Canada’s Virgin Mobile Launches the HTC Legend
The HTC Legend has been one of our favorite phones to come out of the Taiwanese manufacturer this year. (Read our full review) Its unibody aluminum construction, the new Sense UI, optical trackpad, gorgeous AMOLED screen, 5MP camera, speedy processor … the list goes on. Only problem’s been that it’s kept itself out of North America — until now. Canada’s Virgin Mobile network has scored it for $79 with a three-year (Canadian standard) contract and data plan at $50 a month. Welcome to the new world, little Legend. Now let’s work our way south into the States, eh?
Press Release
Virgin Mobile Canada the first in North America to launch the
HTC Legend Android smartphone
June 11 /CNW/ - Wanna try out a phone that's truly legendary? In a North American first, today Virgin Mobile added the new HTC Legend phone to its stellar line-up. Accelerating onto a speedy network that's sure to rev your engine, the HTC Legend is the first Virgin Mobile phone powered by the open-source Android platform.
In true Virgin style, Virgin Group Chairman Sir Richard Branson launched the HTC Legend phone with a "Legends Go-Kart Race", burning some rubber against racing legend Alex Tagliani and hockey legend Vincent Lecavalier. Following a photo finish, Virgin Mobile unveiled the HTC Legend phone. To celebrate the launch, HTC Corporation ("HTC") donated $50,000 to Virgin Unite's RE*Generation Movement - a movement that's racing to end youth homelessness in Canada - in the name of Alex Tagliani, winner of today's go-kart challenge.
"I'm thrilled to be here today not only to race against some of Canada's top legends, but also to unveil another Legend - the new Android smartphone from HTC," said Richard Branson, Chairman of the Virgin Group. "With our first Android powered phone, Virgin Mobile Canada is racing past the competition, offering Canadians even more reasons to move to the mobile company that they love with Canada's biggest super-speedy network(1)."
As the checkered flag was waved, Branson also issued a challenge to all Canadians to bring their HSPA phones over to Virgin Mobile. "I welcome any Canadian with the need for speed who's looking for more from their mobile company to come over to us and become a Virgin Mobile Member," Branson continued. "In fact, for the rest of June, Canadians who bring their HSPA 3G + phone over to our network can go to a Virgin Mobile store or The Source and they'll get their SIM card from us for free and we'll cover the activation charge!"
To find out if their phone is compatible to bring over to Virgin Mobile and take advantage of the offer, Canadians can check www.virginmobile.ca for more details.
"Earlier this year, we promised to deliver more phones, more benefits and more services to our Members," said Robert Blumenthal, President, Virgin Mobile Canada. "With everything from access to the hottest events to plans that fit your needs and now our first Android phone, we're keeping our promise. We're very excited to be the first in North America to offer the new HTC Legend and look forward to adding even more of the latest phones to our lineup throughout the year."
A North American First
The HTC Legend uses the Android 2.1 platform with the HTC Sense(TM) experience that intuitively organizes all of your communication by friends, family and colleagues, putting people rather than technology at the centre. It comes packed with a 5.0 megapixel camera with flash, an easy-to-use touchscreen and supports a wide range of widgets and apps so that you can customize your phone to fit your needs.
"Today, we're not only unveiling the latest HTC phone but we're also starting a new partnership adding Virgin Mobile as a carrier," said Francois Gravel, Managing Director for HTC in Canada. "The HTC Legend smartphone is perfect for Virgin Mobile's Members - letting them connect to their friends wherever they are and however they want. Plus, its sleek design, machined from a solid block of aluminum, is made for mobile users who see their phone as an accessory as much as a necessity."
While the HTC Legend phone made its pit stop in Montreal today, the new smartphone is now available across Canada for $79.99 with a three-year plan from Virgin Mobile retail locations, The Source, T-Booth, Wireless Wave and online at www.virginmobile.ca.
Category: Carriers, Manufacturers, Phones
