Apple gives MPs few answers on iPhone slowdown

OTTAWA — Representatives from Apple Inc. faced down members of the House committee on industry, science and technology on Thursday afternoon, telling MPs that while the company didn’t mean to mislead consumers about its slowing down of some older smartphones, it had learned its lesson about communicating clearly. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers …

Worldwide smartphone sales dip in Q4: Gartner

Global smartphones saw a year-over-year decline in sales for the first time in the fourth quarter due to a preference for quality feature phones and users holding onto their smartphones longer, according to Gartner Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Bell intros product for improved home internet

In a release on Wednesday, BCE Inc. said it launched its residential mesh WiFi product. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. FREE …

NDP calls on Apple to justify software slowdown to MPs

The NDP says silicon valley giant Apple Inc. should speak to a Parliamentary committee about an unpopular change to its mobile operating system that slowed down older devices, but holding the tech giant accountable might not be straightforward, according to an expert. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Samsung to unlock FM chip in new smartphones

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. will unlock FM chips in its newer smartphones, according to a press release issued Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The …

With the iPhone, Freedom like a ‘new business’: Mehr

Shaw Communications Inc.’s wireless brand may see its strongest quarter yet following the introduction of the iPhone to its roster, the impact of which, the company’s president Jay Mehr said on a conference call with analysts Thursday, has transformed the business. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Don’t count on Freedom’s $0 iPhone X offer for long: analyst

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile announced in a press release Wednesday it will offer the entire 2017 line of Apple Inc.’s iPhone for $0 up front. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take …

Freedom set to support older iPhones with spectrum rejig, deployment

Shaw Communications Inc. announced Thursday that it would move to redeploy existing spectrum in addition to deploying new spectrum to allow it to support older Apple Inc. iPhones — addressing a shortcoming analysts have pointed to as a limiting factor for the company. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Rogers unfazed by Freedom ‘Big Gig’ offer: CEO

Joe Natale isn’t worried about Shaw Communications Inc.’s move to offer its Freedom customers 10 gigabytes for $50, effectively turning away the idea that the move is a game changer in the industry. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

iPhone X, component shortages lowering phone demand: report

A new report from Gartner Inc. is predicting the Nov. 2017 release of Apple Inc.’s iPhone X combined with component shortages will cause a dip in ability to meet smartphone demand in 2017 and push worldwide mobile phone purchasing into 2018. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Amazon adds Alexa to music app

Amazon.com Inc. is making its voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant Alexa available on its Amazon Music app in some countries. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. …

Bell warns about some Apple Watch 911 capabilities

BCE Inc. issued a press release Friday to let customers with Apple Inc.’s new Apple Watch know that “their longitude and latitude location may not be supplied to 9-1-1 operators when the device is not paired with their iPhone via Bluetooth.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

Quebec ready to tax Netflix: culture minister

If the federal government isn’t willing to impose taxes on foreign over-the-top (OTT) services, Quebec is willing to do so itself, Le Devoir quoted Quebec culture minister Luc Fortin as saying Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …

Bell Apple Watch advantage unknown: experts

Wearable use in Canada and around the world is trending up, but the numbers for smartwatches are still too low to suggest BCE Inc. can see any real gain as it prepares to be the first Canadian carrier to deliver Apple Inc.’s first cellular-enabled watch. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Shaw poised for boost from new iPhones

Apple Inc.’s new iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, announced Tuesday, are compatible with spectrum bands used by Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile, though not extending that capability to older models could dampen the positive effect on the company, according to analysts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

NFB awareness lagging behind Disney, CBC

Canadians’ awareness of the National Film Board (NFB) as an organization that produces documentary or animated films falls behind Walt Disney Co. and its Pixar studios as well as CBC/Radio-Canada, and those who do know about the NFB want it to be easier to access its content online, according to board-commissioned research. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Making available right established for downloads, but no rates set

The Copyright Board has ruled that the making available right under the Copyright Act applies to downloads, settling a case that began four years ago, but declined to set a value for the tariff. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Wearable sales to grow in 2017: Gartner

Worldwide sales of wearable devices are forecast to grow 16.7 per cent this year compared to 2016, according to Gartner Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …

32% of anglophones use music streaming services: MTM

The popularity of music streaming platforms among anglophone Canadians has grown over the past year, with 32 per cent reporting using a music streaming service in the past month when surveyed in the spring of 2017. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Smartphone penetration at 80% among anglophones: MTM

The number of anglophone Canadians who have smartphones climbed up to 80 per cent in the fall of 2016 from 77 per cent a year earlier, according to a new report from Media Technology Monitor (MTM).

