It's Official! Canadian iPhone this year!

[howitts_done]

Rogers Communications Inc announced that they have come to a deal with Apple to finally offer the iPhone in Canada later this year. Ted Rogers, President and CEO of Rogers issued the following brief statement: "We're thrilled to announce that we have a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year. We can't tell you any more about it right now, but stay tuned."

No other details are provided, but should provide some assurance to Canadians that the iPhone will finally be available to them. Apple is rumored to introduce their next generation 3G-capable iPhone around June.

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/04/29/rogers-to-bring-iphone-to-canada/
http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2008/29/c2519.html

[Unoriginalusername]

cool, nice phone

[Mafty]

ayyyy finally. either this is a crack is my next

[b3GS]

sometime later this year!?!?

wtf, why so secretive, and why does it take so long for us to get decent technology here, we're so far behind... the phone has been out for a year now already

[Gizzmo_jr]

:bana sweet deals !
iPhone = decent data plans, it's win win

[CanadaGTO]

:bana sweet deals !
iPhone = decent data plans, it's win win

Yeah right, I'll believe we'll get decent plans when I see it.

[Gizzmo_jr]

Again speculation but it would be implied. Since I need html and not WAP. We'll see soon enough.

[Skarbro]

Yeah right, I'll believe we'll get decent plans when I see it.
+1

Rogers has outright said in the past that they don't care for offering decent data plans.

[zedtech]

Happy it's finally coming out but with no other GSM competition and exclusive rights, Rogers has no real incentive to introduce an affordable data plan. If they do then I'll be very surprised. They know the iPhone is gonna sell quite a lot as is.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

iphone? is that new?

Why haven't I heard about it?

Is it wireless or something?

[Gizzmo_jr]

haha TheBiz, go back to Hofo.

[ds2chan]

sometime later this year!?!?

wtf, why so secretive, and why does it take so long for us to get decent technology here, we're so far behind... the phone has been out for a year now already

from what i understand, Apple was trying to make a deal with Rogers.. one party was probably not happy with the agreement.. kind of like the TTC talks..

[Garu]

from what i understand, Apple was trying to make a deal with Rogers.. one party was probably not happy with the agreement.. kind of like the TTC talks..

It's actually the other way around. I'm sure Rogers wouldn't admit to it but Apple was not very convinced to release a global phone in Canadian market considering the size of market here compare to the rest of the world.
I have a feeling Rogers payed quite a bit of premium to get it here.

[Gizzmo_jr]

I agree with Garu, look at iTunes for buying episodes/tv, Apple TV, etc. Canada doesn't get alot from Apple, no love for the northern brother.

[CanadaGTO]

I agree with Garu, look at iTunes for buying episodes/tv, Apple TV, etc. Canada doesn't get alot from Apple, no love for the northern brother.

Actually a lot of the itunes issues, especially video are problems because of Canadian distribution rights and how royalities are paid here. The IPhone has already been released in plenty of small markets, however the issue has always been Apples insistance on data plans being unlimited or rather large, something that Rogers does not want to do.

[Xerox]

How much do you think it'll cost? You think it'll still work out to be cheaper to buy it in US and unlock it?

[CanadaGTO]

Not cheaper to buy from the US since you'd still have to be on a Canadian access plan. The US has unlimited phone/data/text plans on some networks as low as $99. Canada..... no where close. I would assume we'll get 1-2 gigs of data and a couple of hundred mins for around $150 or so.

[MikeyGT]

why would you want a phone that essentially only last about 2hrs in use? Also, the phone gets really hot so you'll be using your headset for most of your talk time.

[Xerox]

Not cheaper to buy from the US since you'd still have to be on a Canadian access plan. The US has unlimited phone/data/text plans on some networks as low as $99. Canada..... no where close. I would assume we'll get 1-2 gigs of data and a couple of hundred mins for around $150 or so.

I mean without the data plan. (just put in my existing SIM card in it)

Since you brought that up, you think Rogers will sell the phone alone even if I don't have data plan?

