Apple’s iPhone coming to Canada
November 5, 2007 2:41 pmOpinion, iPhone
Everybody knows that Apple’s iPhone is coming to Canada, eventually. Most people and publications speculate about when this momentous event will happen.
Today, few websites are excited about a blip that showed up on Apple’s site, and are extrapolating all kind of data from this blip.
Personally, I’m not exactly interested in when the iPhone will come to Canada. I know that it will. I would love to get one. But, it all depends on the ‘How Much?’ bit of the big picture.
Those outside of Canada probably have no clue on how ridiculous Canada’s wireless industry is.
For example, I’m with Fido (which was bought out by Rogers more than a year ago). I have their cheapest plan for my phone, which they advertise as “200 anytime minutes for $20 a month”. I have one additional service added - caller ID display - for an additional $3 per month. After fees and taxes and various ‘bend-over-to-stick-it-to-you-some-more’ additions to my bill, I pay $37.05 per month, not including any long distance calls that I may make.
So, the iPhone’s biggest question would be: how much will the data plans cost here in Canada?
Apple has been able to negotiate interesting deals with the carriers for iPhone buyers. I wonder if they can improve the situation here. I’m not too hopeful.
In Canada, the only GSM carrier is Fido and Rogers. But since Rogers bought Fido, effectively, there is only Rogers that can carry the iPhone.
Here is Rogers’ and Fido’s current data plans:
The screen capture came from this page.
Yes boys and girls, your eyes are not tricking you. That’s $1 per MB, up to 10 MB and each additional MB is an astonishing $30.72 + 14% taxes.
Rogers’ subsidiary Fido has more reasonable data plan rates, but still:
The screen capture came from this page.
Their only ‘reasonable’ data plan is $100 for up to 200 MB + $5 per additional MB. The cheaper ones are even more ridiculous than their parent company.
Compare the above to ATT’s data plan in the US at $20 for Unlimited data usage.
So while we know the iPhone is coming to Canada, the real question is: When the iPhone comes to Canada, will it be reasonable to buy and use?
November 5th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
I think the ONLY reason that the iPhone is taking this long to come to Canada is due to the following reasons (totally based on my own reasoning):
- Roger’s network doesn’t fully support Edge everywhere they have coverage. (They are probably installing equipment as we speak).
- Roger’s can figure out how to price their data plans (Apple won’t go along with their horrendous prices as they are).
- Roger’s has to figure out a plan to reconcile all of their other data plan subscribers when they find out the data plans are a lot cheaper on the iPhone.
- Roger’s has to print all new brochures and supplementary information to go along with the iPhone and all of their subscription plans, and prepare a massive update to all of their plans.
November 5th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Actually Rogers has recently introduced a new data plan, designed for PC Cards in laptops. I’ve actually had this activated on my iPhone in Canada, and it’s a reasonably good deal, compared to their other offerings:
1GB/mo for $65
Yes, you read that right. 1GB, $65. Also, the Fido rates you quote are available directly from Rogers too — they’re listed as Windows Mobile and Blackberry data plans. I had the $60/25MB one until I read about the 1GB plan & switched to that.
For reference, the 1GB plan is at the bottom of this page:
http://www.shopROGERS.com/Business/Wireless/Services/dataemailplans.asp
November 5th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Firstly, your Fido plan is a rip off, and that’s your own fault. There are better plans on better carriers.
Secondly, the tax is 13% and has been so for well over a year now.. and starting January it’s going to be 12%.
November 5th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
i hope that steve grabs rogers by their balls and squeeeeezes them until they pop…
where is the crtc when you need them? why did they let rogers buy fido, which in turn flipped the switch off fido’s more reasonable data rates right away…. did i imagine that fido had an unlimited data plan years ago? thats the reason i haven’t had a cell phone for ten years, luckily i don’t need one. but now i want one (iphone) but at these prices? you gotta be kidding…
it makes me wonder if the situation were any different if at&t hadn’t sold to rogers…
November 5th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
@sean:
You think everybody lives in your province?
November 6th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
It doesn’t matter what province or what the tax is, the point still remains that the data rates are exorbitant.
November 7th, 2007 at 9:15 am
AQ: Thanks for the info on that pc card plan! I am getting an iphone in 2 weeks and now I have a decent plan to go with it!