05/16/2008, 12:10pm, EDT
Friday, May 16thTips: Canadian iPhone in June with $7 data
The Canadian iPhone is set to be launched in June and will potentially have the least expensive data plan of any carrier announced to date, Electronista has heard. Sources from inside Rogers claim that the device should be available the same month as an expected US release of an updated, 3G-capable model rather than as part of any possible staggered launch. Pricing is still unavailable, though currency values are likely to place the cost of the phone itself closer to the eventual US figure.
Data, however, is expected to cost less than for American customers, those same tips indicate. The sources claim that the iPhone will qualify for Rogers' $7 on-device browsing plan, which currently allows all phones offered by Rogers (excepting BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices) to access the web as much as they like through the carrier's officially-sanctioned browser. Whether Rogers will allow YouTube, the App Store, and other official but non-web devices to fall into the unlimited plan is unknown, though unlike with other phones Rogers will not have the choice of installing or customizing the web browser or other applications.
While Electronista is still working to confirm the alleged details, the reports corroborate earlier claims regarding other non-US carriers about to receive the iPhone, which are widely believed to be receiving Apple's handsets for a simultaneous or near-simultaneous release. A Telecom Italia executive recently told journalists that the 3G iPhone will be available in June for his company's network despite deliberately non-specific claims by other carriers that the phone will arrive later this year.
In addition to the launch window and plan details, reports have also surfaced of some smaller Rogers stores beginning expansion plans in recent weeks to help service more customers by late spring.
Filed under: iPhone
Other story tags: Rogers, Telecom Italia
, 
, 20
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Top
subscribe to comments
for this article
Please be wrong.
I really hope Apple wouldn't put a crappy Rogers browser on the iPhone for that plan. If we don't want to use that $7 package, will we have to pay a fortune to use Safari and the Mail app?
True
I can see how Warrenpeace might get that impression, since they allude to other phones with that browser and plan, but I too do not believe Apple will alter its software in any way.
very unlikely
Apple will never let Rogers install a WAP browser on the iphone. I'm sure that with Apple it'll be all or nothing... now who knows for how much. I think it'll be close to AT&T's deal (60-70 a month) but will have a data cap like 1 or 2 gigs
if it is so
I'm selling my iPhone and its Blackberry Bold 9000 all the way!
it's a huge ripoff
the limitations on their website make a joke out of the word 'unlimited'. As long as you only surf in their walled garden, using their application, is it unlimited. Anything else, and you pay a completely insane data rate.
Yeah Right!
HA! There is no WAY that Rogers is giving them the $7 plan. That plan is Mobile Internet, that garbage version that gives you plain text designed for regular cellphones.
Rogers actually has 2 different WAP settings, one for mobile and one for internet. They are unrelated and offer completely different content.
If it is the mobile version, you don't want it.
Apple/Rogers look out!
Open source Android powered:http://rksdesign.com/work/our_latest/Mimique/
rogers
macnn/electronista keeps referring to rogers' data plan as 'unlimited', possibly just regurgitating rogers' marketing crap, and every time somebody points out that it's actually severely limited to certain websites/browsers etc. Is it all about headlines? is there any 'journalism' involved? where's the research? please stop feeding us rogers marketing bull... we know where to go THAT!
I appreciate ...
... the attention MacNN has given the Canadian iPhone story, because we want it up here really badly.
But CLEARLY, Electronista's writers are unfamiliar with "Robbers" as we call it up here.
Let's just say that "Rogers" and "reasonable rates" do not go together, particularly for data. And we don't expect that to change when the iPhone finally (legitimately) gets here. Companies -- esp. Rogers -- do not suddenly become UNgreedy.
Oi
The cheapest I could see a data plan for the iPhone being would be 15-25 dollars. Period, they're not gonna release it on a vision plan. Though they I think are doing that with the N95 so... I dono but I doubt it'll be on a vision plan, there'll almost certainly require a bigger premium.