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.

Verizon leading 5G tests

Verizon Communications Inc. has partnered with other technology companies for 5G field testing, the U.S. carrier announced Monday.

The testing with the so-called 5G Technology Forum partners — including Ericsson AB, Intel Corp., Nokia Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Qualcomm Inc. and Apple Inc. — “covers a wide range of deployment scenarios," Verizon said in a press release. 

Smartphone sales growth slowest since 2008: Gartner

Gartner Inc. said Thursday that global smartphone sales saw their slowest growth rate since 2008 in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Sales only grew 9.7 per cent to total 403 million units in the fourth quarter of 2015, up from 367 million units sold the same period a year earlier.

The research company said in a press release that smartphone sales grew 14.4 per cent overall between 2014 and 2015, to 1.4 billion units from 1.2 billion units a year earlier.

Mobile delays cause subscriber headaches: Ericsson report

Smartphone users who experience delays while streaming content are more likely to look for other service providers, suggests a new Ericsson AB study.

According to results published Wednesday in its Mobility Report, Ericsson said it found that study participants who faced a high level of video delays while streaming video responded negatively to all mobile service provider brands.

"This surprising finding suggests that major delays can even cause the whole industry to suffer a loss of brand equity," the report said. 

Shaw to keep Wind’s current strategy in place: exec

As it takes ownership of Wind Mobile, Shaw Communications Inc. will continue positioning Wind as a cheaper option compared to the big three national wireless carriers, according to the company’s chief operating officer.

In a wide-ranging phone interview with The Wire Report, Jay Mehr said Shaw plans to keep the same “strategy that Wind has been executing over the course of last year.”

Mobile data traffic to jump six-fold by 2020: Cisco

A rise in the number of wireless devices accessing mobile networks will lead to six times more mobile data traffic by 2020 in North America, according to new projections from Cisco Systems Inc.

In its 10th annual Visual Networking Index focusing on consumer and business mobile data traffic and its key drivers released Wednesday, Cisco said North America will see an increase from 557,237 terabytes of mobile data traffic per month in 2015 to 3,208,203 terabytes per month in 2020.

BlackBerry launches new mobile security software

BlackBerry Ltd. announced Tuesday the release of a new suite of mobile security software for businesses.

It said in a press release that the new software, called Good Secure EMM Suites, is "a comprehensive set of mobile security, management, productivity and collaboration offerings."

Service restored to NetTalk customers through Primus

NetTalk.com Inc. announced Wednesday evening that its VoIP service has been restored to all its customers in Canada.

Court hears mobile-TV case

BCE Inc.'s appeal against a CRTC decision banning the provision of mobile-TV services that are not subject to regular data charges was heard by the Federal Court of Appeal in Toronto on Tuesday, and the court is expected to render a decision some time in the coming months.

As CBC’s funding increases, will it have to change course?

Following last fall’s election, the government is set to boost CBC/Radio-Canada's funding, but when that will happen and under what conditions is unclear. It also remains to be seen whether the public broadcaster will continue the long-term plan it began under the former Conservative government.

The new Liberal government plans to hold a consultation prior to making additional funding available, though it’s not disclosing when it will happen, how comprehensive that consultation will be or how it might affect CBC’s current plans.

CRTC working to resolve Iristel, NetTalk connection issue

Iristel Inc., a Markham, Ont.- based telecom company, announced Tuesday it is working with the CRTC to resolve an ongoing dispute with Florida-based VoIP provider NetTalk.com Inc., in order to reinstate connections to customers who have been disconnected from their VoIP service.

Mobile prices on the rise

All major mobile carriers in Canada are raising their prices, according to analysts.

Drew McReynolds, an analyst with RBC Dominion Security, detailed in a research note last week how BCE Inc. had recently raised its prices on share plans for premium smartphones by $5 to $65 a month, its plans for other smartphones by $5 to $55 and bring-your-own device plans by $10 to $55. Those rates are before data plans are added.