[CanadaGTO]

NO CHANCE are they going to sell it without a plan, I would doubt they would sell it with a data plan too.

If you get a hacked one from the US, then you should have no problem getting it to work on the Rogers network, I've seem them here hooked up like that.

[Caz]

why would you want a phone that essentially only last about 2hrs in use? Also, the phone gets really hot so you'll be using your headset for most of your talk time.

I use mine the same as I would a BB and I haven't had any issues with the battery life or with the phone getting hot.

[MikeyGT]

I use mine the same as I would a BB and I haven't had any issues with the battery life or with the phone getting hot.

right, i'm not sure how BB works but iphones are essentially a moving hdd. My sister brought it over to ny when she came to visit and those were the 2 issues she was having (iphone getting hot and bad battery life).


NO CHANCE are they going to sell it without a plan, I would doubt they would sell it with a data plan too.

If you get a hacked one from the US, then you should have no problem getting it to work on the Rogers network, I've seem them here hooked up like that.

i don't see why not? they sell smart phones without data plan (well at least fido does)

[plontoc]

It's actually the other way around. I'm sure Rogers wouldn't admit to it but Apple was not very convinced to release a global phone in Canadian market considering the size of market here compare to the rest of the world.
I have a feeling Rogers payed quite a bit of premium to get it here.

+1

Apple wanted a percentage of the data charges incurred on every iPhone from Rogers. That is why after it was rumored last year, things fell through and we didn't get the phone (Uncle Ted didn't want to pay for hardware AND give up his profits).

The carriers in the US agreed to Apple's demands and thats why they got it first.

I can't argue with Ted...if I put up the towers and provide the service, why should Apple get a cut of the profits. They would have already been paid for the hardware, I would assume that Apple's job is done.

[plontoc]

NO CHANCE are they going to sell it without a plan, I would doubt they would sell it with a data plan too.

If you get a hacked one from the US, then you should have no problem getting it to work on the Rogers network, I've seem them here hooked up like that.

They will sell it, but at a very steep price.

[CanadaGTO]

i don't see why not? they sell smart phones without data plan (well at least fido does)

We'll see ;)

I was talking to some sales people from Rogers corporate (wired and wireless side) and a couple months back they were floating around the 1-2 gig number..... It'll be interesting to see if it pans out.

[SilentJay]

Telus $15 Unlimited Data :D

[Gizzmo_jr]

I use mine the same as I would a BB and I haven't had any issues with the battery life or with the phone getting hot.

+1, I heard it was firmware issues. Later firmwares corrected these problems.


If you get a hacked one from the US, then you should have no problem getting it to work on the Rogers network, I've seem them here hooked up like that.

I hacked it myself back in January but I haven't had any problems at all.

On topic, do you figure they will make a new Data bundle (BB, WM, iphone) or make a dedicated iPhone pack?

[MikeyGT]

+1

Apple wanted a percentage of the data charges incurred on every iPhone from Rogers. That is why after it was rumored last year, things fell through and we didn't get the phone (Uncle Ted didn't want to pay for hardware AND give up his profits).

The carriers in the US agreed to Apple's demands and thats why they got it first.

I can't argue with Ted...if I put up the towers and provide the service, why should Apple get a cut of the profits. They would have already been paid for the hardware, I would assume that Apple's job is done.

It really depends. I wouldn't say its a black and white answer. Its clearly shown that iphone brought a lot of consumers to AT&T because of iphone. Even if Rogers worked out with a deal with the % incurred for each iPhone, Rogers probably would have profited alot either way.

[MikeyGT]

Telus $15 Unlimited Data :D
Telus iPhone here we go:chuckle

[plontoc]

Rogers probably would have profited alot either way.

That's for sure! It's where my salary comes from:chuckle

[iconicrocket]

I hope we get the second generation iphone. Rumor to be all gloss black with a gps chip inside.

[howitts_done]

Yeah right, I'll believe we'll get decent plans when I see it.

