iPhone 4 Coming to Rogers, Telus, and Bell

I’ve received word from all the major carriers in Canada that yes, Rogers, Telus, and Bell will be offering the iPhone 4. No word on pricing or dates from any of them, but odds are we’ll be seeing prices around AT&T’s $199 and $299 on contract, and likely being available shortly after the U.S. launch on June 24. As much as we Canadians whinge about three-year contracts, $500 ETFs, and expensive data overage charges, I think we’re getting better on the competition front considering that in the U.S., AT&T seems to have the lock-down on the iPhone 4.

Ever since Bell and Telus launched their HSPA networks at the end of last year, there haven’t been any especially tiresome exclusives, particularly with the iPhone. As far as service goes, we’ve got three spunky little underdogs, Wind, Public, and Mobilicity who are willing to get aggressive, though they’re unlikely to offer the iPhone for awhile.

If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, Apple’s latest smartphone was announced yesterday, and included a 5 megapixel camera with flash, forward-facing VGA video camera, 3.5″ 960 x 640 touchscreen, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3G, Bluetooth, and iOS 4. Video calling will be a hard sell, especially if it’s only Wi-Fi to start, but if anyone can build demand high enough to push through the obvious strain it would be on cellular networks, it’s Apple.

You can sign up iPhone 4 availability notifications at Rogers, but it doesn’t seem like the other carriers have pages up just yet. At the tail end of the key note, Steve Jobs said we would see the iPhone 4 in Canada come July, so stay tuned!

About The Author

Simon Sage

Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.

Pete

Is it really competition when 3 companies offer the exact same prices with the exact same plans for the exact same insane 3 year terms?!?

Give me one carrier with a 2 year term max anyday!
Simon

You're definitely right that it could be better – my point is simply that it could be worse.
Craig

Save up and buy the unit then you don't have to worry about the term.
No Name

You also need to keep in mind that it takes 4-6 months just for the carrier to pay for the iPhone they give you. Plus they have to opwerate and maintain their networks so realistyicly they need the three year contracts to just to make sure they even see a profit.

Of course, you could always drop S500-800 and buy the iPhone out right if you really don't like contracts. But if you buy an iPhone 4 and don't plan to use it for at least 3 years then you're doing it wrong.
Mr E

You can't get the phone AND a good plan, All good voice/data plans REQUIRE a 3 year contract

Scenario 1
You buy the phone outright, add a crappy voice plan, only use internet in WiFi zones
(pointless to get this phone is this is your plan)

Scenario 2
You have an existing month to month voice/data plan and you buy the phone without a contract

Scenario 3
Upgrade, WHO CARES if you tack on another 3 years,unless you are moving from the country you are going to need a cellphone for the rest of your life

Scenario 4
you only save $100 or 200
-Get 3 year voice/data contract
-Pay 199 or 299 depending which phone you get-pay the actication fee
-$100 to cancel the Data plan-$400 to cancel the Voice plan
( not advisable with Telus unless you want to pay $700 cancellation just for the voice plan)
Jeremy

I'm not sure if it's the same with all companies, but I know that with Bell if you aren't under contract, you have to pay a fee of like $10-15 a month anyway just because you aren't under contract. So in reality it's just as well to get the contract. It sucks though. I am locked in a 3 year one now, 2 years is up in July so I'm holding out for the new iphone. But I broke my phone back in november and they wouldn't do anything to help me. They wouldn't give me a new one, repair it, or renew my contract. Basically I had to buy a phone at full price and put it on the contract. So now I'm paying $30 a month (minimum payment) with no phone, for no reason. Sucks balls man.