Traditional TV still important for baby boomers: MTM

According to a new report on media technology adoption of baby boomers released Wednesday by the Media Technology Monitor, a project of CBC/Radio Canada, 89 per cent of baby boomer anglophones aged 50 to 69 have a paid TV service subscription, compared to 73 per cent of younger adults aged 18 to 49, and 93 per cent of seniors aged 70 and above.

Gigabit Internet in 3% of Canadian homes by end of 2016: Deloitte

The availability and adoption of gigabit Internet in Canada is expected to grow this year, with almost three per cent of Canadians subscribing to the service by the end of 2016, according to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd.’s annual predictions of technology trends.

CCTS to enforce TV service provider code

The Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) said in a press release Friday it will be responsible for administering the CRTC's new television service provider code of conduct.

Bell to bring iHeartRadio to Canada

BCE Inc. announced Wednesday it has signed a partnership deal with iHeartMedia Inc. in order to bring iHeartRadio, the free digital radio and music streaming service based in the U.S., to Canada this year.

It said in a press release that iHeartRadio will provide customers “instant access to the live radio feature,” and will showcase content from Bell’s broadcast and digital-only radio stations across mobile, auto dashes, tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles and wearables.  

Bell’s claim FTTH investment at risk is ‘fear-mongering’: CNOC

Small Internet service providers (ISPs) are asking the government to reject an appeal, filed by BCE Inc., of a CRTC decision that mandated access by smaller competitors to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, stating Bell’s arguments in the case contradict statements it has made to investors.

Nokia gains control of Alcatel-Lucent

Nokia Corp. said Monday that it has won control of telecom-equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent SA with almost 80 per cent of the company's outstanding shares tendered in response to Nokia's acquisition offer.

Nokia said in a press release that this figure was based on results published by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, France's stock-market regulator, and that it had "declared the offer successful."

Competition Bureau says Telus will pay $7.3M in premium texting case

The Competition Bureau said Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with Telus Corp. to end legal proceedings in relation to premium texting services that former and current customers have paid for.

The Competition Bureau said in a press release that Telus would issue up to $7.3 million in refunds to customers after it found Telus made “false or misleading representations in advertisements for premium text messages in pop-up ads, apps and on social media,” and added that this was the largest consumer rebate obtained under a bureau agreement.

BlackBerry mum on quarterly smartphone sales

BlackBerry Ltd. did not provide figures on smartphone sales for its third fiscal quarter, leaving it undisclosed how well its first smartphones to run on Android software are selling.

The Canadian smartphone-maker and mobile-services provider said in a press release Friday that revenue in the three months ended on Nov. 28 was $548 million US, down 30.9 per cent from $793 million US a year earlier.

Its net loss for the quarter was $89 million US, down from $148 million US one year earlier.

Shaw provides Go WiFi to ferry commuters in Vancouver

Shaw Communications Inc. announced Thursday that it is partnering with Vancouver’s transportation authority to provide Shaw Go WiFi for free to all passengers travelling on the SeaBus ferry route.

It said in the press release that WiFi will be available for free at both the Waterfront terminal, which is located downtown Vancouver, and Lonsdale Quay terminal, located in north Vancouver.

Ericsson renews contract with Eastlink for 3 years

Ericsson AB announced Thursday that it has renewed its agreement with Eastlink to expand and upgrade its LTE and HSPA networks, as well as continue to be the exclusive supplier for radio access network equipment for another three years.

It said in the press release that the renewed agreement will allow Eastlink to provide its customers with a suite of services that will include bundling options with TV, Internet and landline phone services.

Shaw looks to enter wireless market with $1.6B deal for Wind

The Big Three may have just become the Big Four, as Shaw Communications Inc. announced Wednesday it is attempting to become a wireless provider by acquiring Wind Mobile.

Shaw said in a press release the deal means Shaw will acquire Canada's largest non-incumbent wireless provider, which currently has 940,000 subscribers in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, along with 50 MHz of spectrum in each province.