U.S. tech companies oppose Trump travel ban

Almost 100 tech companies in the United States have filed a brief in a court case against U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking entry of citizens from seven countries and all refugees into the United States.

The document was filed Sunday and signed by 97 companies, including Apple Inc., Facebook Inc., Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Microsoft Corp., Spotify AB’s U.S. division, and Twitter Inc.

Bell offering IBM enterprise apps

BCE Inc.’s business customers now have access to IBM Corp.’s MobileFirst enterprise apps for devices running on Apple Inc.’s iOS operating system.

Freedom to at least quadruple handset offering by mid-2017: Shaw

As Shaw Communications Inc. released its first quarterly earnings report since rebranding its wireless segment to Freedom Mobile, CEO Brad Shaw said the company is looking to have a double-digit number of handsets available by mid-year, after some analysts pegged the company’s small handset roster as a potential limiting factor to its appeal.

“I think when you look at the new network, one of the key things is handsets and handset availability,” Shaw said on a conference call with media Thursday.

Competition Bureau drops Apple competition case

The Competition Bureau said Friday it has discontinued an investigation into whether Apple Inc. engaged in anticompetitive practices related to sales of its iPhone.

The bureau was looking at “contractual terms that reference rivals as well as other terms that impose obligations on wireless carriers relating to the sale and marketing of the iPhone in Canada,” according to a statement posted on its website.

‘Proceed cautiously’ in expanding lawful access: privacy commissioners

OTTAWA — The federal government hasn’t made its case for why law enforcement and intelligence agencies need stronger powers to intercept, decrypt and share citizens’ information, the country’s privacy watchdogs said Tuesday, as they shared their submission to the federal government’s national security framework review.

Limited handsets a concern as Wind rebrands: analyst

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Wind Mobile will be rebranded as Freedom Mobile and its LTE roll-out will come sooner than expected in two cities, the company’s CEO said Monday. The move comes despite some analyst concern about the availability of handsets compatible with its spectrum.  

Corus launches History OTT service

Corus Entertainment Inc. has launched History Vault, a subscription over-the-top (OTT) service featuring programming from its History channel.

The service, which costs $5.49 a month, “features hundreds of hours of content within the [History] library, including series, documentaries, and specials,” Corus said in a Thursday press release.

Bell announces 1M+ Crave TV subs, Fibe on Apple TV

BCE Inc. reported Thursday that its over-the-top (OTT) product Crave TV has surpassed one million subscribers, as it announced its Internet protocol TV (IPTV) service Fibe TV is getting distribution through Apple Inc.’s TV service.

Rogers profit down 53% after Shomi write-down

Rogers Communications Inc. reported increased third-quarter revenues but lower net profits, in light of cutting its over-the-top (OTT) service Shomi last month.

Some Corus talk radio stations streaming on Apple Music

Corus Entertainment Inc. is making seven of its news talk radio stations available for free internationally on Apple Inc.’s Apple Music streaming service.

The company said in a Tuesday press release that it is “the first Canadian commercial radio company” available on Apple Music. 

New iPhone driving discounts for older models: Barclays

Carriers are capitalizing on demand for Apple Inc.’s new iPhone with heavy discounts on older models, according to Barclays Capital.

Despite a $400 price tag for the 32GB iPhone on a two-year contract and still higher prices for the larger storage models — due largely to the weaker Canadian dollar —the pre-order supplies across Canada “have now largely sold out,” according to the Monday’s note by analyst Phillip Huang.

Twitter launches device apps for TV live-streaming

Twitter Inc. has launched apps that allow viewers to access its live-streaming video through Apple Inc.’s Apple TV, Amazon.com Inc.’s Fire TV and Microsoft Corp.’s XBox One.

More devices moving Internet usage beyond home computers: Sandvine

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Amazon looking at cheaper music service: report

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Asian makers carry Q2 phone sales: Gartner

Asian mobile phone manufacturers helped drive global smartphone sales to a 4.3 per cent year-over-year increase in the second quarter of 2016, despite slowing overall sales, according to data released by Gartner Inc. Thursday.

The Shopping Channel introduces Apple TV app

The Shopping Channel (TSC) has launched an app for Apple Inc.’s Apple TV platform.

