N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Okay, my understanding is that N900 will not be available on the ATT bands which are the same as the ROGERS bands, i think. Is there any Canadian carrier that supports the bands of the N900 3g?

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

I am profoundly ignorant of these things. If here is no 3G carrier, or I buy an N900 and don't sign on with a 3G carrier, could I still use the N900 as a phone (the way I use my current cell phone, a "shiny" samsung from virgin, I don't think it has a sim card in it) and as wifi internet tablet the way I use my N800? Would I just loose the "smartphone" 3Gness of the N900 (the internet while away from wifi)? Or do I misunderstand?

Pointers to information at elementary level explanations appreciated.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

I'm pretty sure you can use it 3G less. Data connectivity would work on EDGE I think, which is much slower.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

I've heard from a reliable source that Bell is rolling its own 3G network, which should be coming quite soon. I'm not sure as to the bands, they will be using, but I suppose there is hope.

YARR!
}:^)~

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

I would presume so. If you look closely at http://www.mobile-review.com/review/...n900/pic19.jpg , you will see that it has "Activate phone" next to "Offline mode".

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Yes one of the problems with our country...we are a wireless backwater because of the CRTC and lack of competition.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

I can confirm that the current N900 can do voice on Rogers/Fido, but it only shows "2.5 G" for data and has dismal data rates.

But with Wind (hopeful!) and Telus/Bell launching 3G networks soon, there IS hope...

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

His first cell phone. How cute. Did you take a picture?

Don't mind me, that's just the jealousy talking.

Is that thing yours, or is it just a loner?

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Send it over to your fellow Canadian when you're done. ;)

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Hedgecore? He hasn't been around for quite awhile.


(Hehehe!)

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Aha! I am a bit behind the 8-ball. Congrats! That is amazing!

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

I thought Bell and Telus already had 3g networks?

http://www.bell.ca/shopping/PrsShpWl..._Mobility.page
http://www.telusmobility.com/en/ON/w...kpromise.shtml

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Well, Wind certainly looks promising!

I know next to nothing about bands/carriers/frequencies etc. But I see that Wind is going be using AWS. Is this supported by the the n900?

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

The device can be used without 3G or 2G connectivity just like you would have used your N800 or N810, i.e. e.g. connect to wifi. I just did that in Northern Canada. There was no cellular network (any kind) available in Kuujjuaq or Iqaluit. But there was wifi about everywhere and the it was useful despite of not having the cellular connection, all sort of things worked via wifi. The experience was obviously a bit suboptimal compared to what I have in Finland, where everything works all the time and I can stay connected always to Internet and make calls and receive calls.

However, despite of the not optimal experience of just having the Wifi-connection, the old model N810 that I was able to demo there (could not do that with N900 as it was still top secret), e.g. in a Bed & Breakfast place where we stayed. I did notice two things: 1) they had never heard of this form factor devices before. Advanced ufo technology or something and 2) the N810 seemed very interesting device already. I could believe these people who tried N810 would have also liked N900 with just the Wifi there as that is the most mobile experience they can possibly get other than a satellite phone. And Googletalk and Skype were having a importance we have not used to in here in Finland because there is a telephone network here. There that is about the only way to contact people in other countries for example and the device with Wifi would be already exceptional mobility for them compared to just sitting on front of the computer to make their calls. I think even the fixed line phones there connect through through satellite. There are no cables there.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Congrats that the N900 won't work on Canadian 3G?

daperl: I still don't have a cellphone.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Will it work on bell because i am about to spend like 500 bucks for a ipod touch pretty much without the service

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

No... congrats on having an N900 in your hands.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

I am, believe you me, envying your phone infrastructure.

I have a google voice invitation, but I gather that will do me no good as I'm not in the US.

I still don't quite grasp whether I can use the dumb-phone part of the N900 phone on existing Canadian phone infrastructure, even hopefully with my current dumbphone service provider.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

How about using a Mifi like device using whatever hsdpa network works for you and data plan, then buy the N900 unlocked and use the wifi function with the Mifi.

Stick the modem in your back pocket or bag and your good to go.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

A Rogers or Fido SIM card will give you "dumbphone" (cellular voice) service plus a very slow "2.5" (EDGE?) data connection.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

i thought rogers and fido have a 3g network due to the release of the iphone 3gs. Can't you just buy a n900 then insert your fido/rogers sim and access their 3g network?

