Hot on the heels of a
three-way UK celebration, Deutche Telekom's reportedly managed to continue its coup -- if the company's Twitter account is to be believed, German exclusivity of the
iPhone 4 will go to T-Mobile this June. Meanwhile, the English (and French) speaking world is still rolling out iPhone launch dates, as Canada's Rogers, Telus and Bell Mobility have all quietly announced the new superphone will be available "in the coming weeks" or "coming soon." Americans at Engadget HQ are supremely jealous of your choices, Canada... and rest assured that we feel Germany's pain, too.
Update: T-Mobile is also continuing its tradition of carrying the iPhone in the Netherlands, with another
announcement that's light on specifics. [Thanks, Xylias]
posted June 7th 2010 10:24PM
oy!
@Geaux
"as Canada's Rogers, Telus and Bell Mobility"
Why can't it be... USA's AT&T, Verizon & Sprint...?!
Oh well, while we are at it... throw in T-mobile too!
@who said what All three are GSM carriers in Canada.
@Geaux
boy!
@who said what
because
1) Sprint & Verizon are CDMA
2) I would welcome a T-Mobile iPhone with AWS infrequences so us Canadians could have a fourth carrier w/ an iPhone (Wind)
@who said what It has a micro SIM slot. It already works with most US carriers if you get the SIM and make it into (or just get) a micro SIM.
@Nomi Here, here! Why can't all of the American telcos use the same technologies and frequencies for their devices. Where was the FCC when we needed them 5 years ago?
@tusing Sadly, the 3G radio will only work in the US with AT&T. T-Mobile's 3G networks use a different frequency range (1700 mhz/2100 mhz) and both VZW and Sprint use totally different network technology that isn't at all compatible with iPhone.
Additionally, the iPhones sold in the US have an unfortunate SIM lock to prevent the use of SIMs from any other provider (even when traveling outside of AT&T's coverage area).
@Geaux
Verizon ftw!
@andrewbecks
Somehow in the Americas, both, north and south the regulators go absolutely crazy. Look at this table:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UMTS_networks
And that's only the UMTS bands... How many different CDMA bands do you have on top of that? What a mess.
@who said what
Because Telus and Bell smartened up and teamed up to build a 3G network. CDMA will be left behind by 2012 ro 2014, can't find the quote at the moment but they will eventually stop supporting it.
@Nomi
Negative...
Both Bell and Telus are CDMA = Spring and Verizon
Rogers (and Fido) are GSM = AT&T and T-Mobile
Which means that the iPhone 4 is both CDMA and GSM compatible. Problem is that AT&T continues their exclusivity lock and then punishes their users (new 2GB cap) because their 3G network can't handle the user load. Same applies for the iPad.
I can't wait for the day when the iPhone and iPad become available on T-Mobile, Verizon, AND Sprint. A little competition is ALWAYS good for the end consumer.
Patience...
@PiCASSO
No longer true. Bell and Telus now have a new HSPA+ networks as well as their old CDMA one. So you can use Sim cards on a number of their new phones (like the iPhones).
@Geaux
Well we may have 3 carriers but we still have 3 year contracts...the stone ages I tells ya!
@tGill actually it would be 5 if you toss in Mobilicity
@Theguywiththehair
Very true. Americans may have just one carrier, but still they pay half the monthly fee that Canadians do.
@Theguywiththehair I can tells You're a Newf! I knows B'ys.
@andrewbecks Wait, the new iPhone is pentaband. It has both 1700 and 2100 band support, is it for sure it won't work on T-Mobile US?
@andrewbecks The FCC should not be more involved with our lives as much as it is. Let the free market, which the US hasn't been for decades, take over and it will happen.
I saw the "T-Mobile" before the "Germany," and was very excited and then sorely disappointed...
@Geaux
HTC EVO
http://www.epinions.com/content_513931382404
@SeeKo Yes but there's a reason for this mess in america's telephone systems (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_System_divestiture) To prevent something like that from happening again. A crusade which launched Apple computers originally since they originally were phone phreakers stealing from MaBell (AT&T pre 85)
@Nomi Incorrect. Only Rogers is GSM. Telus and Bell are CDMA with UMTS supplemental networks.
Oh, Canada!