CRTC consults on off-tariff roaming agreements

The CRTC on Wednesday started a consultation that asks whether it should refrain from regulating some arrangements between incumbent wireless carriers and smaller operators regarding domestic roaming where the terms or conditions might differ from regulations that are in place.

TV ads most influential among Canadians: survey

In a survey of Canadian adults, 57 per cent said they are most likely to notice an advertisement while watching TV, compared to 13 per cent who said they were most likely to do so while listening to the radio and only two per cent who said they were likely to do so watching video content on a mobile device, according to a new survey conducted by Thinktv Inc. that was released Wednesday.

Wind Mobile upgrades Vancouver area coverage

Wind Mobile announced Tuesday that it is adding antennas and deploying new spectrum in the Vancouver area as an initial step in a cross-Canada network upgrade.

"Wind customers in the greater Vancouver area are already noticing better performance as we upgrade every aspect of our network components," Dean Price, Wind's general manager for the West, said in a press release. "We expect to have our greater Vancouver coverage area completed by the end of January 2016."

Netflix says new process will waste less bandwidth

Netflix Inc. is re-encoding its entire library of content in order to provide customers with a better experience for watching content while using less bandwidth to process it. 

The company said in a blog Monday that the process is called per-title encoding, in which an analysis of every title that is available was conducted in order to determine the quality and the amount of bandwidth required for it to be streamed.

Relevance trumps affordability in reasons to forgo Internet: Ipsos

Newly released survey results show that almost 10 per cent of Canadians still do not have Internet access at home, and more people cite its relevance to their personal lives than affordability as a reason why.

Data released by Ipsos Public Affairs on Friday showed that 91 per cent of respondents to a survey reported getting the Internet at home. Among the nine per cent without home Internet, two per cent said they had it on a mobile subscription only, another two per cent used it outside of their homes and five per cent did not use it at all.

Yahoo launches mobile app in U.S. to find OTT content

Yahoo Inc. announced Thursday the launch of its Yahoo Video Guide mobile app for customers in the United States to search for video content across multiple services they have installed on their devices.

The company said in a blog that customers will be able to “quickly and seamlessly search” for content in order to find out which over-the-top content provider is streaming programming they want to watch. The post added that customers can click on the content and will be redirected to the app where that content is available.

Walmart announces mobile payment function for U.S.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Thursday that it is launching a mobile-payment function for stores in the United States.

It said in a press release that certain stores will start accepting mobile payments from the Walmart app this month, and this service will be available across the U.S. within the first half of 2016.

Walmart said the function is added to the existing Walmart app, which already allowed customers to check in when picking up online orders, refill pharmacy prescriptions and locate particular items in stories.

Wind to launch LTE by end of 2016 with new financing

Wind Mobile is looking to make LTE service available to at least some of its customers by the end of next year, after announcing it has borrowed $425 million to help it do so.

On Thursday, Wind issued a press release that indicated it has secured a new financing package worth $425 million that involves backing from Toronto-Dominion Bank, Bank of Montreal and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Also involved is Finnverva, the export credit agency of Finland, where the technology provider for Wind's network upgrade, Nokia Corp., is based.

Old domestic roaming charges still being worked out

The CRTC has asked Canadian wireless carriers that provided roaming access to other domestic carriers — when legislation was in effect that capped domestic roaming prices to retail rates — to file new information, based on a number of clarifications about the legislation, to ensure proper amounts of money were paid.

Power struggle at company headed by ex-BlackBerry boss: report

Three board members of Powermat Technologies Ltd., a maker of wireless mobile-device chargers, are suing the company and CEO Thorsten Heins, accusing them of unauthorized operations that threaten the operation's viability, according to a report.

The website CNet reported Wednesday, based on court documents filed in Israel, where Powermat has an office, that these board members accuse Heins, a former CEO of Canada's BlackBerry Ltd., and the company of operating without an approved budget and pushing the company toward financial ruin.

Otono to launch prepaid wireless service for parents in U.S.

