Caveat emptor: No Canadian warranty on BLU phones. Don't believe me? Call BLU tech support and ask.

Picked up one of these on a whim after reading this article. Pretty nice device, I was impressed with the build quality for such a low price. One major issue though: it doesn't work with Bell. It supports the frequencies necessary, it even shows "Bell" if I do a network search, but it will not register. A quick Google revealed that other Blu Android phones have the same issue and don't work on Bell/Virgin/Telus/Koodo and probably all other MVNOs using that HSPA network.

Does it work across provinces on Rogers? I have the phone since it was cheap be great to get it hooked up but I can live with an 89$ WiFi WP device ;d

Out of Stock. :/

What a nice little affordable phone. Seems pretty good for people who just want a working phone with a touchscreen. I think it would also be a good starting phone for younger people, if the parents and/or kids don't want to go the Android route.

I got both: Nokia Lumia 635 and BLU WIN JR both running Windows 8.1 Update 1 with Cortona Beta (English/US settings).

For $89 BLU is a fun phone, has front/back cameras with flash (635 has only a back camera, no flash) and it's really zippy.

But BLU is not the same "quality" as my 635:

1) The screen colors are blemish, especially the black (not true black like on the 635).

2) 3G speed only (not 4G/LTE like the 635) and it works with Rogers/Fido (doesn't work with Bell. Telus ? Vidéotron ?) since in the US, this phone (BLU) works only with AT&T and T-Mobile.

3) The back camera is a little bit better on the 635 than on BLU. Both of them are decent simple cameras to take "fun pictures". Outside daylight pictures taken with my 635 and my BLU are very similar in quality to my wife's iPhone 5s (her phone from work). She hate that thing and wish she had a WP instead !!! Go figure... ;-)

4) The speaker on the back of the phone is louder on the 635 compare to BLU. A sound level of 20/30 on BLU is equivalent to a sound level of 15/30 on the 635.

5) The BLU plastic cover (mine is white) is slippery like a bar of soap... Get a good grip on your BLU if you don't want it to fly away from your hand !!!

6) Some camera apps from Nokia are not available for BLU. But HERE Maps, HERE Drive and HERE Transit are available on BLU from the WP store.

The 635 is my primary Canadian phone on Fido (carrier LOCK for now). I have to wait 3 months before UNLOCKING from Fido for $50. I bought the phone in august from Fido for $200. In the end, I'll pay $250 for that phone, same as if I would had ordered it from MS store online...

The BLU is my primary American phone on T-Mobile (SIM 1) and on Fido (SIM 2) as a backup. We use BLU when we travel to the states for vacations/shopping.

In order to keep my T-Mobile SIM "alive" when I'm home in Canada, I have a "Pay As You Go" plan for $3 a month. This plan has 120 US talk minutes, 10 cents to send/receive US text messages and 0 GB of data. I can easily add 1 GB of data for 7 days for $10 when we travel in the states for vacations.

Also, don't forget to configure both "Internet APN" and "MMS APN" settings for your SIM card if your internet doesn't work on your BLU. I found the configuration on Fido web site for my Fido SIM card and it's pretty simple to do.

BTW, both phones are hard to bend... ;-)

i'm in the same boat as you, but almost done waiting three months to unlock my Lumia 625. i personally prefer the 625 over the 635. Lumia devices are pretty well built, but i'd still consider an affordable Blu. Now if only they sold a Wind-compatible Blu, that would be stellar. :)

Also you can get an unlock code online for cheaper.

Networks2
2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2; 3G: HSDPA 850 / 1900
but telus is 850 and 1900. How does it not work with telus?

I only tested my BLU phone with 2 Canadian SIM: Bell and Fido. It works fine with Fido. It doesn't work with Bell at all (I mean voice and data).

I didn't find a way to check my IMEI numbers (SIM 1 and SIM 2) on TELUS web site in order to know if BLU will work on TELUS. I didn't go to a TELUS store to check if it was working on their network.

Don't forget that BLU only works with AT&T and T-Mobile in the US.

I had just tried to activate mine on BELL... it didn't work, my phone kept rebooting at random tho with the SIM card in. I called Rogers ... they couldn't tell me anything they said I needed to buy a SIM card to find out. Haven't talked to Telus yet.
Does the phone for sure work on Rogers in all provinces?

They should also release BLU Win HD which is comparable to lumia 830. If they do, it should be penta band.

I don't know if I'd call the WinHD comparable with the 830 in much other than size. The WinHD only has the SD200 chip and reports from other phones using it are that it has some issues with pushing pixels on a 720p screen. That being said, it is a VERY nice looking device, and I'd like to give it a whirl.

