing with the new BlackBerry Q10 and Samsung Galaxy S4, which both launched this week.
Those of you reluctant to take on a touchscreen will appreciate the Blackberry Q10. Designed with the BlackBerry keyboard fans have come to know and love, the Q10 also features touch screen capabilities, time shift mode and the BlackBerry 10 interface. The BlackBerry Q10 is available now in black, and exclusive to Rogers, white models. See why Mobile Syrup has hailed it the “best BlackBerry ever” and Crackberry calls it the “BlackBerry you’ve been waiting for.” Let us know if you’ve got your hands on one yet!
If Android is more your style, Samsung fans will be delighted to know the Galaxy S4 was also released this week with some fantastic offers. For a limited time, you can get a free Kindle Paperwhite when you activate a new smartphone (including both the Samsung Galaxy S4 AND the Blackberry Q10) on select three-year plans. If e-readers aren’t your thing, check out our $35 Google Play voucher available with select three-year plans when you activate a Samsung Galaxy S4 between now and June 30, 2013.
These offers are exclusive to Rogers, and of course, both are compatible on our newly branded LTE Max network.
Kelly is a regular RedBoard contributor.
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Tags: Weekend Reading: Smartphone user dating habits, coding for kids and LTE in seven new markets this week
April 26th, 2013 a 11:33am
Ever wonder what your smartphone reveals about dating frequency? Or what apps are available to teach your kids about coding? We cover these plus unveil more exciting LTE news – all in this week’s edition of Weekend Reading.
Who has more first dates? iPhone, Android, Blackberry or Windows users?
If you’re single and wondering which device will score you better odds of a first date, Mashable has the answer in a survey uncovered by Match.com this week.
Of 5,000 people surveyed in the U.S., 49 per cent of single iPhone users went on at least one date in 2012. In a close second was Windows with 46 per cent, then Android at 44 per cent and Blackberry at 42 per cent.
So what does this say about smartphone owners and their dating styles? Check out the full article and survey on Mashable here. Has your smartphone affected your dating life? If so, how?
Coding apps for kids
When I was in school, elective courses included things like music and art. While these are still considered optional, much of today’s curriculum is changing to reflect the needs of our current economy. Coding may not be a widely offered course yet, but you can give your kid a head start on learning one of the most in-demand skills for today’s job market.
This week, Read Write Web highlighted some great apps to teach your kids coding for programming. The six apps are designed for a variety of ages, starting as young as 5 years old. As Read Write Web points out, if you start them off young enough, you could end up raising the next Mark Zuckerberg!
Rogers LTE lights up in seven new markets this week
On Monday, Rogers was proud to announce that only four months into 2013, we have launched LTE in an additional seven markets. As part of our commitment to roll out LTE in 44 new markets this spring, Monday’s new markets include:
- Airdrie, Alberta
- Langley, B.C
- Keswick, Ont.
- Hamilton, including Grimsby, Ont.
- Orillia, Ont.
- Stratford, Ont.
- Ottawa, including Kanata, Nepean, Gloucester, Stittsville and Cumberland, Ont.
Bonus: both the upcoming Blackberry Q10 and Samsung Galaxy S4 are compatible on the LTE network! Learn more about the LTE network and what devices are currently on the market here.
For more details on our latest LTE expansion, check out some great coverage from our friends at The Cellular Guru, iPhone in Canada, Android Central, Android in Canada, IT Nerd, and Brief Mobile.
Kelly is a regular RedBoard contributor.
Tags: Weekend Reading: A suretap update and all things digital
March 22nd, 2013 a 3:48pm
Digital, digital, digital! It’s the word of the week for sure with news headlines focused on digital behaviour between generations, what happens in a digital minute and how much floor space you can save with a digital lifestyle. Plus, we fill you in on some updates to our suretap mobile payments solution. All in this week’s edition of Weekend Reading.
Suretap expands to Android and BlackBerry 10
Last year, we were excited to announce our partnership with CIBC to bring mobile payments to Canada. Since then, we have partnered with suretap to essentially turn your smartphone into a digital wallet. This week, we expanded suretap’s services to work on even more devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note II for Android, plus the new Blackberry Z10.
Check out what’s being said online in some great posts this week from Tech Vibes, NFC News, IT Nerd, The Cellular Guru, Mobile Syrup and IT Business. Have you made a purchase with suretap yet? What developments are you looking forward to in 2013?
