Mike (cellular network)
Encyclopedia
Mike is a Canadian
mobile phone
and push-to-talk network, launched in 1996 using the proprietary iDEN
platform from Motorola
. The network was initially launched by Clearnet
in the Windsor to Québec corridor, while its roll-out in western Canada followed in 1997. Telus Mobility
acquired the Mike network through its acquisition of Clearnet in 2000.
Today, Telus Mobility corporate stores sell Mike products and services. They are primarily marketed to business, owing to the subsecond push-to-talk technology inherent to the iDEN network technology. Compared to other wireless carriers in Canada, Mike has been noted for its competitive North American roaming rates, dating back to its Green Card roaming option, which was launched in 1997 through a partnership with Nextel in the United States.
, and DirectConnect push-to-talk services anywhere there is coverage.
is a wider band, "2.5G" technology developed by Motorola
as an upgrade to iDEN networks. WiDEN allows for speeds up to 100 kbit/s, comparable to EDGE
and 1XRTT. Telus has not deployed WiDEN on their Mike network, given that the upgrade uses a larger portion of the wireless spectrum dedicated to iDEN, which leads to decreased network capacity. For the same reason (in part), Sprint
rolled back their WiDEN overlay on all towers shortly after they acquired Nextel Communications
in 2005.
network in the United States
, and internationally with Nextel International
networks in Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Argentina.
The following per-minute rates apply for calls made using Nextel International roaming:
International iDEN customers can roam on the MiKE network at their applicable roaming rates. United States prepaid provider Boost Mobile
offers its customer DirectConnect and text messaging while roaming in Canada, although voice calls cannot be dialed except for emergency numbers. Nextel customers from the United States have long had the ability to utilize unlimited data, at no additional fee, while roaming on the Mike network in Canada.
's 10-4 service, compatible with almost a dozen of Sanyo
feature phone
s offered by the provider. Another major competitor was Bell-owned Solo Mobile
, a youth-targeted brand promoted with the slogan "Cell Phone. Walkie talkie. Spread The Word." In both cases, 10-4 was powered by Bell Mobility's CDMA
network, which is also used for regular voice, text and data service. Customers complained that Bell's service had poorer push-to-talk call setup and latency times. Today, Bell continues to offer the 10-4 service, but the Sanyo Pro-700 is currently the only phone sold by Bell which is 10-4 capable. 10-4 is discontinued at Solo.
s feature built-in Global Positioning System
(GPS) devices. They are also data-capable and include a web browser. Devices also support third-party applications, such as the Opera Mini
web browser or Google Maps.
The OpenWave
web browser is pre-installed on each device.
released their first BlackBerry
smartphone for iDEN networks in 2002. To date, the company is the only device manufacturer to compete with Motorola in manufacturing devices for iDEN networks. The BlackBerry 7100i with SureType was released in November 2005, but is no longer available.
Due to uncertainty surrounding the Sprint Nextel
merger in the United States, more than three years passed before the BlackBerry Curve 8350i was launched in late 2008, supporting Wi-Fi
and BlackBerry OS
4.7. As of late 2010, the phone can be upgraded to OS 5.0.
smartphone was launched in 2010, making it the first official Android device on the company's network. The smartphone is a touchscreen device with the DirectConnect push-to-talk feature available natively. The phone uses the iDEN network for voice, push-to-talk, text messaging, and push data, while higher bandwidth applications are supported through the on-board Wi-Fi
. Like other Motorola and iDEN devices, the smartphone supports A-GPS and uses a 2.5mm audio jack, but also features a 5.0 megapixel camera, Flash, and the Motoblur
social networking applications.
Networks utilize SIM
cards, much like GSM networks. Mike currently uses 128k cards, which come with all new devices designed for the network. The SIM cards allow subscribers to "swap" the card into another phone for quick use, technically allowing use of any iDEN device for at least basic voice and push-to-talk services.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
and push-to-talk network, launched in 1996 using the proprietary iDEN
Iden
For other uses of the word, see Iden The Iden was an English automobile manufactured from 1904 until 1907. Designed by George Iden, formerly of Daimler, they were four-cylinder 10/17 hp and 25/35 hp shaft-driven cars; each came with "Idens's frictionless radial gearbox"....
platform from Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
. The network was initially launched by Clearnet
Clearnet Communications
Clearnet Communications was a Canadian cellular telephone service provider from 1984 to 2000, when it was acquired by Telus Mobility. Clearnet operated a CDMA-based PCS network and an iDEN-based cellular network called Mike...
in the Windsor to Québec corridor, while its roll-out in western Canada followed in 1997. Telus Mobility
Telus Mobility
Telus Mobility is a division of Telus Communications which sells wireless services in Canada on its numerous networks. They currently have three different networks based on three different technologies: CDMA and HSPA+ on its mainstream networks, plus iDEN via its Mike division...
acquired the Mike network through its acquisition of Clearnet in 2000.
