14 DAY TRIAL // Bell Mobility, the second largest Canadian mobile carrier, will soon release a new Sanyo phone, the Katana Eclipse. Bell is no stranger to handsets manufactured by the Japanese company, as it currently has four Sanyo devices in its line-up, including the Katana LX, released at the end of May.
Like the already existing Katana, the Eclipse (model name: Sanyo SCP-6750) comes in a clamshell form factor, but it brings more advanced features. These include a 2 Megapixel camera with video recording, Bluetooth, MP3 player, dedicated music keys on the external case, a 3.5mm headset jack, WAP browser, email and microSD card support.
Since the new Katana is more evolved than the LX, its price will be higher: $75 with a contract agreement for three years (while the LX is only $25 with a similar contract).
There is no word yet on when the Katana Eclipse will be available, but this should happen until the end of the summer. As a side note, the handset will also be available in the US, offered by Sprint.
While preparing to release the new Sanyo phone, Bell has officially announced that it will "reduce the size" of its management team, in order improve competitiveness and save around $300 million per year. Thus, about 2,500 employees from Bell's management will soon leave the company.
George Cope, President and CEO of BCE and Bell Canada, commented, "It is always difficult to see colleagues depart, but these changes are absolutely necessary. We are moving forward with a streamlined management structure that brings everyone at Bell closer to the customer and allows us to compete more effectively. This new structure positions us as a far more efficient and cost-effective operator in the intensely competitive Canadian communications marketplace."
Bell says that non-management employees will not be affected by the workforce reduction, hence there will still be more than 50,000 people to work for the Canadian carrier (since now there are about 54,000).