Digital habits differ between millennials, Gen Xers and boomers
Last week, we told you what millennials (ages 18 to 34) value at work, and the week before that we learned they value their smartphones over their vehicles. This week, eMarketer dug a little deeper to learn how they’re spending their time online.
While watching digital videos ranks highest amongst Gen Xers, millennials consume more social media than the other generations, with more than half of them Tweeting. Don’t count out the baby boomers though – almost 60 million were regular internet users in 2012, but they’re spending more time with video than social media.
These insights into millennials certainly ring true personally! Social media by far uses most of my time every month. Does the same hold true for you? Or are you into other smartphone features entirely?
A digital minute
By the time you finish reading this section, 277,000 people will have logged into Facebook, 204 million emails will have been sent and six new Wikipedia articles will have been published.
It’s absolutely staggering to see consumption by the minute and realize just how much is happening on the internet in a mere minute, let alone a day, month or year! Can you imagine what it will be like two years from now? ReadWriteWeb breaks it down in their infographic featuring how much internet data we go through in a minute, plus where we’re headed by 2015.
Are you surprised by any of these figures? Can you believe more than 320 Twitter accounts were just created?!
Smartphones free up your floor space
Living in a condo approximately 500 square feet by myself, space has been a constant sore point in an otherwise lovely dwelling. So when I saw Mashable’s headline Your Phone Can Replace 62 Cubic Feet of Furniture, I knew it was a must-read!
One of the main conveniences of mobile devices has become the cloud, and its ability to store tangible items virtually. But how many people stop to think of the space they could be saving in their home as a result? By transferring music and books to online libraries you can eliminate furniture such as bookcases, shelving and CD racks. Mashable actually demonstrates the space you could save by transferring storage in a fun graphic.
Is this the way of the future? How will this affect home decor? Guess I know how I’ll be spending my weekend – transferring everything online!
Kelly is a regular RedBoard contributor.
: Tags: Weekend Reading: Internet consumption, smartphone or car, and the HTC One
March 8th, 2013 a 3:27pm
If there’s one thing I love writing about, it’s the endless stats that pop up online surrounding how important technology has become in our daily lives. This week we found some great articles that opened our eyes to how much we rely on the internet on a daily basis and what age group is more likely to give up their car before their smartphone. As well, we tell you about a new HTC Cash Back Offer for customers. Catch up with us in this week’s edition of Weekend Reading.
How much internet do we consume daily?
Ever wonder just how much data you really consume in a single day? If like me, you’re in for a surprise.
Internet Service Providers posted an infographic this week that’s pretty mind blowing, considering there are only 24 hours, 1440 minutes or 86400 seconds in one day.
So what did they find? For starters, there are 2.4 billion internet users worldwide. Of them, there are 2.8 million emails sent every second, 320 new Twitter accounts made every minute, and 780,000 apps downloaded every hour! This translates to about 133,333 years online, can you believe it?!
More crazy stats in the full infographic here.
What do you value more – your car, or smartphone?
This answer could likely vary depending on your age group, as showcased by a recent survey from The Huffington Post. According to the survey, “Millennials” (ages 18-34) were the only group to put their mobile device needs before that of transportation.
That being said, they were also the more conscious of the groups to make an effort to utilize things such as public transit, carpooling, and walking or biking. With so many alternatives, it’s easier to see why 30% were more willing to give up their car before their smartphone.
How do you feel about the results? Are you a “millennial” who passionately stands by your device? Or in another age bracket who defies the stats and would sacrifice your vehicle for your smartphone? I think no matter what demographic you fall into, it’s a tough decision. As one of our previous Rogers Innovation Reports indicated, 4% of Canadians would be willing to sacrifice bathing to keep their internet – maybe it’s not such a difficult choice after all! What do you think?
HTC One awards and promo offers
Those of you looking to upgrade to the new HTC One couldn’t have picked a better time! After winning “Best New Mobile Handset, Device or Tablet” at the Mobile World Congress, HTC decided to supply a $100 (CDN) credit to HTC customers who trade in their older HTC model to purchase the HTC One.
For a limited time, customers can register for the HTC Cash Back Offer, purchase and activate a new HTC One before March 31, 2013 then send in their old phone with proof of purchase of their new phone. HTC will then send a Prepaid VISA card worth minimum $100 (CDN) in value! Full details on the phone and HTC Cash Back Offer available here. A fantastic offer for a fantastic device!
