Rogers' iPhone Exclusivity in Canada to End Next Month?

[MacRumors]

The Globe and Mail reports that wireless providers Bell and Telus will begin selling the iPhone in Canada next month, ending the exclusivity arrangement enjoyed by Rogers Wireless since the iPhone's introduction there in July 2008.

Neither Bell nor Telus would confirm that they would add the iPhone to their lineups. Apple also declined to comment. But people familiar with the matter said the two carriers will announce a working partnership with Apple as early as Tuesday or Wednesday and begin selling the device in time for the launch of their new network next month.

The news comes just a week after O2's exclusivity arrangement with Apple for the iPhone in the UK crumbled as both Orange and Vodafone announced plans to begin offering the iPhone in the near future.

Article Link: Rogers' iPhone Exclusivity in Canada to End Next Month?

 

[chstr]

so it can be done, hopefully att is next

 

[couto27]

prices competition is healthy

 

[0007776]

Although I don't live in Canada I hope this is true since it means more chance that the iPhone will eventually stop being exclusive to ATT in the US.

 

[TEG]

It is going to take some time before Tellus or Bell can even handle the iPhone, as both are CDMA carriers. Rogers/Fido only had it because they were/are the only GSM carrier(s) in Canada. This also leads credence to the rumor of T-Mobile Canada starting early next year.

 

[sososowhat]

Start chanting...

U-S-A
U-S-A
U-S-A

Let's catch up to the rest of the world & allow a little competition here too!

 

[DsurioN]

hmm this doesn't make sense... as was mentioned above Bell & Telus are both CDMA carriers....

EDIT: I guess I shouldn't speak until I read the article...

Bell announced on Monday that it will launch in November, months ahead of schedule, the next-generation wireless network it has been building with Telus. The build-out extends the companies' existing 3G (third generation) network to include the same technology standard employed by Rogers, the nation's largest cellphone company.

 

[Danksi]

Poor Coverage

hmm this doesn't make sense... as was mentioned above Bell & Telus are both CDMA carriers....

They are primarily CDMA carriers, but I understanding TELUS/BELL got together to build out a new network, to support GSM phones. I suspect they're hoping to catch some GSM roaming revenue during the Olympics next year.

The Roger's network coverage can be pretty poor outside of the major cities. The new Bell/Telus network is likely to be even worse.

I saw some reports earlier, but haven't found a 'map' to suggest the coverage. Competition should be good though.

 

[jav6454]

But, are there any other carriers in Canada besides Rogers that can handle GSM?

 

[casik]

Telus and cellars both the most overpriced phone carriers in Canada... Fido is where it's at. Competition is good tho. I read that it isn't a CDMA phone, but a transition of thief netowrks to gsm

 

[sushi]

I know one place that this will probably not happen, and that is Japan.

 

[paduck]

so it can be done, hopefully att is next

The dominos are starting to fall. Of course, T-Mobile (hardly an improvement on AT&T) is going to be about the only competitive choice in the US, but two is better than one. Having a little bit of market differentiation and competition in the calling plan arena is going to be a good thing...

 

[NoExpectations]

It's up to Apple

so it can be done, hopefully att is next

The ball is in Apple's court. Do they give up high subsidies in exchange for more choice for us?

 

[brad.c]

But, are there any other carriers in Canada besides Rogers that can handle GSM?

The article talks about Bell and Telus co-building a new network compatible with the iPhone.

I have a feeling it's in no small part due to this:

Bell and Telus announced a year ago that they would put aside their historic rivalry to build the high-speed packet access network, or HSPA, together. Market conditions forced the pair to extend their networks, in part because the precursor technology to HSPA, known as GSM, is the global wireless standard, allowing Rogers to collect the lion's share of lucrative foreign roaming deals in Canada.

 

[mat25]

its not reallly exclusive, because the iPhone is avabile though fido as well. But to my understanding rogers owns fido....

 

[PKFC]

Yeah Rogers owns Fido so it's not really a different company although their rates do differ slightly, but I don't know the full details about which is better.

It's pretty disappointing to hear that the only money Bell/Telus care enough to build a new network is other people's money. Their existing customers give them money to hopefully build better infrastructure..

I'll believe it when I see it though (Bell/Telus going GSM) because in my eyes, there hasn't been anything in the Canadian market that really changes the status quo in years..

 

[numbersyx]

Looks like this isn't a CDMA iPhone. Bell and Telus have been upgrading their network to a GSM system and that is why they will be able to use the iPhone. Amazing that it has happened so quickly. This will really bring data rates down in Canada esp. with the new carrier coming in. Very good to see....

BTW, why did N. America ever go with CDMA when the rest of the world was adopting GSM?

 

[Madmic23]

Bell and Telus are currently CDMA providers, but they are launching a new HSPA network, which means the phones and network will be 3G only with no Edge, which means iPhone on Bell could completely rule. Bells evdo network is already much much larger than Rogers 3G network, though Rogers does have a solid 2G network.

Bell and Telus will easily be able to support the iPhone because their new network is a direct overlay of their massive evdo network.

 

[Stella]

It is going to take some time before Tellus or Bell can even handle the iPhone, as both are CDMA carriers. Rogers/Fido only had it because they were/are the only GSM carrier(s) in Canada. This also leads credence to the rumor of T-Mobile Canada starting early next year.

Both are building HSPA networks and therefore will support such phones, iPhone is one of them. The HSPA network will be ready November, months ahead of schedule.

Its about time Rogers are given competition, but, since the big 3 are in cahoots, I don't think iPhone contract prices will reduce by very much, if at all.

 

[NoExpectations]

so it can be done, hopefully att is next

AT&T is an easy target, but I do give them credit for taking a chance with the iPhone when the other carriers refused it.

Think about it....what if all of the carriers refused the iPhone? There would be no iPhone.

What if Verizon, who has a nasty reputation for crippling the hardware features of their cell phones and for controlling the software on them as well, was the only major US carrier? Yuk.

 

[numbersyx]

Both are building HSPA networks and therefore will support such phones, iPhone is one of them.

Its about time Rogers are given competition, but, since the big 3 are in cahoots, I don't think iPhone contract prices will reduce by very much, if at all.

I don't know about that. Telus's data rates have been much better than Rogers. I could easily see a price war between them.... And the new carrier will only accelerate that...

 

[heads up]

Both are building HSPA networks and therefore will support such phones, iPhone is one of them. The HSPA network will be ready November, months ahead of schedule.

Its about time Rogers are given competition, but, since the big 3 are in cahoots, I don't think iPhone contract prices will reduce by very much, if at all.

I wonder what this means for Virgin and Koodo users. I'm pretty sure they use Bells cell towers. I'm assuming Bell will be supporting both CDMA and GSM phones now?

 

[JeffDM]

AT&T is an easy target, but I do give them credit for taking a chance with the iPhone when the other carriers refused it.

What other carriers? I don't recall any information that any US carrier other than Verizon and AT&T were approached.

 

[Stella]

I wonder what this means for Virgin and Koodo users. I'm pretty sure they use Bells cell towers.

Virgin are now owned by Bell and Kodoo are owned by Telus - both are budget brands, like Fido is now ( which used to be great before Rogers bought them ).

 

[hNicolas]

Bell and Telus have been building a GSM network and the have alreday been testing in some areas. Here in Ottawa I have been picking up a mysterious numbered network for a few months now. I can send a pic when I get on my Mac at home.