Otono Networks Inc. announced Wednesday it is launching next year in the U.S. a new prepaid wireless mobile service specifically for parents that will include two free lines for their kids.

It said in a press release that the service, called Krew Mobile, will include one main line designated to the parent that will be in charge of the two separate lines, all costing $39 US per month.

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.

Roam Mobility offers SIM cards for vistors to Canada

Otono Networks Inc.’s Roam Mobility, a provider of SIM cards for out-of-Canada mobile usage, announced Friday it is launching a new SIM card for visitors to Canada.

The Vancouver-based company said in a press release that the Canada Travel SIM card can be inserted into any unlocked phone and customers can start using the plan as soon as they arrive into the country.

Smartphone shipment growth slowed this year: IDC

Worldwide smartphone shipments in 2015 are expected to be 9.8 per cent more than last year for a total of 1.43 billion units, marking the first time that percentage growth for this product has been less than double digits, International Data Corp. said Thursday.

Wearable shipments up almost 200% in Q3: IDC

Worldwide wearable shipments rose 197.6 per cent with 21 million units shipped in the third quarter this year, up from 7.1 million units in the same period a year earlier, according to a new report released Thursday by International Data Corp.

Shaw provides better public WiFi for premium plans

Shaw Communications Inc. announced Wednesday that all customers who are subscribed to its Internet 30, or any broadband Internet plan above that, will have access to download speeds six times faster when connected to any of the 75,000 Shaw Go WiFi hotspot across Western Canada.

Rogers to continue providing wireless services for Quebec government

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Wednesday it has signed an agreement with the Centre de services partagés du Quebec (CSPQ) to continue its wireless services for up to 10 years with the government of Quebec.

Rogers said in the press release that it will provide wireless technologies, including voice and data services, and connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT) at the provincial and municipal levels.

Wind donating phones, wireless service to refugees

Wind Mobile announced Tuesday it is partnering with Lifeline Syria, a non-profit organization that helps Syrian refugees with the relocation process in Canada, to provide incoming refugees with mobile phones and wireless service for free.

Major mobile providers offer extra gigabyte

The three incumbent mobile-service providers and their flanker brands were all offering Black Friday specials, lasting until the Sunday, Nov. 30, that included an extra gigabyte per month on select plans.

BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp and their discount arms — Virgin Mobile, Fido and Koodo, respectively — all said on their websites Friday certain wireless plans would feature this bonus for new customers and those upgrading before the end of the weekend.

Incumbents seek little change in domestic data roaming tariffs

The domestic roaming rates for voice and text services BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. have asked the CRTC to implement are significantly lower than what they currently charge smaller carriers, while the prices the incumbents suggested for data roaming are largely in line with tariffs that are already in effect, and even slightly higher in the case of Bell and Rogers.

SaskTel reduces roaming rates

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. announced Tuesday it is introducing new roaming rates and five new roaming add-on plans for customers traveling outside of Canada.

It said in a press release that the new rates, part of the Roam and Relax Travel plan, will take effect Nov. 26 and will automatically be added to customers’ plans when they travel across the border.

Google launches YouTube Kids in Canada

Google Inc. announced Wednesday it is launching in Canada its YouTube app for children. 

It said in a blogpost that the YouTube Kids app will be a “safer version of YouTube, a family-friendly place for kids to explore their imagination and curiosity.” It added that parents and kids will be able to browse through channels and playlists that are separated into four categories: shows, music, learning and explore.

Numeris appoints Neil McEneaney as CEO

Numeris announced Tuesday it has appointed Neil McEneaney as its new CEO.

The ratings measurement group said in a press release that McEneaney will be replacing Jim MacLeod, who had announced his retirement in April. Numeris said McEneaney’s position will be effective Jan. 11.

Apple Pay launches in Canada

American Express Co. announced Tuesday that Apple Inc.’s Apple Pay is now available for its eligible customers and small businesses in Canada.