Kelly is a regular Redboard contributor.
Tags: Weekend Reading: HTC One, 31 years of cell phones, smartphones vs. PC’s, and business mobile trends
February 22nd, 2013 a 2:42pm
It’s been another exciting week for mobile tech with the announcement and preview of the upcoming HTC One, plus we take a visual look at the last three decades of cell phones, speculation on smartphones overtaking traditional PC hardware, and mobile’s effect on business. All ahead in this week’s edition of Weekend Reading.
Hands on with the HTC One
This week HTC unveiled what is being hailed as one of the must-have devices for 2013 – the HTC One.
Earlier this week the device was showcased at an HTC event in New York City, where our friends at Connected Rogers were lucky enough to get a sneak peek. You can get all the details on the design, camera, and specs in their post here, plus a few other top industry sources including CNET, Network World, and iClarified (with video).
The HTC One will be available at Rogers this spring – stay tuned for more details!
Infographic: 3 decades of cell phones
Can you believe cell phones have been around for a whopping three decades already? It’s true! The Next Web posted a fantastic cell phone timeline infographic this week showcasing just how far cell phones have come over the last 31 years. A few personal faves from the infographic include the Dynatac 8000x (aka Zack Morris’ phone on Saved by the Bell), and my very own first cell phone, the Nokia 5110.
Which blast from the past makes you most appreciative of today’s tech? Alternately, is there anything you miss about them or see a comeback for?
Smartphones to replace PC’s?
After seeing how far smartphones have come, how long do you think it will be until they fulfill all our tech needs and take over completely?
Writer Eliot Van Buskirk provided some insight in his latest article for The Huffington Post. After accurately predicting the success of the iPod before others saw its value, he’s fairly certain that his hunch on hardware peripherals will be next. His article outlines six things that point to smartphones becoming “the center of our digital lives,” including tablet keyboards, and The Cloud. Check out the full post and let us know your own predictions in the comments below.
Adopting your business to 2013 mobile trends
It may only be the second month into the New Year, but analysts are already making predictions about the effects on mobile tech on businesses. The Telecom Blog explored various reports recently suggesting that a mobile transition is happening amazingly quickly and if your business isn’t quick to adapt to mobile trends as are their customers, it could represent some challenges for them in 2013. Now, how is this this reflected on Canadian soil? A quick example could be how mobile is changing television. Canadians don’t limit their tablet or smartphone usage to browsing the Web. Turns out mobile devices are also great for watching TV, and especially for watching shows on demand.
One of our recent Rogers Innovation Reports also suggested an increase in mobile trends, with 80% believing more people will be connected to the web via mobile devices than desktop computers in 2013. I’m definitely one of the 80% using my smartphone for everything I can these days because it’s so convenient! It’s always on me, has instant LTE internet access, and a world of apps at my disposal.
Is your business ahead of the game when it comes to mobile tech? If not, are you shifting your plans for 2013 in that direction? Let us know in the comments below – we’d love to know where you’re at.
Kelly is a regular Redboard contributor.
Tags: Weekend Reading: Mobile dependency, kids and tech, and Rogers Hand-Me-Down program
February 15th, 2013 a 2:49pm
How long can you go without checking your mobile device? Are you on top of all the latest trends and safety measures when it comes to tech and your kids? We explore these topics, plus point you to the Rogers Hand-Me-Down program for mobile devices – all in this week’s edition of Weekend Reading.
How often are you checking your phone?
By now we’re no strangers to the term “nomophobia” and have seen numerous studies done indicating how dependent we’ve become on our mobile devices. Collins Dictionary defines nomophobia as “a state of stress caused by having no access to or being unable to use one’s mobile phone,” something Canadians are no stranger to. In one of our Rogers Innovation Reports, 65% say you’d feel naked without your smartphone and internet access, and 51% sleep with their smartphone in bed or on the nightstand.
It should come as no surprise then that The Daily Telegraph recently found that people are checking their mobile phones every six and a half minutes, which means we’re checking our smartphones 150 times a day on average! How do we find the time to do anything else? The report also narrows down how many phone calls and text messages people are receiving, and even how often we’re checking the clocks on them.
