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Canadian Apple Stores won't sell iPhone 3G thanks to Rogers

appleinsider.com — Apple, disgusted with Rogers Wireless for dumping egregious service plans on would-be iPhone 3G buyers, has decided that its Canadian retail stores will have no part in helping the carrier market the new handset to customers. As a result, Canadian Apple Retail stores won't be selling the new 3G touch-screen phones come Friday.

Bury
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  • kmotiv1, on 07/08/2008, -7/+326So awesome.
    • daridave, on 07/08/2008, -7/+15Indeed, awesome. Seeing Apple side with the users on this one makes me want to buy a Mac. Seriously. I always liked them, but everybody kept telling me Apple was evil (or something like that)... but from what I'm seeing lately... call me gullible... but I'm slowly getting sold out to Apple! and I know I won't regret it...
      • lasombragh, on 07/08/2008, -3/+22I think it's more like Apple siding with the money. It's pretty safe to say that Rogers' plans haven't exactly been welcomed with open arms by the public, so Apple is certainly smart enough to just allocate those phones to places they KNOW are more likely to sell them.

        Don't get me wrong: I like Apple and will be buying an iPhone (here in the states), but I call it like I see it. Bury away.
      • daridave, on 07/08/2008, -1/+1Well, I guess I have to agree with that... that`s why I meant by "call me gullible" ... but if you think about it, that's also why Rogers put the prices high; money. There's two ways of making money; one is to make a product appealing and sell a f*ckton of it and generate profit, while the other way is to screw your costumers, just like Rogers is doing. I know it's all about money, but someone's doing it right, while the other one's doing it VERY wrong!
      • Daniel591992, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4Say, when is the App store update coming out for the iPod Touch? I need to buy another iTunes card to pay for it.

        Okay, but in all seriousness, Apple is just trying to get Rogers to lower the price. Don't fall for the whole Steve Jobs is a god thing, because, from what I've heard, he's an *****.
      • EllimistX, on 07/09/2008, -1/+2Pretty much every god is an *****...
    • Baryn, on 07/08/2008, -4/+1BUGGABEAR
    • Wootstapler, on 07/08/2008, -2/+1So simple.
    • WESTEE, on 07/08/2008, -5/+6the sarcasm detector is detecting huge amounts of sarcasm
    • adultswimfan00, on 07/08/2008, -10/+1
      $5 for 200 messages is NOTHING, deal with it; paying $35 a month for unlimited data and more texts than most people will actually use (except for the hardcore users) is not that bad

      Haha dumb Canadians:), further proof that Apple is squarely focused on the US market and so it will offer the most competitive plans and options here.
    • Vigilo, on 07/08/2008, -11/+5OH NO!!! YOU WON'T GET AN iPHONE OMG WHAT WILL YOU DO WITHOUT A NEW WORTHLESS TRINKET!!
    • BoneStamp, on 07/08/2008, -4/+1Rogers is still going to sell a ***** load of iPhones. I don't think they're that worried, and they've got the monopoly to act like it. For now, as long as Apple wants to sell iPhones in Canada they're stuck with Rogers.
      • clarionhaze, on 07/09/2008, -1/+1Not if they don't have a ***** load to sale.

        FTA: iPhone shipments where diverted to Europe as retribution.
    • ferkranus, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3Apple is very smart. They "get" their customers and want to help them stick it to the Man! Now if/when Rogers reduces their price ...even more people will buy the iPhone just because of this controversy and how much Apple cares about them.

      Apple's bottom line is still the same as Rogers. And they're seeing dollar signs right now. I'm not against what Apple has done...it's smart. But I'm not kidding myself that the shareholders care about my feelings.
    • Tribis, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3There are 6 Apple stores in total in all of Canada. Its awesome, but not that big of a deal.
    • nick9999, on 07/09/2008, -1/+3http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9985584-37.html

      Apple stores are only selling the iphone 3g in the United States, They're not selling them anywhere else, not even Canada. Fake story! But very entertaining.
    • ribfeast, on 07/09/2008, -1/+2To get the iphone in NZ for $160US or so we have to pay around $4500 US in access charges over 24 months. I think NZ is getting an even worse deal than Canada guys :(
  • meannate, on 07/08/2008, -24/+7The consumer suffers!
    • DDMX, on 07/08/2008, -1/+34They'd suffer even more if they bought an iPhone with these contracts. Wait a few weeks - Apple and the customers will have knocked some sense into Rogers.
      • ChzPlz, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5More likely you'll have to wait a year until there is some GSM competition in Canada.
      • griz, on 07/08/2008, -1/+1Isn't that their choice though? Stupid is as stupid does.
      • stuffradio, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Does Koodo use GSM? They have pretty good plans, dumb commercials... but alright plans.
  • topherwheeler, on 07/08/2008, -1/+105While I'm not crazy about AT&T's new plans (I'm OK with the extra $10 for faster internet, but no texts and the lowest plan NOT offering unlimited nights and weekends), Rogers did take their "advantage" with iPhone in the wrong direction.

    I do have a little hope that people petitioning and now Apple apparently taking their side on this issue, that Rogers will come to their senses and change their plans accordingly.
    • uberphildo, on 07/08/2008, -2/+39If you do the math, the lowest plan *does* offer unlimited nights and weekends. Let's say that nights run from 9pm to 6am, a total of 9 hours. This is multiplied by 4 days (Monday through Thursday nights) to give you 36 hours of "Night" minutes, plus another 57 hours for the weekend (including the extra 9pm and 6am part of Friday night and Sunday morning) bringing a one-week total of 93 hours per week of night/weekend minutes. Multiply by four and you have 372 hours in a month.

      Almost done.

