iPhone finally coming to Canada

It seemed like it would never happen, but the impossible has occurred: Apple's iPhone is coming to Canada. The news was quietly slipped into telecom giant Rogers' latest earnings report, with the simple statement that the company was "thrilled to announce" a "deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year." Apparently, lips are sealed on all other details, but we'll keep you posted as news gets our way.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Adam H @ Apr 29th 2008 8:36AM]

About damn time.

[rock99rock @ Apr 29th 2008 9:00AM]

You mean, "Abooot damn time".

[Adam H @ Apr 29th 2008 9:01AM]

No, I mean "About damn time."

[Nando @ Apr 29th 2008 9:51AM]

LOL! rock99rock, you're a butt-hole.

[Jake @ Apr 29th 2008 10:12AM]

It won't be good news until we hear the data rates. At current rates it's still completely useless. If Apple leans on Rogers and forces an all-in-one price then it will be dancing in the street time. iPhone or otherwise, the data rates here are criminal.

[James @ Apr 29th 2008 11:54AM]

I think I just came... maybe a little.

[Adrian @ Apr 29th 2008 5:41PM]

I pay an extra $7 per month and get unlimited data on my Virgin Mobile phone, and yes, thats in Canada. Only downside is that they don't have smart phones, thus probably why their data is so cheap.

[Ethan @ Apr 29th 2008 8:37PM]

Pretty much every service provider in canada has an all-in $7 data fee.
As long as you're using it on the device and you're using it in Canada.

[Froggysan @ Apr 29th 2008 9:54PM]

Umm... That only applies to WAP browsing. It's not unlimited DATA -- It's unlimited BROWSING, and of the worst kind.

IE: If you have a Windows Mobile (*GASP!*), iPhone, or Blackberry that $7 does sweet-feck-all for you.

[Ace b @ Apr 30th 2008 12:31AM]

@Adam

second comment was amazing.props.

[swingin' dick hero @ Apr 29th 2008 8:39AM]

YAY! I'm from Europe!

[Inkreef @ Apr 29th 2008 8:41AM]

I'll trust this news when I'll see the iPhone on Rogers' shelves.

Until then, no way we'll see the iPhone in Canada anytime soon.

[Rayburn @ Apr 29th 2008 8:47AM]

That just shows how skeptical we've all become in a year of waiting. "I won't believe this until Ted Rogers knocks on my door and gives me a golden-cased iPhone on a platter"

Believe me, when Ted says it (which he did, in this case -- he personally made the statement), it gets done.

[Khris @ Apr 29th 2008 8:54AM]

I read this title and immediately thought to myself, "Great, another round of iPhone rumours!".

Even though I've been using one for months now, it would be nice to have an "official" iPhone with visual voicemail but only if it's the 3G version. I wouldn't hold it past ol' Teddy to bring the original iPhone to Canada so everyone else can dump their stock on us when the 3G rolls out.

[Blax @ Apr 29th 2008 9:32AM]

Now the question is, will we be able to use our US iPhones here with Visual Voicemail and the like? It's only fair...

[Dahk @ Apr 29th 2008 9:37AM]

Yeah seriously, you can't blame a bulk of us for early-early adopting. =/ We need the native functionality lol.

[carbonrain @ Apr 29th 2008 8:41AM]

first iPhone at the north pole, hmm? willl they get recption thar?

[Brandon @ Apr 29th 2008 9:24AM]

lol Santa's pimp'in an iPhone. That would be funny.

[Lee @ Apr 29th 2008 8:46AM]

It will be interesting to see how well it does here considering BlackBerry is huge in Canada, even high school kids have BlackBerry. BB Messenger rocks!

[swingin' dick hero @ Apr 29th 2008 8:49AM]

Wooooooo, Europe!
Uhm yeah, I'll be leaving now..

[Mike @ Apr 29th 2008 4:44PM]

Yes, that would be a good idea.

[XGM @ Apr 29th 2008 7:17PM]

Atleast in your part of Canada it may be, but in my area normal texting is the rage (also expensive cell phone bills)

[CelestKixy @ Apr 29th 2008 8:46AM]

Love the image you guys used. You should use it as your stock photo for all Canadian iPhone news.

[Tim @ Apr 29th 2008 11:34AM]

TTTTHHHHIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSS IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSS . . . . Canada????
Tonight we dine in hell?

[x20mar @ Apr 29th 2008 8:46AM]

I'll assume it will be the new 3G iphone, otherwise it will confuse the heck out of me

[Dave @ Apr 29th 2008 6:55PM]

Dreamer. Rogers isn't going to get the latest and greatest. They'll get the previous generation and cripple it with data fees.

If they follow their current structure the base plan will be about $200 a year and come with a massive 4meg of data included. Additional data will cost $10 per meg.

[kevin brzak @ Jun 11th 2008 12:03AM]

3G networks are only available in 7% of Canada (not west of Ontario at all) and not even available in major cities like Vancouver that has big ties with Hollywood and Silicon Valley.
So it's unlikely the 3G iPhone will be sold here when Rogers already has a smaller market than most countries.
*Although their data plans could make up for that with ridiculously higher costs than Japan, Korea, UK and even USA*

[Vero @ Apr 29th 2008 8:47AM]

question is...how much is ted rogers going to ream us on data plans.... /sigh as excited as I am about the prospect of an iphone until cell phone data/voice rates become practical it will make for a lot of sad pandas

[Khris @ Apr 29th 2008 8:56AM]

I've been using the 1gb/$65 data plan from Rogers with my iPhone and have never gone over yet.