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Rogers in Canada and AT&T in the US use the wrong frequencies for the N900 (at least as released in October). Maybe one of the new carriers will use supported frequencies.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Good news. It looks like the Wind Mobile AWS frequencies will work with the US T-Mobile N900. So Canadians can get 3G on their N900s. Sometime soon, when Wind launches.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

It looks like it won't be offered in Québec :(

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

damn you qole, I was about to post that comment! lol Yea it's good news, I keep checking the Wind mobile site for info on launch details. Qole how did you get your device? I don't think I've ever been this jealous before. If I kill you and steal your Identitfy, will I be able to keep the device too? lol thats a joke.. haha... haha.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Just to make you feel better.... qole does not have the device anymore. Qole correct me if am wrong

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

And by damn you, I simply am envious and angry.

I do have a question for you though, any idea if there is a way I can preorder from Canada?

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Wind has a poll on their site where the great majority of users are looking for better talk-rates and better data-plans. Hopefully Wind prices their services attractively.

I can't wait!

]:^]~

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Yea, I don't want to get my hopes up though, all their philosophy and ideas and press releases are great. But there is zero word about prices yet, and to compete in Canada they could offer better service and less scams at the same rates and still make some way in the market.

Only time will tell.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

@jm

So true.

At this point, though, I would appreciate any new competition. Almost out of principal alone, all things being equal, I would choose Wind over Bell/Rogers/Telus.

}:^)~

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Oh for sure, the fact that imaginary charges will be tied into the base cost is good

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Stephen: I live (if you can call this life; finally made DBA but it's a bad scene).

While I have hope for the N900 as the tablets we've all been enjoying these past few years, I think it's going to fall flat as a cellular offering in Canada due in no small part to the idiocy of the carriers here.

I'm currently in the midst of a 3 year contract with Rogers with an iPhone 3G... Canada-wide MY5 and 6GB of data per month. I also have iPhone visual voicemail (hip hip hooray... or something...)

Now, some of that stuff (noteably the visual voicemail) is iPhone specific... so transferring devices would be odd. (Remember that plan I'm locked into?)

Basically, it seems the carriers are marketing device-specific plans because they're in cahoots with the manufacturers. My only saving grace would be that Rogers would let me tether my iPhone to the N900... which leads me to my next question; why the hell would I buy an N900?

Unless the CRTC discovers fire and leads us out of the luddite depths we're entrenched in, there's not much hope of the device succeeding.

I honestly think the cell radio and hefty pricetag may be it's downfall in the cold white north.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

For those hoping to use the N900 in Canada, I should probably repeat a few links that I gave here: http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...1&postcount=18

A few months ago there was a major auction of new wireless spectra in Canada. The vast majority of this is AWS/1700 band, which suggests that the N900 will be functional on a number of networks in the future (it's already good for voice/EDGE data on Rogers/Fido). Telus should be switching on their GSM network any day now, and Bell won't be far behind (I believe I heard December, but can't confirm). Many of the smaller companies, like my local MTS (Manitoba) have also announced plans to move towards GSM. While I wouldn't suggest you base your buying decision on this, it is indicative of a trend, and suggests that the N900 and later Maemo devices should work here... eventually.

For the raw info about the spectrum auction, see the Industry Canada website for details:
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst...h_sf08891.html

The final results of the AWS spectrum auction are listed here:
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst...g/sf09001.html

Listed by winner and showing every spectrum block:
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst...g/sf09003.html

EDIT: <revised URLs - odd, they worked last night...>

Note that this new spectrum is all about using the 3.5G data connection, as the N900 supports all four GSM/EDGE frequencies (850/900/1800/1900) and should work as a phone with a slow (2.5G) data connection in any country with a GSM system, which is most of them. Even Canada. :D

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

TenSpeed: all three of your links return 404s.

Still hoping for a new Wind in Vancouver very soon (because EDGE sucks)...

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

they all work this morning here :)

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Hopefully the CRTC hearing goes well. Anybody know the actual availability of the N900? I'm planning a trip to NYC in october and I want to be sure I can pick it up.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

Just pick one up here...http://www.khrido.com/used-ottawa-fo...d33174783.aspx

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

I'm a bit suspicious about that $ 350.00 price.

Re: N900 in Canada (Toronto)
 

lol I prefer getting real devices lol