American Express said that once customers add their American Express card to their Apple Pay account they will be able to pay at select participating merchcants.

It added that customers will also have access to real-time notifications of details on all purchases made and easy connection to the American Express mobile app to have more detailed account monitoring.

Pandora to acquire assets of Rdio for $75M US

Pandora Media Inc. announced Monday it will be acquiring key assets from music streaming service Rdio Inc. for $75 million US.

It said in a press release that it will be acquiring technology and intellectual property, as well as hiring some employees, from Rdio and plans to expand Pandora’s listening experience by late 2016.

Cellular data to grow 10 times by 2021: Ericsson

The amount of data flowing through cellular networks, both in North America and around the world, will increase almost 10 times over the next six years as growth in smartphone adoption continues and video consumption becomes more popular, according to reports released by Ericsson AB on Tuesday.

Ericsson said global mobile data this year is expected to average 5.3 exabytes a month and rise to 51 EB by 2021, as it increases by an average of 45 per cent a year over that time. (One exabyte is equal to about one billion gigabytes.)

Jive Communications acquires Easy Office Phone

Jive Communications Inc., a Utah-based VoIP service provider, announced Monday it has bought Easy Office Phone, a cloud-based phone service company located in Burlington, Ont.

It said in a press release that Easy Office Phone has been renamed to Jive Canada.

MTS to offer CTV, TSN TV-everywhere apps

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. said Thursday that all of its TV customers will have access to BCE Inc.’s TSN GO and CTV GO mobile apps for free.

MTS said in a press release that the apps are available through Apple Inc.’s iTunes or Google Inc.’s Google Play Store, and said that its customers can also log in through a web browser to get access.

Verizon launches $2 US daily roaming in Canada

Verizon Communications Inc. said Thursday it has introduced a new roaming service plan for U.S. subscribers that allows them to use their existing talk, messaging and data plans in Canada and Mexico for an extra $2 US a day.

It said in a press release that customers can sign up for the service, called TravelPass, and activate it either on their online account or via their Verizon app.

Shoan tells radio operators to focus on smartphones

CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan told a group of broadcasting professionals this week that radio operators should look at how they can become a bigger presence on smartphones in order to hold their own against an increasing number of new options for audio consumption, such as online streaming.

Cisco gives $1.8M for IoT research at Carleton University

Cisco Systems Inc. announced Tuesday it is partnering with Carleton University and providing a $1.8-million grant over the next nine years to establish a research chair in sensor technology for the Internet of Things (IoT).

It said in a press release that Mohamed Ibnkahla, an engineering professor in the department of systems and computer engineering at Carleton, has been appointed to the position and will focus on research to develop sensor networks and other technologies for the IoT.

T-Mobile gives users unlimited video from select services

T-Mobile US Inc. announced Tuesday it will be launching a new service for its Simple Choice mobile plan customers that allows free video streaming from several services without it cutting into their LTE-data limits.

Apple Music available on Android

Apple Inc. has made its music-streaming app available for Android devices.

The Apple Music website now includes a link, that takes users to the Google Play store, to download what it calls a "beta" version of the app for Google Inc.'s Android operating system.

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.

VoLTE connections to reach 2 billion by 2020: Juniper

Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) connections are anticipated to reach two billion by 2020, rising from about 123 million connections this year, according to a new report released Monday from Juniper Research Ltd.

It said the opportunity for monetizing VoLTE will initially be limited as “network operators will initially focus on experience and quality of service, rather than monetization, with failure to deliver a high-quality offering at the outset potentially resulting in churn to rival operators.”

BlackBerry completes acquisition of Good Technology

BlackBerry Ltd. announced Monday it has completed its acquisition of Good Technology Corp. and will begin integrating its software security solutions to its mobile enterprise platform.

It said in a press release that the acquisition of Good Technology would help BlackBerry “expand its ability to offer a unified, secure mobility platform,” for mobile devices on any operating system. It added that the software has been “certified by governments around the world.”

