Annals of Not Being On the Ball

Apple announced that the iPhone will be available in Canada on July 11, 2008. The Apple website is pointing people to Rogers when you click “Where to Buy.” At the Rogers website there’s no indication they’ve ever heard of the iPhone, and their site appears to contain no mention of it at all:

Screen Shot of Rogers.com

Comments

Charlie's picture
Charlie on June 10, 2008 - 12:58 Permalink

http://www.rogers.com/web/Roge…

Even better, check out what they have up this morning….What could it be?? We’ll have to wait until July 11 to find out I guess!

Isaac Grant's picture
Isaac Grant on June 10, 2008 - 14:16 Permalink

Intrestingly, Apple lists Fido as a carrier in Canada as well. Hopefully data rates are going down.

Charlie's picture
Charlie on June 10, 2008 - 15:36 Permalink

Rogers owns Fido…I’m guessing they have identical rates whatever they end up being…

Isaac Grant's picture
Isaac Grant on June 10, 2008 - 18:46 Permalink

Damn. For some reason I thought they were separate entities.

Here’s to still hoping data rates go down.

Jeff Smith's picture
Jeff Smith on June 10, 2008 - 23:59 Permalink

I’m guessing the fact that Roger’s isn’t crowing about rates going down and is being secretive about the whole thing means one of two things:

* Data rates are staying the same, or
* The haven’t decided what rates will be.

I’m really hoping that rates will be going down. As an owner of a 1st gen iPhone, it’s killing me to not be able to use it to it’s full potential, but Roger’s data rates are absolutely ridiculous.

I honestly don’t think that Roger’s has any idea of what kind of a gold mine they’re sitting on here.

Isaac Grant's picture
Isaac Grant on June 11, 2008 - 13:20 Permalink

There was brief statement from Rogers in a Globe Business section article about the launch of the iPhone stating that the price would be $199, but with a 3 year contract instead of 2 like in the States.

Jeff Smith's picture
Jeff Smith on June 11, 2008 - 15:37 Permalink

I ran across that press release as well. I was (naively) hoping that I’d be able to order a new iPhone from the Apple store, and just drop my current Rogers SIM and be on my merry way. Should have known better I guess.

Jason's picture
Jason on June 11, 2008 - 23:53 Permalink

I agree. I’m annoyed at the complacent attitude of Rogers / Fido. I understand the carriers around the world want to subsidize to get people on their contracts…that’s fine. But I’m thinking Rogers might be playing a “we’re the ones in control here…we’ll decide the (high) price when we’re ready”

On a positive note, thanks to Isaac for pointing out that Fido is in this mix. I had assumed that it would only be Rogers and that I’d have to switch accounts.

Jeff Smith's picture
Jeff Smith on June 12, 2008 - 21:30 Permalink

Jason, I think you hit the Rogers attitude spot on there. It’s really a shame that there aren’t more competitors (yet) in the Canadian mobile industry to force prices to come down to sane levels.

I had assumed that it would only be Rogers and that I’d have to switch accounts.”

You won’t have to switch accounts, but from the reading that I’ve done, it looks like you’re going to have to sign up for/extend your contract another 3 years. Another point which is a thorn in my side.

Jason's picture
Jason on June 13, 2008 - 01:53 Permalink

Hey Jeff. Well…I only had a little bit left on my original deal with Fido. In any event I was prepared for this. I passed up about 4 chances of the 1st gen phone to do this all legal-like. So as much as the roped-in-deal may suck, I’m a tech geek looking forward to finally getting my iPhone. :)

Jeff Smith's picture
Jeff Smith on June 13, 2008 - 16:36 Permalink

I totally understand where you’re coming from Jason. I didn’t have as much will power as you. :) I’m sure you’ll enjoy the iPhone immensely when you get it. I couldn’t live without mine.

Andrew Chisholm's picture
Andrew Chisholm on June 15, 2008 - 04:37 Permalink

I also wish I would be able to order an iPhone and just drop in my SIM card. Going on a 3-year contract with a phone which will no doubt be released each year (like the iPod and everything else these days) means I will be left with old technology and two years left on my contract commitment. Maybe Rogers will let me extend my contact if I plan to buy another generation iPhone down the road (when it might be released, 2009?).