My own mother says my smartphone is “practically growing out of my arm;” I guess this would make me nomophobic! You’re only half way through this post, how many times have you checked your device?
Keeping up with kids and tech
If you don’t have nomophobia, with today’s mobile tech advancements, chances are your kids will! So how do you keep up with it all?
As Monica Vila (co-founder of TheOnlineMom and guest blogger for Mashable) recently discovered, keeping up with tech trends no longer means just being aware of parental controls and allotting a certain amount of time to gaming. These days it’s staying on top of the latest social networks and apps for their mobile devices too. To get parents on the right track, Monica compiled a list of best practices to enforce in the household, including tips such as monitoring your child’s behavior and installing filters and protection on the devices. More great advice in the full post here.
Tired of the device you have?
With technology changing so quickly, perfectly good devices sometimes get tossed to the wayside to make room for a newer one. Or perhaps your phone is great, it’s just not suited to your personal needs.
That’s where Rogers Hand-Me-Down program comes in. Instead of letting your old device sit and collect dust in a drawer, you can pass it on to a friend or family member. Connected Rogers breaks the process down into 3 easy steps for you this month – just in time for Family Day on Monday for those of us celebrating it! You can also get more details at rogers.com/newstart.
Kelly is a regular Redboard contributor.
Have your say on a national wireless consumer code – Phase II
February 11th, 2013 a 12:59pm
We believe that having a single set of standards across the country is important because it would provide equal protection for consumers from coast to coast no matter where they live.
Now the CRTC has taken the comments they received and made them the basis for a draft code that they’ve posted on-line to encourage further discussion.
We think the CRTC’s draft code is a great start and hope it will generate comments and suggestions from Canadians across the country.
When the CRTC released its draft code they highlighted four key areas to be included in the code: easy to understand wireless services and fees; reasonable unlocking policies; ability to set a cap on certain fees; and online tools to monitor usage and any additional fees.
We agree that these are important areas. In fact, we’ve already incorporated many of those key ideas at Rogers:
- So you know what your monthly bill will be, our ads include all-in pricing, and we provide you with easy to understand cancellation fees.
- You can choose a term commitment or no term. If you choose a term, we give you the option to leave at any time. With our Flextab program, you pay a low price for a smartphone and we spot you the rest. You can upgrade anytime just by paying off your device subsidy.
- You can change your price plan, up or down, at any time during your term, with no fees and with no requirement to extend your term.
- As of March 2013 you can unlock your subsidized phone after 90 days of service, as long as your accounts are in good standing.
- You can easily track your usage. For example- when you travel outside the country you’re sent a text that outlines roaming rates and gives you the option to buy a package. We also send you texts to let you know how much data you’ve used and when your package has expired. You can go to myrogers anytime to track your data, voice or text usage.
- And we’ve just announced that we will offer an easy, worry-free pay-per-use rate for roaming in the U.S. At $7.99 for access to 50 MBs of data over a 24-hour period, you’ll be able to do everything you do at home – surf, tweet, send photos and check maps – without worrying about extra charges.
Join the online discussion now. The CRTC is accepting comments until 5 p.m. (PST) on February 15, 2013.
We look forward to providing our views at the CRTC’s hearings that start February 11. What do you think?
Patricia is a first-time contributor. Welcome to RedBoard, Patricia!
Tags: Weekend Reading: Go-to devices, Blackberry 10, apps for kids, and apps created by teens
February 9th, 2013 a 1:21pm
I’m always inspired to read about all the different ways technology is changing our lives for the better. It gives us so many more options as to how we access news and information, for example. Not to mention that it opens new and exciting opportunities for education. That it motivates some students to develop talents that lead to fulfilling careers is so great. This week we look at people’s viewing habits, why more developers should be focused on kids apps, and introduce you to the latest teenage whiz-kid developer.
What’s your go-to device?
When it comes to sourcing out your entertainment, programming and news, television still reigns supreme. But those habits are shifting, and according to a new study by eMarketer, your age plays a part in which device you prefer.
For instance, 28% of people 18 to 24 claim that their laptop is their main source of news and entertainment. TV remains the number one source for 30% of people from that same age group, but for how much longer? On the gender front, women are more likely than men turn to their smartphones or tablets to watch their favourite shows. Personally I’m torn – I still love watching TV and live tweeting and checking in to the shows I’m watching, but on the other hand, there’s something to be said for the convenience of accessing Anyplace TV on your tablet at the cottage too!