      Now multiply that by 60 to get 22,320 "Night and Weekend" minutes each month. The lowest plan has 5,000 minutes. This means that you would need to spend almost *one quarter* of your time, every night and throughout every weekend, talking on the phone in order to go over. If you can somehow justify being on the phone almost three hours every single weeknight, and an additional 6 or 7 hours on the phone every single Saturday and Sunday, then you can probably justify jumping up to the next plan.

      Short version:

      5000 Night and Weekend minutes is the same thing as Unlimited except in extremely odd circumstances.
      • ngmcs8203, on 07/08/2008, -2/+20I hated word problems as a kid, but I'll give you an A for effort and just trust that your math is correct. I lost interest halfway through the "Almost done." phrase.
      • USER1236, on 07/08/2008, -3/+1I have the cheapest plan and talk to my friends every other night for more than 2 hours. The most minutes I've ever eaten through was a little over 4,000
      • kfordham281, on 07/08/2008, -4/+0Don't forget the plan also includes rollover. So in the event that you don't use all 5,000 of your anytime minutes, you have the left overs for next month. So basically after a few months when you have built up your rollover it's almost like *unlimited*
      • DiddyWolf, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Except the N&W mins don't roll over, only the anytime mins roll over. Doesn't much matter to me, I've always used more data them mins, even on my cheap flip phones. Should be even more so when I get my iPhone.
      • 501337, on 07/08/2008, -1/+1As a former Rogers employee and current Rogers subscriber, I can tell you that Rogers plans don't rollover leftover minutes. Then again, it's been a while since I worked there (or actually looked at my bill) so maybe I missed that announcement.
    • nretamp, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1You're okay with the extra $10 AT&T is charging?! Have you looked at the 3G map? Hopefully you are one of the few who will spend the majority of your time in a 3G area. I unfortunately will spend the majority of my time out of 3G coverage and will be paying an extra $10 a month for absolutely nothing.

      Screw AT&T. When 3G is as widely available as regular service, then charge us for it. But don't charge me for something I don't get to use!
  • DionRodrigues, on 07/08/2008, -1/+48Only 3 more days until all hell breaks loose at the Rogers store around the corner from my house - I can't wait to see the show :)

    Really though, I hope Rogers sees the light now and realizes they are going to be working a lot of overtime to haul out all these iPhones unless they do something about their prices.

    Also, note how not-neutral this AppleInsider article is.... "disgusted" with Rogers much?
    • cwgannon, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Something tells me the in-store Rogers employees won't be complaining about the extra commission that will be coming their way as a result of Apple's decision.
    • blackhappy, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Wow Rogers actually comparing themselves to the French "Rogers believes its plans to be better than those of Orange France"! How low must they be feeling about themselves these days!
  • kooze, on 07/08/2008, -1/+133This is fantastic news! I don't know how much customer volume Apple is cutting off from Rogers versus their initial plans with these moves, but it seems very significant. Between this and the 50,000 people who just say no to Rogers we're seeing that, yes, customer mobilization works! Keep the pressure on and encourage all your friends and colleagues to resist stepping into that Rogers/Fido store on July 11th!
    • griz, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5Apple is just being smart with its supply lines. Why should they fund extra staff and stock extra iPhones in their stores when they foresee a lack if sales due to bogus pricing. Those phones can just as easily be put into another market where they will sell out.
    • homesickalien, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Don't get too excited yet, wait until the price drops. I bet it won't be changing for a long while.
    • geoken, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3I think I'd be more satisfied to see people forget the iPhone whether Rogers relents or not. Part of the reason these big companies act like this is because consumers have no loyalty and short memories. They'll drop a company who's ripping them off, move to a company that treats them well, then go back to the original company once they undercut the other company by some insignificant margin.

      Don't let a company try to ass rape you, then get back in their van after they say 'sorry, we wont try and ass rape you any more'.
  • imacbook, on 07/08/2008, -33/+1Uh, what exactly is the problem here?

    O2 in the UK do a plan at around $60 which actually has LESS minutes.
    • SnowBladerX, on 07/08/2008, -0/+20But does that plan include unlimited data? None of the Rogers plans do.
    • stjoad, on 07/08/2008, -0/+33So Canadians have no right to protest Rogers' poor plans just because O2 is equally bad? I...I don't get it.
    • HolyChimp, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3The £30 tariff is the tariff no one would go for, for £35 a month you could get an extra 525 minutes and 325 texts.
      The o2 tariffs are some of the best I've seen.
      • imacbook, on 07/08/2008, -2/+1I'm going for the £30 tariff.
      • alexhazeldean, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3then you're a complete idiot. for a fiver extra a month you get like 200% more texts and minutes. Only someone devoid of all brain function would opt for the £30 a month tariff. Have fun being completely limited all for saving the expense of £5 a month mate !
      • HolyChimp, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1@imacbook: You might as well go for the pay as you go tariff. Unlimited data and wifi for £10 a month, then you still have £20 to spend on texts and minutes.
  • yabos, on 07/08/2008, -0/+131Man, ***** rogers really screwed us over. We were all looking forward to the iPhone finally coming to Canada legit but rogers just destroyed their own potential market.
    • jayhawk, on 07/08/2008, -0/+28it's not like Apple has much of a choice. what competitor can they turn to in Canada? there isn't one. Rogers has a monopoly.
      • yabos, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Yeah it really sucks. Hopefully there will be some new carriers in a few years after this spectrum auction is over.
      • supermanred, on 07/08/2008, -12/+2Telus, Bell, Virgin Mobile to name three.

        Apple should never have locked into one carrier, they should have sold the phones for 600 bucks and let the carriers discount them if they wanted with 3 year plan.

