LG and Rogers on Tuesday announced the release of LG’s Optimus Pad in Canada. Available for $449.99 CAD with a three-year data contract, $649.99 CAD on a month-to-month data plan or $699.99 CAD free and clear, the Optimus Pad features an 8.9-inch display, Android 3.0 Honeycomb, NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2 processor and three cameras — one on the front for video chat and dual cameras on the back for 3D video recording. BGR reviewed the LG Optimus Pad last month, rebranded as the T-Mobile G-Slate, and we were very impressed with the hardware. We thought Google’s first version of Honeycomb left a lot to be desired though, and the overall design seemed a bit dated and juvenile. Android fans north of the border waiting to get their hands on a tablet should definitely spend some time with the device, however. Hit the break for the full press release.

LG OPTIMUS PAD ­ SETING NEW STANDARDS SO CANADIANS CAN WORK HARD AND PLAY HARD

The 4G Android 3.0 Honeycomb Tablet Brings Media to Life with 3D and HD Capture, Viewing and Sharing

Toronto, May 17, 2011 ­ LG is bringing media to life with the release of the Optimus Pad in Canada – the latest in tablet technology with a dual-core processor. With diverse multimedia and productivity features, the LG Optimus Pad features a unique 8.9-inch display for one-handed portability and uncompromising viewability, a variation from the 7 and 10 inch screens in market.

The LG Optimus Pad is powered by Google¹s Android 3.0 Honeycomb platform and the NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor. The world¹s first tablet with a 3D camera, the LG Optimus Pad wraps users in an immersive multimedia environment with Full HD 1080p decoding.³

We are thrilled to set a new standard for tablets in the Canadian market with the launch of the Optimus Pad,² said Frank Lee, Senior Marketing Manager, LG Electronics Canada.³ Canadians are looking for exciting innovation with versatility for work and play and the Optimus Pad achieves the right blend of portability and viewability with no performance compromises.²

The LG Optimus Pad will be available in Canada exclusively through Rogers Communications.  It will be available with select three-year data plans at $449.99, a month-to-month plan for $649.99 or as a standalone purchase for $699.99.

Easy Portability, Ideal Viewability

Sized at 8.9-inch diagonally and 149.4-mm horizontally, the LG Optimus Pad offers a sensible solution to other tablets on the market that are either too large for comfortable portability or too small for ideal viewing. The conveniently-sized LG Optimus Pad fits comfortably in one hand, goes anywhere and slips easily into purses and slim briefcases. With 15:9 aspect ratio, the LG Optimus Pad allows users access to the full range of applications in Android Market and its 1280 x 768 WXGA resolution vividly displays multimedia content in full widescreen format.

Powerful, Fast and Versatile Platform

The LG Optimus Pad is powered by Android 3.0, Google¹s latest platform optimized for tablets which supports larger display resolutions and applications specifically designed for tablets, including Google eBooks, Google Maps 5, Google Talk, Rogers urMusic, Rogers On Demand Online and the Macleans and Sportsnet widgets. Android 3.0 also makes the LG Optimus Pad easy to use with a more intuitive PC-like interface. The LG Optimus Pad fully utilizes the 1 GHz Dual Core CPU of NVIDIA Tegra 2 to deliver lag-free web browsing and quick app start up. The superb graphics and multitasking capabilities of NVIDIA Tegra 2 enables the LG Optimus Pad to run multiple apps simultaneously and handle rich multimedia with ease.

Haven for Multimedia Enthusiasts

As the world¹s first tablet equipped with a 3D camera, users can capture vivid images and video with the LG Optimus Pad for viewing on 3D TVs using HDMI or on the web via YouTube 3D. Business users will also appreciate the built-in videocalling feature. With 1080p Full HD decoding, movie enthusiasts can transfer high quality content to their TVs without any loss in picture quality. Serious and casual gamers alike will delight in the wide collection of console-quality games available through the Tegra Zone app that runs seamlessly on the LG Optimus Pad.

Want some of that dual-core goodness north of the border? You’re in luck, as Bell Mobility has officially launched the Motorola ATRIX handset. The device comes complete with the aforementioned 1GHz dual-core processor, 4-inch qHD display, 1GB of RAM, front and rear cameras, and Android 2.2. The handset will retail for $169.95 with a signed 3-year contract and Bell will offer the Standard Dock, Vehicle Dock, HD Multimedia Dock, and LAPDOCK for $49.95, $59.95, $129.95, and $329.95 respectively. Bell’s ATRIX will not, unfortunately, be able to take advantage of the company’s 42Mbps or 21Mbps HSPA+ networks — a 14.4Mbps HSPA radio is all the handset will be working with. Regardless, if you’re a Bell customer in the market for a beastly, dual-core handset, here’s one to add to your list.

