FREMONTM, CALIF. – Cellphone-Mate, a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of cellular amplifier technology, and Dallas-based wireless communications distributor Hutton Communications have announced that the two companies have joined forces to go after Canadian business and residential customers.
“Cellphone-Mate’s global customers are recognizing the immense value to be gained by augmenting their current wireless connections,” said Hongtao Zhan, founder and CEO of Cellphone-Mate, in a release. “This alliance will broaden our reach across Canada by tapping Hutton’s proven and well-respected sales channel. We look forward to a very long and mutually rewarding relationship with the entire Hutton team.”
Cellphone-Mate manufactures TriFlex T amplifiers,…
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MONTREAL – Bell Canada and Astral Media executives attempted a bit more of a conciliatory approach in presenting its new, sharper, different, application to the CRTC which seeks permission to bring the two companies together under changed conditions compared to last time; but the questions from the panel of commissioners were equally as tough as the first go-around in September 2012.
(The details of the deal – already approved by the Competition Bureau, can be found here – and the company’s opening presentation unveiled nothing new, as demanded by the CRTC. So, the real story was…
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GATINEAU – That broadcast distributors would increase the price of basic packages if the CRTC licensed new 9(1)(h) services is a red herring, according the Canadian Media Production Association (CPMA) told commissioners on Tuesday.
“We believe that the impact of 9(1)(h) services on ‘affordability’ is a red herring that threatens to overshadow the achievement of more significant objectives under the Act,” Michael Hennessy, president and CEO of the CMPA, said during his opening remarks.
The association acknowledges that licensing additional services with mandatory carriage orders may trigger basic package rate increases, but it says this isn’t the sole reason broadcast…
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VANCOUVER – Telus announced the launch of BBC Kids video on demand (VOD) on its Optik TV service.
“TELUS has been a great partner helping to make BBC Kids available to a growing number of Optik TV customers,” said Rudy Buttignol, president of BBC Kids, in a release. “BBC Kids offers shows you won’t find anywhere else – programs that are fun for kids and trusted by parents.”
BBC Kids, a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Knowledge Network, features kids programming from preschool favourites to comedy and adventure for teens. Programs include Charlie and…
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WHEN ASKED ABOUT how the reports that Wind, Mobilicity and Public Mobile are all looking for a way out of the wireless business in Canada, Industry Minister Christian Paradis told reporters in a conference call on Monday: “I still remain confident we can achieve our goal,” of having four wireless players in each region of Canada.
Mr. Minister, you are the only one with that confidence.
As we have noted before, the Canadian wireless market right now, has as many players as it will ever have and in all…
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OTTAWA – With Earth Day just around the corner on April 22, why not mark the occasion by recycling your old cell phone – and get a little spring cleaning done at the same time?
According to the 2012 National Cell Phone Recycling Study, released today, 41% of old cell phones are stashed away in junk drawers as opposed to being recycled. That’s just one reason why Recycle My Cell, Canada’s free cell phone recycling program, is encouraging all Canadians to participate in this year’s Earth Day by recycling…
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DURING A SHORT, Monday morning interview with reporters during a visit to Asia to extoll the virtues of the Canadian ICT sector (and others), Industry Minister Christian Paradis noted he wasn’t exactly pleased with Rogers Communications pending purchase of Shaw Communications’ AWS spectrum.
Shaw bought the spectrum in 2008 during that auction but decided not to build a traditional wireless network after all. As spectrum which was set aside for new wireless entrants, the auction rules said it is not allowed to be purchased by one of the incumbent providers until next year. However, Shaw has already Continue Reading
TORONTO – It’s very hard to argue an organization does not represent you and your wishes when you are a paying member of that association. So after much behind-the-scenes bitterness wireless upstarts Wind Mobile, Public Mobile and Mobilicity this week quit the group, saying the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association has become co-opted by the big three wireless companies and does not represent the wishes of all of its membership.
Simon Lockie, chief regulatory officer at Globalive, Wind’s owner, said the trio of companies’ frustration with the CWTA, its public statements and private lobbying, has been simmering for months and reached…
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TORONTO – In a move that is sure to make the politicos in Ottawa take notice, Wind Mobile, Public Mobile and Mobilicity today jointly announced their withdrawal from the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), saying the association is biased in favour of its rivals and does not represent their interests.
The group claims the CWTA has become the “voice of big three telcos” – referring to Rogers, Bell and Telus – at the “expense of consumers and new entrant mobile service providers” and does not represent the Canadian mobile wireless sector.
“When we were first…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Cable companies reported a modest growth in revenues and subscribers in 2012, while satellite companies recorded a decline in these categories, according to the CRTC’s statistical and financial results for the industry released today.
Combined revenues for both cable and satellite companies increased by 4.2% from $13.5 billion in 2011 to $14.1 billion in 2012. Similarly, the total number of subscribers (which includes customers subscribed to IPTV services such as Bell’s Fibe TV or Telus’ Optik TV), rose by 1% from 11.4 million to 11.5 million. (We checked with the CRTC and the only…
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