        They are going to make a *****-ton of money from the App Store when it goes live. I would love to go "legit" with my iPhone which I am using in Canada and I can see myself spending quite a bit of money on the app store for quality apps (I am definitely buying Spore and Monkey Ball when they come out!)
      • Linake, on 07/08/2008, -0/+17jayhawk is right, supermanred. Rogers is the only carrier in the country that is actually 'national'.

        Take my city of Thunder Bay, for example. We're in Ontario, we should have every cellular company to choose from. However, since we are in North-Western Ontario (apparently Ontario ends at Sault Ste. Marie for most people) the only companies that will give us full service are Rogers and locally-run TBayTel. I'm sure it's the same in other cities, too, where apparently a population of over 100,000 doesn't constitute Bell, Virgin or Telus availability. Then, of course, there are the poor people who live in smaller towns like Kakabeka who have to use TBayTel because not even Rogers will give them cellular signal.

        Yes, maybe I am a little bitter.
      • tiuk, on 07/08/2008, -0/+16Telus. Bell, and Virgin are all CDMA.
    • yonis, on 07/08/2008, -7/+3The iPhone is still coming to Canada. It's just that it's not going to be sold in Apple's stores. Just in Rogers'.
      • yabos, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5Yeah I know but they really are reducing the number of people that are going to buy this. Rogers doesn't try to compete(they don't have to with the iPhone), they just try and squeeze as much out of customers as they can. Fortunately it seems that this will probably backfire on them.
    • aristotle0dude, on 07/08/2008, -8/+1If there is any truth to this rumour, you should be blaming bloggers and people on the net who never had any intention of buying an iPhone in the first place for making a fuss about data caps which have time and time again been shown to be reasonable by actual iphone users.

      The plans are competitive with the plans offered by Telus and Bell if you compare like for like rather than comparing WAP service versus iphone service and do a comparision of the complete package with voicemail and weekday minutes.

      Go an try it for yourself and look on the telus and bell sites. They are not actually cheaper like the Telus and Bell sockpuppets have led so many to believe.
  • xerexes1, on 07/08/2008, -3/+79If all of the people that signed the petition are truly potential Canadian iphone customers, I'm sure that Apple is just thrilled that it has lost $10 million (Canadian) in sales thus far.
    • loconet, on 07/08/2008, -2/+26...and that would be the optimistic result (for them). They are not only losing the immediate "sales" of IPhones. They are losing potential longer term customers. That is much more costly.

      They are losing customers in terms of sales of related accessories and services, and most importantly, they are losing customers that could have used the IPhone as gateway product into other Apple products. Rogers is not only ***** the Canadian consumers. They are ***** themselves up and Apple at the same time.

      • yabos, on 07/08/2008, -1/+8People were actually emailing Steve Jobs about this. I'm sure he's probably pretty pissed off right about now.
    • ZimbuTheMonkey, on 07/08/2008, -23/+4I'm getting tired of correcting you illogical imbeciles.

      How the hell do you know it's a "loss" of 10 million? You know it's easy to do some wacky mathematics to prove your side of the argument, but for the sake of integrity, you should probably avoid doing that. Have you calculated how many people will still purchase the iPhone regardless of the plans? Have you figured out how much profit that will be?

      No? Then how can you say it's a loss? Maybe Rogers will profit more by keeping the plans expensive and losing those customers than it will by lower the price and getting that many more subscribers.

      All you dumbasses are going by is a number from an online petition. And EVEN IF that number accurately represented the amount of people that WILL NOT buy the iPhone, you still don't have enough data to figure out whether or not it will be a loss of profit for Rogers. Problem is, that number could be way off. First off, the petition was posted here on Digg, so who knows how many non-canadian members signed that petition. Second, some people that are unhappy with the plans and that have signed the petition may yet still purchase the iPhone at those rates. And finally, there are many people who have signed the petition multiple times.

      The petition is nice, I've signed it, but it is NOT representative and NOT accurate. Protesting is useful and it might help us out, but do it with some sense and some integrity or just shut the ***** up.
      • GeneralFailure0, on 07/08/2008, -1/+1It's no more acceptable to be an arrogant prick on the internet than it is anywhere else, you realize.
      • ZimbuTheMonkey, on 07/08/2008, -2/+1However (and sadly), it seems it is acceptable to be an ignorant moron on the internet just like anywhere else.
      • xerexes1, on 07/08/2008, -1/+2Actually, it simple math. Nothing wacky about it.

        Cheapest iphone $199 x 50,000 signatures on the petition.
    • chron, on 07/08/2008, -1/+11You know, Zimbu, your anger does little to help you prove your point.

      You may have a valid argument (I think you do), but presenting your points in dogmatic language laced with insults makes it hard to take you seriously.

      Imbeciles? Really? You must know all of us, right? Else how could you categorically lump us together?

      Perhaps you should consider your own advice about using logical thinking before making sweeping statements you cannot back up.
      • ZimbuTheMonkey, on 07/08/2008, -10/+1"Imbeciles? Really? You must know all of us, right? Else how could you categorically lump us together?"

        Have you made an assumption about Rogers' finances based on this one petition?

        If yes, you are an imbecile. If you haven't, you may yet be an imbecile, but at least you dodged that bullet.

        Hey I'm sorry if it hurt your feelings, but we've all been gifted with a human brain and rational and critical thinking are part of the package. If a person does not use the faculties granted to him or her and then tries to further a slanted position without taking in account all the information at hand, then they're ***** dumbasses in my book.
      • JoEb0x, on 07/08/2008, -1/+3Zimbu,
        You're making the following assumption:

        EVERYBODY who signs the petition is assuming a 10 million dollar loss for rogers and are imbeciles for doing so.