Canada's data plans are outrageous.... Let's hope the iPhone helps.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/howitts_done/452679328_ad5e1b98b0_o.gif
Source (http://www.thomaspurves.com/2007/04/09/canada-worse-than-3rd-world-countries-when-it-comes-to-mobile-data-access/)

Also check out WirelessNorth.ca

[chinsterr]

iphone .. old news :chuckle
had mine since sept of last year !

Planning on selling it later to get the rogers branded one for the data plan

[Dragazn]

Had the iphone since August of last year too. Unlocked it myself. I heard there was a problem with the branding. Rogers wanted it branded and Apple had some conflicts with that.

[plontoc]

Had the iphone since August of last year too. Unlocked it myself. I heard there was a problem with the branding. Rogers wanted it branded and Apple had some conflicts with that.

I'd believe it. Remember the Skydome?

[rktsci]

right, i'm not sure how BB works but iphones are essentially a moving hdd.

FYI...the iPhones and most iPods use flash memory. Apple only uses HDD is the iPod Classic line.

[Ex-Rolla]

sometime later this year!?!?

wtf, why so secretive, and why does it take so long for us to get decent technology here, we're so far behind... the phone has been out for a year now already

I think it has to do more with the contract... Look at the US.. users of the iphone pay a lot more than a "normal" users. they have packagess created specifically for iphones. Apple has negotiated a cut of the monthly service fee and i hope they don't do that here. I already pay waaayyy too much for my cell phone :bang

[gqstunning]

Damn, I wish I had the article but it appears the reason why the iPhone is comming to Canada is because of increased competition. Canada will be shuttting down their over-the-air TV signals in either 2010 or 2011. When this spectrum of bandwith is opened up, competitors can come in an bid on it. This means that new cellphone companies can buy this bandwidth and compete with Rogers. By introducing the iPhone in Canada, Rogers can lock in millions of subscribers before the competition comes. The iPhone would be the only reason why I would stick with Rogers.

[WildEmu]

I'd believe it. Remember the Skydome?

I absolutely refuse to call the Skydome by any other name. It will always be the Skydome to me.

[WildEmu]

Damn, I wish I had the article but it appears the reason why the iPhone is comming to Canada is because of increased competition. Canada will be shuttting down their over-the-air TV signals in either 2010 or 2011. When this spectrum of bandwith is opened up, competitors can come in an bid on it. This means that new cellphone companies can buy this bandwidth and compete with Rogers. By introducing the iPhone in Canada, Rogers can lock in millions of subscribers before the competition comes. The iPhone would be the only reason why I would stick with Rogers.

I really hope that with the increased competition, data prices will come down. This oligopoly isn't doing the Canadian market any good.

[x_o_k_x]

Canada's data plans are outrageous.... Let's hope the iPhone helps.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/howitts_done/452679328_ad5e1b98b0_o.gif
Source (http://www.thomaspurves.com/2007/04/09/canada-worse-than-3rd-world-countries-when-it-comes-to-mobile-data-access/)

Also check out WirelessNorth.ca

I use telus with my Pearl unlimited internet, email and data sending comes with a $15 plan and gps nav

[CanadaGTO]

I use telus with my Pearl unlimited internet, email and data sending comes with a $15 plan and gps nav

Not from what I can see: http://www.telusmobility.com/on/plans/pcs/email_all.shtml

[chinsterr]

Not from what I can see: http://www.telusmobility.com/on/plans/pcs/email_all.shtml

I think he is referring to a plan offered at pacific mall. I've seen it up on the store window but not on the telus site.

[CanadaGTO]

A data plan specific to Pacific Mall??

I didn't know you could counterfeit cell plans :) Just kidding...

[x_o_k_x]

It comes in the bundle for 15 unlimited web browsing, im pretty sure it was this one

http://www.telusmobility.com/on/wweb/how_bundle.shtml

[yearoftherat]

iPhone coming to Canada --- yawn.