Rogers Communications Inc., which owns the Mississauga-based retailer, announced the ShopTSC app in a Thursday press release.

The app will allow “customers to stream both live and pre-recorded broadcasts, browse exclusive items,” and buy items “directly from their TVs.”

Smartphone penetration 77% among anglophones: MTM

Apple Pay expands availability in Canada

Canadians will now be able to use Apple Inc.’s Apple Pay service with Visa, MasterCard and debit cards, according to a Tuesday press release from payment processing company Moneris Solutions Corp.

Global wearable device shipments to grow 38.2% this year: IDC

International Data Corp. said Thursday that global shipments of wearable devices are expected to reach 110 million by the end of 2016, with a 38.2 per cent growth over the previous year, and to reach 237 million by 2020.

The research company said in a press release that “an expanding lineup of vendors combined with fast-growing consumer awareness and demand” accounts for the expected growth from 2015 to 2020.

Apple gathers support in FBI dispute

Major tech companies have filed documents with the U.S. courts in support of Apple Inc.'s position against creating a workaround for investigators to access encrypted information on an iPhone connected with the Dec. 2 attack in San Bernadino, Calif.

iPhone encryption issue one to watch: privacy commissioner

OTTAWA — Canadians should be keeping an eye on the FBI's request to gain access to an iPhone connected to the Dec. 2 San Bernadino, Calif., attack, according to Canada's privacy commissioner.

Brent Johnston leaves Telus, joins Apple

Telus Corp.’s senior vice-president of consumer marketing, Brent Johnston, has left his position at Telus to join Apple Inc.’s Canadian division as its new senior managing director.

According to Johnston’s LinkedIn profile, which was updated Thursday, the former Telus executive was with the company for nearly 11 years. He held the senior vice-president of consumer marketing position for almost two years.

Johnston began the new position at Apple this month, according to his profile.

Samsung to pay Apple damages for iPhone infringement: report

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has agreed to pay Apple Inc. more than $548 million US as determined in a court decision earlier this year related to an earlier ruling that Samsung infringed certain Apple patents for the iPhone in the design of its own smartphones, Reuters reported.

Tablet shipments to be down 8.1% this year: IDC

Global tablet shipments will be down 8.1 per cent for 2015 overall, though tablets with detachable keyboards are expected to see strong growth for this year and in 2016, according to International Data Corp.

The technology research company said in a press release Tuesday that tablet shipments will total 211.3 million this year.

Napster launches music subscription service to Canadians

Rhapsody International Inc.’s music subscription service, Napster, announced Monday that its subscription service is now available in Canada.

It said in a press release that, for a limited time, Canadians can subscribe to the service and get the first three months for $1, after which it will be $9.99 per month.

Apple drives 500% increase in smartwatch shipments: report

Global smartwatch shipments were up 510 per cent in this year's third quarter from a year earlier, with 6.1 million units shipped compared to one million during the same period the previous year, according to a new report from Strategy Analytics released Wednesday.

Smartphone shipments rise 6.8% in Q3: IDC

Worldwide smartphone shipments grew 6.8 per cent from a year earlier in the third quarter to 355.2 million units, up from 332.6 million units in the same period the previous year, according to a new report from International Data Corp.

Apple Pay coming to Canada, with Amex

Apple Inc.'s mobile payment system is coming to Canada but will be, at least initially, limited to holders of credit cards from American Express Co.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, during a conference call Tuesday to discuss the company's fourth-quarter earnings, announced that Apple Pay would be in Canada and Australia this year for American Express customers, and Spain, Singapore and Hong Kong would follow next year.

Apple Pay is currently operational only in the United States and United Kingdom.

Are apps the future of TV?

In the past 18 months, Ottawa-based TV app-maker You.i TV has grown from 20 employees to 130, and the company expects that kind of expansion to continue in the next year, according to Matt Nelson, You.i TV’s director of marketing.

Rogers, Bell start supporting WiFi calling

BCE Inc. and Roger Communications Inc. have begun supporting calls and texts over WiFi networks with the latest iPhone.

"You can call and text wherever you have a Wi-Fi connection in places like basements, condos and tall buildings — places where you may have had trouble getting reception before," Rogers says on its website.

Bell says on its website: "Wi-Fi Calling lets you expand your mobile coverage in locations across Canada where you may not have cell reception."

