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Rogers to offer Apple iPhone in Canada

updated 11:50 am EST, Thu January 11, 2007

iPhone coming to Canada

Canadian cellular provider Rogers today said it intends to carry Apple's newly unveiled iPhone, according to company officials speaking with Web developer John Wiseman. While the company provided no specific release information for the Apple handset during Steve Jobs' MacWorld San Francisco keynote beyond the June release for Cingular subscribers in the U.S., the Canadian firm says it is already in the early planning stages to bring the device to its service, which is the largest GSM-based network in Canada. The phone will be available with either two- or three- year contracts -- potentially lowering the initial cost for long-term users versus the American two-year requirement -- but will also be linked to a data plan for the carrier's EDGE network. Rogers has not provided an official timeframe for the release of the iPhone in Canada, but the company has historically offered smartphones to Canadians between 6-8 months after the device is released in the U.S., placing an introduction roughly between late 2007 and early 2008. Versions for other major carriers such as Bell and Telus are unlikely in the foreseeable future given the lack of a CDMA equivalent, according to Electronista.

 
Previous Comments

Ripp off Data plans!

01/11, 12:03pm reply

"but will also be linked to a data plan for the carrier's EDGE network"

Should be quoted as Ripp off data plans. Canada has some some of the most expensive data plans on the planet. I'm begging some of the larger American carriers to offer GSM service in Canada we need more competition

bleee

Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Mar 2002

0

Not satisfied

01/11, 12:07pm reply

This is hardly a confirmation. This is just some dude with a blog, claiming to have spoken to Rogers representatives he fails to name.

Although the likelihood of all or part of what he said to be true is quite high (Rogers is the only plausible GSM carrier up here), this should not be taken as an official confirmation as this or the Electronista article are making it out to be.

Visnaut

Senior User

Joined: Nov 2000

0

Pay as u go...

01/11, 12:31pm reply

...would be nice - guess my treo will be hanging in there a little longer than I thought! ;-)

bobolicious

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Joined: Aug 2002

0

deleted

01/11, 01:04pm reply

deleted

Mr. Fartleberry

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Joined: Jul 2003

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gouge as you go

01/11, 01:10pm reply

I'm a Rogers and Fido customer and I guess we're forced to accept whoever has a GSM network. Rogers gives me discounts on bundled services and then steals them back with corresponding increases at 3 times inflation or more. I would never sign a contract with Rogers as I almost had to produce my father's corpse to nulify his contract a few years ago.

haven't a clue about deleted

Mr. Fartleberry

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Joined: Jul 2003

+1

deleted

01/11, 01:10pm reply

deleted

Mr. Fartleberry

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Joined: Jul 2003

0

deleted

01/11, 01:17pm reply

deleted

Mr. Fartleberry

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Joined: Jul 2003

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Contracts...

01/11, 01:32pm reply

Since Apple Stores are supposed to also sell the iPhone, does that mean they suddenly become Cingular/Rogers resellers and do the credit checks/signups in the store? When I bought my Treo 650 from Amazon ($650 in August 2005) I did so without a plan, and just activated it on my existing SprintPCS account.

If it *requires* a contract, how will we buy one through Apple Store online or brick and mortar? I'm still banking on a "buy full price, get a rebate when you sign up" approach.

AllenHuffman

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Joined: Dec 1999

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Re: Not satisfied

01/11, 02:19pm reply

it's true, it's not an official announcement or anything. but rogers' intentions seem to be made pretty clear from this article: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070110/technology/technology_research_in_motion

"John Boynton, senior vice-president and chief marketing officer for Rogers Wireless, said the company doesn't announce a product until it's tested and the deals are signed.

"'But you can draw your own conclusions. It's a phone that works on the GSM network and I don't know of any other GSM networks in Canada,' Boynton said."

bunnyhero

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Joined: Aug 2005

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LOL...

01/11, 02:20pm reply

This sounds like little more then Rogers tossing their hat in the ring, hoping to stake out territory (and naively jockeying for their own terms -- like that's going to happen). If they had anything definitive, Apple would have made an joint announcement with them.

debohun

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Joined: Feb 1999

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