Today, Telus Mobility corporate stores sell Mike products and services. They are primarily marketed to business, owing to the subsecond push-to-talk technology inherent to the iDEN network technology. Compared to other wireless carriers in Canada, Mike has been noted for its competitive North American roaming rates, dating back to its Green Card roaming option, which was launched in 1997 through a partnership with Nextel in the United States.
Network
The Mike national network is deployed across six provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, and Nova Scotia). The network is entirely digital, and supports voice, data, short messagingSMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
, and DirectConnect push-to-talk services anywhere there is coverage.
Excluding WiDEN technology
WiDENWiDEN
Wideband Integrated Digital Enhanced Network, or WiDEN, is a software upgrade developed by Motorola for its iDEN enhanced specialized mobile radio wireless telephony protocol. WiDEN allows compatible subscriber units to communicate across four 25 kHz channels combined, for up to 100 kbit/s...
is a wider band, "2.5G" technology developed by Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
as an upgrade to iDEN networks. WiDEN allows for speeds up to 100 kbit/s, comparable to EDGE
Edge
- Aviation :* Leading edge, a line connecting the forward-most points of a wing's profile* Trailing edge, the rear edge of the wing* Zivko Edge 540, an aerobatic aircraft- Mathematics, science and technology :...
and 1XRTT. Telus has not deployed WiDEN on their Mike network, given that the upgrade uses a larger portion of the wireless spectrum dedicated to iDEN, which leads to decreased network capacity. For the same reason (in part), Sprint
Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
rolled back their WiDEN overlay on all towers shortly after they acquired Nextel Communications
Nextel Communications
Nextel Communications, commonly styled NEXTEL and formerly traded on the NASDAQ as NXTL, now a part of the Sprint Nextel Corporation, was a United States telecommunications firm operating a nationwide push to talk mobile communications system. Unlike other mobile networks, the Nextel network...
in 2005.
Roaming
Roaming is available on the NextelNextel Communications
Nextel Communications, commonly styled NEXTEL and formerly traded on the NASDAQ as NXTL, now a part of the Sprint Nextel Corporation, was a United States telecommunications firm operating a nationwide push to talk mobile communications system. Unlike other mobile networks, the Nextel network...
network in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and internationally with Nextel International
NII Holdings
NII Holdings Inc. , a publicly held company based in Reston, Va., provides mobile communications for business customers in Latin America. NII, which operates under the Nextel brand, has operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru and offers fully integrated wireless communications...
networks in Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Argentina.
The following per-minute rates apply for calls made using Nextel International roaming:
- To roaming country phone number: $0.99
- To Canada/USA phone number: $1.49
- To other countries: $0.99 + long distance charges
- Incoming: $1.24
- DirectConnect: $0.50
International iDEN customers can roam on the MiKE network at their applicable roaming rates. United States prepaid provider Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile is a brand of wireless prepay service run by Sprint Nextel, operating within the Sprint Prepaid Group along with Virgin Mobile USA, Assurance Wireless, and payLo by Virgin Mobile. Boost Mobile uses GSMand iDEN networks...
offers its customer DirectConnect and text messaging while roaming in Canada, although voice calls cannot be dialed except for emergency numbers. Nextel customers from the United States have long had the ability to utilize unlimited data, at no additional fee, while roaming on the Mike network in Canada.
Competition
Mike competed directly against Bell MobilityBell Mobility
Bell Mobility is a CDMA and HSPA+ based wireless network and the division of Bell Canada which sells wireless services in Canada...
's 10-4 service, compatible with almost a dozen of Sanyo
Sanyo
is a major electronics company and member of the Fortune 500 whose headquarters is located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo targets the middle of the market and has over 230 Subsidiaries and Affiliates....
feature phone
Feature phone
A feature phone is a mobile phone that, like smartphones, combines the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone.Today's models typically also serve as portable media players and camera phones with touchscreen, GPS navigation, Wi-Fi and mobile broadband access.Feature phones is...
s offered by the provider. Another major competitor was Bell-owned Solo Mobile
Solo Mobile
Solo Mobile is a mobile brand in Canada started by Bell Mobility in 2000. Solo is considered a discount wireless brand, offering low price monthly plans with some unlimited options in certain cities...