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 up 8.4% in Q3: Juniper

Juniper Research Ltd. said Thursday that global smartphone shipments in this year's third quarter totalled 342.5 million, representing growth of 8.4 per cent.

It said in the press release that Apple Inc.’s iPhones shipped 48 million units compared to 39 million during the same period the previous year, and noted that much of its growth comes from China.

CRTC denies application to implement wireless alerting system

The CRTC denied Wednesday an application from Bruce Power requesting the immediate implementation of an emergency alerting system by wireless service providers, but announced that it will launch a public proceeding regarding the issue next year.

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.

Telecom-revenue growth trails consumer-spending increase: CRTC

Revenue from telecommunications services in Canada grew 2.4 per cent in 2014, the CRTC said Tuesday, falling short of the six per cent hike in average spending on communications services that year.

In the second part of its annual communications monitoring report, the CRTC said telecommunications services revenue was in 2014 was $45.9 billion, up from $44.8 billion in 2013.

Bell Media launches Discovery GO

BCE Inc.’s media division has launched a TV-everywhere app for five Discovery Canada channels, and said Discovery GO would soon begin offering 4K content.

The company said in a press release Monday that programming from Discovery, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Discovery Science, and Discovery Velocity will be available “live and on demand on smartphones, tablets, computers, and television set-top boxes.”

Spending on wireless services up 14% last year: CRTC

Canadians spent 14.1 per cent more on wireless services in 2014 than they did in 2013, while last year also marked the first time there were more Canadian households that relied exclusively on mobile phone service than households that subscribed only to landlines, according to the CRTC.

The commission said in its Communications Monitoring Report, parts of which it released Thursday, that 20.4 per cent of Canadian households subscribed to wireless services only, compared to the 14.4 per cent of homes with landlines and no mobile service.

Shaw sees 40% rise in profits in Q4

Shaw Communications Inc. announced Thursday a 43.8 per cent increase in its fourth quarter profits.

Few Canadians using mobile-payment apps: survey

Forty per cent of Canadians are aware of mobile-payment methods, up from 35 per cent a year earlier, but only 10 per cent are using their mobile phones to make payments on a weekly basis, according to survey results released Tuesday by consulting firm Accenture Inc.

SaskTel deploys AWS-1 spectrum, increases LTE capacity

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. announced Monday that it has successfully deployed a block of AWS-1 spectrum, increasing the capacity and speed of its 4G LTE network in nine locations in Saskatchewan.

It said in a press release that Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Swift Current, North Battleford, Estevan and Weyburn will receive an increase in 4G LTE speeds from 110 Mbps to 150 Mbps, with a bandwidth increase from 15 MHz to 20 MHz.

Yellow Pages links Canadian business information to Apple Maps

Yellow Pages Ltd. announced Monday that data from its online digital platform that provides information on Canadian businesses will be directly linked and offered on Apple Inc.’s Apple Maps.

It said in a press release that data provided will include information of about 1.8 million Canadian business' addresses, phone numbers, website URLs, hours of operation, photos, ratings and reviews.

AT&T announces number-sharing across devices

AT&T plans to introduce a service that will allow customers to link all of their mobile devices to their phone number.

Chief marketing officer David Christopher said in a blog post Wednesday that the service, called NumberSync, means “you’ll be able to send and receive texts, as well as make and receive calls, from your tablet or wearable using the same number that your family, friends and colleagues recognize.”

Rogers, Telus on opposing sides of zero-rated music case

An undue-preference complaint against a music streaming service offered by Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron has Rogers Communications Inc. arguing that zero-rating the service is a net-neutrality violation, while Telus Corp. is supporting Videotron and saying the service does not harm consumers.

Most francophones consume some English media: survey

Most French-speaking Canadians watch some English television and film, and most of those do so at least once a week, according to a newly released survey.

CBC/Radio-Canada's Media Technology Monitor said in a report released Thursday that 60 per cent of francophones in Canada reported viewing English TV or film, and 66 per cent of those who said they consumed English content did so on a weekly basis.

