“The stars finally seem to be aligned for a Canadian launch of Apple’s popular iPhone nearly a year after it was first unveiled to lineups of gadget-crazed consumers in the United States,” Chris Sorensen reports for The Toronto Star.
“There have been no official confirmations, but industry sources say that Rogers Communications Inc., the only Canadian carrier with a compatible GSM network, was hoping to include the iPhone as part of a campaign that focuses on ‘touch screen’ phones, to be rolled out between May and July,” Sorensen reports.
“That would put one of the world’s most talked-about devices in the pockets of Canadians right around the time that Apple Inc. is expected to roll out an updated version of the iPhone that runs on so-called third generation, or ‘3G,’ networks,” Sorensen reports.
“It has been widely speculated that the stumbling block was Rogers’ wireless data plans, which typically cost more than those offered by carriers in Europe and the United States – a disparity that critics blame on a lack of Canadian wireless competition,” Sorensen reports.
“As well, most of Rogers’ wireless data plans have usage caps, with users charged by the megabyte if they go over their allotment,” Sorensen reports. “‘We’re not fans of unlimited plans,’ Rob Bruce, president of Rogers’ wireless division, told analysts during a February conference call.”
“Apple, by contrast, emphasizes the consumer experience of its products and is said to be adamant that the iPhone be offered with unlimited data plans,” Sorensen reports. “That way, subscribers don’t have to worry their mobile Web browsing habits will put a crater in their wallets.”
More in the full article here.
Here’s a quicker way for Canadians to get the iPhone–stop being Canadians.
Howzabout Ontario and British Columbia become the 51st and 52nd states (since Canada’s like the 51st state anyway this wouldn’t be much of a leap). Quebec could become its own country (nobody wants the Faux French bastards anyway), and the rest of Canada could become part of North Dakota (although you’d have to do something for the Inuit–the North Dakotans would wonder why signs are suddenly in English and something that looks like Klingon.)
This way, Canadians would get the iPhone, Quebec could finally be independent, and North Dakota would almost double its population.
MDN word “troll” (Well, it ought to be…)
over RIM’s dead body!
@OpJ
Alberta alone can buy most of your pathetic states.
It’s sad. most of Americans don’t know even about their closest country!!
Rogers is pure evil. Puuure evil, but they’re the only ones in Canada with a network that’s right for the iPhone. They (Rogers) tries to screw their customers over at every opportunity. You can blame the Canadian government for letting them get away with it too.
@OpJ
……….. how `bout NO!
Ah thanks to all the fellow Canadians for putting up all the smoke and mirrors about Rogers.
The real reason of course that the iPhone will be a moderate success if it is released in Canada is that no one really wants to work on a phone when it is minus 10 or lower outside.
It will be a great summer toy for the elite though, like motorcycles and swimming pools.
@Road Warrior
Do you like it when you try to get attention? That’s in PSYC101.
the best and most realistic way to solve this problem –and it’s a huge one, as you’ve read, Roger’s is just as corrupt or more so than MS!!
no, the best thing us Canadians can hope for is Apple buying the entire Canadian wireless industry out from underneath those fscking whores at Bell, Telus and Roger’s.
without that happening the point of the iPhone coming to Canada is moot. I have money and I could never justify an 800.00/m wireless bill –no way.
Seeing is believing.
I’m not holding my breath for an iPhone launch in Canada.
BTW, it’s colder in places like Boston and Chicago than in Toronto.
Rogers is possibly the worst wireless provider in the World (I can’t be sure, I’ve only sampled a dozen or so countries !). Their customer service stinks, their plans are atrociously expensive and they just don’t seem to care. Linking Apple and the iPhone with this bunch of losers, whatever the reason, can only be a bad thing…
I desperately want an iPhone – but if the only way to get one in Canada is with Rogers – forget it…
Don’t forget the strong rumours of Telus moving to GSM before the 2010 Olympics. Then we would get some serious competition that couldn’t be ignored by Rogers.
Yes, it is a rumour, but the rumour has been substantiated by more than one cellular re-seller in my city.
Perhaps Rogers decided to wait out the first iPhone before giving up their precious business model to make sure it was going to be a success. I mean, everyone else knew it would be, but these Rogers guys are so greedy, and I mean, it’s just so hard to change your cash cow, even if it’s for another.
Telus’ new GSM network might only be in the Vancouver & Whistler area of BC. Which would be sad because Rogers now makes $500 million (yes, $0.5 billion) per year in roaming fees that they don’t have to share with anyone else because practically everyone else in the world uses GSM and guess what? All those European and Asian (but not Japanese) tourists who come to Canada bring GSM phones! And they pay Rogers the roaming fees! So the other carriers were just plain dumb to limit their fortunes to CDMA and let Rogers have that whole pie. Blame the other carriers for being even more myopic in their choice of network technology and letting Rogers get away with no competition.
Seeing is believing; it’s not over til it’s over; so Canadians, continue boycotting Rogers! Do like KangaG3 does – every time Rogers tries to promote something to you, decline it and say “don’t call me or contact me in any way unless it’s to tell me about the iPhone”. Make them get the message.
Live long and prosper.
Canada – not so nice
Canada is a sad backwater full of slimy people who pretend to be ‘nice Canadians’. I know, I live here.
Oh, drop dead, Princess.
A Total Boycott, I say.
Between CRTC and Telco’s, the entire wireless is monopolized by 3 giants, Bell, Roger and Telus neither of them really care. Its the consumers who suffers.
Just wait till Rogers announces its Iphone/data plans, probably out of reach for ordinary canadians!!
AT&T;in US I believe is paying Apple some cash for every plan signed up for the duration of the contract.
Yes, rumour Telus going 3G. Telus can’t handle what they have now with digital TV!!!
Didn’t Apple make special concession with some european countries where iphones were available via multiple telco’s?? Not sure if it was France and or Germany!
Good luck everybody. Not looking forward to iphone arrival.