Rogers Wireless puts Canadians on hold for iPhone
Canadians who were hoping for an iPhone announcement from Rogers in the near future may as well put their wallets aways as Ted and the boys at Rogers still don't have a date. Citing Canada's smaller cellular market as one possible reason, Rogers CEO Nadir Mohamed said the device would likely go on sale in Europe before Canada. Rogers spokesperson Jan Innes added that the two sides aren't currently in chats about the handset, but refused to comment on if they had been in the past -- though seriously, they're nuts if they haven't been. But hey, if all this is getting you down, feel free look to eBay for a new set and then head over here for the details on that cleverly devised free iPhone unlock solution.
Filed under: Handsets, Rogers Wireless, Apple
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
proides @ Sep 12th 2007 8:52PM
I've heard that the actual issue was Rogers' defiance towards Apple's wishes to keep the iPhone unbranded. Rogers wanted their logo on the handset, Apple said no.
I've also heard (through the grapevine) that an agreement has been reached and the phone is set to launch Q1 2008.
le dawg du bordeaux @ Sep 12th 2007 9:41PM
Oh noes! I was wanting one of these in October, ahhhh I am itching for a new phone my K1 KRZR is burning my hands....
Mindfield @ Sep 12th 2007 10:07PM
Even if we got the iPhone here, what good would it to? Rogers' data plans are so ridiculously laughable it's absurd to the Nth degree. While folks in the US enjoy $20 unlimited data plans, and even folks on the unfortunately CDMA-burdened Bell network get their unlimited plans for $40 or $50, Rogers charges in tiers ranging from $15 for 1.5 megs (yes, that's MEGABYTES) to $210/mo for half a gig. (Or $100 for 200 megs with a voice plan. Yep, less than a quarter gig.) That makes all of the nifty data features of the iPhone all but useless for any but the most ardent jet setters.
I hate Rogers for this reason. And I'm on Rogers! But my only other option is Bell, which would mean I'd have to toss both of my Treos and go with a CDMA phone. Not happening.
DestroyerMTL @ Sep 12th 2007 11:03PM
I hear you on that. My Tytn's 3G is completely useless, sure Rogers has a 3G network but to use it would mean an $1100 a month phone bill. Honestly I think they're avoiding/delaying the iPhone so they aren't forced to bring their data plans down to reasonable (and global) rates. Obviously if the iPhone was say $50 a month for unlimited data all of the Blackberry users currently paying $100s would shit their pants and their goes all of Rogers HUGE and unreasonable profits. I wish we had a reasonable GSM provider here, Fido was knackered when Rogers bought them and is now next to useless. I wish someone like Tmobile or even (gasp) the deathstar would move up here and light a fire under Rogers. Then we'd have decent rates and more cutting edge phones. After all, Canadian contract phones are horrible.
arrgh, that's my 2 cents.
I apologize if my rant is disjointed and incoherent, Rogers literally makes my blood pressure rise.
Blax @ Sep 13th 2007 1:24AM
The problem, Destroyer, is that the Canadian government only allows around a 40% foreign stake in cellphone companies. AT&T actually owns around the max possible of Rogers, but it obviously isn't doing any good. What the government actually has to do is get their heads out of their asses and realize that Rogers has a monopoly on the GSM market and needs competition, their prices are really unethical.
Jason @ Sep 13th 2007 9:51AM
I'm at the point where I'm giving up on cell phones. I'm canceling my phones and getting a VirginMobile prepaid.
I used to be the biggest cell-phone-geek. I was more than willing to spend $1000 or more for a phone, but the carriers just kept raining on my parade. Now I have no interest in cell phones, because top end phones in Canada are useless without a decent network, and the networks here are WORSE than many developing nations.
That's what an oligopoly will get you.
KC @ Sep 13th 2007 12:35PM
@blax
Umm, no 'fraid not friend. Rogers wireless is a 100% solely owned subsidiary of Rogers Communications Corporation.
The new Frankenstein version of at&t that has come back from the dead down south does not own a stake in Rogers.
When the original AT&T wireless was alive, THEY owned a stake in Rogers, but sold that stake back to Rogers when the merger with the company formerly known a Cingular took place. Since then, Rogers has been purely Canadian.
