This time around, in the Next is Now … More than Ever video, we’re looking at statistics that speak to how much Canadians value the Internet (more than chocolate? Coffee? Water?), smart appliances, the development of the dual-screen experience with TVs and tablets, smartphone usage, digital wallets, and the impact the Internet is having on health, government, education, and shopping.

Our Executive VP and CMO John Boynton summed up Rogers’ commitment to the Internet experience nicely last week when he presented our vision of “Creating world-leading Internet experiences”:

Creating is a great word, we think, because it means it’s a journey. One we’ve been on, and one we’ll continue to be on. There’s a lot of co-creating that goes on in our products and services now. We really are trying to build things that are responding to our customers. In a way, we’re co-creating with our customers and in many ways our customers are leading the way in showing us what they need.

Surprised by some of the stats in the Next is Now … More than Ever video? Join the conversation here on Redboard, or on Twitter using the #NextIsNow hashtag!

Next is Now … More than Ever was produced by Rogers with support from Thornley Fallis.

Theme music “Unlike the Ordinary” by The Escape Frame

Michelle is a regular contributor to RedBoard.

Based on personal experience, I can tell you that this app can come in handy. If you’re in a household with well-known remote control hoggers or constant channel surfers, picking up your tablet and taking live TV into your own hands is the best solution.

With Sportsnet Ontario on Rogers Live TV, you get the same broadcast feed on your TV and on your tablet.

As a refresher, here are the details:

• Rogers Digital TV and Hi-Speed Internet customers in Ontario can live stream TV content directly to their tablets for free, anywhere in their home over Wi-Fi.
• Available for iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 users.
• Download the app from iTunes or the Google Play and log in using your My Rogers profile.
• 24 channels and growing, including: Citytv, CityNews Channel, OMNI Television, Global, CBC News Network, YTV, Treehouse, CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox.

Picture this: you’re glued to your TV set enjoying one of your favourite Sportsnet shows like HOCKEY CENTRAL , Sportsnet Connected or UFC Central… you get the picture.  You suddenly have an urge to grab a snack from your kitchen or just remembered you have a forgotten load of laundry that needs drying.  Just grab your tablet and take Sportsnet Ontario with you while you’re running errands around the house.

To learn more about the Rogers Live TV app check out Rogers.com/LiveTV.

With Rogers Live TV on your tablet, you can transform any room in your home into a live sports zone. In your opinion, which room is the best spot to stream sports?

Kaili is a regular contributor to RedBoard

When it comes to mobile banking, Canadians are the fastest adopters of mobile apps. Did you know that more than 2.5 million people in Canada are using mobile banking applications for daily banking? That’s 38% of smart-phone users with data plans.

Today, we announced an agreement with CIBC to launch Canada’s first mobile payment solution, allowing Canadians to pay with their CIBC credit card at the checkout counter using their Rogers “Near Field Communications” (NFC)-enabled smartphones. This means that later this year, Rogers customers will be able to use this payment capability at merchants across Canada where contactless credit card payments are accepted.

This announcement is the first time a bank and a wireless carrier have joined forces to offer a commercially available mobile payments solution to Canadians that leverages the SIM card inside an NFC-enabled Rogers’ smartphone. This new payment solution aligns to guidelines announced yesterday by the Canadian Bankers Association for mobile payments in Canada.

What is Near Field Communications?

Near Field Communications – NFC – is a radio communication technology that can be used with mobile devices. NFC allows you to bring together two devices in close proximity of one another to exchange data and transactions.  In the case of mobile payments, the NFC smartphone makes the credit card data stored on the SIM card ready to capture by the contactless terminal.

What does this mean for you?

It means full access to your existing CIBC Visa and MasterCard credit cards on your smartphone at no extra cost.

• Multiple layers of security – Paying with your NFC-enabled smartphone will be just as secure as using your credit card today. You will have the same fraud protection that is offered on your contactless credit card and to access your wallet, depending on your settings, you may be required to enter a password.
• No “stickers” on your phone –Some current mobile payment options use a sticker (around a third of the size of a standard credit card) to convert a mobile phone, into a contactless payment device.This new payment capability will leverage the secure SIM card inside a mobile device for payments, which lets you manage your credit card credentials on a secure platform, and you won’t need to worry about stickers attached to yourphone.

What Canadians are saying about the mobile wallet?

In our first Rogers Innovation Report, we asked Canadian smartphone and tablet users about the idea of mobile wallet. Here’s what they had to say:

• 61% said the mobile wallet will make their lives better
• 79% said they expect to make more purchases on their smartphones in the future
• 43% felt that the traditional wallet will be replaced over the next few years

For more information, check out our post on RedBoard Biz about the basics of contactless payments, and watch for more news from us over the next few months as we kickstart mobile payments in Canada.

Are you excited about the prospect of using your smartphone for mobile payments?

Serda is a regular contributor to RedBoard

Rogers Innovation Report

In an effort to keep our customers educated on some of the latest technology trends, we’re continuing ourseries of Innovation Reports, each compiled into a creative infographic.

Our latest in the series asks: “What Would YOU give up for the Internet?” In it, we examined how Canadian tech users are spending their time on the internet, what they would give up for internet access, and what industries they’d like to see adapting to the internet more. Mobile Syrup focused on the fact that 34% of Canadian tech users claimed they would give up alcohol for the internet, while iPhone in Canada was shocked that some people would actually consider giving up things like bathing, sex and interacting with others!

