Bell nabs iPhone deal in Canada, ends Rogers' reign of terror
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Oct 6th 2009 8:25AM
posted Oct 6th 2009 8:25AM
It's official, Bell and Apple have agreed to sell the iPhone 3G and 3GS in Canada starting November. The move ends the Rogers exclusive in while christening Bell's new 3G network with Apple's darling. Hmm, first O2 lost it exclusivity then Rogers, we're sensing a trend. [Thanks, Sean]
Tell me it's coming to Telus also please
Definitely Telus too. Screw you robbers!
How do you know?
You think Telus is stupid or something? Building a HSPA network together with Bell and have Bell pick up the Jesus phone?
Agreed. Our Telus phone was been rock solid, and we've been happy with our plan and coverage. Not so much with my iPhone/Rogers plan. Always have to keep a wary eye on Rogers for bogus charges, shifty contract changes. They're always gouging when they're not nickel and diming.
Telus is in as well...
http://promotions.telus.com/registration/
http://promotions.telus.com/registration/
It's official on Telus
if this happens in the us then what other carrier will apple go to? T-Mobile isn't any better than AT&T. And if they wanted to go to Verizon or sprint apple would have to make a CDMA version of the iPhone....and i highly doubt that Apple will make a different iPhone for just a few carriers. The only time we will be seeing the iPhone on Verizon is when we all move over to LTE.
There already is a CDMA iPhone for China, iirc.
That is why this is interesting. Bell and Telus are CDMA.
RTFA
They both have a brand new GSM HSPA network that is a joint venture between them.
Telus and Bell started implementing HSPA less than a year ago, and it wasn't that expensive considering. So I am surprised that none of the CDMA telcos in the U.S. are implementing it. Or maybe they are and we haven't heard.
I'm just looking forward to seeing Verizon getting in on the action, it would also be a good move for Apple, getting all the people who hate AT&T and desperately want to be free buy their iphone all over again... *mwahahaa*
there is no cdma iphone, the iphone in china is still 3g...
Competition, now let's see what happens.
Fantastic, now there's one more carrier to charge me $150 a month.
test
Maybe now the exclusivity with AT&T will end soon. Seems unlikely the iPhone would go to Verizon though based on them being cdma instead of GSM. Would be awesome if they did however, go to Tmobile as a slap in the face to big V denying them service in the beginning.
Apple would still have to use a different radio in the iPhone to be on T-Mo's 3G... I'm not sure there's a good option for Apple right now in the US if they're trying to stick with GSM - maybe VZW in the future with an LTE network, but not right now.
But isn't LTE still a different radio then what the rest of the world is using? Even if Verizon is Apples best choice for a network coverage wise, it seems like it would be too much hassle to have to make a separate iPhone just for them.
True, the use of LTE would require a different radio, but I was speaking about right now. Currently there really is no other viable GSM carrier for Apple to partner with in the US. I'm a bit envious of Canadian's right now since they'll get to have the iPhone on a brand new, really fast GSM 3G network.
Every other major phone manufacturer makes a different (CDMA) version for Verizon, so why wouldn't Apple? Especially to get another 65 million potential customers? To think they'd choose T-Mobile over Verizon seems ridiculous. If anything, they will probably choose Verizon AND T-Mobile... they want to make money after all...
Can none of you guys read ?
The iPhone will be used on Telus / Bell's new HSDPA(or 3.5G) network, which is GSM based.
This network is capable of 7.2Mbps where as the Rogers 3G network tops out at 3.6Mbps, and the iPhone can support HSDPA, so the iPhone will be faster on the Telus/Bell network than it will be on the Rogers network !
Actually, it's important to keep in mind that Rogers never had any kind of exclusive arrangement with Apple like AT&T did. Rogers (and Fido) were simply the only carriers in Canada that could support the iPhone, and therefore had exclusivity by default (in the same way they would have for any other GSM/HSDPA phone).
Now that Bell and Telus can support an HSDPA network, the game changes, of course, and since Apple has no contractual obligation to sell the iPhone solely through Rogers/Fido, Bell and Telus picking it up is pretty much a given.