How about you? What’s your go-to source for news and entertainment? Read the full eMarketer report online to see how you compare.
The Blackberry Z10 is here!
Last week we brought you some of our favourite blog coverage from the Toronto and NYC events that introduced the Blackberry 10 platform to the world. This week we were proud to launch our first ever LIVE blog here on Redboard, capturing some of the first Blackberry Z10 sales in the world!
Catch the excitement filmed earlier this week in Toronto – were you one of our featured customers lucky enough to score a Blackberry Z10 on launch day?
Kids need more apps
When cellphones first came on to the scene, most parents were reluctant to hand one over to their kids. Those who did usually had restrictions in place to ensure the device was used for emergency purposes only. Though these devices are still handy for emergencies, parents are increasingly seeing the benefits of their kids utilizing them for fun and education too.
What’s also changed is how kids use their phone. While it’s true that gaming apps rank highest among kids 12 and under, educational apps were right up there with more than half using their devices for learning purposes too. Schools have even begun to take notice with 1.5 million tablets already being used by students in the US.
Upstart Business Journal referenced an eye opening infographic that app developers may want to capitalize upon – check out their post for more kid tech trends and share some of your favourite educational apps with us in the comments below!
High school student creates “Clipped”
We also stumbled across a fascinating interview with a 15 year old student who created an app in between homework and hanging out with friends. When I was 15 I was making mix tapes and experimenting with makeup!
Fast Company caught up with Tanay Tandon for a quick chat on how his app “Clipped” came together what this Flipboard competitor can do for you, and what’s next on his agenda.
It’s amazing what opportunities technology provides for teens today that can lead to such promising careers tomorrow. How is tech affecting you and/or your kids upbringing in 2013?
Kelly is a regular Redboard contributor.
Tags: Roam where you want to with Rogers: Introducing worry free Wireless Data Roaming Rates in the United States
February 8th, 2013 a 12:06pm
Canada spends more time online than any other country. And we know you want to be just as connected while travelling outside of Canada. But you’ve also told us that the cost and complexity of roaming rates get in the way of using your phone on the road the same way you do at home.
We’ve heard you. And that’s why we’re launching a new wireless data roaming rate for customers travelling to the United States.
Our new roaming rate, which launches this spring, is designed to be an easy and worry-free roaming solution. Here’s how it works:
- For a rate of $7.99, customers will get access to 50 megabytes of data over a 24 hour period while travelling in the U.S.
- The new rate will provide customers nearly twice the data that they would typically use domestically
- Customers will be alerted before reaching 50 MB which means they will be able to control their roaming costs.
- It will be available to all Rogers wireless consumers and business customers
Why 50MB per day? The roaming rate was designed to give customers the maximum amount of data for the lowest price. Currently, more than 99% of our customers use less than 50 MB of data per day when roaming. Here are some examples of what 50 MB will allow you to do on your trip in the U.S.:
- Browse 50 maps or
- Browse 200 web pages or
- Send 1,000 emails or
- Send 5,000 Tweets or
- Send 128 photos
Do you use your phone differently while travelling than you do at home? Will this new rate help you to roam worry free?
Michelle is a regular Redboard contributor.
How to unlock your phone with Rogers
February 8th, 2013 a 10:21am
We get a lot of questions here on RedBoard about device unlocking. How does it work? What are the restrictions? What does unlocking even mean?
Here’s a quick guide.
So what is unlocking anyway?
By unlocking your phone, you can use your wireless device with a SIM card from another mobile carrier. This is a great benefit to customers spending extended time away in other countries that need to stay connected.
What are the restrictions?
When you purchase a wireless device on a new or existing Rogers account at full price, you are eligible to unlock it immediately.
For those customers who are under a term commitment, we have made some changes to our device unlocking policy to give you more flexibility in the way you use your wireless device. In March 2013, we’ll be changing our policy so that you no longer have to wait until you complete your full term commitment – you can unlock 90 days after activating your device on the Rogers network. We’re also making it even easier for you to have your phone unlocked by bringing it to any of our Rogers retail stores.
How much will it cost?
You can unlock your device for $50 plus applicable taxes.
Update March 6th, 6pm: Hi everybody. We’re happy to announce that our new unlocking policy will be implemented effective March 28th.
Patricia is a regular Redboard contributor.
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