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Move along now, Nothing to see here!

And they'll lose tons once the Bell/Telus GSM network comes online in the next 6 months. Down with Rogers!!

Jul 28, 09 - 01:25 pm Comment from: mossman

@coolfactor,

Not likely. In the US iPhone is still exclusive to AT&T;, despite there being other established GSM carriers (their merits notwithstanding). What makes you think that as soon as Bell and Telus (or the new players for that matter) get their GSM up, that Apple will immediately switch or open up to them?

BTW, if you want to be slightly less screwed over on an iPhone contract go with Fido. Yes, they're owned by Rogers and it's still 3 years, but Fido bills by the second, evenings/weekends start at 7pm not 9pm, and there's no system access or 911 fees. And as of last November, new contracts use (or should be using; I've no way to check) the Rogers cell network, not the old and less coverage Fido one, and at no extra charge.

Jul 28, 09 - 01:39 pm Comment from: db

@mossman

In Canada, Rogers was the ONLY GSM network, so Apple didn't have a choice to negotiate with them, and as I gathered when I called Apple last year to complain about Rogers, the customer service agent hinted slightly that they weren't thrilled either.

Therefore, there's a much better chance that Apple would be ready to negotiate with a new, hungry network that's willing to give more concessions to gain the new exclusive deal (as what happened with Verizon and AT&T;).

You should have seen the face of the Koodo salesman when I told him that I was getting a contract-free phone only until the iPhone went elsewhere than Rogers. <g>

Jul 28, 09 - 02:42 pm Comment from: mossman

@db

Would you risk signing an exclusive deal with a new upstart with no prior track record? The new players will start off only in major metro areas, which makes sense for a company getting established, but without nationwide coverage (such as it is) it makes no sense at all for Apple to give them an exclusive contract. A non-exclusive one, maybe.

Bell and Telus are established, but likewise are building their iPhone-compatible towers in metro areas first, with the priority probably Vancouver so they can cash in on all the Olympic Games visitors. However, these two and Rogers are engaged in a game of "who can screw the customer over more" (e.g. one started charging for incoming SMS without a plan, the others followed suit instead of keeping them free as a perk to attract/retain customers), so don't expect them to offer any great concessions to Apple either.

I sincerely hope things do improve, but a few weeks ago I said screw it, I'm not going to wait another year or two (optimistically) for that to happen, and went ahead and finally got an iPhone.

Jul 28, 09 - 02:58 pm Comment from: db

@mossman

Call me an optimist, but for Bell Mobility or Telus to get the contract away from Rogers, with the clout Apple has these days, they're going to have to give something to the consumer in return.

The two biggest gripes here are the price for the monthly plan, and the 3 year locked-in contract. If even *one* of these went down, it would be a victory for all cell phone users, who have been held in a choke-hold by the cell phone industry's oligopoly for years.

That's why, now that I'm finally free from the choke-hold, I'll be very wary to go back. Things are going to have to improve considerably, but I still have hopes that they will.

That the iPhone has provided all this profit is amazing because Rogers spends almost ALL is advertising on RIMM products!

You guys all sound like a bunch of idiots...

KNOW YOUR FACTS!

First, Rogers has MMS, Tethering and now the fastest HSPA+ network that will be the first to roll in North America.

AT&T;does not have any of those three. Secondly, Rogers sold out the iPhone 3GS in less than a week.

Thirdly, Rogers does not have network issues like AT&T;do.

For months when Rogers has the iPhone 3G, both Telus and Bell made phone of Apple... Bashing the Apple iPhone saying that the Samsung Omnia was better and even going as far as comparisons (Bell).

Do you think Apple is gonna jump ships that fast? It will take years for Bell and Telus to get full coverage coast to coast like it did for Rogers!

I have an iPhone and am with Rogers and I am very happy with Rogers!

As for Rogers advertising more for RIM? Well, RIM has been with Rogers since the beginning. Apple just came on board and remember Rogers advertises on its homepage the iPhone 3GS before any other phone!

So what does this mean in the end? KNOW YOUR FACTS!

spelling errors... sorry... Boss is around lol

Jul 28, 09 - 06:29 pm Comment from: LTD*

Bell??? Are you kidding?? Bell is in a friggin shambles!!

Telus has nowhere what it takes to compete with Rogers.

Quite frankly, expensive or not, Rogers has by far the best quality of service in the country. Excellent reception, Good 3G coverage, MMS, tethering, Visual VoiceMail, you name it.

The Rogers-Apple relationship is working out beautifully for both parties.

Jul 28, 09 - 09:29 pm Comment from: enzos

Marco; you said sorry so we know you're Canadian. Cheers

In Oz, the iPhone is on all the major providers and people have plenty of choice but, apparently, average network satisfaction rates are only around 12% (i.e. lower than the Rogers or AT&T;'monopolies').