D’Oh, Canada [Updated]
by John Paczkowski
Posted on July 8, 2008 at 5:07 AM PT
UPDATE: New reports are emerging that claim Apple isn’t selling the iPhone at any of its retail stores outside the U.S come Friday. This would suggest that, while Apple may well be appalled by Rogers’ pricing, it isn’t protesting it by refusing to sell the iPhone 3G through its own retail stores in Canada.
……….
If you’re a Canadian who doesn’t like the price at which Canada’s exclusive iPhone carrier, Rogers (RCI), is selling the device don’t buy one, the Vancouver Sun advised in an editorial last Friday. Wise advice. And easier to follow, now that Apple (AAPL) is reportedly sanctioning Rogers out of disgust for its exorbitantly priced data rates (see chart below). Appalled by Rogers’ pricing, Cupertino is said to be refusing to sell the iPhone 3G through its own retail stores in Canada. So come Friday, Canadians looking for a new iPhone will have to head over to a Rogers Wireless outlet to buy one–assuming they can stomach a three-year contract that requires a minimum monthly payment of $60 for just 150 minutes, 75 text messages, and 400MB of data … Apple stores will have demo models only.
| International Cost Comparisons1 | |||
| Canada (Rogers)2 | United Kingdom (O2)3 | United States (AT&T)4 | |
| Phone cost (8 GB model) | $ 199 | free | $ 202.03 |
| Plan cost per month | $ 100 | $ 76.63 | $ 101.51 |
| Minimum contract length | 3 years | 1.5 years | 2 years |
| Voice minutes (day) | 600 | 1200 | Unlimited |
| Voice minutes (evenings/weekend) | Unlimited | N / A | Unlimited |
| Data | 1 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Text messages | 300 | 500 | 0 |
| Call display included | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mandatory extra fees per month | $ 7.45 | $ 0 | $ 1.25 |
| Caller display fee | $ 7 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Total monthly cost | $ 114.45 | $ 76.63 | $ 102.76 |
| YOUR TOTAL COST COMMITMENT: | $ 4319.20 | $ 1379.34 | $ 2668.27 |
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Comments
Actually, it kind of looks like the Americans are getting hosed.
I love to text, and I see that AT&T’s plan has zero text messages included in their plan? Yikes!
Posted by Eve Bergazyn at July 8th, 2008 at 10:33 amI’ll have to check, but I think AT&T plans to charge US customers
Posted by John Paczkowski at July 8th, 2008 at 10:46 am$5 per month for 200 outgoing text messagesan additional $20/month for unlimited texting.You can buy a V 1.0 iPhone and ATT contract before the V 2.0 goes on sale and pay $10 less a month and get 200 messages a month included.
If ATT lets me upgrade my V 1.0 iPhone I bought last June, I will have to buy the new phone, pay $10/mo more for the faster speed, commit to an additional year and lose the free messages I get now.
Posted by Gary Doan at July 8th, 2008 at 12:58 pmI agree with Eve. We are getting hosed, particularly when compared to what O2 is charging in the UK.
Posted by Jonathan Jacobson at July 8th, 2008 at 12:59 pmLet’s hope Apple’s exclusive with ATT comes to an early end to permit competition on the telecom side.
No offence, but It seems you got it totally wrong. Apple doesn’t sell iPhone in ANY non-US store. Heads over here to see for yourself: http://www.whiteshore.net/blog.....ogers-too/
Posted by Hakim Javiar at July 8th, 2008 at 2:43 pmSee the update above, Hakim.
Posted by John Paczkowski at July 8th, 2008 at 3:02 pm