Internet use and sacrifice seemed to be a hot topic this week. Sociologue also released a similar infographic after their study showed nearly 1 in 4 people would give up sex to keep their mobile phone! Think about it – what would YOU give up?!

Latest Device News

ReadWriteWeb published an interesting article discussing the future of laptops in light of the tablet evolution. In “Tablets Want to Kill Your Laptop,” Forrester Research predicts that tablets will displace laptops and notebooks in as little as 5 years, likening PC’s to “clunky trucks rather than sleek cars.”

For more stats and predictions on the future of tablets, read the full article at ReadWriteWeb. To check out Rogers latest and greatest in tablets, visit our products page here.

If you’re already on the tablet train, you may be looking to upgrade or get a new wireless device next. Another good read is the All Things Mobile in-depth review on the HTC One X after getting to demo it this month. The review examines the phone’s physical construction, user interface, and features. Read the full review here, and reserve or pre-order the device at Rogers.com/onex.

And last but far from least, we also announced this week that the Samsung Galaxy SIII would soon be joining our lineup! Arguably one of the most anticipated devices of 2012, you can now visit the Samsung Canada page for a complete listing of features, specs and enhancements. Or take a look at this blog post from TechVibes for more details. You can also register on Rogers.com to receive the latest updates on this exciting new smartphone!

Kelly is a regular contributor to RedBoard

In the spirit of this enlightening infographic, we thought we’d showcase some of the best apps for you to share with your mom for her gadgets. Whether she’s shopping for bargains or redecorating the kitchen, we’ve got you covered for tablets and smartphones!

Cozi Family Organizer – Free

Cozi is the ultimate family organizer for moms on the go. Manage the family schedule, organize shopping and to do lists, and capture favorite memories—all in one place. Best of all, the app is accessible from any computer, mobile phone or tablet, and you only need one account for the entire family!

Available on iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.

Big Oven – Free

This is a cooking app that pretty much thought of everything for mom – automatically convert between metric and imperial units, create shopping lists, and generate recipes from ingredients you already have! It’ll even tell you just how many calories are in each serving. With over 170,000 recipes, there’s plenty of user-generated information including review comments and photos and such too.

Available on iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows Phone, and Windows.

Food Gardening Guide – Free

Did you know you can harvest carrots, store them over the winter, and replant in spring to generate seeds? Now you do, thanks to the Food Gardening Guide app! Mom learn all about planting, harvesting and storage, saving seeds, pest and disease prevention, growing, and kitchen prep.

Available on iPhone or iPad, and Android.

ShopCatch – Free

Quite possibly the handiest shopping app period, your mom will love this intuitive tool. Get location based deals, keep tabs on your favourite retailers, and get exclusive deals to share with friends. With over 150 retailers listed, there’s something for every mom!

Available on iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.

SnapShop Showroom – Free

This app is pure genius – the concept? See what furniture will look like inside your home before you buy it. Take a photo of a room, browse the furniture catalogue and select an item, then place, size and position it in your photo. You can even browse the retailer’s sites without leaving the app. Now THAT’S convenient!

Available on iPhone and iPad.

What apps is your mom currently into? Did we leave any other dynamic ones off the list?

Earlier today, a panel of three judges reviewed all the entries and narrowed down the entries to five finalists. We based our decision on three main criteria: creative image, best description in 100 words and overall originality.

Later today, we’ll be doing a draw of these five finalists for the grand prize winner who will receive a total Rogers NextBox 2.0 facelift valued at over $5,000 which includes:

• A super narrow 55” Samsung™ LED Smart TV with HD and 3D technology
• A Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE tablet
• A Rogers NextBox HD PVR & HD Terminal
• Platinum NextBox 2.0 package for 6 months

In random order, here are our top five TV Makeover finalists:

Peter from Toronto: My dad worked very hard to buy a tv for us kids(6 kids)and i want to win this tv for him,love u dad. 

Linda from Kitchener: these entries may be old,but you can see by the lonely cable,I don’t even have one. Can I win? Plz.

Susan from Orillia: The timing of the contest couldn’t be better, because unfortunately this is my current setup!

Howard from Richmond Hill: I need a TV makeover because my TV is so old I can not watch any DVDs nor play any video games on it

Mike from Ottawa: It’s bad enough I live in my parents basement, but bringing my imaginary dates home to this?! HELP!!

It was really tough to select only 5 so we wanted to give honourable mentions to the following entries as well:

• Doreen from Smooth Rock Falls
• Jon from London
• Pauline from Newmarket
• David from London
• Sid from Richmond Hill

We’ll be updating this post to announce the grand prize winner soon. Stay tuned!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the TV Makeover contest!

Miranda is a regular contributor to RedBoard

John Boynton, Executive Vice-President & Chief Marketing Officer of Rogers Communications Inc.

This week, Rogers launches a new national brand advertising campaign that highlights our company’s past innovations and speaks to what Internet experiences you can expect from us in the future.

We talked to John Boynton, Executive Vice-President & Chief Marketing Officer of Rogers about what “Creating world-leading Internet experiences” means for you, as a Rogers customer:

What exactly does “Creating world-leading internet experiences” mean?

It’s very specific to Rogers, and there are a couple of really important words in here:

Creating is a great word because we’re on, and will continue to be on, a journey. We really are trying to build things that are responding to our customers’ needs. In a way, we’re co-creating with our customers.

World-leading is important because we’re known in our industry for being first in most of the major innovations and network rollouts. World-leading reflects our history, but is also a focus for us moving forward.

