Global Wireless, the upcoming Canadian carrier, are set to offer the HTC Dream (aka T-Mobile G1) and HTC Magic, according to a leak from an ex-employee. The handsets – which will be known as the Global (HTC) G1 and the Global (HTC) M1 – will support 7.2Mbps HSDPA, but be firmware locked to Global Wireless’ SIMs.
The Global (HTC) G1 will be available on 24-month contracts for $129.99 and on 12-month contracts for $229.99 (presumably Canadian dollars), while a pre-pay version will be $429.99. It will only be available in black. As for the Global (HTC) M1, meanwhile, that will only be offered in white, but no pricing was detailed. Data rates will start at $10 per month for “unlimited email, IM and communities”; $23 for 2.5GB of data and unlimited email; and $40 for unlimited everything. Tethering will be a $5 option.
The leak, so the story goes, was the retaliation of a fired employee, whom Global Wireless let go over “poor performance in marketing”. To spite the carrier, he released multiple slides detailing upcoming devices, service plans and other details.
[via BGR]
These guys are backed by Rogers and Rogers' HSDPA is on the 850 MHz band. The HTC phones, as they have been released in other countries, do not work with 850 MHz HSDPA.
I have sent notes to Fido and Rogers asking if they are getting special versions of the phones that can do 850 MHz. Fido won't even confirm if they are going to carry the phones and Rogers won't confirm any details beyond the fact that they will have the phones.
Long story short, this is the first confirmation I've had that the Canadian release of these phones will be compatible with the HSDPA network
Global Wireless will operate on AWS1700 band that Globalive (its corporate partner) got on latest Canadian auction.
I have since discovered the Globalive leaked slides.