Also note that Rogers' network is 7.2mbps, at least in most major urban areas. The new Bell/Telus network is 21mbps (HSPA+), but that's well beyond what the iPhone will support. The iPhone 3G is capped at 3.6mbps anyway -- only the 3GS can reach the 7.2mbps speed.
Awsom, I cannot wait to replace my Samsung i910 with this. I had a iPhone ewith rogers but they tried to rip me off so I had to move to bell, now I can finaly have my iphone back :-)
haha, yeah cause Bell don't rip anybody off at all...........
I want to see it go to verizon and then watch the complaints roll in for the speed and overall crappiness when their network is maxed to hell
Verizon's 3G network is vastly superior to Apple's in coverage and continues to expand at a faster rate, so I wouldn't worry about network capacity too much. Verizon will actually spend the money to make it a good experience.
Hopefully the next Iphone will have a hybrid GSM/LTE/CDMA radio in it. LTE/CDMA radios will have to be created for the in between years while Verizon is rolling out LTE, so hopefully they can add GSM functionality and BAM, one Iphone for pretty much the whole world by next summer, haha.
Apple and Rogers was not exclusive, as Rogers at the time was the only carrier that was GSM, as Bell and Telus are CDMA as of this moment in terms of oficial operating capacity.
Anyway this is pathetic as I was rockin the original 2G iPhone back in 2007 and still am. iPhone is so old I cannot believe anyone would actually pay good money for this crap.
I even think the $7/month I pay on prepaid is a bit much!
You know with all that money you pay you could buy a nice 1972 Pontiac LEMANS sport with the 455, instead of trying to impress chicks with an outdated gadget!
"instead of trying to impress chicks"
Are you The Fonz or something?
Some of us make more then $1000 a month and can afford such trivial things like a $500 gadget every odd year as well as have a nice vehicle. It sounds like the mullet/trailorpark is strong in you though, if all you dream about affording is a $12,000 old Y-body muscle car.
I hope T-mobile USA is next.
Please! Please! Please!
@pdaoust007
Do you actually think Rogers will be dumb enough to not change their prices/plans to match the competition? They were the only supplier of this thing pre-Nov. Now the game has changed, and Rogers will be forced to become competitive with this device.
Goddamn comment system!!
*shakes fist*
These networks suck. They have no idea what adequate coverage looks like! And, news flash, Rogers' iPhone plans are actually afforable. Bell and Telus will charge just as much for way less and far shittier service. Their CDMA 3G has sucked since it came out with no improvements, expect this to suck just as bad.
What planet do you live on? Bell actually has unlimited data plans and are cheaper than Rogers... You want an iPhone with a data cap, go to Rogers... I'm glad I waited for Bellus to get them, their plans will be much better.
Now I'm not Canadian nor am I all that familiar with Rogers' plans, but I do know the prices they charge are ridiculous - especially for the very small about of data you actually get.
I think everyone's jumping the gun until we see available packages. I don't see any carrier in Canada offering an unlimited data plan on the iPhone.
@pdaoust007
Do you actually think Rogers will be dumb enough to not change their prices/plans to match the competition? They were the only supplier of this thing pre-Nov. Now the game has changed, and Rogers will be forced to become competitive with this device.
lets also not forget the the coverage for the rogers network is pitiful compared to the telus/bell combo if you live outside of ontario
@LB: Yes, but we're not talking about Bell/Telus' CDMA network here, we're talking about the new HSPA network they're rolling out (unless that somehow works on the very same towers without much extra work; I don't know much about these technologies). I have the great misfortune of living in a small, remote town in Nova Scotia, where it's amazing that there's even CDMA cell service, so to use my iPhone's cell radio, I have to be in the more populated town/"city" where I work. It's a given that Rogers will never see the business sense of expanding into our area, because there is none. So what are the chances that Bell's or Telus' coverage will be any better, except possibly years and years down the road? That's the only part of this I'm concerned about; I'm sure the competition will be (at least marginally) good for us, regardless.
First, the Verizon "There's a map for that" ads
Now, carrier iPhone's monopolies broken
Next, VZNavigator and RhapsodyVZTunes in an iPhone? (not that I'd ever want that)
Screw Bell. They are worse then Rogers. Bell was ok in the All-in-One days, but they are the worst of the 3 IMHO. We need a 4th big player for better competition. Perhaps with all 3 having GSM maybe pricing will come down hopefully across the board. In reality though, pick a carrier and I'll point you to someone who has had problems.