Internet expansion and growth is everywhere. Usage continues to grow exponentially. All of our products and services are moving onto the Internet. Internet is our focus. It’s true for wireless; we think of the Internet as the driver of all smartphones as well as mobile Internet, both for landline and on the mobile side.

Finally, experiences. We start with a foundation of being one of the best in the world when it comes to our landline and mobile network. On top of this, we’re layering value through services like Anyplace TV and Rogers One Number™.  As a whole, we aim to create an Internet experience that our clients will appreciate and that will be recognized world-wide.

How can Rogers customers expect technology to change their lives years from now?

I think the most exciting part about the Internet world and where our customers want us to go is that, in a lot of cases, people don’t really know. That’s what’s so magical about it. There are new uses for the Internet springing up all the time. One example would be that, in the not-too-distant future, people won’t be carrying wallets around. Everything will be stored on your sim card: all your credit cards, your debit cards, your driver’s license, your reward cards. You’ll be able to just touch the screen when you walk into any retail outlet or be able to electronically exchange the information with any merchant, whether they’re virtual or bricks and mortar. You can imagine an entire new generation of people growing up now that think it’s very funny that people would walk around with big purses and fat wallets. That’s probably something that’ll disappear in the near future.

People will have all their devices connected to the Internet. Personal devices will be sewn into clothing. Your fridge will tell you when you need more groceries. In education, people will no longer be using hardcover textbooks. All assignments and studying will be done through tablets wherever a student may be. In the health sector, I see huge advances, from anything like glucose monitors which automatically detect where you are, send that back to a server somewhere and give both the medical practitioner and the patient some advice on what they should be doing better. And those are only the things we can imagine today. You know that what’s really going to happen is 10 times that.

How do YOU embrace technology in your own life? 

I have all the toys that most people have these days: a smartphone and a tablet. I use the tablet in downtime to help keep current with the office, looking at email, documents and presentations. I’ve used our Anyplace TV product when I’m on holiday. I was recently in Peru, and was able to catch all the hockey highlights and the clips by going to our Anyplace TV service.

I’ve found I’ve increased communication with my sons and daughter, just by being able to send pictures and text messages back and forth. My oldest son is in engineering at university and I don’t think any of the textbooks actually got used at all. His entire curriculum was online and he was able to access it from anywhere, whether he was on or off campus, using both a landline and wireless data Internet connection.

We also have a small cottage north of Toronto, on an island, with no possible way of getting Internet connection. I use our HSPA and soon will use an LTE connection up there to keep current. It’s great for the kids, because they get to watch TV and play their online games. And it allows me to have some connection with the office, as well as with friends and family.

Finally, a simple example is our Rogers One Number product. When I come home, I often charge my smartphone in the kitchen, but I sometimes go upstairs to use our landline Internet and our computer. When my cell phone rings, it also rings on the PC. I don’t have to keep running up and down the stairs … I can take the call right there. I can also make an outbound call from my PC, using my wireless cell phone number. Those are just examples off the top of my head, but it changes every day, for the better.

Now it’s your turn: Where do you see technology taking you 5 years from now?

Michelle is a regular contributor to RedBoard

Back in December, we issued our first Rogers Innovation Report, a regular report we’re doing to get Canadians’ views on technology. Now, results from our third Rogers Innovation Report reveal some tantalizing insights about how much Canadian technology users value their Internet connection, as well as how they want to make technology work for them now and in the future.

Check out some of the results from our latest study in the infographic below and join the discussion on Twitter by using or following #RIRExplores.

How do you compare with Canadians we surveyed?

The Rogers Innovation Report, produced by market research specialists and software developers Vision Critical, regularly explores Canadians’ habits and views on technology. You’ll find complete study results on Slideshare.

Michelle is regular contributor to our French blog, FilRouge. This is her first post on RedBoard.

We’ve been inspired to create a few of our own in our Rogers Innovation Report series, featuring Canadians Using Technology to Manage Personal Relationships, and exploring the Top Technology Trends for 2012.

Recently, iPhone in Canada also showcased a great one for Mother’s Day with some surprising findings. It turns out, mom’s not that into flowers on Mother’s Day – she’s into technology! 31% of mothers would prefer to receive a tech gadget, but sadly only 11% will get one. Now that you’ve seen the light, there’s still a week left to trade in those roses for a tablet – and spread the word!

We also came across a great one from Culture Label on global mobile trends. When it comes to mobile devices, it’s no secret that use of them has been, and will continue to be, on the rise. But did you know that of the world’s 7 billion in population, a whopping 5.9 billion are mobile phone users? Or that over 300,000 apps have been downloaded in the past 3 years? Find out other interesting facts including how much time we spend on our mobile devices and how we spend it here.

Another enlightening one was tweeted about through our @RogersBuzz Twitter account earlier this week on The Mobile Employee. We came across it on Visua.ly, one of the premiere online destinations for finding an abundance of infographics. In this one, according to a survey conducted by xcubelabs, 59% of mobile employees would get emotional having to work without their smartphone for a week. It may seem like a stretch, but even 10% of you anticipated feeling lonely as a result.

Of these infographics, I’m guilty of all 3! Which one(s) do you relate to the most?

Kelly Farrell is a regular contributor to RedBoard

Here’s three great how-to articles from their recent online archives about Rogers One Number, Android widgets and tablets.

How To: Set up Rogers One Number

By now, most of you are familiar with our Rogers One Number service that launched earlier this year. It lets you talk, text and send picture messages, and video chat with other Rogers One Number users, all from your computer using your existing phone number. In this how-to article, you’ll learn about how to register, make a call, switch devices, set up reach me rules and more. Check it out.