        As a small start, you're childish insults are not even remotely close to a 'bullet.' The attitude you're demonstrating on digg, believe it or not, is quite reflective of who you are in person. You sir, fall into the 'imbecile' category. I'd definitely suggest that the brain you've 'acquired' is far from gifted. Sweeping insults against large amounts of people based solely on a guess is not a very brilliant idea. That is why you are being dugg down (I'm sure it's because you hurt peoples feelings /sarc).

        The petition is accurate enough if the host were to scan all of the individual signers' (Canadian) IP addresses. I'm aware that you can spoof IP's but most people are unlikely to do so. A petition like this is enough to generate awareness among other Canadians (potential buyers). In turn, this will spread the fact that Rogers (not only Rogers though) is trying to screw over its customers further.

        Are you suggesting that Apple not supplying Rogers with iPhones will be profitable for Rogers? One can get away with calling 'less of a gain' a loss, it does NOT make that person an imbecile.




        Also, note that this kind of public activity and awareness is what Canadians need. Profit margins for Canadian telecoms are 33% higher than their exact american counterparts. Legislation (backed by the population) will eventually result in telecoms supplying fair and clear wireless plans. Start thinking about ways to help out yourself and other Canadians instead of trolling Digg.com all day trying to anonymously insult people to make yourself feel better.

        Good day.
      • ZimbuTheMonkey, on 07/08/2008, -6/+1Read attentively before relying, Joe. Please. Try to focus on what I'm saying this time around, not what you THINK I'm saying.
      • ZimbuTheMonkey, on 07/08/2008, -6/+1Replying... bah...
  • moog, on 07/08/2008, -28/+6who cares?
    • Animik, on 07/08/2008, -3/+10you clearly do by commenting and probably reading the article
    • FastForward108, on 07/08/2008, -3/+12The thirty-three million Canadians, maybe?
      • Grimdotdotdot, on 07/08/2008, -7/+3Oh yeah, because *all* Canadians want an iPhone.
      • FastForward108, on 07/08/2008, -0/+9Maybe not, but I imagine most (if not all) Canadians hate getting ripped off. Just like real people!
      • Grimdotdotdot, on 07/08/2008, -3/+3They're not getting ripped off if they don't buy it.
      • Brad324, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1one day I hope to be a real person
  • screwy3333, on 07/08/2008, -15/+1I thought Rogers was mad because the new iPhone doesn't have a decent photo editor
    • gregoryan, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1duuuuuude, i want what you're smoking
  • fezzasus, on 07/08/2008, -9/+2Has anyone looked at the O2 contracts? £30 ($60) will get you 125 minutes and 75 texts, sound similar? No one is complaining about that.
    • ZimbuTheMonkey, on 07/08/2008, -3/+11Umm... why aren't you people complaining?
      Do you like being ***** in the ass by O2's massive corporate penis?
    • waydee, on 07/08/2008, -2/+3That really is awful, thats of no use to anyone. I highly doubt anyone but the most devoted of apple fanboys will be willing to accept that. Once again the iPhone will fail in every market apart from the US.
    • bobthedino, on 07/08/2008, -0/+15Although that £30 plan (like all the other O2 plans) comes with unlimited data, and free wi-fi.
    • farfromperfectx, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5but for £5 extra you get a much better deal, stop trying to create controversy. We also get a free iPhone on some tarrifs. o2 has the best deal out of all the countries afaik.
    • ProdigalFather, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2It's the Data that is the issue. It has long been an issue with Rogers. I used to live in Toronto and back then the charges for data in comparison to the rest of the world and even other (CDMA) mobile providers in Canada was a huge issue (this was from around 2002-2007)

      At least here if I buy an iPhone I'll get Unlimited Data. And in any case, comparing £30 directly to $60 is being ignorant of the fact that the cost of living (as well as salaries) are generally higher in the UK. It's all relative.
    • elfuego, on 07/08/2008, -0/+12Two Words: Unlimited Data

      Also: Not A 3 Year Contract
    • MindStalker, on 07/08/2008, -0/+7It comes with unlimited data. You also can't just throw up US price anymore and say its compatible £30 is cheap, just because the dollar has fallen so badly that its $60 US is really of no concern to them.
    • Asin, on 07/08/2008, -0/+6Yes, but that's on par with the non-iPhone pricing.

      Now, far be it for me to know anything about O2, but the following links suggest that you're only paying £10 for unlimited data, visual voicemail, and only an 18-month contract. That's only 50% more than the voice plan.

      http://www.o2.co.uk/mobilestariffs/tariffs/paymont ...
      http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paymonthly

      Canadians are paying $60 for 400 MBs of data (not unlimited) which is the equivalent of 100% more than the cost of voice excluding formerly included Caller ID service, evenings start at some ridiculous 9:00 PM time that defies the very society-accepted definition of evening, a 36-month contract, and getting raped in the ass.
    • drewpost, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5And you are looking at that in the totally wrong way dude. Sure, it's $60 to an American but it's £30 to those of us here in the UK who earn our salaries in £ and is perfectly in line with competitors. Sure the £30 plan is a bit anemic but the step up for £35 (which to us in the UK is like paying $35 since we earn our salary in that currency) has 600 minutes and 500 texts included (BTW, in the UK we are not charged for incoming calls and texts and our calls are rounded to the nearest second not minute so that 600 minutes goes a LONG way for most people) Both of those plans offer unlimited 3G data AND use of The Cloud and BT Openzone WiFi hotspots which are nearly everywhere in the UK. Also, if you need more texts, it is only £7.50/month to add an unlimited texting bolt on to your account so for £42.50/month you have 600 minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited 3G data, unlimited WiFi access on the Cloud and BT Openzone.... The cheapest plan on AT&T that gets you 450 min/month and 5000 night and weekend with unlimited data and access to the AT&T WiFi network which is not nearly as ubiquitous and if you want unlimited texts it's $20 extra taking it to $89.00/month (before taxes and fees, all of which are already included in the O2 rate plan price)

      If anything the 02 plan is the best deal out of any of the iPhone countries. It certainly blows AT&T away. Not to mention the fact that on the £45 rate plans you get the 8 GB for free or the 16 GB for £59 and on the £75 rate plan both models are free. Oh and did I mention that we only have to sign an 18 month contract, not 24 months?