It's not Rogers exclusive btw, we can also get an iphone on Fido.
although yeah its not exclusive to rogers, saying its on fido is a tad misleading, since rogers owns fido ;)
You mean other than the fact that Rogers owns Fido?
Pretty sad when an American knows more about Canadian telecoms than a Canadian.
Fido is a Rogers-owned brand. There are only three networks: Bell, Telus, and Rogers. Everything else is just a subsidiary or wholesale-reseller.
@fboots - Not really, Best Buy owns Futureshop but they both have exclusive models for things.
@Brendan thats fantastic however im not sure how it applies to my retort :)
Jorvay @ Oct 6th 2009 9:29AM
"Fido is a Rogers-owned brand. There are only three networks: Bell, Telus, and Rogers. Everything else is just a subsidiary or wholesale-reseller."
You should amend that a bit to nationwide networks. There are others. MTS in Manitoba, SaskTel in Saskatchewan - and both of them own their respective markets to a much higher degree than any of the "big three". Also ICE Wireless up in the NWT. I know I'm nitpicking but just thought I would mention it.
Fido is just a subsidiary of Rogers Wireless Inc . Same thing with Koodoo, which is a subsidiary of Telus. Basically you get the discount phones with these two.
@Khal, you're absolutely right. I live in Ontario where we don't have any non-nation-wide carriers, so they often slip my mind.
Please stop posting stupid comments like:
"I hope T-Mobile comes to Canada" and "I'd like to have Verizon" or "I wish for AT&T"
HELLO !!!! This is earth calling !!!
Communications are regulated in Canada by the CRTC and until full deregulation happens (maybe year 2525) no foreign companies are going to be allowed to expand here.
So better get used to high rates and stop whining here (at least). Bark at the CRTC !
Also, I doubt that companies like T-Mobile are lurking north of the border to a such small market like us Canadians !
Don't get your panties so bunched up. Most people are commenting on hoping that the iPhone comes to these other carriers IN THE U.S.
I have a rather abstract wish - that the iPhone monopoly would get broken at AT&T, so that AT&T would finally be inclined to add Android-based smartphones. I don't want an iPhone and am waiting for one of the next generation slider Androids to launch on one of the two major carriers in the U.S. (i.e. not T-Mobile or Sprint). It looks like Verizon is the only one that will go there in the near future. If though the iPhone were to be made available on Verizon, then I'll bet AT&T would branch out and we'd have a more competitive Android market as well.
Well in fact the CRTC has got people's nerves... someone decided to start a petition to get them dissolved and regrouped.
http://www.dissolvethecrtc.ca/
Yes, it's not much, but at least we're doing something.
Thanks for posting that, Toni. I've signed it and will be forwarding it on to friends and family.
FYI, Rogers didn't sign an ((most likely pricey) exclusivity agreement; they were de facto exclusive as they were the only GSM/3G provider in Canada.
P.S. Fido also carries the iPhone but it is wholly owned by Rogers.
China's iPhone is WCDMA/HSDPA sans Wi-Fi on China Unicom. China Telecom is pushing for oPhone.
@ James Sonne
I am using a 2G iPhone on T-Mobile USA and have been for a couple of years. I'm sure it'd not be too difficult for Apple to tweak the current 3GS to work on T-Mo's 3G network (a special firmware switch?). As a "world phone", I'm sure all scenarios and flavors of 3G have been planned for by design.
I would like T-Mo to officially get the iPhone 3GS, so that I can stay with my provider, which I am happy with, have an awesome plan with, and most of all, stop being dependent on the iPhone Dev Team for my future (they haven't been very responsive since the 3.1 update). I am already missing out on certain functionality due to the lack of a GPS chip and other features are deliberately nixed for 2G owners. I want to go legit, but still stay with T-Mo, whose policies are much friendlier than AT&T's.
Yes, of course I could have switched to AT&T at any time, but clearly I haven't wanted to.
yesss iphone on telus i am so happy
Bell and Telus added HSPA to their CDMA network, so now they can offer more phones than ever!