How To: Add a widget on your Android device

Widgets are like mini-apps that sit on your home screen. In essence, they are shortcuts to a main app. In this article, you’ll find easy, step-by-step instructions on how to add a widget to your mobile device.

How To: Master your iPad, Galaxy Tab or PlayBook

In this article, you’ll find a few quick tips for a couple of the most popular tablets available today. Learn how to attach a picture to an email from your iPad, enable Adobe Flash on your Samsung Galaxy Tab, and enable private web surfing on your BlackBerry PlayBook.

This is just a small sample of what you can find in Connected Magazine. Take a look at their how-to section for more great tips, tricks and helpful information.

If you have a technical question about a Rogers product or service, check out our Community Forums, where you can ask questions and share answers.

Kelly is a regular contributor to RedBoard

Mashable wrote about a new study from Strategy Analytics stating this week stating that Samsung’s market share is now 25%, with a $4.5 billion profit in its most-recent quarter, nearly doubling last year’s figures and estimates. This adds up to an estimated 93.5 million handsets sold in the first quarter alone!

We can certainly see what all the hype is about. We’ve got a stellar lineup of Samsung devices that include the Samsung Galaxy Note, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and the Samsung Rugby 2. Samsung even has you covered if you’re in the market for a tablet – the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE comes equipped with an 8.9” screen, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and high-def video capture and display.

Head on over to your nearest Rogers retailer and check out our lineup of Samsung devices in-store or online now. What’s your favourite Rogers Samsung device?

TV Makeover Update

Competition is heating up for our ongoing  TV Makeover contest! We’ve received over 100 entries so far, and you’ve got until May 10^th to submit more!

We’re seeing some pretty compelling entries. Pictures are worth a thousand words afterall, but sometimes an added caption can really give it that extra something. Check out these creative entries:

Kelly from Harrowsmith, Ontario

We need a tv makeover, this one has a vcr built in, how old is that???

Deanna from Hamilton, Ontario

Music,technology and fashion in the 80s had an impact on the future. My 80s TV is holding me back.

Zoe from Barrie, Ontario

After living here for 11 years, are theater room has never been renovated! This room needs help!

Got one of your own? Then enter our TV Makeover contest now and share your story!

Kelly is a regular contributor to RedBoard

Hosted by Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha, the web series is available on www.bestbeautytalent.com, Rogers on Demand Channel 100, Rogers Anyplace TV, and Citytv.com. You can catch up on the first three episodes any time and watch the next three episodes as they become available every Sunday and Monday night following the television broadcasts of  Canada’s Got Talent on Citytv. The series was created by Rogers Media Client Solutions team and L’Oreal Canada.

Like any good reality show, the competitors are tasked with weekly challenges to create a certain look within a time limit. The looks are then evaluated by host Coco Rocha, resident judge Lisa Tant, editor-in-chief of FLARE, and an array of guest judges including CityLine host Tracy Moore. Two contestants are eliminated each week, and the remaining beauty artists move on. Of the original 12 contestants, six remain in the competition. You can check out their profiles here to learn more about them.

At the end of the competition, the best hair artist and the best makeup artist will get a feature in FLARE, Hello! Canada and LOULOU magazines, the opportunity to attend the Toronto International Film Festival with L’Oreal Paris and a beauty blog on chatelaine.com. The overall grand prize winner will also receive a trip to Paris to visit the L’Oreal headquarters.

For more information on the series, check out www.bestbeautytalent.com and don’t forget to tune in to this week’s webisode available on Sunday, April 29 at 9:00 p.m. EST. You can also follow Canada’s Best Beauty Talent on Facebook and on Twitter, @BeautyTalent.

Of the remaining six contestants, who do you think will be crowned Canada’s Best Beauty Talent?

Miranda is a regular contributor to RedBoard

TV Makeover Contest

If you haven’t been following our TV Makeover contest, you’ve been missing out! Not only do you have the chance to win an amazing Samsung and Nextbox 2.0 prize pack valued at over $5,000, but the blast from the past TV sets in our entries are a lot of fun too!

Check out this beauty from Mary in Burlington, Ontario with rabbit ears and all! Or how about Jose’s from Ajax, Ontario with the old school crank knobs to change channels! If you think you can top these entries, then what are you waiting for? Just go here and upload a picture of your old TV set and write a 100 character description of why you need a TV makeover.  Use the hashtag #TVMakeover to tweet, like, pin and share your entry with your friends.

National Volunteer Week

In the spirit of National Volunteer Week, we wanted to acknowledge and thank all our amazing volunteers who work in our community stations across Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

If you or someone you know is interested in television production, our volunteers are given hands-on training which provides both valuable experience and skills needed for a career in broadcasting or in other job sectors. Some of our positions include camera operator, floor director, production assistant, and makeup artist. For more insight, check out what some of our volunteers had to say about their experience volunteering at Rogers in our video section under “What I got from volunteering at Rogers TV.”

4 LTE enabled smartphones for your viewing, talking, watching, & texting pleasure

Last week the industry was buzzing about the Nokia Lumia 900. This week it’s all about the HTC One X With LTE speeds, 8MP cameras and AMOLED touch screens, these devices are among the hottest in the marketplace.

But let’s not forget some of the trailblazing LTE devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy Note or the Samsung Galaxy SII. Find out what makes all 4 devices so popular, and find out which one is right for you in Connected Magazine’s guide “LTE Smartphones: Nokia Lumia 900, HTC One X and more.”

