Filed under: iPhone
Want to buy an iPhone in Canada? Don't go to an Apple store (Updated)
AppleInsider is reporting that Apple won't be selling the iPhone 3G in its 6 Canadian retail stores this Friday. This seems to be confirmed by Apple Canada's 'Where to buy an iPhone' webpage which lists Rogers and Fido stores as the only locations to buy an iPhone (the same page in the States lists both Apple stores and AT&T stores) in Canada.
Is this a reaction to Rogers less than stellar iPhone rate plans? That doesn't seem to ring true to me, since it strikes me as unlikley that Apple was surprised by what Rogers planned to charge for iPhone plans. I'm sure it is only a matter of time before you'll be able to stroll into a Canadian Apple Store and plunk down your money for an iPhone 3G.
Update: I miscounted, there are 6 Apple stores in Canada.
Update 2: Looks like this is just a tempest in a teapot. After looking at the iPhone pages for countries where Apple has retails stores (UK, Japan, Italy, and Australia) it looks like you won't be able to buy an iPhone in any non-US Apple Stores. Everyone can stop freaking out now.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Adnium said 1:08PM on 7-08-2008
Its the same in the UK, where the only stores carrying the phone are O2 and Carphonewarehouse.
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Steve Grenier said 1:20PM on 7-08-2008
Man you guys never do your research its been like that since it was first announced back at WWDC, get with it people. First you say the mystery date for iPhone 2.0 is July 11th, long after it was already said, now this. Common already.
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Mark said 1:27PM on 7-08-2008
Steve, your anger is better directed at AppleInsider and Ars; they're the ones making things up about Apple’s supposed motivations for doing something that was decided weeks ago. TUAW are the first ones to express the much-warranted skepticism.
Steve Grenier said 1:30PM on 7-08-2008
I know the other sites posted it too, but rather than following suit and doing what everyone else does why don't you guys try and correct them by posting the correct information. Saying because they did it too is no excuse.
Mtirv said 8:30PM on 7-08-2008
And it's TUAW not doing their own research and copying whatever AppleInsider posts.
emil Hedaya said 1:21PM on 7-08-2008
So what? It's the same situation in virtually every other country; click around:
http://apple.com/au/iphone/buy/
http://apple.com/se/iphone/buy/
http://apple.com/nz/iphone/buy/
Apple rumor blogs are always looking for some drama where there often isn't any.
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Ian said 1:24PM on 7-08-2008
Wow. Rogers seems bound and determined to mess up this product launch as much as possible (I nearly used a much stronger word instead of 'mess'). Exorbitant plan pricing, no unlimited data, store staff layoffs right before launch, and now this. How is this company still in business?
Oh, yeah. I forgot about the monopoly that Rogers has on GSM wireless. That's how.
Canadian consumers - prepare to bend over.
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Tyler said 5:38PM on 7-08-2008
What most people are forgetting when they talk about rogers taking advantage of have GSM is that, ATT was the only company to offer the iphone in the US, just as Rogers will be in canada, the fact that they have GSM gives them the ability to be exclusive in canada. They aren't just taking advantage of being the only GSM provider so they jack the cost and bend you right over and give it straight to you without any lube.
As mentioned earlier
"Reid said...
Aha, I figured as much. The same complaints rang out last year when AT&T/Cingular announced the data plan. People started comparing total cost of ownership of the iPhone vs. regular cell phones without a data plan, and it was just ridiculous. The iPhone data plan was half the cost of the comparable Blackberry plan, but compared to a RAZR with only a WAP browser, yeah, it was more expensive."
People have to accept it, hell just look at your local gas pumps. That is all.
Chris Burgess said 1:30PM on 7-08-2008
The fact-checker (lol) might want to note there are 6 Canadian Apple Stores.
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mentalsticks said 1:34PM on 7-08-2008
>since it strikes me as unlikley that Apple was surprised by what Rogers planned to charge for iPhone plans
Who cares if Apple WAS surprised? As long as they ACT suprised they won't go down with HMS Rogers.
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Daley said 6:27PM on 7-08-2008
umm... that's HMCS Rogers in Canada
reid said 1:58PM on 7-08-2008
Has anyone compared Rogers' iPhone plans to their plans for other smartphones like the Blackberry? Are they comparable, or is Rogers particularly "rogering" prospective iPhone users? In the U.S., AT&T's iPhone 3G plans are costlier than the old Edge plans, but those original prices were based on an unsubsidized phone. AT&T now charges the same voice/data prices for the iPhone as they do for every other smartphone.
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Camperton said 3:14PM on 7-08-2008
All the people complaining about the rogers iphone data pricing have obviously never had a data plan in canada before. The iphone prices are actually a bit cheaper than comparable blackberry plans.
Reid said 3:31PM on 7-08-2008
Aha, I figured as much. The same complaints rang out last year when AT&T/Cingular announced the data plan. People started comparing total cost of ownership of the iPhone vs. regular cell phones without a data plan, and it was just ridiculous. The iPhone data plan was half the cost of the comparable Blackberry plan, but compared to a RAZR with only a WAP browser, yeah, it was more expensive.
Carey Copeling said 2:43PM on 7-08-2008
Doesn't matter anyways. At least when you go in the Apple store there are cool things to play with, when you go into a Rogers store, you need to hold on to your wallet.
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sodapop said 4:18PM on 7-08-2008
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/07/08/breaking-apple-pulls-iphone-3g-in-canada/
Tech Crunch says Apple pulling Canadian phones... I am not seeing a huge difference in price from the AT&T plans.
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ghoppe said 4:39PM on 7-08-2008
at&t - $69.99/mo., rogers - $60/mo.
You're not seeing:
+$6.95/mo. "System Access Fee"
+$.50/mo. "911 Emergency Access Fee"
1/3 the daytime talk minutes (150 vs. 450)
450 MB data vs. Unlimited
You want call display? Pay extra. $15/mo. "value pack" with more features, 2500 text messages etc.
Something else most people haven't pointed out: at&t minutes are "rollover" minutes. If you somehow manage not to use more than 150 minutes/mo. they're gone.
ghoppe said 4:43PM on 7-08-2008
Oh, and one more thing. Probably the most egregious thing. 36-month contract. Everywhere else in the world maxes out at 24-months. What's going to happen when the next generation iPhone comes out? If somehow we get competition in Canada and someone else offers iPhone connectivity?
3 years is a long time to be locked into an expensive, anaemic phone plan.
sodapop said 4:52PM on 7-08-2008
To go from a 2g iPhone to a 3g iphone there is a $18 fee plus an additional $350 over 2 years. That doesnt include the 3g iPhone... As for 911 and access fees look at your AT&T bill - plus all the local and state taxes... I am saying that AT&Ts plan is bad, not that Rogers is good.
Mikkel said 4:27PM on 7-08-2008
The Apple website has forwarded people to the Rogers and Fido websites since the iPhone 3G was announced. This is not in response to there horrible plans.
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