Interesting! But 4gb of storage seems awfully low - how much of that is taken up by the windowsphone OS? I know nothing about these phones - are there models with removable storage? It seems on the surface like an interesting entry level super budget phone, almost approaching burner category.

wp8.1 lets you install apps and save almost everything onto the SD card. If you buy a separate SD card, the 4GB is basically just OS partition in a way.

yes it has a micro sd slot on the bluproducts website it says it supports up to 32 gb cards.

I just visited MS's page for this phone again and can't find any mention of SD / Micro SD card slots. Are you sure this particular $89 model supports it?

I have a BLU WIN JR and it has a microSD card slot. The maximum supported size is 32 GB.

I was on the blu website. I have read reviews else where that said the Jr has micro SD. It would be surprising if it doesn't.

Looks good. White is sold out now I think but pink Is available. Might just order it for my gf. I will ask her tonight if its still available.

Well, we'll find out if it truly is available in Canada, I just ordered one.

Uhh... I never expected this to be the first WP in Canada with Cortana installed on it. I thought Nokia might get one of their phones onto it first

Or at least it claims to have Cortana

I would said that BLU is the second one in Canada. The first WP in Canada with Cortana installed on it was the Nokia Lumia 635 available in august from Roger/Fido. I have both phones and they both came with Cortana installed on them.

The 635 has it if you set the region to USA. I know cause I have a 635 as well!

You get the beta version when you set the language/region to English/US and you'll get the alpha version when you set the language/region to English/Canada.

And finally, you get no Cortana at all if you set the language/region to French/Canada ;-)

Pretty much any WP8 device can get Cortana right now, simply by signing up as a developer ($0) and installing the Preview for Developers app. Cortana is all kinds of awesome.

Although true, the average joe who is buying a Windows Phone right now would not know to do this, or want to.

The point I am making is this is the first WP released in Canada that either got Cortana from the factory, or through an update that was approved by the carriers and released. That's when the mainstream of users here will get Cortana

BLU is the second one. Nokia Lumia 635 was the first one in august from Roger/Fido. Both came with Cortana preinstall since they are WP 8.1 (as long as you set the phone in English...)

I have Cortana today I am using 8.1 update 1. But I had to change a language setting to get the alpha. She is still in alpha so it will be sometime until beta. What I have learnt, is if you want her to be accurate in your town go and check Yelp and TripAdvisor. There are some mistakes on those websites for my town so I am attempting to correct them :).

Change your region settings to US in order to access the beta version. Yes, it will mess up a little bit your WP store but you can switch back and forth between US/Canada when you need to buy an app.

Once you switched to the beta version, ask Cortona "Who is Stephen Harper?" ;-)

I use to be on the beta but would rather support the alpha Canada edition. So that they see more users on it. This way they may work on it more if they see us using it ;)

Hum.. good idea !!! I'll switch BLU to the Canadian edition (alpha) of Cortana and keep Lumia 635 on the American edition (beta) of Cortana. I'll get both worlds :-)

I agree. Even if the carriers aren't interested, Microsoft could at least offer Lumia flagships directly, off-contract and unlocked.

You can get a Lumia 930 unlocked from expansys.

If you live near the border go to a Verizon store and try a Lumia Icon. It's the same phone just remove the verizon logos.

they sell the Lumia 1020 unlocked on there website.

Show me another phone that sports a 41mp ug 34mp Camera that is "New" and "Highend" then I will quit talking about my precious. lol

I know im scared they will bring out a 1030 then I will for sure be in a line outside the store :( I want a Quad core this 4k vid thing recording. um expandable memory and 4 gigs of ram instead of the currant 2 lol .. oh and I want it to be 50 mp :D

The most we'll get so far is the Lumia 830 unfortunately =/

True. If Rogers decides to offer it then it will be launched next year factory unlocked. Like lumia 1020.

Actually, I'd consider the 830 a very comparable and practical replacement for a new iPhone. If you want to keep your current pricing vs. signing up for a $70-80 new contract you would be looking at savings in the neighbourhood of $350 over 2 years.

10MP camera with FULL OIS
720p / 5" screen, plenty clear and better on battery
$400+/-outright.

Good deal at least for people who just need a phone that works

Now only if it had support for HSPA over AWS this would be the perfect budget phone for people on the new entrant carriers.

EDIT: Apparently there is a W410U that is AWS HSPA compatible, why didn't Microsoft sell this model instead? They sold the W410A instead...

This would've been a top seller at wind Mobile if it was compatible

I hope they offer the BLU HD or Yezz Billy (i.e. 1GB RAM.& HD screen).