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Despite the fact that Canadian wireless provider Bell Mobility will be rolling out LTE in the near future, it — like many of its peers — has decided to play the name game when it comes to “4G.” In an internal memo to employees, Bell explains that its high-speed HSPA+ network will henceforth be known as 4G. “Given the significant improvements in performance and quality the wireless carriers have made to their networks, the ITU has reassessed the definition of 4G standards,” reads the note. “This re-classification allows Bell to promote the HSPA+ network as 4G.” The changes take effect today, though there’s no word on how Bell’s marketing department will differentiate its 4G LTE network from its 4G HSPA network. Hit the jump to check out the full memo.

Thanks, B!

One of our Bell Mobility connections has just sent us some concrete proof that our Canadian friends will not be left out in the cold when it comes to the Motorola ATRIX 4G. The Ma’ Bell of the North will launch the newly announced device “soon”, albeit without the 4G tag dangling from the end of its name. The device sports the same specs its AT&T cousin, including the ability to hook itself up to that nifty laptop dock — no word yet on pricing. Start saving your pennies Bell customers… the ATRIX is coming!

Thanks, B!

A memo obtained by BGR indicates that Canada’s Bell Mobility will be exclusively launching the LG Optimus Chic on January 14th; the Chic is being billed as Bell’s “first entry-level Android smartphone.” The device will sport a 3.2-inch full-touchscreen display, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, DLNA support, micro-SD card slot (2GB card included), and Android 2.2. The device will “operate on the high-speed HSPA+ network”, be exclusive to Bell in Canada, and retail — subsidy free — for $249.95. Not a bad little set for the money. What do you think Canadian friends, any takers?

Thanks, B!

Ahoy there Canadian readers! Dreaming of a Torch-white Christmas? Your friends at Rogers Wireless were kind enough to provide your pals at BGR with one albino BlackBerry Torch to giveaway to you, our beloved readers from up north.

As most of you know, the Torch is RIM’s first touchscreen BlackBerry to also feature a full-QWERTY keyboard — the device also boasts a 5 megapixel camera, 512MB of RAM, and BlackBerry 6. So, how do you win yourself this BlackBerry Torch? Simple:

• To enter, drop a comment below letting us know why you want need this device.
• Follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook (optional but it can’t hurt your chances).
• The giveaway will run until December 31, 2010 at 11:59PM ET.
• You must be a Canadian resident, 18 years of age or older.
• Please comment once and only once. Multiple comments will result in an instant disqualification.

Good luck, and thanks again to Rogers for providing us with the goods!

UPDATE: Congrats to our winner David M., and thanks to all those who entered!

If you’re a Canadian BlackBerry enthusiast on Wind Mobile, we’ve got some good news for you. One of our ninjas from the north has just alerted us that the Bold 9780 has just populated Wind’s inventory system. Couple the above screen shot with rumors of extremely low BlackBerry 9700 stock levels — thanks in part to a buy-one get-one (BOGO) promotion — and we would venture to say this puppy will be hitting store shelves in the very near future. As a quick refresher, the Bold 9780 packs Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 5 megapixel camera, 512MB of RAM, and runs RIM’s BlackBerry 6 operating system. Let us know if you’re planning on picking one up!

Thanks, anonymous!

Last week, we told you about Canada’s Competition Bureau slapping Rogers Wireless with a $10 million fine for inaccurate statements it made while advertising for its pre-paid wireless arm chatr. Unsurprisingly, the folks at Rogers have released a retaliatory statement vowing to “vigorously defend” itself and its statements in court:

Rogers Communications commented today on the actions of the Competition Bureau regarding chatr wireless. “We’re surprised by the actions of the Competition Bureau,” said Ken Engelhart, Senior Vice President of Regulatory, Rogers Communications. “We have extensive, independent third party testing to validate our claims and we stand by our advertising. We will vigorously defend this action in court.”

“We’ve completed extensive testing in coverage areas across the country and there’s no question that the testing validates the advertising in market,” said Todd Stone, President & CEO, Score Technologies.

Score Technologies is an independent third party organization that specializes in network testing for leading wireless carriers across North America.

We’ll keep you updated on any additional developments that come out of Canada.