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day is this Sunday, April 22. Why not join the Earth Day events happening in your community this weekend? To find out what’s happening in your city, go here and click on your province on the map to see a list of what’s happening in your community.

Kelly is a regular contributor to RedBoard

If you want more details on this new device, Salim, our Rogers Data Guy, is back with another RedBoard video to show you all the great features of this device:

The HTC One X is now exclusively available in Rogers retail locations for $169.99 with select 3-year plans or visit rogers.com for more information.

What your favourite feature of the HTC One X?

Katie is a regular contributor to RedBoard

*Within Rogers LTE network footprint. Based on tests comparing data throughput speeds and on geographic coverage area comparison (in square kilometers) to Bell and Telus’ LTE networks.  See www.rogers.com/coverage for full details on Rogers LTE network coverage.

Lucky for you, we’ve got the Rogers Reader’s Advantage program. Did you know that as a Rogers customer, you can get some of your favourite magazines for as low as $1/month? It’s true! You can get great titles like MacLean’s, Chatelaine, Sportsnet and Today’s Parent for up to 85% off the cover price. Just pick out the ones you like, and they will be added to your Rogers account. Pay nothing up front. Not sure if you’ll like a certain magazine? No problem.  You are never locked in and you can cancel anytime.

To help you decide which magazines you might like to get, here’s what’s inside our latest issues:

Chatelaine: A gardening guide for the month of April

Today’s Parent: Is Your Toddler Too Chubby?

Canadian Business: Sanofi launches diabetes sensor for iPhone

Hello! The World’s Most Stylish Women: A Celebration of Timeless Glamour

LouLou: Score some cheap thrills with sensational spring buys all for under a $100!

Sportsnet: The Quiet Room, NHL myth?

Flare: 10 Bright Spring Nail Polishes

Money Sense:  Mortgage secrets revealed

Macleans: Stalking women? There’s an app for that.

To take advantage of this program, click this link, select your magazines, and fill out your mailing info at the bottom. All publications will be added to your monthly Rogers invoice, no credit card required! And, if you order now, you’ll also get a bonus digital copy of “Cooking Class”, Chatelaine’s step by step guide to mastering classic recipes. The offer is not available to Rogers prepaid customers.

Personally, I’m going to indulge in some celebrity gossip via Hello! up at the cottage this summer. You can never have too much reading on a hammock by the lake!

What’s your favourite magazine?

Kelly is a regular contributor to RedBoard

Michelle, Volunteer Reporter for Rogers TV, Toronto

Today marks the start of National Volunteer Week, a perfect opportunity for Rogers TV to salute the talented volunteers who work diligently in its community stations across Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

At any given time, approximately 2,000 individuals dedicate themselves to providing the best in community television programming at Rogers. The quality of their work shines whether they are in front of the camera or behind the scenes.

In exchange for their commitment, volunteers are provided with hands-on training in many aspects of television production. This provides both valuable experience and skills needed for a career in broadcasting or in other job sectors.

Here’s how to get involved:

If you or someone you know would like to volunteer at Rogers TV, visit the Volunteer section of RogersTV.com: http://www.rogerstv.com/volunteer or call our Volunteer Hotline at 1-877-LOCAL TV.

For more information, you can also check out the videos here to learn about what volunteers do and the benefits of developing these skill sets.

For residents of Toronto, follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/RogersTVToronto.

On behalf of everyone at Rogers, thank you to all volunteers. We appreciate everything you do.

Kelly is a regular contributor to RedBoard

In this week’s review, we’ll guide you through the new Rogers Family Plans, then fill you in on how you can stream the 2012 NHL Playoffs through Rogers Live Mobile app. Plus get the scoop on our TV Makeover contest and how you could win a #Nextbox prize pack!

Rogers family plans

With the hustle and bustle of today’s families, we know how important it is to stay connected. That’s why we launched the Rogers Family Plans. There’s the Unlimited Family Plan for those who text a lot but don’t make many calls, and the Ultimate Unlimited Family Plan for the family that does it all! Best of all, starting this week, customers who activate 2 new smartphones on the family voice and data plan on a 3-yr term are eligible to receive a FREE Xbox 360® with Kinect™! Click here for more details.

A big week for sports

This week marked the beginning of two big sporting events: the Blue Jays home opener and the beginning of the NHL playoffs! To make sure you catch all the NHL playoff action, the Rogers Live Mobile app now offers unlimited streaming of CBC’s Hockey Night on your smartphone until October 31^st for just $5/month! After this time period, users can stream 5 hours per month with $1 per each additional hour.

If you’ve shifted your focus away from hockey, Rogers wireless customers can also stream all 162 Blue Jays games at home, at work and on the go, with the Rogers Live Mobile app for your smartphone or Rogers Anyplace TV on your computer. Here’s our blog post on how you can catch all the MLB action. The Rogers Live Mobile app is available now on Rogers smartphones through iTunes, Google Play and BlackBerry App World. You can check out all the details on our recent blog post here.

As a bonus, you can also check out an article The Hamilton Spectator did recently about the Blue Jays involvement with social media – “These Jays Are Young & Twitter Savvy.” Fans are connecting with their favourite players while simultaneously streaming the game! Follow the general @BlueJays on Twitter for all the latest updates.