New version of Apple TV will include Siri

The newest version of Apple Inc.’s Apple TV will include its voice-recognition program, Siri, which users can access to search for content across apps, the company said Wednesday.

Android Wear now compatible with iPhones

Google Inc. said Monday that its Android Wear operating system for smartwatches can now work with Apple Inc.'s iPhones.

Google said in a blog that LG Corp.'s Watch Urbane is the first device the iPhone-compliant version of Android Wear is available on. It said all future Android Wear watches will work with iPhones.

Android Wear will work with devices as far back as the iPhone 5 that run on iOS 8.2 or higher.

Wearable shipments tripled in Q2: IDC

Technology research company International Data Corp. said said in a press release Thursday that the global market for wearables grew 223.2 per cent in this year's second quarter with 18.1 million units shipped, up from 5.6 million units shipped in the same period the previous year.

Global smartphone sales growth slows

Worldwide smartphone sales in this year's second quarter grew at their slowest rate since 2013, largely as a result of the first year-to-year decline on record for sales of smartphones in China, Gartner Inc. said Thursday.

The research company said in a press release there were 330 million sales of smartphones in the second quarter, up 13.5 per cent from a year earlier. In China, sales were down four per cent from the year before, Gartner said.

Braille smartwatch in development to give blind another option

A South Korean company is aiming to provide blind people with the first-ever braille-display smartwatch this year, and a representative from the Canadian Institute for the Blind (CNIB) says it provides an opportunity for many to improve their quality of life.

Apple television service delayed: report

Apple Inc.'s plans to offer live Internet-based television to residents of the United States have been delayed, said a report from Bloomberg on Friday.

An article said sources have indicated talks are progressing slowly between Apple and broadcasters such as CBC Corp. and 21st Century Fox Inc. Price was reported to be a stumbling block as Apple seeks to provide a service for $40 US a month, about half the average cable bill in the United States. 

Carriers ordered to comply in Apple competition case

The Federal Court has ordered wireless carriers to provide information being asked for by the Competition Bureau as it looks into whether Apple Inc. engaged in anticompetitive practices related to sales of its iPhone.

Competition Bureau seeks info on iPhone pricing from carriers

The Competition Bureau has filed applications in Federal Court seeking information from wireless carriers about how they set prices for Apple Inc.’s devices.

Showtime streaming available for U.S. Apple customers next month

CBS Corp. said Wednesday that it will offer Showtime as an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service to customers of Apple Inc. in the United States, starting next month.

The launch will coincide with the premiere of two new seasons of Showtime’s hit shows Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex on July 12, CBS said in a press release.

CBS said the new service will be available on the Showtime app for iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches, as well as for Apple TV customers, for $10.99 US per month.

Wearable apps to multiply in coming years: IDC

The number of third-party applications for smart wearable devices is expected to surge from 2,500 last year to 349,000 by 2019, International Data Corp. said Tuesday.

The research company said in a news release that most of these apps will be consumer oriented, though there is an opportunity for apps in the enterprise space. It said apps targeted specifically for enterprise-related tasks currently make up about 10 per cent of what’s available for smart wearables, and that is anticipated to grow to 17 per cent over the next four years.

Videotron rolls out Apple watch app for TV customers

MONTREAL — Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron has launched a new app for Apple Inc.’s smartwatch that the company hopes will increase discoverability of channels available though its cable packages and appeal to early tech adopters.

CraveTV now on Apple TV, still requires TV subscription

BCE Inc. announced Tuesday that its CraveTV streaming service is now available to Canadians on Apple TV, but subscriptions to a participating TV service provider are still required to access the service.

CIBC announces Apple Watch app

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce announced Thursday it will soon have a banking application for Apple Inc.'s Apple Watch.

CIBC said in a press release that its app will allow users to check account balances, transfer funds between accounts, view recent transactions, or find the nearest branch or ATM.

It said the app would be available from the Apple Watch App Store on Friday.

Apple Pay could launch in Canada this fall: report

Apple Inc. is negotiating with Canada's major banks about a launch of its mobile-payment service, Apple Pay, in November, according to the Wall Street Journal.

An article published online Friday said Apple is negotiating with the six largest Canadian banks — Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Royal Bank of Canada and National Bank of Canada.

IDC downgrades tablet forecast for 2015

International Data Corp. has lowered its forecast for tablet and 2-in-1 hybrid shipments in 2015 following previous figures that showed the first ever year-on-year decline for this market in the fourth quarter of last year.

