Like AT&T (T), Rogers is heavily subsidizing the iPhone’s upfront purchase cost and that is a bit of a financial burden. But it’s one that should be offset by the revenues generated by the device’s new owners. As AT&T noted a few weeks back, iPhone users generate more revenue per person than the typical wireless user. And that’s clearly been the case with Rogers. Most of Rogers’ iPhone subscribers opted for monthly voice and data packages and that increased average revenue per user four percent year-over-year to $78.46. Better still, one-third of iPhone buyers were new Rogers subscribers and they’ve all been locked into three-year contracts. And that’s certain to put the hurt on Rogers’ rivals, who’ll reveal the extent of their suffering when they next report earnings.

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.

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