There were also rumours awhile ago about a revamp of the Rogers data plans which went up to 5gb/$100 (everyone starts on a basic plan and then moves up according to usage). Maybe they'll be rolling these plans out at the same time.

[pundit @ Apr 29th 2008 9:11AM]

Bell gives unlimited data for $7. That's.. um... about ∞ less money. But yeah. Rogers has a wonderful, cheap data plan! They did get rid of their unlimited texting plan, but $10 for 2500 is more than most people need. You can bundle that to a plan as cheap as $20, and all of a sudden, your features are there for $37 a month. Wow. Rogers gives a wicked deal. Although, the Aliant sellout to Bell hurt Atlantic Canada in the recent restructuring. The coverage is still better.

http://www.bell.ca/shopping/PrsShpWls_FeaSvcLanding.page

[Khris @ Apr 29th 2008 11:09AM]

@ pundit

Bell's "Unlimited" $7 data plan is for MOBILE BROWSING only. The data plan that I have with Rogers can be used for Tethering. Quite the difference.

Rogers also has an Unlimited Mobile Browsing only plan for the same price.

[schmitty338 @ Apr 29th 2008 11:31AM]

@Khris,

You are correct, but the difference is, Bell allows you to use the $7 unlimited data (non-tethered) on the HTC Touch...unlimited email, browsing, streaming, downloading, etc for $7 on a fully-functional data device...

[Mike @ Apr 29th 2008 3:58PM]

Come on AT&T! Canada needs some competition in the GSM arena!

Anywho, been using my iPhone since last September on the Rogers network WITHOUT data with no major drawbacks. WiFi hotspots fill in fine.

[marcman @ Apr 29th 2008 6:56PM]

I pay $15 a month for unlimited (yes unlimited) data on my blackberry from telus.

[david @ Apr 29th 2008 8:56AM]

I think it's way too late for this to happen. The telcos here have had a pricing 'war' for unlimited data for the past couple of months and many like myself had picked up blackberries and wm-devices by great numbers instead of waiting for this 'mythical' device to be released.

Rogers. Apple... Christmas 2007 would have been the 'obvious' time. But who the hell am I kidding, I'm just a Canadian consumer, not a 'marketing expert'.

[SurKaz @ Apr 29th 2008 8:54AM]

What's the sound/scream in the picture supposed to be?..

[Joshua Topolsky @ Apr 29th 2008 8:56AM]

That's the iPhone screaming maniacally as it invades Canada. That's clear, right?

[psxp @ Apr 29th 2008 9:15AM]

screams are the iphone being raped by Rogers pricing of dataplans..

[Darren @ Apr 29th 2008 9:01AM]

Only the rich will get an Iphone in Canada they are the only ones who can afford a data plan...

[pundit @ Apr 29th 2008 8:58AM]

It's too bad. As much as I want an iPhone, I loathe Rogers. I wish they'd make a CDMA iPhone just for Canada. Rogers reams everyone on SMS and data pricing, the only way they compete is in voice. The network sucks outside of the cities and their customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

Bell ported the GSM version of the LG Chocolate last year (better than the CDMA version, which didn't have the touch-interface) for their networks, I'm sure Apple would let them do it with the iPhone.

[david @ Apr 29th 2008 9:01AM]

I wouldn't hold my breath. Not for a few years at the least.

[Dolemite @ Apr 29th 2008 9:00AM]

Hey Joshua, what happened to you little post on Woz and The Thing breaking up?

[Jeff @ Apr 29th 2008 9:01AM]

Bell still has that $7 for unlimited data on an HTC Touch...I swear Rogers better have at least a $10 for unlimited data for something like this.

[blarvh @ Apr 29th 2008 9:13AM]

So are they gonna release it one country at a time for ever?

2018: Congratulations Lithuania, the mighty 3G Iphone is going to be released in your country!

Europe doesn't like roll with carrier specific phones.

[huh @ Apr 29th 2008 9:18AM]

OK, my question is will it come to Fido. They are supposedly the same company, but they seem to have some kind of marketing driven "distinction" going on. I've been with Fido for years and have a huge credit with them.

[jorvay @ Apr 29th 2008 9:35AM]

I really doubt it. Fido is owned by Rogers, but they have their own plans and their own phone selection. The sim cards aren't interchangable (I discovered this recently when I thought it'd be nice to give my old Fido phone to my girlfriend who's with Rogers). Hell, Fido is still limited to the old Fido network coverage area, which is now completely mythical since it connects via the vast Rogers network.

[The New Guy @ Apr 29th 2008 9:36AM]

I highly doubt it.
My GF is with Fido and when she tried to get a new phone from them, they told her she had to pick from the Fido lot and couldn't pick from Rogers.

But then again, iPhone may be an exception.

I wouldn't put it past Rogers to offer the old iPhone in Canada, the left over stock when the 3G model comes out.
That's Rogers for you!!

[The New Guy @ Apr 29th 2008 9:17AM]

Welcome to Canada!!

Our water is clean
Our women are pretty
Our faces are full of smiles
Our dollar is awesome and
Our telecom providers have our balls

Thank you for visiting Canada!
Please come back soon!!

[Mike @ Apr 29th 2008 10:50AM]

our women are pretty aren't they

[The New Guy @ Apr 29th 2008 10:58AM]

Some of the best!!! ;)