@AdamSpruijt
probably like $400 on 3-year contract
UK probably like ₤100 for 18 months
@JeremyBenthem
Telll me about it! I want to get it but I doubt they will have it for $299 up here for 3 yrs. Actuallys the 32GB should be $199 for 3 years damn bastards!
@JeremyBenthem
Actually it will be identical to the pricing in the USA (except for the 3yr contract).
CDN dollar is about at parity with the USD, FYI.
@JeremyBenthem When iPhone 3G came out, it was 199CAD in Canada with 3 year contract, when 3GS came out - same thing - 199CAD. And I will let you on a little secret, Rogers allows changing phones every year (even with 3 year contract) or smartphone every 2 years. So after 2 years of having your iPhone (on 3 year term), come to Rogers, sign another 3 year deal, they will forget about the remaining year and get you another iPhone.
I do it all the time. :) I have 2 iPhones (3G from 2008 and 3GS from 2009). So it's 2010, and i am upgrading my 3G to iPhone 4 this year. Which means that i get upgrades for smartphones every year :)
And yea, i need both phones, since one my gf is using.
@t you I don't so much look at it as a choice but rather a sentence. A 3 year sentence so to speak. As far as the choices go for that sentence you have:
1. Ass rape - Rogers
2. Sodomy - Bell
3. Ass Rape with a chain saw going in sideways - Telus.
Yeah, not much of a choice... is it now?
@bathellfire I hope Fido has the same policy because I am definitely getting an iPhone 4 once my 2 yr term is up (of my 3 yr term contract). I'm getting bored of my iPhone 3G.
Must be nice to live in a country where more than one carrier has the same phone at it's launch.
@DoctarPeppar Must be nice living in a country with decent phones. Our phones suck. :/
@DoctarPeppar It must be nice to live in a country where you aren't stuck with a 3-year contract. Also, your new AT&T plan is considered affordable compared to what we have.
@Nephersir7 once Mobilicity and Wind have semi respectably sized networks this won't be as much of an issue. Wind has no contracts and Mobilicity has an unlimited everything plan for $65/month. Not great but not too shabby compared to Rob...I mean Rogers
@DoctarPeppar in Canada, 4 carriers currently have iPhone 3GS
- Rogers (primary)
- Fido (daughter of Rogers, but still a separate carrier)
- Telus (finally went from CDMA to GSM)
- Bell (parntered with Telus to build their own GSM and 3G networks across country).
@bathellfire Don't forget Virgin Mobile.
Yeah, except Rogers, Telus, and Bell might as well be the same company, considering the lack of competition between them. Bell and Telus getting the iPhone didn't change anything! We need a T-Mobile US compatible iPhone before we are going to see any actual competition on the iPhone in North America
@Craptorium
yup, the 2 AWS frequency carriers Wind (Canada) & T-Mobile (US) are the only gsm carriers that are hungry for more market share.
@Craptorium agree on most, but gotta admit Rogers picked up tethering mighty early
@justit
That's true, but only because they never offered an unlimited data package, and would make a lot of money off their customers overages due to tethering.
@Craptorium
Telus:
http://www.telusmobility.com/en/BC/clear_choice_voice_data/index.shtml?INTCMP=ILCq4pl1
Bell:
http://www.bell.ca/shopping/PrsShpWls_iPhoneComboPlans.page
Rogers:
http://www.rogers.com/web/Rogers.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=WLRS_Plans
I mean, they're different... Until you factor in all the "addon" packages...
I believe the best way to determine your iPhone carrier in Canada is to make a big spin-wheel and toss a dart at it...
@Craptorium
Yep. Engadget, you have no reason to be jealous of us.
$7/month for CID unless you twist the arm of the retentions department. Ugh, what a ripoff.
@Mike The sweet spot is the $17.50 plan with as much as possible with data as extra. Which you can get with all carriers after 6 months and some called to cus relations.
*sigh* so this new iphone is coming out to *3* canadian carriers, yet the EVO can't come out to *1*? : (
HTC HD3 better be out and about in Canada, god damn it...
@n11 I'll second that. If it ends up being anything close to what the leaked specs state it having, I want it, so it better come to canada.
@n11
As a Canadian, it's not as good as you make it sound. All 3 carriers have the same overpriced THREE year contracts with the exact same plans and cost. There is no competition up here.
I wonder if telus or bell will allow us to buy it outright like we could for the 3gs
Wait iPhone is a superphone now?
AWESOME!!!... "Germany"... damn.