RBC expects challenge from tech giants over mobile payments: report

The chief executive of the Royal Bank of Canada says his company is on a “collision course” with technology giants such as Apple Inc. and Google Inc. as the act of making payments with mobile devices becomes more mainstream, according to a report in the Financial Post.

The newspaper reported Dave McKay told an investors conference in New York Tuesday that the companies making mobile payment technology available might come between the direct relationship the bank has with customers through payment tools such as credit cards.

Apple releases details on watch, exclusive HBO streaming service

Apple Inc. unveiled new details about its upcoming Apple Watch on Monday, saying the wearable device will be available on April 24 in Canada and eight other countries.

The watch will have 18 hours of battery life with “normal use,” CEO Tim Cook said at an event in San Francisco on Monday, and will integrate with users’ smartphones to provide health data, notifications and messaging capabilities.

BlackBerry CEO open to producing another tablet: report

BlackBerry Ltd. CEO John Chen said he's open the idea of having the company produce another tablet, according to a report by CNet.

"It's not in the works, but it's on my mind," an article published on the website Tuesday reported Chen as saying during an interview from the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The article reported Chen as saying he would "want it to be different. I want it to be iconic. Bringing a tablet out for a tablet's sake, it's not the right thing to do."

Global smartphones sales exceeded one billion in 2014: Gartner

Technology research company Gartner Inc. said Tuesday that annual smartphone sales surpassed one billion for the first time in 2014.

The company said in a press release that mobile-phone manufacturers sold 1.24 billion devices last year, up 28.4 per cent from 969.7 million in 2013. In the fourth quarter, sales were 367.5 million, a gain of 29.9 per cent from the same period a year earlier.

Apple watch to replace car keys, CEO says

Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook said the company’s new smartwatch is designed to be able to replace car keys and fobs, The Telegraph reported Friday.

The British newspaper quoted Cook as saying the watch will also include features such as heart rate monitoring and mobile payments using Apple Pay, and the battery life will last for a full day.

IPhone 6 Plus data usage double that of regular iPhone 6: report

Users of Apple Inc.'s iPhone 6 Plus are using twice as much data as those with the iPhone 6, according to a report from Citrix Systems Inc.

The U.S. provider of workplace mobility technology said in a press release earlier this month that the bigger, 5.5-inch screens of the iPhone 6 Plus — compared to 4.7 inches for the regular iPhone 6 — leads more video viewing. Its report said that data usage on the iPhone 6 Plus is 10 times that of the iPhone 3GS.

Apple to spend billions on European data centres

Apple Inc. said Monday it will spend 1.7 billion euros ($2.4 billion Cdn) on two data centres in Europe that are expected to be operational in 2017.

The company said in a press release the facilities will each be 166,000 square metres (1.8 million square feet), with one going in Athenry, Ireland, and the other in Viborg, Denmark.

Apple said the data centres will be used to power its online services such as iTunes purchase, the App Store, iMessage, Maps and Siri for customers across Europe.

BlackBerry seeks injunction against Typo 2: report

BlackBerry Ltd. is seeking an injunction against the latest version of a keyboard add-on made by Ryan Seacrest's Typo Products LLC for Apple Inc.'s iPhones, Reuters reported Tuesday.

The article said BlackBerry claimed in U.S. District Court filings that the Typo 2 copies "numerous proprietary BlackBerry designs and patents ... "

Apple raising app prices in Canada: report

Apple Inc. is raising prices for applications sold through its App Store in Canada due to the declining value of the Canadian dollar, the Canadian Press reported Thursday.

The CP article cites an email Apple sent to software developers Wednesday, saying price increases would take effect within 36 hours in Canada, Norway and European Union countries. The exchange rate was cited as the reason for the price hike in Canada, the article said.

Apple ordered to provide records to Competition Bureau

OTTAWA — Apple Inc.'s Canadian subsidiary has been ordered by the Federal Court to hand over records and other relevant information to help the Competition Bureau determine whether the technology company has engaged in anti-competitive practices with Canadian wireless carriers.

However, Apple's willingness to comply is in question, according the remarks made Wednesday by bureau lawyer Derek Leschinsky during the court hearing where the bureau's request was granted.

Global smartphone sales up 20% in Q3: Gartner

Global smartphone sales to end users were up 20.3 per cent worldwide in this year's third quarter compared to a year earlier, technology research company Gartner Inc. said Monday.