      As for Waydee saying this will fail in every market except the US, you must not have been paying attention when the phone went on pre-sale and after the damnd crushed O2s servers, the phone sold out in a matter of hours. But you''re right, it surely won't succeed.

      Oh and I forgot to mention that even at the full subsidised price, the iPhone is cheaper in the UK than in the US since an 8GB is $199 (not including tax) and it is £99 (including tax) in the UK - Even with a generous exchange rate, it comes out cheaper in the UK.
      • neonesc, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Well said. You can't simply convert the currency and assume it's expensive. Americans forget there currency is incredible weak at the moment so £35 ($68) seems like a lot but it's not. It's more like paying $35 in relative terms of the hit to your pocket. Plus in the UK 3G covers most of the country and your getting free wifi access from numerous O2 hotspots. Plus in the UK you aren't charged for incoming calls, so they don't come off your free minutes unlike in the US. (By the way, talk about getting takin' up the ass, how american telecoms companies can get away with charging twice for the same call I'll never understand. They charge you for placing the cell call and the receiver for taking it.)
    • Eric8p, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1while I sympathize with the British, it is worth mentioning that you will get many "features" such as Caller ID for free, and Canadians will have to pay a monthly fee of $7. Also, it is worth mentioning that there is a $7 system access fee (no one knows what it's for, or why it even exists), and a 911 fee ($0.5, which is not significant, but it shows how Canadian carriers will nickle and dime you even if your're paying $70+ a month...)
  • ProdigalFather, on 07/08/2008, -28/+5LOL @ Apple getting mad at people over-pricing things.

    They're just shifiting the spotlight to Rogers so that people might forget that Macbooks are comparable in specifacations to PC laptops that are half the price.
    • 10scott10, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1while you did phrase that poorly, it is pretty true.
      look at the mac pro, the desktop thing not called imac.

      it cost about two and half thousand dollars. two gigs of ram, 320 gig harddrive.

      I just bought an HP last week for a thousand dollars. 3 gigs of ram, 750 gigs of harddrive, built in TV tuner with all of the inputs and outputs (yes, even HDMI), and a HD-DVD drive.

      In my opinion, i got a better computer, at nearly half the price.
      I'm just saying
  • mr.hostility, on 07/08/2008, -1/+9I guess apple was leaving it up to the individual carriers, but maybe it would have been better to plan this out and make sure no companies were going to gouge people for the phone.
  • ObeseSnake, on 07/08/2008, -20/+9Blame Canada!
    • shade45, on 07/08/2008, -0/+18No Blame Rogers...
      • billybob476, on 07/08/2008, -0/+15No, blame Canada. The government allowed the Canadian wireless market to get into the state that it's in.
      • JPong01, on 07/08/2008, -0/+11Actually you could blame Canada. More specifically the government for giving Rogers a monopoly.

        Yes, I am Canadian, no I do not plan on getting an iPhone, even if Rogers changes its attitude.
    • DaveXensen, on 07/08/2008, -4/+1I understood the south park reference :)
    • loconet, on 07/08/2008, -0/+10No, Blame the Canadian Government for allowing Rogers buy out the only other GSM provider.
  • farfromsubtl, on 07/08/2008, -3/+14I love this!
  • phatboye, on 07/08/2008, -35/+280Does anyone else find it ironic that Apple is angry at another company for selling overpriced products and services?
    • farfromperfectx, on 07/08/2008, -2/+65Oh god yes.

      - Macbook Pro/iPhone owner.
    • ProdigalFather, on 07/08/2008, -20/+3That's what I said but I somehow keep getting dugg down, wtf man.
      • ngmcs8203, on 07/08/2008, -0/+12It's because he phrased the question in such a way that comment skimmers wouldn't mistake his comment for any fanboy bashing.
      • ProdigalFather, on 07/09/2008, -1/+1Fascists.
    • noahhoward, on 07/08/2008, -16/+11Nope I recognize the value in my investment.
      • Red1Delta, on 07/08/2008, -3/+0Investment? More like a liability.
      • noahhoward, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4I can't help it if you don't know the value of anything.
    • flxstr, on 07/08/2008, -14/+84There's a big difference here.

      Apple -> Premium
      Rogers -> Raping
    • schneb, on 07/08/2008, -7/+5And yet, people still buy Apple products. Why do you think that is?
  • waydee, on 07/08/2008, -1/+3Will it be completely impossible to buy an unlocked iphone this time around? I'm no fan of them and don't want one but it seems messed up that the customer is getting universally ***** by every carrier apple have decided to offer the iPhone to, regardless of where you live.
  • gavin422, on 07/08/2008, -7/+21I don't think Apple is "disgusted" at all. They just figure that they won't sell nearly as many phones because of the ***** plans, so there's no need to overstock their Canadian stores.
    • rockfu, on 07/08/2008, -0/+8While disgusted may be a little too strong a word, but I don't think that they'll at all be happy about lost sales. It's not like they'll make up the sales elsewhere just because they don't sell in Canada.

