Canadians to get Android phones in June

Rogers Wireless plans to release two Android phones, starting June 2.

(Credit: Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET)

Updated at 7:21 a.m. PDT with comment from Rogers.

Dominant Canadian carrier Rogers Wireless announced plans to release two phones in June built by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC and powered by Google's Android open-source operating system.

The HTC Dream, sold in the United States as the T-Mobile G1, was the first Android phone to go on sale last year, but now the newer HTC Magic, which lacks the G1's flip-out keyboard and uses a touch-screen software keyboard instead, has begun arriving in parts of the world. Rogers will sell both in June, the company said Thursday.

The HTC Magic phone, in this case sold through Vodafone, is coming to Canada via Rogers Wireless.

(Credit: Vodafone)

"Both devices offer outstanding wireless Internet search capabilities and a full suite of applications that run two times faster on Canada's fastest mobile network," John Boynton, Rogers Wireless' chief marketing officer, boasted in a statement Thursday.

The Rogers Wireless Android phone Web site said the debut date is June 2, but the company offered no information about prices or subscription plans.

"Regarding pricing, it will be released soon, but in the meantime, I can confirm that customers who activate or upgrade to a HTC Dream or HTC Magic smartphone will be able to take advantage of Rogers Wireless' in-market pricing," spokeswoman Elizabeth Hamilton said. "And I can also confirm that customers can choose from contract or no-contract pricing."

Rogers' 3.5G network reaches 75 percent of Canada's population, she added.

Google has high hopes that Android will hasten the arrival of smartphones with sophisticated Internet-browsing abilities. Mobile advertising, linked in part to use of its search engine, is a key area of growth for the Internet giant, but the company also wants to encourage mobile use of other services, such as Google Maps and Gmail.

The Android world is just now being upgraded to Android 1.5, aka Cupcake, which features video-recording and YouTube-uploading abilities, a software-based keyboard, faster GPS technology, stereo Bluetooth, a faster Web browser, and other changes.

However, Google and other Android partners are facing a trademark infringement lawsuit from Android Data, which obtained the Android trademark in 2002, according to Forbes and other media reports. Erich Specht, who runs the small Palatine, Ill.-based company, is seeking $94 million in damages relating to the case.

[sirtoast]

It's apples to oranges, but Bell in Canada is getting the Palm Pre, although there's no date yet. It's gonna be a tough toss up for me, to choose between the Pre and an Android phone.

[alex-cnet]

Yep. It seems like this "competition" will be funded from our pockets. If I want the Pre I need to cancel my Rogers and if I want the Magic I need to pay an early upgrade fee (or buy the phone outright).

If money grew on trees I'd have a smartphone with every major OS. Anyway to become a CNet smartphone editor? =P

[praveencusat]

Yes they released now. But its only with old CDMA no support for GSM or HSPA so far...That means you have to stick with Bell connection always. I am very much disappointed. I love to use a Palm pre but Bell's stupid plans making me to move away. On top you have to take their data connection.

[wikimon]

how the heck are they still selling more of these ugly phones. i mean, i have one and i love it, but it's like having an ugly mutant baby that only a mother could love... :(

[CreativeMalcolm]

And with this Rogers will be able to slap down all those more smartphone ads by Telus and mention that they have phones with the most choice in OS. I mean Telus was saying they had the most smart phones when all the they had was a bunch of colours of BlackBerries and some HTC windows mobile phones (that all do the same) at the same time Rogers had several berries Telus didn't, the iPhone, a several WM devices we never sell, two Nokia smart phones running Symbian, and the Palm Centro... which it's not like we sold well but whatever. With this they'll have every smart phone OS other than the Pre... and I wouldn't be surprised if once the GSM version is out they get that pretty quick.

[oassaf]

Hahahahaha, those commercials are ridiculous!

Funny, having had a HTC Dream running nicely here in Canada for about 6 months on this very Rogers network, I find this "news" unremarkable. These phones are readily available unlocked on eBay. They work fine on most networks. Who cares if Rogers adds a new handset to its stock lineup?

Note the date: Dec 8 of last year.
http://forums.bbad.com/viewtopic.php?p=68210#68210

[Thief999]

It's too bad phones like yours and other unlocked ones don't have 3G connectivity. The "news" might be unremarkable but bragging about having a phone that only has an EDGE connection... well...

[dobsorg]

Unlocked/Dev Phone 1 handsets do have 3G support, but on a limited band. I've managed to get my own working on Rogers' network with limited difficulty.

The (arguably) bigger problem is the lack of paid apps on unlocked phones. Though, to be honest, I haven't investigated terribly throughly as to whether there's a workaround.

[lo266]

Can CNET please run an article relating to Android's inability to save apps to an SD card? Lack of internal storage on the G1 is a major issue that has hampered app sales and prevented developers from bringing feature rich products to the Market.

Google has neglected its users in this regard. Please don't do the same by not pointing this out. Thanks.

[paulthe]

Let's remember this is Rogers we're talking about. They will take the phones, the new technology and use them both to screw us over again. I would like to say to all Canadians, wait until the new cellphone providers come along next year. Hopefully they will have learned the valuable lesson that we are sick and tired of being treated as crap by the wireless providers we have now.

[nostriluu]

Personally, I don't mind the G1's basic appearance, as long as it is sturdy and reasonable to use. Shiny phones are slippery and ugly with fingerprints, the G1's case is rubberized.

From what I've read, the battery issues on the HTC Dream are the greater issue. Both updating to the latest Android version, 1.5, and issuing a revised battery will be required, and even then it would be best to wait to see how long battery typically lasts with the Rogers model. A full day's use must be enabled while constantly connected, and a few days battery life should be possible with minimal use.

Regarding competition, hopefully Rogers will release plans with the upcoming competition in mind. Although I"d like an Android device, I'm certainly in no mood to sign up for an overpriced plan for three years.