#TVMakeover Contest

Is your home entertainment system screaming for a makeover? If so, have we got the contest for you! We just launched our TV Makeover contest – to enter, simply upload a picture of your current TV setup, then in 100 characters or less tell us why you need an upgrade. What’s in it for you? How does a Rogers and Samsung facelift valued at over $5,000 sound! Go here to enter and for more details, check out our blog post from earlier this week here.

New board on Windows Phone in the Community Forums

If you’re looking for information or need answers to questions about Windows Phone, we’ve just opened a new board in our Community Forums.

Kelly is a regular contributor to RedBoard

While you might say your old TV has a certain “charm,” we know that for true TV lovers, an awesome setup is necessary for a truly exceptional TV viewing experience. That’s why we’re having a TV makeover contest. The prize? A total Rogers NextBox 2.0 facelift valued at over $5,000. Here’s what the future of television looks like:

• A super narrow 55” Samsung LED Smart TV with HD and 3D technology
• A Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE tablet
• A Rogers NextBox HD PVR & HD Terminal
• Platinum NextBox 2.0 package for 6 months

How to enter:

Just go here and submit a picture of your current TV setup and tell us why you’re in need of an upgrade in 100 characters or less. We’ll be selecting the top 5 entries and doing a random draw for the winner on May 10. You must be a Rogers cable customer in Ontario to enter the contest.

What is NextBox 2.0?

It’s a suite of new features for Rogers cable customers in Ontario that delivers a TV-without-borders experience, any time, in any room of your home. It includes Whole Home PVR, so you can watch your recorded shows from any TV in your home. NextBox 2.0 also features Rogers Live TV which allows you to stream 22 live TV channels on your iPad or Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablet using your home Wi-Fi connection. For more details, check out our recent blog post here.

Do you need a TV makeover? Submit your entry here!

UPDATE (May 10, 2012, 12:52 p.m.): The TV Makeover contest is now over. A huge thanks to everyone who entered and shared your TV pictures with us. There were some great entries. We’ll be publishing a new blog post announcing the top 5 finalists later today. The grand prize winner will be announced soon. Stay tuned!

Miranda is a regular contributor to RedBoard

Contest closes at 12:00 noon ET on May 10, 2012. Open to residents of Ontario who are 18 years or older, excluding residents of Quebec. To enter, upload a picture in either JPEG, TIFF, PNG or BMP format and tell us why you deserve to have your home entertainment system upgraded.  Prize: Participants are eligible to win one (1) 55” Samsung LED Smart TV, one (1) Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9”, one (1) Rogers NextBox™ HD PVR and HD Terminal and a Platinum NextBox™ 2.0 package including six (6) months of  digital service to a maximum of $200. Total approximately valued at $5,000.00. One entry/person. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries. Mathematical skill-testing question to be correctly answered to win. No Purchase Necessary. Full rules here

From the playoff opener all the way to the finals, you can catch the games right at your fingertips. Starting today, the Rogers Live Mobile app will live stream CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada coverage right on your smartphone. Start picking your fantasy playoff roster as Ottawa and Vancouver prepare to take on their Southern opponents.

For $5/month, fans can enjoy unlimited hours of viewing until October 31st, after which, users can stream 5 hours per month, with $1 per each additional hour. The app is available on Rogers smartphones through iTunes, Google Play and BlackBerry App World.

Now, as long as you have your phone on you, there’s no need to stickhandle your schedule to make it home on time for the game. When your team lights the lamp, you may not be leaping off the sofa in excitement, you may be inadvertently shouting while on the train or in line at the grocery store.

The puck drops tonight, so it’s time to earnestly follow your personal playoff rituals (however bizarre they may be), because everyone should do their part to make sure their favourite team wins the iconic cup.

What’s your favourite hockey tradition or ritual during the playoffs?

Kaili is a regular contributor to RedBoard

Hockey Night in Canada and logo are official marks of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.

If you want all the details on this new device, check out this hands-on video with Salim, our Rogers data guy:

You can pick up the Nokia Lumia 900 in stores now for $99.99 on select 3-year terms or visit  www.rogers.com/lumia900 for more information.

What is your favourite feature of the new Nokia Lumia 900?

Katie is a regular contributor to RedBoard

The Rogers family plans provide options for all types of families and their wireless technology needs and a family doesn’t need to be living in the same house or even be related to get one of these plans. Here’s a few examples that might help you determine what plan is right for you:

We text all day long but don’t usually call each other – the Unlimited Family Plans are a great option for a family that loves to text.  These plans include unlimited texting 24/7, as well as enough voice minute options to ensure you’re covered but also not paying for minutes you’re not using.

We talk and text each other like it’s going out of style  – The Ultimate Unlimited Family Plans are great for families who like to do it all without limitations. Unlimited local calling, unlimited messaging, and unlimited Canada-wide Family Plan calling let’s you talk and text until you’re out of things to say without time boundaries or restrictions.

I can hear you all already.  “Whoa, hold up Mel! Unlimited texting and local voice are great, but what about data?”

No worries my friends. Every family plan has data options. Does your whole family need data? If they do, you can opt for the voice and data family plan with 2GB of shared data and the option to add more for those heavy data users. If it’s only a few members on the plan that need data, you can include a data add-on option to any of the individual texting plans.

So this is all great I know, but I’m sure there are still questions out there about why it makes sense to move to a family plan. Here’s a few:

• A single bill makes payments a lot simpler
• The people on your family plan do not have to live within the same household (For example: children away at school)
• A family plan is great for any group of people that may/may not be ‘traditionally’ related (example: couples)
• When you activate one new phone on the family plan, you can get up to 4 additional phones at $0 (each with new activations on family plan on a 3-yr term)
• Starting April 10^th there is an opportunity to receive a FREE Xbox 360® with Kinect™ when you activate 2 new smartphones on the family voice and data plan on a 3-yr term

WHAT? A free Xbox 360®with Kinect™?

