It’s got a 3.5″ 800×480 display, QWERTY keyboard, 600Mhz processor, 5MP camera with a browser that supports AJAX and Flash.

Before I start one funny thing happened during our phone intereview – the call dropped. If you remember my video interview a while back Anthony was using a Bold 9000 on Rogers. Well today is his last day using the 9000 – he’s waiting for his BES to switch over to a 9700 on Wind.

First off I asked him what he was doing when he heard that Tony Clement was overturning the CRTC’s decision. Turns out he was watching BNN when he heard an announcement was going to be made.

I also asked him what Globalive/Wind was up to during the time from when the CRTC said ‘no go’ to Wind to when they were over ruled. Turns out they were working on increasing their existing coverage .

Now that Wind has launched next on are launches in Ottawa, Edmonton and Vancouver – sometime in Q1. With new cities should also come with new handset launches.

Along with those cities Wind will be increasing their existing coverage East, West, North, South. For example in Ontario Wind should be available in Kitchner, Waterloo, Guelph, Chatham and then joining the coverage from those areas with the Toronto coverage.

If you’ve noticed Wind’s data service has a provision where they may throttle your speed if you go over 5GB a month. I mentioned that the moment I get to try a modem I will be downloading non stop till I hit 5GB to see what happens. Apparently throttling will depend on network load and may not necessarily be automatic. So if no one else is using their Wind phone in your area you might not get throttled.

We should expect more announcements in January.

Now Wind doesn’t have a lot of choices for data. If you get the Blackberry Bold 9700 you can get a $10 or a $35 plan while the Maple just has a $35 plan. The reason why is because Wind wants to stay away from buckets.

We should expect a Wind Mobile aimed more at the prepaid-y type customer. They’re still figuring out what to call the service. Yak Mobile anyone?

You can’t buy individual SIM cards yet but you will be able to eventually – you can use unlocked AWS phones (like T-Mobile ones) with Wind.

He stressed that Wind wants your feedback. They need to know when calls are dropping, how they can improve service. The existing carriers have a 20 year head start so Wind is catching up as fast as they can.

If you have comments on Wind make sure you check out our Wind Section at HowardForums.

Here’s to competition!

Discuss at HowardForums

Here are some interesting threads in the Wind Mobile Forum:

Here are some possible plans.

Phone lineup?

Find out if there’s a Wind Mobile tower close to you.

WIND Mobile will be delayed in becoming Canada’s newest competitive wireless operator in over a decade, Globalive Wireless Management Corp. announced today on the heels of a regulatory decision from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

In its decision, the CRTC came to a different conclusion than Industry Canada and has indicated that Globalive Wireless is not in compliance with the Canadian ownership and control requirements set out in the Telecommunications Act.

“Having already received approval from Industry Canada, we are extremely disappointed that the CRTC has come to a different conclusion,” said Anthony Lacavera, Chairman, Globalive Wireless Management Corp. “This is a bad day for Canadian consumers. Canadians deserve competition in wireless and this decision represents a major step backwards.”

“WIND Mobile had planned to launch in the coming weeks. We have pulled together an excellent team of more than 500 people and had built a strong network and operation across the country. We are ready to bring competition to the market.” said Ken Campbell, CEO of WIND Mobile. “We will be evaluating our options on how to proceed.”

Read the complete press release on WIND Mobile’s website.  After doing so, be sure to follow us on Twitter so you do not miss another news update.

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With the CRTC’s decision today to block WIND Mobile (Globalive Wireless) from launching in Canada at this time, HowardForums member “Windsider” decided it would be safe to leak some plan information.

Three plans were to be available at launch, sorry no monthly pricing was given:

Chat (basic plan)
100 province-wide minutes

Always Talk (mid range plan)
province-wide “local” minutes

Always Shout (high end plan)
province-wide “local” minutes
unlimited texting to Canada and the US
voicemail

All plans were to include: missed call alert, caller id, call waiting, call forwarding, conference calling, Wind-to-Wind Calling (Nationwide).

In addition to the three base calling plans, WIND mobile also planned to launch data and prepaid services.  The data plan was to be called “Infinite Internet” featuring unlimited data (tethering, downloading, streaming, etc.).  Prepaid service was to be referred to as “Pay Before” which gave the consumer access to the same monthly plans as the “Pay After” (postpaid) service.

Thanks “Windsider”.

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In this decision, the Commission sets out its determination in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2009-429, in which it undertook a review of Globalive’s ownership and control. In its review, the Commission considered whether non-Canadians do not own or control Globalive as currently structured. The Commission determines that Globalive does not meet that test. The Commission therefore determines that Globalive has not met the requirements of the ownership and control regime and is therefore not currently eligible to operate as a Canadian telecommunications common carrier.

We will have more on the CRTC’s decision in a future post.  In the mean time, head over the the WIND Mobile section of HowardForums to discuss the ruling by the CRTC.

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I recently had a chance to meet with Anthony Lacavera. Anthony is the CEO of Globalive, the company behind Wind Mobile, Canada’s newest mobile phone service provider. Check my interview out.

While Anthony wouldn’t really discuss their upcoming phone lineup I have some observations. First off Anthony is completely dependent on his Blackberry. He’s one of those guys who’s ‘berry spends more time in his hand than in his pocket (he’s a spiffy dresser so I don’t think he has a holster). I would be somewhat surprised if Wind didn’t launch with a Blackberry – probably the 9700 in their lineup. Secondly call it a hunch but I have a feeling the Galaxy – AKA the i7500, Samsung’s first Android with with an incredible AMOLED screen will also be there at launch.