The new at&t is desperately seeking a stake in Canada and is looking to reacquire a stake in Rogers to set up an MVNO using their network but nothings a done deal yet.
Dylan @ Sep 13th 2007 12:33AM
Ok so this is what I know from a good fried who does advert/market for rogers. Rogers and Apple had a chat awhile back before it hit the us market. even with the small canadian market they were willing to bring the phone to canada except, rogers deep sixed that idea when they wanted to brand the iphone with rogers startup screens and menus as well as possibly a logo on the exterior. Apple wasn't down with that but roger's wouldn't budge as they at the bare minimum put startup screens and menus on all their phones...and that was that. So until apple yeilds to the minimum branding that roger's wants or apple yeilds to rogers it ain't gonna happen. Best guess right now is we won't get it till the next gen or the relatively well known nano version which will cost less and is more in line with roger's majority market footprint.
Juaquin @ Sep 13th 2007 2:21AM
What I have learned from this thread: It sucks to be in Canada.
Man, and I thought internet here sucked. AT&T will give you UNLIMITED data for only $20 on the iPhone, but if you want unlimited texts (which use very little data to transmit), you have to pay another $20. How lame is that? I realize they have to negotiate with other carriers to transmit across networks to other phones, but seriously, come on.
Jeff @ Sep 13th 2007 2:23AM
The Rogers branding is a value poisoning on itself with cellphones in the global market. No wonder Rogers wants it so bad. I hate cellphones...Being Canadian sux sometimes.
paccoast2010 @ Sep 13th 2007 6:54AM
(My earlier post on Canadian rates. I didn't know about Bell's unlimited pricing. So why buy an iPhone if you can't use it's data features?)
Rogers is the only cell phone co of the major 3 in Canada to use GSM. At these prices, the iPhone isn't coming here.
Sample Plans ($1 Cdn=$0.94US)
For Consumers, Wireless, mobile Internet
Monthly Fee, Data Included, Additional Data Usage / KB
$5.00, 5MB, 3
$10.00, 10MB, 3
[I calculate that an extra 10MB costs $307.20 (10*1024*0.03)]
http://www.shoprogers.com/store/wireless/services/voice/navigate-mobile-internet.asp?shopperID=PEPRQGSP5K828JAGQAS1X83396NGBRJ4
For Business
Max E-mail Plan, $60/month, 25MB inc, $7/additional MB
http://www.shoprogers.com/business/wireless/plans_services/business_plans.asp?plan=dataservice&cat=2&typ=2
or
Business Portable Internet, works only in major Canadian urban areas, connects laptop only
Speed
Up to 3 Mbps download and up to 384 Kbps upload.
Price
$64.95* Monthly Service Fee (modem purchase of $99.95** plus taxes required).
*Limited time offer with a 1-year commitment. Taxes are extra.
**With a 1-year commitment. Not available in all areas. Taxes are extra. Some restrictions may apply.
http://www.shoprogers.com/business/internet/portable/portable_overview.asp
le dawg du bordeaux @ Sep 13th 2007 11:56AM
YEP Rogers data rates are crazy. They are akin to having a piece of toilet paper stuck to your shoe. Not really useful, and more than a bit embarrassing.
Mike @ Sep 13th 2007 1:21PM
Their US roaming rates are equally criminal. When I am in the US I pay about 1.75 - 1.85 per minute JUST TO TALK.
It's funny because I used to be a FIDO customer and I paid about 45 cents a minute when roaming in the states. Then Rogers buys FIDO and assumingly gains access to their roaming agreements but wierd how the prices didn't change.
I complained to Nadir in a letter about this once (along with many other issues). His assistant who called me told me in no uncertain terms they knew their rates were out of whack but once the FIDO deal was done they would have new roaming rates. Deal was done like 2 years ago - still no change.
Jmore @ Sep 13th 2007 4:47PM
In Roger's defense...their text message plans are decent...aaaannnd that's pretty much all I've got.
Rogers, how I hate you. We get our Treos 2 years later than the U.S. (no 700p yet?!) and you have to put the ugly on everything you brand (Apple, don't let them do to you what they did to the SkyDome).
I'm waiting until Apple fixes the recessed headphone jack and grabbing the unlock.
paccoast2010 @ Sep 13th 2007 5:42PM
Does Canada have the highest cellphone data rates in the developed world?