That’s right. From April 10^th – May 21^st, new customers who activate two new smartphones on a family voice and data plan on a 3-yr term or existing customers who migrate to a family voice and data plan and activate a new smartphone on a 3-yr term may be eligible to receive a free Xbox 360® with Kinect™ with Rogers Anyplace TV, 1 month free Live Xbox Gold Membership and Kinect™ Adventures Game.

Already a Rogers family plan customer but want a free Xbox 360® with Kinect™?  Existing family plan customers can also take advantage of this great offer by adding a new smartphone line to their existing family voice and data plan on a 3-yr term.

Interested in the offer, but don’t need a family plan? Consumers activating a new smartphone on a voice and data plan with a 3 year terms can purchase an Xbox 360® with Kinect™ for only $149.99.

What a great connected entertainment experience for the whole family: a great wireless plan that suits everyone’s needs, the latest devices, and a perfect reason to spend time together playing your favourite Xbox 360® with Kinect™ game.

Who’s the best at video games in your house?

UPDATE (May 2, 2013, 12:29 pm): Breakfast Television Toronto recently hosted BT Family Quarrel presented by the Rogers Family Plan. Two fun Canadian families competed for their chance to win the ultimate Family Plan prize pack. You can watch the trivia go down on Rogers Anyplace TV in part 1 here and part 2 here.

Melanie is a regular contributor to RedBoard

LTE news

There was plenty of action on the LTE front this week so if you missed the big news, here’s what you need to know. On Monday, we went live with LTE in two new cities: Calgary and Halifax. This launch follows the recent launch of LTE in St. John’s and in the coming months, we’ll be bringing Canada’s fastest and largest LTE network to Edmonton. Stay tuned!

This week we also launched the new Sierra Wireless AirCard 763S LTE mobile hotspot that lets you create a password-protected hotspot in seconds for up to 10 Wi-Fi enabled devices.  And finally, the HTC One X is now available to reserve or preorder. This is Canada’s first LTE smartphone with Beats Audio Integration and it is coming soon, exclusively at Rogers. What’s more, if you pre-order by April 30, you have a chance to win a trip for two to Toronto and VIP passes to the MMVA after party! Check out all the details here: http://www.rogers.com/htconex

Apps for Easter

A long weekend wouldn’t be complete without some appropriately-themed apps. After some digging around online, here’s a list of our favourites:

1. Easter Bunny My Face (free on iTunes and Windows Phone marketplace): You know you’ve always wanted to see yourself as the Easter Bunny. Transform your face with a selection of bunny noses and ears and when you’re done, why not make that your new Twitter or Facebook profile picture for the weekend?
2. Easter Bunny Tracker (.99 on iTunes): A fun app for kids, you can track the bunny as he makes his rounds this Easter
3. Egg Dying 101 from Martha Stewart Living (.99 on iTunes): With a gallery of more than 100 egg designs, you may just find the inspiration you need to jazz up that festive Easter table centerpiece.
4. Rocket Bunny (free on Google Play and iTunes): A fun game where you help a rocket-powered Easter Bunny deliver eggs
5. Easter Egg Paint (free on Google Play or .99 on BlackBerry App World): Paint your own egg and send it to friends and family, or use it as your wallpaper.

Miranda is a regular contributor to RedBoard

We wanted to let you know that we updated this post on April 13 to help clarify the difference between streaming on Rogers Anyplace TV on your computer and the Rogers Live Mobile app on your smartphone. We also added some new information about a great new promotion offering unlimited hours of viewing on the Rogers Live Mobile app until October 31, 2012.

This year everyone has their eyes on the Blue Jays—with a fantastic pre-season record and optimism that only Spring can bring, fans across the country are gearing up for this year’s baseball season.

And now, if you’re a Rogers Digital VIP TV customer with a Sportsnet subscription, you can stream all 162 Jays games at home, at work and on the go, with Rogers Anyplace TV.com/sports on your computer

Rogers Wireless customers coast to coast can download the Rogers Live Mobile app to stream Blue Jays games on their smartphones.

Just picture it: a beautiful Sunday afternoon. You’re watching the Jays game at home, getting ready to head over to a family picnic. Game goes into extra innings. All of a sudden bases are loaded, and Jays are down by 2…but you have to leave! Mom is calling—you were supposed to bring the cutlery! This year there’s no reason to stress. You can walk down to the park, streaming the last few innings live on your smartphone with ease.

Did you know that west coast fans have the added benefit of catching the game, how shall I say it—at work? With over half of the Jays regular season games starting between 9am and 5pm Pacific Standard Time (PST) it’s never been easier for Blue Jays fans across the country to catch all the action.

How it works:

Rogers Live Mobile app:

• The app is available on Rogers smartphones through iTunes, Google Play and BlackBerry App World.
• For $5/month, Rogers wireless customers can enjoy unlimited hours of viewing until October 31st, after which, users can stream 5 hours per month, with $1 per each additional hour.

