Any buzz on the new apple phone /internet combo coming june 29 looks very interesting , seems to work easily but that is at what distrib are showing any hard news on it
Elsa:

It will not be in canada untill late aug at the very best.

if anything, we may only see it here unofficially.

Available only from ATT. No carrier in Canada yet. I have heard that it might be 1Q08 before Rogers is ready

Rogers is probably ready technically for the iPhone but is balking at reducing the data rates. I'm confident that Apple is the one delaying the release of the iPhone in Canada due to the exhorbitant data rates.

And, for once, the handset manufacturer has a decent enough handset to hopefully force Roger's hand at reducing data rates to reasonable levels.

I'd have bought a Treo ages ago if the data rates weren't ridiculous.

At the release of its quarterly results this week, Rogers' spokesperson said the introduction of the iPhone to Canada was entirely in Apple's court but that Rogers would have the plan necessary for its success.

Two things I garner from the comment: Rogers will be the carrier in Canada (speculation that Telus could announce an anticipated switch to GSM and the iPhone in the wireless coup of the year notwithstanding) AND Rogers will have a data plan that meets Apple' standard when the big announcement comes.

Given that data rates in Canada are the most legitimate price gripe for Canadian wireless consumers, movement on data rates would be a way for Rogers to demonstrate, in advance of the Canadian spectrum auction, that the current competitive regime works.

It would cost telus way to much to switch to gsm.

At the release of its quarterly results this week, Rogers' spokesperson said the introduction of the iPhone to Canada was entirely in Apple's court but that Rogers would have the plan necessary for its success.

Two things I garner from the comment: Rogers will be the carrier in Canada (speculation that Telus could announce an anticipated switch to GSM and the iPhone in the wireless coup of the year notwithstanding) AND Rogers will have a data plan that meets Apple' standard when the big announcement comes.

Given that data rates in Canada are the most legitimate price gripe for Canadian wireless consumers, movement on data rates would be a way for Rogers to demonstrate, in advance of the Canadian spectrum auction, that the current competitive regime works.
There won't BE any big announcement unless Rogers has reasonable data rates.

Telus is CDMA and won't be changing. They just upgraded a lot of their structure to support the lastest fastest CDMA revision.

I like that thought about the Canadian spectrum auction.

All being said, Apple's introduction of the iPhone could be a huge win for Canadian wireless subscribers even if they don't purchase an iPhone.

I am with the observers that think both Bell and Telus will introduce GSM service within 12-24 months, overlaying the two technologies for a time-limited period before going totally GSM. Bell Mobility has to do something dramatic, as soon as the sale of Bell is complete, to attempt to gain market share and getting access to the more attractive GSM handsets will be part of the strategy.

Telus, to repeat my prediction from earlier this year, will be offering GSM in the lower BC mainland at least, before the 2010 winter Olympics rather than lose all the international roaming to Rogers.

I forget which CDMA provider in the USA has already begun the switch-over to GSM but expect the same to happen here as CDMA fades to silence.

Interesting, OIT.

Do you have some links for me to check out that support the thought that Telus will move to GSM and 3G? I'd love to learn more.

Thanks.

Greg

Today's Financial Post (with the National Post) reports on the likelihood that Telus will convert. The cost - about $500 million to be spread over 3 yeas - is not a big burden (how much did Telus squander on Ampd without so much as a whimper?). Telus' CFO states GSM is the superior technology without confirming a plan to switch but when the CFO makes a statement like that you know the change is coming. How could Telus continue knowing it is providing an inferior service? The report also comments on the change being necessary to avoid losing business of Olympian proportions in 2010.

Thanks OIT! I'm going to watch how this all turns out.

Edit to add quote from National Post article, Aug 4:

"Analysts say a GSM conversion for Telus would cost about $350-million spread over two or three years, and sources inside several network-building companies said major cities could be covered within eight months to a year."

That tells me it will be a reality, especially since as you say, Telus admits that it is a superior technology.

I have no reason to believe Rogers won't get the iPhone, but can also imagine Telus and Apple in negotiations. Having lost the chance to buy Bell, Telus CEO Mark Entwistle wants to get his "mo" back. What a coup it would be if he could announce Telus mobility is switching to GSM and will be the sole iPhone source in Canada! Apple probably could not care less if it delayed the introduction in the small Canadian market by 6-9 months, as long as it is building out in Europe and, IMHO, the iPhone is a better fit for Telus Mobility's marketing strategy (warm and cuddly) than for Rogers. But of course, Rogers has a huge head-start and may have signed an exclusive deal with Apple months ago when negotiations commenced. It does keep things interesting.

One thing I am confident about is that Apple will dictate the terms of the iPhone package and any wireless provider who wants on-board will comply. If Rogers doesn't like the data package terms, Apple will find someone who does.

"One thing I am confident about is that Apple will dictate the terms of the iPhone package and any wireless provider who wants on-board will comply. If Rogers doesn't like the data package terms, Apple will find someone who does."


That's the part I love too. I don't want the phone manufacturers to get all of the control, either, but the carriers have too much now.

Thank goodness Apple is strong enough to be able to change the playing field, imho for the benefit of the consumer.

If telus was to go gsm it could help but aslo hurt them as well.There are people who like and don't like gsm.Telus would have to give everone the choice of staying or leaving with out any fee.The $500 million is just for the new towers.Telus would aslo have to give everyone new phones.

The quote says $350 million to move to GSM. The extra $150 million might be for new phones.

The $500 million was my mistake for not looking back to the Financial Post story and the correct analysts' $350 million estimate.

That $350 million is only for the towers.I have heard from $100 million to $300 million on top of that for all the phones they would have to replace.