Charity Donations By Text Message Comes To Canada

With close to 100 million text messages sent in Canada on a daily basis the new age of mobile donating has arrived.

Starting today, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) has partnered up with U.S.-based Mobile Giving Foundation to make it possible for you to send donations to via text messages to the following Non-profit organizations: Plan Canada, Jays Care Foundation, Best Buddies and the Children’s Wish Foundation.

Bernard Lord, head of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association said “We thought this was a way to help new donors be charitable. In some cases people, can only give small gifts,” Lord said. “They don’t know how to do it and they don’t want to write a cheque for $5 or $10, but they can give $5 or $10 through their cellphone. We think it will reach mostly a younger generation, the new generation coming up, the 20s or 30s, but it could be anybody.”

Even with these small donation amounts, the CWTA confirms that 100% of the donation will go to the charity. In addition, you’ll get a tax receipt and the amount will show up on your wireless bill.

Although all of the above charities are not actually set up yet… to give to Plan Canada text HOPE, to shortcode 30333. A special event for Rogers customers is taking place at the Jays game on September 25th. You’ll be able
to make donations to the Jays Care Foundation by texting CARE to shortcode 20222.


Source: Compare Cellular

First look: BlackBerry Storm 2!

Here is your first look at the brand new BlackBerry 9550 Storm 2. The biggest change is coming with the new operating system that is supposed to make the sure-press touch system have better responsiveness and be more user friendly. Other upgrades include a new screen with integrated buttons, more memory and faster processor as well as Wi-Fi!

Release date is not known as this time, but expect a TELUS launch around the holiday season. Check back soon for more information.

Source: Boy Genius Report

Forget the TomTom, Smartphones are to replace PND's by 2014

If you need a GPS device to get around, it's becoming more likely you'll get yourself a mobile phone with built-in satellite mapping than buy a standalone personal navigation device.

According to market research firm iSuppli, by 2011, virtually all smartphones will sport built-in GPS functionality, and by 2014 there might be no more market left for PNDs.

While this is a grand statement, it's quite credible. Just a year or two ago, it was hard to find a phone with built-in GPS functionality that actually worked reliably. Today there are various applications available that can turn your smartphone into a dependable navigator.

Nonetheless, for now, the market for PNDs is still going strong. According to iSuppli, PNDs will continue to lead the navigation market in 2009, with some 114 million sets predicted to be in use by the end of the year, compared with 57.8 million navigation-enabled smart phones.

New smartphone models are becoming increasingly suitable for use as navigators due to their larger displays, bigger internal storage, faster processors, and most importantly, the increased number of developers creating apps for them. As a matter of fact, all current navigation solutions on smartphones are applications developed by third parties.

iSuppli predicted that thanks to such factors, the number of people who use the iPhone alone as a navigator - Apple now has eight navigation applications available for it - will increase from just 2 million in 2009 to 20 million by 2013.

Source: Compare Cellular

Facebook 1.7 for BlackBerry coming soon

Check out the above leaked screengrab of Facebook 1.7 for BlackBerry — clean, right? Rumored to hit in September, some of the new features and changes include:

• Faster page loading
• Ability to filter the news feed (Status updates, photos, links, etc.)
• A new view profile option
• More

Source: Boy Genius Report

BC to Implement Limits of Cell-Phones While Driving

The B.C. government promised Tuesday to pass a law that will restrict cellphone use behind the wheel “to create a safer driving and pedestrian environmental for all.”

Solicitor General Kash Heed told reporters yesterday he is looking at three key changes for drivers:

• Limit cellphone use to hands-free operations;
• Ban text messaging;
• Prohibit the use of cellphones and other devices – even in hands-free mode – for new drivers who are under the province's graduated licensing program.

He said the timing of the legislation and further details are still being worked out, but it will bring B.C. in line with at least four other provinces.

In April, Ontario passed a law that bans using handheld devices to talk, e-mail or send text messages while driving. The new rules, which will come into effect this fall, include a fine of up to $500. The law doesn't affect the use of hands-free devices such as those with Bluetooth or dialling 911 on cellphones. Global positioning systems will be allowed as long as they're properly secured to the dashboard.

Ontario followed Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland – all have banned drivers from chatting and texting on handheld devices while on the road.

In 2003, Newfoundland and Labrador became the first province to ban hand-held cellphones for drivers. Penalties in the province range from $11 to $400, plus four demerit points.

Nova Scotia passed its cellphone ban in April, 2008. Also in that month, Quebec banned drivers from using hand-held cellphones. The law was enacted on June 30, and drivers face a $115 fine and three demerit points. Penalties apply even if drivers are not talking but are spotted with a cellphone in their hands.

Manitoba and Prince Edward Island are also considering a ban, but Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach spoke out against a private member's bill introduced in the legislature to ban drivers from using cellphones.

About 50 countries, including Australia and Japan, have cellphone restrictions. In the United States, the District of Columbia and 17 states have laws that restrict cellphone use for teenage drivers.

Source: Compare Cellular

RIM planning on including full Flash and Silverlight support in browser

Article from The Boy Genius Report

We’ve been gathering details over the past month or so on this, and it’s pretty much confirmed: Research In Motion is planning on integrating full Flash and Microsoft Silverlight support into their BlackBerry web browser. Read that again boys and girls — full Flash support, not Flash lite.

We’ve been told this won’t happen until next summer or right before it as RIM needs their devices to be more beefed up as well as have access to higher data speeds for this to work effectively (HSPA and LTE). RIM has already achieved over 10Mbps downloads on next generation BlackBerrys in the test labs with test LTE equipment so it’s looking good, folks.

TELUS Satellite TV is here!

TELUS has officially launched Satellite TV. This new format offers over 500 channels, TV shift shift, and a FREE PVR! Packages start at an incredibly low $33 a month and can be combined for even more savings with TELUS future friendly home bundles. Hit the link to learn more about TELUS satellite TV.

Satellite TV