Canadian telecom company Rogers Communications Inc. introduced video calling via wireless handsets, claiming the title of “first and only wireless carrier in North America to offer video calling.”
AT&T Inc.’s wireless unit has announced and demonstrated video calling technology, but it is not yet commercially available. Both AT&T and Rogers run the service over their respective HSDPA networks.
As part of the launch, Rogers is offering a suite of products dubbed Rogers Vision. The suite includes video calling, video-on-demand clips from sources such as YouTube and CNN, mobile television access, radio-on-demand from XM Satellite Radio, and a music store. The carrier said that its HSDPA coverage is now available in the “Golden Horseshoe” area of Ontario, and will expand to top Canadian markets throughout this year.
The carrier is offering the service for an introductory price of $5 per month, which covers unlimited video calling for three years, three months of unlimited video on demand, and three months of unlimited mobile Internet browsing. Rogers is selling the HSDPA-capable Samsung Electronics Co. Ld. A706 for $100 with a three-year contract in support of the service.
The company offered Canadian native William Shatner the chance to make the first video call.
Rogers in Canada launches video calling service
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