I thought the iPhone was sold out and backordered everywhere. Where are they going to get new units for Bell? Oh wait, I forgot - Steve Jobs is the magical man.
Actually, the iPhone has been sold out at Rogers/Fido stores primarily because they never ordered sufficient stock. It's not a supply-chain problem with Apple, but rather Rogers being conservative on the number of units they want to keep on-hand, since they're not sold on consignment -- Rogers has to pay Apple for each iPhone that's sitting in a warehouse or a store somewhere.
On the other hand, Canadian Apple Stores have had more than ample quantity of every model of iPhone. Ergo, Bell and Telus shouldn't have any problems getting their hands on stock, it only remains to be seen whether they'll make enough of a pre-order to keep up with demand.
The manager at my local Verizon store said she was told in a recent regional meeting that Verizon was not in a position right now to pay Apple for the rights to sell the iPhone. The Verizon merger with Altell and the subsequent infrastructure changes are costing Verizon too much to be able to afford to sell the iPhone right now.
At least that's what I was told. Made me sad.
I believe this will make Bell the first carrier to sell the iPhone and Pre head-to-head - that could be interesting...
I didnt even think of that...
THEY HAVE THE JESUSPHONES! *allelujah!*
Maybe they'd launch the GSM Pre...
*scratches chin*
Telus Mobility confirmed this morning (Oct 6) that they will also be releasing the iPhone, which makes sense, since both Telus and Bell are rolling out the same network.
telusmobility.com/iphone brings you to http://promotions.telus.com/registration/
Official press release
http://about.telus.com/cgi-bin/media_news_viewer.cgi?news_id=1135&mode=2
You may want to change the title of this article to reflect that both CDMA carriers in Canada are going to be offering the iPhone on the new HSPA+ network.
What? Bell and Telus built HSPA (GSM base) tower because of iPhone? wow. Time to sell out the Qualcomm stock if you have any.
+2 for GSM network. :)
It wasn't for the iPhone, it was for the roaming revenue for Vancouver 2010. iPhone's only helping to launch the network.
not so fast Simon....UMTS / HSPA is built on CDMA principles (W-CDMA)..so Qualcomm still gets a little bit of cash...while not as much as a pure CDMA EVDO build...
WCDMA is GSM standard. Qualcomm standard is WCDMA2000. It's different.
Actually it's CDMA2000, not WCDMA2000. And yes UMTS and CDMA2000 are incompatible, but share certain properties, as both use channels to carry traffic. And yes Qualcomm has patents in both technologies.
Even more Bell and Telus are using CDMA2000 EV-DO currently and are implementing UMTS/ HSPA (WCDMA).
UMTS is a 3GPP (not GSM) standard and is closely aligned with GSM and is the body responsible for the adoption of LTE.
The important thing to keep in mind in all of this as well is that Bell and Telus will only support the newer HSPA/3G cell phones, not older GSM/GPRS phones. This upgrade is HSPA on top of their existing infrastructure, not a migration to GSM infrastructure.
Does this mean the Rogers 3gs is capible of using that some network? And will Rogers be ugrading to 3.5g??
Capable? Yes, they should be the exact same phones, as with only very few exceptions (ie, China), Apple sells the same physical hardware to every carrier worldwide.
That having been said, however, a Rogers 3GS will be locked to Rogers in the same way that any other Rogers phone is, and quite frankly, I'm expecting that Bell and Telus will be doing likewise in locking the iPhone to their respective networks.
As for network upgrades, Rogers already has a 7.2mbps network, and is in the process of upgrading to the HSPA+ 21mbps speeds. Bell and Telus rolled out the 21mbps network to begin with. All of this is completely irrelevant to the iPhone, however, as the 3G is only a 3.6mbps device, and the 3GS is only 7.2mbps. Only devices like USB/ExpressCard wireless network cards can really take advantage of these increased speeds at this point.
I'm with Bell right now and while this news is blowing my miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind.
I'm going to wait until they roll out the next incarnation of the iPhone.
I'm already bored with the current iPhone OS owning an iPod touch and all.
sigh
End of Rogers Terror?
Huh... Bell is the worst telecomunication brand in Canada (Internet, Cell phones, name it) :|