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.

Wayne Wouters joins BlackBerry board

Former clerk of the Privy Council, Wayne Wouters, has joined BlackBerry Ltd.'s board of directors, the company said Tuesday.

Wouters was head of the Privy Council between 2009 and 2014, and before that was secretary of the Treasury Board and held deputy ministerial and other senior positions in the federal public service.

BlackBerry CEO John Chen said in press release that "Mr. Wouters brings to BlackBerry valuable experience in government relations, strategic leadership, international trade and economic policy."

AT&T supports WiFi calling

AT&T announced Thursday that its customers can now make WiFi calls from their iPhones while in the U.S.

The company said in a blog post that customers’ phones, once set up, will use the WiFi calling setting where there is limited or no cell signal, such as a home or “office with dense building construction.”

Netflix raises price $1 per month

Netflix Inc. has raised pricing for new Canadian customers signing up for its standard package by $1, to $9.99 a month, according to its website.

The increase applies to the package that includes high-definition content and allows the same account to be viewed on two screens simultaneously. A basic package with no HD content and that can only be viewed on one device at a time remains $7.99 a month, while the premium package that includes 4K content and usage of up to four devices at a time is still $11.99.

Rogers dives into 4K video, gigabit Internet

Rogers Communications Inc. on Monday announced it is moving forward with two different kinds of technology — 4K video and gigabit-speed Internet — though one commentator says the success of either of these initiatives is uncertain.

Rogers CEO Guy Laurence said during a live-streamed press conference from Rogers Centre in Toronto — home of the Blue Jays baseball team — that 40 per cent of television sets sold in Canada this holiday season will be 4K.

"This is going to be a 4K Christmas," Laurence said.

iPhone users more likely to stream: MTM

Apple Inc.’s iPhone owners stream audio and video content more than any other device owners, according to a new report released by Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada.

The report said that among anglophone iPhone owners, 55 per cent stream audio and 68 per cent stream video. It said that of all anglophones that own any type of smartphone, 37 per cent are audio streamers and 46 per cent are video streamers. 

Canadian wearable shipments to rise 55% this year: IDC

The Canadian wearable market is expected to get shipments of 1.4 million units by the end of 2015, up almost 55 per cent from 905,000 last year, according to International Data Corp. 

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."

CRTC merges complaints against Videotron music service

The CRTC has merged two complaints against a service by Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron that exempts some music streaming services from counting against mobile customers’ data caps.

Rogers launches first Canadian music radio app for Apple Watch

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Monday that its KiSS 92.5 in Toronto is the first Canadian music radio station to launch an app for Apple Inc.’s Apple Watch.

It said in a press release that the app will allow users to instantly listen to a live stream of the station, along with scrolling through new playlists to see what is trending on the station.

Weekend iPhone sales set new record

Apple Inc. said Monday that more than 13 million iPhone 6s and 6s Plus devices have been sold in their first three days of availability, setting a new company record.

“Sales for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have been phenomenal, blowing past any previous first-weekend sales results in Apple’s history,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a press release.

Android-powered BlackBerry confirmed

BlackBerry Ltd. on Thursday confirmed that it will be releasing a smartphone that runs on Google Inc.'s Android system within the coming months.

It said in a press release that the device will be called the Priv and feature a slide-out keyboard.

BlackBerry said the new device will include "the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform." BlackBerry said the Priv will be available before the end of calendar year.

SaskTel expands wireless service in northern Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. announced Thursday two new cell towers serving the communities of Wollaston Lake and Fond-du-Lac First Nation, both located in northern Saskatchewan, are now operational.

Kik adds Jae Kim, Alim Dhanji

Kik Interactive Inc., the Waterloo, Ont.-based mobile messaging company, said Tuesday it has added two new executives.

One is Jae Kim, who will be head of strategy and partnerships, Kik said in a press release. Kim was formerly head of strategy and operations at the U.S headquarters of Line Corp., another messaging company.