, a youth-targeted brand promoted with the slogan "Cell Phone. Walkie talkie. Spread The Word." In both cases, 10-4 was powered by Bell Mobility's CDMA
CDMA2000
CDMA2000 is a family of 3G mobile technology standards, which use CDMA channel access, to send voice, data, and signaling data between mobile phones and cell sites. The set of standards includes: CDMA2000 1X, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. A, and CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. B...
network, which is also used for regular voice, text and data service. Customers complained that Bell's service had poorer push-to-talk call setup and latency times. Today, Bell continues to offer the 10-4 service, but the Sanyo Pro-700 is currently the only phone sold by Bell which is 10-4 capable. 10-4 is discontinued at Solo.
Products
All modern Mike mobile devices and smartphoneSmartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
s feature built-in Global Positioning System
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
(GPS) devices. They are also data-capable and include a web browser. Devices also support third-party applications, such as the Opera Mini
Opera Mini
Opera Mini is a web browser designed primarily for mobile phones, smartphones and personal digital assistants. Until version 4 it used the Java ME platform, requiring the mobile device to run Java ME applications. From version 5 it is also available as a native application for Android, iOS, Symbian...
web browser or Google Maps.
Feature phones
Half a dozen of rugged feature phones, manufactured by Motorola, are branded with the Mike name and currently available for that cellular network:The OpenWave
Openwave
Openwave is a software company. Based in Redwood City, California, USA, Openwave is historically significant in its introduction of the Mobile Internet and its expansion into a large successful mobile software supplier in the mobile telecom sector...
web browser is pre-installed on each device.
BlackBerry
Research In MotionResearch In Motion
Research In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market...
released their first BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
smartphone for iDEN networks in 2002. To date, the company is the only device manufacturer to compete with Motorola in manufacturing devices for iDEN networks. The BlackBerry 7100i with SureType was released in November 2005, but is no longer available.
Due to uncertainty surrounding the Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
merger in the United States, more than three years passed before the BlackBerry Curve 8350i was launched in late 2008, supporting Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
and BlackBerry OS
BlackBerry OS
BlackBerry OS is a proprietary mobile operating system, developed by Research In Motion for its BlackBerry line of smartphone handheld devices...
4.7. As of late 2010, the phone can be upgraded to OS 5.0.
Android
The Mike i1Motorola i1
The Motorola i1 is an Internet-enabled smartphone by Motorola, running the Android operating system designed by Google. The Motorola i1 is the first Android smartphone for iDEN-based networks, which use older 2G technology rather than modern CDMA and GSM networks, and only support data rates up to...
smartphone was launched in 2010, making it the first official Android device on the company's network. The smartphone is a touchscreen device with the DirectConnect push-to-talk feature available natively. The phone uses the iDEN network for voice, push-to-talk, text messaging, and push data, while higher bandwidth applications are supported through the on-board Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
. Like other Motorola and iDEN devices, the smartphone supports A-GPS and uses a 2.5mm audio jack, but also features a 5.0 megapixel camera, Flash, and the Motoblur
Motoblur
Motoblur is an Android UI replacement and push-based service focused on social networking developed by Motorola. It aims at functional similarity to Palm's Synergy, including such features as Remote Wipe...
social networking applications.
Subscriber identity cards
All iDENIden
For other uses of the word, see Iden The Iden was an English automobile manufactured from 1904 until 1907. Designed by George Iden, formerly of Daimler, they were four-cylinder 10/17 hp and 25/35 hp shaft-driven cars; each came with "Idens's frictionless radial gearbox"....
Networks utilize SIM
Subscriber Identity Module
A subscriber identity module or subscriber identification module is an integrated circuit that securely stores the International Mobile Subscriber Identity and the related key used to identify and authenticate subscriber on mobile telephony devices .A SIM is held on a removable SIM card, which...
cards, much like GSM networks. Mike currently uses 128k cards, which come with all new devices designed for the network. The SIM cards allow subscribers to "swap" the card into another phone for quick use, technically allowing use of any iDEN device for at least basic voice and push-to-talk services.