The company said in a press release that smartphone sales amounted to 301 million in the third quarter. It said feature-phone sales were down 25 per cent, which made the overall mobile-phone market flat in the third quarter with 455.8 million sales.  A shrinking price gap between feature phones and Android-powered smartphones was cited as the reason for the trend.

Competition Bureau asks Apple to turn over records on iPhone contracts

The Competition Bureau filed an application on Tuesday in federal court to compel Apple Inc. to turn over records related to an investigation into whether the company used anti-competitive language in its contracts with wireless carriers.

Competition Bureau spokesman Greg Scott said in an email that there is no “conclusion of wrongdoing” by Apple at this time and that the Competition Tribunal hasn’t received a formal complaint on the issue.

The bureau did not list the source of the investigation.

Smartphone market growth expected to slow

International Data Corp. said Monday that growth in worldwide smartphone shipments is expected to drop from 26.3 per cent this year to 12.2 per cent next year, and even further in the years beyond that.

IDC said in a press release that it expects smartphone shipments to amount to 1.3 billion this year, rising to 1.4 billion in 2015. IDC research manager Ramon Llamas noted in a phone interview that these estimates were rounded off, thus not reflecting the full growth of more than 12 per cent in shipments expected in 2015.

BlackBerry offers iPhone holders up to $600 to buy Passport

BlackBerry Ltd. is offering up to $600 in incentives for Canadian iPhone users to purchase a BlackBerry Passport.

Eastlink to fully subsidize iPhone 6 series

Eastlink said Wednesday it will start offering the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus for no money down with two-year contracts to customers on Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island starting Friday.

The company said in a press release that the 16 GB version of Apple Inc.'s iPhone 6 will be free with voice-and-text-only packages starting at $25.63 a month on two-year contracts. The 16GB version of the iPhone 6 Plus will also be available for no money down with monthly fees starting at $30.21 on two-year contracts.

Apple unveils new iPads, iMac

Apple Inc. announced new versions of its iPad tablets on Thursday, as well as updated versions of its desktop computers, at a Cupertino, Calif., press event.

The new 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 is thinner and lighter than the previous generation iPad Air, Apple’s senior vice-president of marketing Phil Schiller said at the event, and it includes a better camera, a faster processor and, for the first time, integrates the company’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

MTS, SaskTel to carry iPhone 6

Two regional wireless carriers from the Prairie provinces announced Monday they will carry Apple Inc.'s new iPhone 6. when it becomes available on Sept. 19.

Apple announces new phones, payment system, watch

Apple Inc. announced two new larger iPhones, a payment system and a wearable device, the Apple Watch, at a Tuesday event in Cupertino, Calif.

The new smartphones are, at 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches measured diagonally, larger than previous iPhones and feature an upgraded camera, improved WiFi connectivity and compatibility with the latest carrier technologies such as voice-over-LTE and WiFi calling.

Android makes up almost 85% of smartphone market: IDC

The dominant smartphone brands keep getting stronger as weaker brands, such as devices from BlackBerry Ltd., lose more ground, according to International Data Corp.

The technology research company said in a press release Thursday that worldwide smartphone shipments totalled 301.3 million in this year's second quarter, up 25.3 per cent from the same time a year earlier.

World tablet shipments up 11% in second quarter

World tablet shipments were up 11 per cent in the second quarter compared to a year earlier, International Data Corp. said Thursday.

Apple, IBM team up to target enterprise business

Apple Inc. and International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. have entered a partnership that will integrate IBM’s “big data and analytics capabilities” with Apple’s iPad and iPhone products.

Videotron’s new TV app ‘sign of what’s to come’: analyst

MONTREAL —Videotron’s new iPad application, which allows users to access live TV, free and paid video-on-demand (VOD) content and programming stored on a personal video recorder (PVR), in addition to a recommendation function and integrated social networking, is a sign of where "TV-everywhere" strategies are heading, said Alan Breznick, a media, telecom and technology analyst at research group Heavy Reading.

Rogers launches Sportsnet streaming service

Rogers Communications Inc. on Tuesday announced the launch of an online streaming service and mobile application for Sportsnet programing.

The company said in a press release the service is called Sportsnet Now, and for the time being is available as a "preview" to Rogers customers. Rogers spokesman Sebastian Gatica clarified in an email that this means those who subscribe to Sportsnet on Rogers cable.