      I'm a Rogers customer and I was completely prepared to buy an iphone and sign a new contract in August. With this, I might be looking for a new carrier in a month. The problem in Canada being that picking a mobile provider is like picking the best looking piece of garbage.
      • v0yeur, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Bell will carry the Samsung Instinct with a $12 unlimited data plan (or so I hear)

        not an iPhone, but hey - there ARE other options out there.
    • scottschiller, on 07/08/2008, -0/+12Yes, all six of their Canadian stores. (No, seriously!) - http://www.apple.com/ca/retail/
      • WYendrys, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1well, the iPhone would still be sold in Apple resellers, no?
        There are a ton of them here.

        Mind you, they tend to get stock a couple weeks later than the Apple stores.
      • LeviTheSmith, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1What about Australia's ONE Official Apple Store?
        http://www.apple.com/au/retail/
    • NekoIan, on 07/08/2008, -1/+8No, it's a slap in the face to Rogers. To not sell a highly anticipated Apple product in their own stores...they're making a statement.
      • Eric8p, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2it's more like they want to distance themselves from Rogers, and not have mad people yelling in their stores for the high monthly cost that they had nothing to do with and creating a bad environment for other shoppers than making a statement... after all, Apple does want every dollar it can get, especially after losing $10 million in potential sales...
      • cdiggy, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Hmm, yeah Eric8p... i think you are right! Apple probably wants to avoid having eggs thrown at their stores on July 11. That would not be good for somebody trying to buy say a Macbook Pro for example. Another perspective... If Rogers is going to screw up the iPhone user experience like this then Apple is not going to help them one bit! I was skeptical about this story's validity at first but the more I think about it the more I see Apple's angle with the over $10 million in lost sales (according to the ruinediphone.com petition numbers).

        People.. don't cave in on July 11 ..or afterwards for that matter. Stick to your guns and don't be sheeple led to the slaughter! WAIT THE BASTARDS OUT
  • chubbybubba, on 07/08/2008, -11/+3See you damn whiners... this is what you get! Nothing.

    If you keep acting like little kids whining and having tantrums then Daddy's gonna take away your Iphones!
  • Grahamt14, on 07/08/2008, -17/+9Rogers... YOUR DOING IT WRONG!!!!!
  • graememc, on 07/08/2008, -3/+13I don't see any quote from Apple saying that the reason for not selling iPhones in Apple stores is 'disgust' with Rogers. I would assume it's more about restrictions in their contract with Rogers, or the logistical problems of signing people up for Rogers contracts from Apple stores. I'm not so happy with Rogers right now, but I think this is jumping to unfair conclusions.
    • cdiggy, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Would Apple actually come out and publicly say they are 'disgusted' with Rogers? Not likely. Actions speak much louder than words. And that is the point! Our action of NOT BUYING will speak even louder than the now 50,000+ strong petition, although it's still good to add your voice to that cause as well. I am a long time Apple user and I would love an iPhone but because of Rogers I have to say DON'T BUY!
  • sn00kie, on 07/08/2008, -2/+6This does not mean that they will not be selling the iphone. The article is confusing. It only says that apple is disgusted with them. It later says, "As a result, the Canadian carrier will likely receive only about 10 to 20 units per store, and therefore should 'exercise caution' not to promise ample stock on launch day, people familiar with the matter have said."

    So that means that Canada will still have the 3G iphone. If people are dumb enough to buy them, and they sell out, it will only confirm the fact that people don't care about the price and they wont change the plan.
    • Canuck, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4It means that the Apple Stores will not be selling iPhones. Only Rogers locations will have the phones available, and that they will not be receiving as many as originally allocated to them.
  • seven07, on 07/08/2008, -6/+6I dont understand why some diggers tends to think any decision made by Apple in regard to Rogers are in response to their unfair pricing plan, as if Apple Inc inself is a emotional human being.
    • billybob476, on 07/08/2008, -2/+2No but Steve Jobs is a VERY emotional human being.
    • rabbro, on 07/08/2008, -3/+2Oh yeah, I keep forgetting Apple is that company ran solely by robots.
      Dang!
      • robotmansa, on 07/09/2008, -0/+0Apple is a company ran solely by robots to their robot slave workers.

        Prove to me that they aren't after the most important thing in the world - profit.
    • Marglar, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1All of the apple fanboys want to believe that this is some generous move in defense of it's customers. Wake up - now everyone that wanted one will rush out and buy one rather then protest, due to the low volume of availability.

      smart marketing indeed. bury away
      • rabbro, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I do agree with you, it's all smart marketing with Apple
  • Temo1, on 07/08/2008, -5/+29Hmm.. cites "reports" by bloggers on the internet who claim to have unnamed sources inside Rogers/Apple. With no article that I can see by a reputable news agency of any kind. And no statements by either company.

    Wake me up when you can prove any of this is actually happening.
    • stelth, on 07/08/2008, -1/+3I half believe it because I see leaked internal documents on http://www.iphoneincanada.ca/
      So someone is getting information from somewhere inside Rogers... even at a level obscure to most of us.
  • niknik, on 07/08/2008, -1/+7Now, if Steve could give our phone operators in Portugal a nudge, because they're charging us 20 Eur ($31 USD) for... 250MB! o_O

    It's funny enough for the same operator (Vodafone) offers 600MB for half the price (10 Eur/$15 USD) in Italy while we pay twice as much for less than half the data. :(

    (This "special" iPhone data plan is even worse -per MB- than the miserable net access we had before, with $12 USD for 100MB)

    Steve, please give Vodafone a call and tell them to sort these issues out.
  • AaronMT, on 07/08/2008, -11/+3Buried for inaccuracy. Nowhere does it state that Apple Stores will discontinue selling iPhone's. If you read the article it states that the overstock initially planned to sell will indeed be diverted to other countries instead. Ultimately - a result of poor initial sales.