The Globe and Mail is reporting that Canadian wireless carrier Rogers may face a $10 million fine for misleading advertising claims made against its competitors. The Canadian Competition Bureau is looking to levy the penalty for Rogers’ assertion that its pre-paid wireless arm — Chatr  Wireless — has “fewer dropped calls than new wireless carriers” such as Wind Mobile. The Competition Bureau reports that there was “no discernible difference in dropped call rates between Rogers/Chatr and new entrants.” According to the report, the Bureau is asking Ontario’s superior court to order Rogers Wireless to pay the $10 million fine and issue a letter of retraction.

We do wonder what the Canadian Competition Bureau would think about AT&T’s fastest 3G network, Verizon’s most reliable 3G network, T-Mobile’s largest 4G network, and Sprint’s now network claims.

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Last month, we told you about Bell Mobility’s plans to charge a $10 premium for access to the highest speeds on its HSPA+ network. This month, it looks like that report is becoming a reality. BGR has obtained a memo that indicates that Bell will launch the Novatel Wireless U547 data stick — capable of 42Mbps speeds — on November 23rd. The memo boasts that the U547 will be able to achieve real-world downlinks ranging from  7Mbps to 14Mbps in select markets; at launch, Toronto will be the only market with 43Mbps HSPA+ coverage. The new data stick will retail for $199.95; the memo did not indicate if there would be subsidized pricing.

Like all good things, the new, higher speeds will not come free of charge. Bell will be taxing U547 users an extra $10 per month to access the face-melting speeds, but said users are not required to purchase the add-on; the device will still operate at 21Mbps without it.

There you have it. Let us know what you think.

Thanks, B!

Last week, we told you the N8 was coming to Rogers Wireless and this week, it is here. The Canadian wireless carrier has officially announced that the Nokia N8 is available to the masses. The device, which boasts a 12 megapixel camera and Carl Zeiss lens, can be purchased for $79.99 with a three-year contract; or contract-free for $449.99. You know how we feel about the device, how about you? Anyone from the great white north plan on picking one up?

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We just received an internal Rogers document highlighting the carrier’s upcoming handsets and promotions. The document covers Q4 2010 through the beginning of February, and there are definitely a few choice revelations to be found.

Devices on the way to Rogers include the BlackBerry 9780, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Samsung Focus and the Dell Streak. There’s also tons of info on the new Data Sharing option that allows users to share a data allowance between multiple devices such as Rocketsticks or tablets.

Other interesting tidbits:

•The BlackBerry Bold 9780 is listed at $149.99 on contract.
•The Nokia N8 is listed at $79.99 on contract.
•The Samsung Focus is listed at $199.99 on contract.
•The Dell Streak is listed at $149.99 on contract.
•Oddly, the Vivaz Pro is eligible for the $10 unlimited data plan typically not available for smartphones.
•Internal rumors at Rogers suggest that the Galaxy Tab may launch at $299.99 with a 2-year agreement and $199.99 with a 3-year contract. This info is not confirmed in the roadmap we received.

Hit the jump for a slew of images, including four summary slides at the end that lay out all the pricing and details you can handle. Our source did mention, however, that not all pricing has been finalized.

Additional reporting by Zach Epstein

We just received a tip that Virgin Mobile Canada will not be left out of the smartphone party this November. According to our tipster, Virgin Mobile will be launching the upcoming BlackBerry 9780 on November 9th, and the Samsung Galaxy S on November 15th. Pricing information wasn’t provided to us but we doubt it will vary much from the competition.

Thanks, T!

Yesterday, we broke news about Bell Canada’s plans to offer a $30 per month 6 GB smartphone data plan that permits iPad users to share their 6 GB monthly data bucket with their iPad for an additional $10 fee. Today, on the eve of the iPhone 4 launch, Rogers Wireless is following suit. Rogers customers will be able to purchase a $30 per month 6 GB data bucket as long as you sign a new 3-year contract. The iPad sharing option is explained like this:

Starting July 30, and for a limited time until Sept. 30, customers on a 6 GB plan will be able to share data between iPhones and iPads for an extra $20 (plus Government Regulatory Recovery Fee). For details, visit a Rogers retail location.

Not quite as cheep as Bell’s offering… but there you have it. What do you say Canadian friends? Sound off!

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Chatr Wireless, a Rogers Communications venture, is officially open for business, and the low-cost, prepaid wireless company is keeping things simple. Chatr is currently offering a selection of four phones: the Nokia 1661 for $60, the LG GB125R for $75, the Nokia 2680 for $95, and the Samsung Gravity for $130. The company also, as reported, has two very simple contract-less calling plans: unlimited talk for $35 per month, and unlimited talk and text for $45 per month. The website www.chatrwireless.com is also up and running, ready to show you coverage maps, roaming rates, etc. Happy chatring!

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