Windows Phone 7 sputters into Canada
Though the title seems damning, it isn’t a judgement on the OS itself, but of the seeming lack of availability of Windows Phone 7 handsets on it’s North American launch day. Last week we reported Telus being the first to pull the trigger on pricing for Windows Phone 7 devices, and with launch day coming to a close, it appears they’re the carrier that made the biggest deal of the launch.he first 100 people to the Telus store in Toronto’s Eaton Centre also got a free Xbox 360 Slim 4GB model with the purchase of a Windows Phone 7 device. A minute before opening, the lineup hit about 20 people were out front waiting to get a phone, and an informal poll suggested that the LG was slightly more preferred than the HTC Surround.
As one of those people, I was disappointed that because of a shipping problem with Purolator (according to a Telus rep in the afternoon), there would be no LG Optimus 7’s available on day one. They should arrive either Tuesday or Wednesday, but Telus would honour the free console for those who left their name at the store.
Telus wasn’t the only one with stock problems, as Rogers was having problems with Samsung Focus stock, but we weren’t able to determine where in the supply chain the problem was occurring. It’s also interesting to note that the Samsung Focus is by far the most costly phone of the bunch, with a 3 year contract price being $100 more than the HTC Surround and the two LG phones.
With four phones from 3 carriers, it’s a tough call recommending a single phone, because everyone’s needs are different. If you’re a fan of slide out QWERTY keyboards, you’ll be looking at Bell’s LG Optimus Quantum, which has a smaller 3.5 inch screen, but a well designed keyboard that comes close to the typing nirvana on the older HTC Touch Pro 2.
The HTC Surround with a 3.8 inch screen has the slide out speaker that has polarized a large number of people. Some say it’s just not worth it, while others love the sound. I’ve heard it in action, and had no problem listening to Netflix dialogue from 5 feet away, so it’s really up to the end user whether they need this feature. I can see it being handy as a traveling alarm, or popular for showing videos in a pub setting and not being drowned out, but the latter could be considered obnoxious by some.
The other two phones are the LG Optimus 7 with a 3.8 inch screen on Telus, and the Samsung Focus with a 4 inch Super AMOLED screen on Rogers. These were the two phones I was looking at for myself, and finally decided on the Optimus. The Samsung Focus has a better camera and the Super AMOLED screen is absolutely stunning, but like Samsung’s Galaxy S line of Android phones, the light, plastic body just didn’t instill enough confidence in me. Out of the four phones available from Canadian carriers, the LG Optimus has the best overall industrial design, and is the only one that offers physical buttons at the bottom, which I prefer to capacitive.
This actually came as a surprise to me, as I’ve been a long time HTC fan, but the current Canadian offering doesn’t come anywhere close to some of the HTC phones launched overseas. If you’re considering Windows Phone 7, but not yet ready to pull the trigger because of contractual obligations, it might be worth waiting until the New Year, as rumours have circulated that a number of the the European launch devices may make their way to North America by around the end of the year.
Pricing (in no particular order):
Rogers Samsung Focus: $199.99 with 3 year plan. No plan, $599.99.
Bell LG Optimus Quantum: $99.95 with 3 year plan, and $449.95 with no plan.
Telus LG Optimus 7: $99.99 with 3 year term, $499.99 with no contract
Telus HTC Surround: $99.00 with 3 year contract, $449.99 with no contract.
Rogers Samsung Focus hands on
LG Optimus 7 hands on
LG Optimus Quantum hands on
The article also appeares on the Future Shop Tech Blog here
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Shame on you Canadian Carriers. The Canadia Lauch was a joke! I’ve walked into a Rogers Store, they where clueless, didn’t even know the phones where out and didn’t even have a demo model in store. Telus store didn’t even have up a poster and a phone was nowhere to be found. Bell, had the same clueless look as the Rogers guys! Microsoft Canada, if you’re Happy with this kind of result, then I may have to change my mind on what I think of Windows Phone 7.
WHEN IS THE REAL CANADIAN LAUNCH? CAN ANYONE TELL ME?
I’ve been planning on getting the LG Optimus 7 at Telus, and they still haven’t received their shipment. When I was by the store on Wednesday, they had HTC Surrounds, but they didn’t have any on the floor at all. So far, very unimpressed. I like the OS, but it’s as if the Canadian carriers can’t be bothered.
I had the exact same experience with Telus, Rogers, and Bell – all equally unaware that the phones were launching on Monday. My favourite response was from the Bell rep who said “Windows Phone 7, they’re kind of new aren’t they? Why would you want one anyway?”
Hopeless bunch, all of them.
You gotta love how aware the reps are of their own product. So far, I marginally give Telus the best rating, just because they actually KNOW what I’m talking about.
I went into The PhoneBooth Store (whatever it’s called) and asked a lady if they where getting any Windows Phone 7’s, she looked at me and said, yeah, Nokia was going to be sending their latest Windows Phone to us Tomorrow. I said nothing, I just turned around and walked out.
I did manage to get my wife her new Windows Phone from Bell (she wanted a keyboard), but even then they had it hidden away in the back and said they only received a total of 2.
Just did a hardware upgrade with Rogers for the Focus, it IS in stock!
Well, good news for me, thanks!
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