    Try reading next time.
  • Kenzan, on 07/08/2008, -2/+4I guess everyone forgot that Apple pretty much did the same thing a year ago.
  • whiteyMcBrown, on 07/08/2008, -8/+1I don't understand how Apple not selling iPhones at Canadian Apple stores hurts Rogers. Now Rogers is the only place to get one.
    • loconet, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5Rogers is the only GSM provider in Canada. Apple not selling iphones through their stores means there will be less places selling a device that will end up using Rogers services anyways. It hurts Rogers.
  • Chupatumama, on 07/08/2008, -10/+3Mr Pot tells Mrs Kettle:

    "NO ONE may gouge Apple customers but Apple.
    Now, we will punish you by screwing those who whole self image is based on acquiring a phone that is the same as the previous one except it has an option which is useless in the US markets."
  • elfuego, on 07/08/2008, -8/+1This is inaccurate. The reason Apple isn't selling the iPhones is because you can no longer do in-home activation. The lower prices on the 3G iPhone are due to the fact that they're subsidized by Rogers, so you can't get one or use one without activating and signing on for 3 years on the spot.

    It sucks, and it's true that Apple won't be selling iPhone 3G in Apple Stores, but it's not a product of Rogers' rate plans.
  • nickert0n, on 07/08/2008, -4/+9hahahaha
    Love the Telus Ad

    http://picasaweb.google.com/NickBagnall/Random/pho ...
  • babakdigg, on 07/08/2008, -8/+1the prices would never have gotten the go ahead without a nod from apple.
    i smell a roten apple.
    • tadpoleontheweb, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0Do you really believe Apple wouldn't have preferred that Rogers come up with more reasonable rates to help sell more iPhones? I smell a conspiracy theorist.
  • backin5minutes, on 07/08/2008, -3/+3at first i was wondering why apple was punishing us. but then i realized that steve was just trying to further pressure rogers, while at the same time making the canadian consumer even more enraged and at the same time shifting inventory to produce better sales.

    smart move stevey, i hope it works.
  • blacklilyninja, on 07/08/2008, -0/+11... i'll buy an unsubsidized iphone if they sell them. but never ever ever use rogers ever

    • skidooer, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Who, exactly, do you plan to have provide cell service for your unsubsidized iPhone? Rogers has a GSM monopoly.
  • hakkola, on 07/08/2008, -8/+3It doesn't sound like apple is angry with Rogers, if they were, why would Apple allow Rogers to sell them, and not sell the product themselves? The article makes sense, but the description below the link doesn't. Seems like Infiniteloop is just trying to get this article dugg.

    I work for a Shaw kiosk in a shopping mall her in Calgary, right beside me is a Roger's store. Should be interesting to see how busy they are. Appearantly they're only getting about 50 phones.
    • mizike, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4"if they were, why would Apple allow Rogers to sell them, and not sell the product themselves"

      They probably can't back out of the contract without either facing a huge penalty or the legal consequences of a straight out breach....besides, it's either go through Rogers or abandon the Canadian market altogether. This sends a clear message: Rogers will be allowed to sell the phone as Apple can't realistically stop them, but they are limiting their supply and refraining from selling it themselves as they don't approve of Rogers rates. They're basically stepping back and letting Rogers either succeed on their own, or fall completely on their face (much more likely). Once Rogers starts acting reasonably, I'm sure they'll get back in the game.
      • hakkola, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Ahhh, yes, I forgot that Rogers is the only company which can provide a plan for the iPhone, in which case this makes sense.
  • damirK, on 07/08/2008, -2/+12Send the iPhone to Bell!! I have a 15 dollar per month unlimited web browsing data plan for my HTC Touch.
    Apple needs to make a CDMA iPhone.
    • Taiyoryu, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Device portability would certainly go a long way in helping solve the problems that are result of these walled gardens the carriers have setup.
    • chieferer, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Nope. Canada just needs more than one ***** GSM provider.
    • CyborgSlayer, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0Then next month I'll just text you 100 times a day and you will be back up to Rogers rate.
  • Fragarach87, on 07/08/2008, -0/+8finally a nice bitchslap in Roger's face... now if this would just convince them to lower their prices (I doubt it)
  • pradaaddict, on 07/08/2008, -4/+3They never planned on selling them anyways. With instore activation required they would have to pull reps from Rogers stores and put them in Apple stores. Why not just keep it in house for Rogers and have more people lined up. I hate to say it but the Diggosphere has made little impact on the pricing of the iPhone, people are going to line up friday and it will sell out completely.
    • skidooer, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I'm seem to recall that it was pretty clear on keynote day that they would only be sold by Rogers/Fido. I'm surprised to hear that they were going to be selling them at Apple stores at any point.
  • supermanred, on 07/08/2008, -12/+7Step 1: Buy iPhone from Rogers 199.99 and sign up for their contract.
    Step 2: Cancel contract (will cost you 170.00)

    Step 3: Unlock your iPhone using app available online (probably within a week of the release of version 2.0 / 3G)

    Step 4: Enjoy your unlocked GSM/3G phone on any network and with any plan you choose.

    • graemee, on 07/08/2008, -1/+17Which would be Rogers/Fido.
    • stelth, on 07/08/2008, -0/+17Canceling a contract with Rogers or Fido costs $400.
    • kick, on 07/08/2008, -0/+22I don't think you undertand that Rogers is the only network in the country that the iPhone will work on.
    • niklevit, on 07/08/2008, -0/+6400 to cancel voice, 100 to cancel data
    • JnOrris, on 07/08/2008, -0/+12So basically your telling us to pay $200 + $500 (to cancel) = $700, just to use the phone with Rogers again.... great thinking there buddy.
    • worldchanger, on 07/08/2008, -0/+12epic fail.
    • skidooer, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Step 5: Sign up for the exact same plan with Rogers or Fido; it's the only option you have available.
  • gjscds, on 07/08/2008, -14/+3Roger's sucks.

