So the United States will be getting the iPhone in June...but Canada, as usual, is left in the dark as to when this fine beast will grace our shores. Mezzoblue has some thoughts on the matter. I think the presence of wifi negates some of my concerns about surfing the web while I'm on the go, but Rogers (the GSM player in Canada) has ridiculously high data rates, which is a bit off-putting. That's assuming the damned thing even makes it here before next Christmas, of course.
Well despite being the 2nd largest country in the world we are still a very small market share. If and when we get the iPhone well I figure that we will be able to buy TV shows and movies on iTunes first.
A friend did point out that only Rogers-Fido are possible carriers here in Canada at this time. Still I would rather get iPhone v2.0. no beta testing products for me.
Being the second largest country means very little when you consider our population relative to most European powers... hell, (greater) London alone has half the population of Canada.
Spain, Germany, France, etc... Canada's a small fry. We only get what we do because of our proximity to the States and the easy market penetration by American companies. And, our relative wealth as a nation. Gotta qualify that, or my argument might just apply to Mexico, which doesn't work as well. =)
If this blog is to be believed, we could see a Rogers iPhone in Canada by the end of the year: http://www.johnwiseman.ca/blogging/technology/apples-new-iphone-availability-in-canada/
It is intended that you will be required to sign a two or three year contract on a data plan.
In a way, that's good, as it gives me plenty of time to save up some scratch for this beast, and an excuse to hold on to my craptastic Motorola v635 (not even a RAZR, WTF) while still cursing it out whenever I can. My contract with Rogers also runs out about that time. And according to Digg comments (not a bastion of truthiness, I know, but...) Rogers is revamping its data network and the price plans that go with it. Which makes sense, as the current pricing structure is near criminal. A phone like this will mean more people will want to use their pipes more often, and they'll drive customers away with costs like $200 a month. $30 a month for unlimited (and it's not like I'll be downloading torrents on this thing...mail, web surfing, etc is good enough for me) is something I'd gladly pay to have an always-on connection to the net.
This would be potentially very good for very bad for me. One, it would be a chance for me to get a phone plan that doesn't consist of crappy phone cards once a month, the potential for unlimited minutes or a month by month package where I can call anybody in my family in Ontario and not have to worry about my minutes running out.
Potentially it could be bad, because the initial fee would be costly, and what happens if you can't afford to pay a bill one month on a contract? What if my finances change and I can't afford to be on a contract? I'd still have to keep paying it? I don't understand how contracts work, maybe that's my problem.
There's also speculation that an iPod of similar beauty and design is going to be released 6 months after the June iPhone release, so that the initial iPhone users will get in and buy it, not being able to help themselves, and then those that aren't interested will have a similar product offered in an iPod later down the line. Aren't we in need for a new ipod upgrade soon? Just a thought. After all, Steve Jobs did emphasise that they patented their technology down to the nines. So cingular customers are offered this really neat phone, and the general public could get an iPod. That would be a good strategy, considering the price tag of this beast.
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