Rogers AnyplaceTV.com/sports on your computer:

• Rogers Digital VIP TV customers who subscribe to Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE can stream live from their computer at RogersAnyplaceTV.com/sports
• (Streaming on tablets coming soon later this month)

Visit RogersAnyplaceTV.com/sports for more information

For the truly die-hard Jays fans, here’s how to add their schedule to your Google calendar:

• First, you’ll want to sign up for a Google account if you don’t already have one.
• Once logged in, you’ll see “Calendar” as one of your options to view in the top left hand corner. Select it, and scroll to the bottom left hand menu where you will see “Other Calendars.”
• Click “Add,” then “Browse Interesting Calendars.” Here you’ll find calendars for hundreds of teams in dozens of sports leagues, including the Blue Jays.
• Simply “subscribe” to your teams of choice and you’re done!

Where do you think you’ll find yourself watching the Jays this season?

UPDATE: (May 4, 2012, 5:30 p.m): If you’re interested in live-streaming Sportsnet coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays on your iPad, now you can with the MLB.com Full Count app – now available on iTunes.   Rogers TV customers who subscribe to Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE can watch live games using their Rogers Anyplace TV log-in.  And the best part…the app is free!  Now you can catch the Blue Jays live all-season long on your iPad.  And don’t forget you can also catch the Jays on your smartphone and computer.  Visit RogersAnyplaceTV.com/sports for more details. 

Kaili is a regular contributor to RedBoard

This post was originally published on our business blog, RedBoard Biz.

Spring has sprung here and with the sudden increase in temperature I had a light bulb moment: why doesn’t my team take all our meetings outdoors? With the newly launched Sierra Wireless AirCard 763S LTE mobile hotspot, we can do this pretty easily!

Not only could we use the new hotspot to reschedule our boardroom bookings to the lawn, park, or  patio, it’s also useful for people who travel on business or if you’re taking it easy lakeside at the cottage this summer and need to stay connected.

With the new Sierra Wireless AirCard 763S LTE mobile hotspot you can create a password-protected hotspot in seconds for up to 10 Wi-Fi enabled devices.  This means that no matter where you decide to set up your office, you and your team can all access your emails, presentations and shared documents online.  Here are a few more advantages:

• It’s faster than ever: the maximum theoretical download speed is up to 100 Mbps but this next generation device is enabled for both 1700/2100MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum connectivity on the Rogers LTE network for typical LTE download speeds of 12-40 Mbps compared to 12-25 Mbps for devices using 1700/2100MHz only.
• It’s flexible: the mobile hotspot isn’t limited to laptops- you can connect virtually any Wi-Fi device including tablets, e-readers, printers, cameras, music or gaming devices.
• It’s easy to carry and use everywhere: About the size of a deck of cards, with up to 6 hours of battery life, and a helpful LCD screen to guide you, being productive amongst nature has never been this simple.

In order to access the Rogers LTE network, you’ll need the following:

• an LTE-ready device
• an LTE SIM card, and
• an LTE plan within Rogers LTE coverage area.

When outside of LTE coverage area, the mobile hotspot seamlessly connects to Rogers 4G HSPA+ network across the nation and supports roaming in over 190 countries. Rogers has the fastest and largest LTE network* and it’s available in select Canadian cities. You can check out www.rogers.com/coverage for a map and details.

For more information on this device and other LTE devices check out Rogers.com/LTE

Where do you need to stay connected? i.e. cottage, on the beach, etc.?

Kaili is a regular contributor to RedBoard

*Within Rogers LTE network footprint. Based on tests comparing data throughput speeds and on geographic coverage area comparison (in square kilometers) to Bell and Telus’ LTE networks.  See www.rogers.com/coverage for full details on Rogers LTE network coverage.

Last year, we launched Rogers Smart Home Monitoring, a home monitoring and automation service that allows you to control sensors, cameras, thermostats, lights and small appliances no matter where you are using your computer or smartphone. Since then, we’ve been making tons of updates to the system to provide even more services for greater peace of mind.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be doing a three part series to share what’s new with Smart Home Monitoring. Here’s the first post where we take a look at new remote system access options and new ‘smart’ sensors that monitor potentially dangerous and damaging activity in your home.

Android & BlackBerry Apps

You can now access Smart Home Monitoring from any Android smartphone. In addition to our iPhone app, we now have an Android app available that can be downloaded from the Android marketplace.

The BlackBerry app will be available in just a few weeks.

Water Leak Sensor

To help you avoid the costly damage caused by water leaks and flooding, we have launched a wireless sensor that detects water on a surface.

The sensor is easily placed on a floor, wall or baseboard and when the sensor detects water it immediately communicates with the Smart Home Monitoring system to generate an alarm or emergency alert before damage occurs.

The sensor also monitors itself for low battery levels so you’re always covered.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Sensor

Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, tasteless and colourless gas that can be toxic to humans and animals when encountered in high concentrations. To help you protect your home and family against this potential threat, we have made a wireless sensor available that gives an early warning of CO poisoning danger by providing visual and audio alarms when potentially dangerous CO levels exist in the home.

The alarm resets automatically when CO is no longer detected and will also detect low battery levels in the sensor and tampering to help customers to ensure it is always on.

Also, should CO levels become dangerous while you are out, the fully integrated wireless transmitter sends alarm and status messages to the Touchpad, which will notify you via text message or email and also the central monitoring station who monitors your home 24/7.

You can learn more about Smart Home Monitoring from Rogers by visiting www.rogers.com/smarthome.

Want to win a Smart Home Monitoring System?

Until May 16, you can enter our contest for a chance to win one of five Smart Home Monitoring systems from Rogers. Go here to enter.

Allison is a regular contributor to RedBoard

No purchase ncessary. Open to residents of Ontario having reached the age of majority.  See contest rules for all details.