    Canada sucks too.

    /got family there.

    The kicker is that it's the consumers that are losing out.
  • lpferris, on 07/08/2008, -0/+9Canadian mobile phone users have been screwed for a long time by expensive plans and really expensive add-ons that are standard for most providers. My mother-in-law lives in Vancouver, and has to pay $5 extra per month just for voicemail. It's about time someone stood up to the Canadian mobile phone providers and did something for consumers.
    • maximoo2, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0I wish I could pay $5 for voice mail. I'm with Rogers and there pricing is sheer highway robbery. I don't even have ####### caller ID because I refuse to pay the inordinate price for it.
  • ruest, on 07/08/2008, -2/+37HAHA! ***** YOU ROGERS!!!
  • JasonCox, on 07/08/2008, -8/+3Apple is only screwing themselves; instead of getting more people in their store and exposing them to Mac's they're forcing everyone to go to the cell carrier's store where, in the end, Apple will still make the same amount of money off the iPhone. It's a PR gimmick folks, take off your iGlasses and see it for what it is.
    • Eric8p, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2they're not hurting themselves... as I said before, people will be furious when they hear about the Rogers plans (not everyone checks ahead of time...) and start yelling at employees for the prices, creating a bad environment for other Mac/iPod buyers...
  • aristotle0dude, on 07/08/2008, -2/+5I call ***** on this rumour. Apple was well aware of the plans before they signed the contracts.
    • LilJimmyNordin, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I agree... It sounds like spin to me. I think it's more likely that Rogers' exclusive right to sell the handset was a provision of the deal they cut. I'm sure Apple's not thrilled, but does anyone really believe that Rogers would see this as anything other than a huge favor?
  • spinur, on 07/08/2008, -0/+7This doesn't hurt Rogers at all. It makes the product seem scarce, which makes the prices seem justified. Now Rogers will be able to very easily announce that the iPhones in Canada are sold out. It's been said before, but I'll say it again: If you want to send Rogers a message, don't buy the iPhone in Canada.
  • ScottyDontKnow, on 07/08/2008, -7/+46There are only SIX Apple stores in ALL OF CANADA!!!!!!!!! its not really that big of a deal.
    3 in Toronto
    1 in Edmonton
    1 in Laval
    1 in Vancouver
  • theradical, on 07/08/2008, -5/+1Does this make sense to anyone? It's Apple's own damn product, why wouldn't they pull out of the contract and just skip the Canadian market entirely if they don't care if the thing sells?
    • tadpoleontheweb, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0Maybe they're leaving it up to us to pressure Rogers, either by protest or boycott, to come up with reasonable rates should the Canadian public be incensed enough.
    • mizike, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3"why wouldn't they pull out of the contract"

      They don't want to face a lawsuit for breach of contract. I obviously haven't read it, but there's no way that the contract contains a clause saying "Apple can pull out whenever they want for any reason with no legal or financial consequences". It probably does allow them to limit supply, which is what they've done.
  • jsudesign, on 07/08/2008, -0/+11***** Rogers, I'm dropping my plan with them when I get home!

    My buddy pays like $25 / month for unlimited text / voice mail / caller id / free after 6 and 150 weekday minutes for....
    $25 a month with Virgin Mobile.

    Somehow I got screwed into a $75 / month plan that barely matches his specs on his phone plan.
  • fuzzlog, on 07/08/2008, -0/+6I hope this is a wake-up call for the CRTC (Canadian Radio and Television Commission http://www.crtc.gc.ca/Eng/INFO_SHT/T12.htm%29. If they still allow monopoly positions after this, they need to be either dismantled. They should act in favour of the citizens they are supposed to serve instead of playing dead. But usually, canadian governmental bodies just ***** in their pants waiting until the storm has cleared, and then nothing....
    • RealityMonster, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5The CRTC doesn't have any jurisdiction over mobile phone companies. I have no idea why, but if you look around to make a complaint about a wireless company, you'll find that you have no recourse through the CRTC. Complain to your MP.
  • aristotle0dude, on 07/08/2008, -2/+5As one guy pointed out, Bell is cheaper because they get to pick and choose where they provide service. Apparently the "cheaper" Bell does not even bother serving cities like Thunder Bay and surrounding areas.

    But wait, there is more. If you actually go to the Telus site and look at their supposedly cheaper data, it is limited to certain devices (ignoring that they are CDMA only and never will have to iPhone) and if you add on the voice package, they start off costing more for less minutes and the prices go up from there.

    Telus and Bell are not actually cheaper when you look at the fine print and the whole package and consider that their phones are CDMA and do not work outside of North America or in Canadian cities like Thunderbay, Ontario.

    The unlimited data is a false savings when you are likely to not even use 400MB per month with regular usage and that most unlimited plans in Canada are for WAP only or limited to web browsing and email from a select few domains.
    • mimigins, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2My Telus phone has been working all over northern and southern Ontario, and Michigan, and Minneapolis, and California. Maybe I'm just misunderstanding what you've said about not working in cities like Thunder Bay. Been there with my phone.
    • CyborgSlayer, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0Telus and Bell roam of Thunderbaytel or whatever they are called. Telus and Bell have roaming contracts with each other as well as Sasktel and MTS and any other little CDMA carriers that are around. All of the CDMA carriers in Canada roam off each other so they can save money on infrastructure. Rogers is the only true Nation wide cellular service provider in Canada.
    • wuha1981, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1TELUS works in thunderbay you idiot...
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