So the cost of the 16GB iPhone 3G over 3 years with 2 GB of data transfer per month would cost the Canadian consumer $6,132.74 over the life of the contract.

(please let me know if my calculation is wrong)

Please post your alternatives! (with approprate source links and information)

 

HTC Touch from Bell

Considered by many as the only close rival to the iPhone, the Touch from HTC, is a WinMo 6.x device that is available in CDMA and GSM versions.

Bell and Telus carry the CDMA version and Rogers does carry the GSM. All three carriers allow for it to be bought outright without a term contract.

Bell is currently offering the best overall deal.

http://www.bell.ca/shopping/en_CA_NB/96393.details?colourId=94&contractId=term36m

Best Price:

$0 for device for 3 years
Voice plans starting at $25 (Uber 25 - Fab 5)
Unlimited Data for $7
SAF $8.95
911 $0.75

3 Year cost = $41.70 x 13% x 36 = $1696.36

"Best" Value:
Uber 35 - Fab 5 = $35
Fun Bundle 15 (Includes Call Display, voice mail and unlimited Data) = $15
SAF = $8.95
911 = $0.75

3 year cost = $59.70 x 13% x 36 = $2,428.60

The reason that I put "best" value is as follows:

• 250 Anytime minutes
• Unlimited Nights and weekends
• Unlimited local, long distance and text messages to and from 5 numbers in any network
• Call Waiting
• Conference calling
• Call display
• voice mail
• Unlimited Data
• $0.35/min
• $0.35/min for Canada/US Long Distance
• 200 Text, Picture, or Video Messages per month

I would likely go with the Uber 25 and the Fun 15 as that meets my needs.

NOTE: Where Bell makes reference to "Premium video content" they are referring to a specific service that they offer and not to free services like YouTube.

 

The Touch comes with just 512MB of RAM, so you'll need to add the cost of a 16GB SD card. Also, it has no Wi-Fi or 3G. Lastly, there's little chance it could ever use 2GB of data a month, so comparing the price to the iPhone 3G (which could) is not that useful.

• Phone $299
• Monthly Fee: $121.95 ($115 plus $6.95 SAF)
• Add-on: Value Pack $20
• Mandatory Fees: 50 cents (911)

Including the Value Pack makes comparisons difficult since it contains stuff many (most?) won't want or need. Personally, I'll be taking the $7 Caller ID. If you needed early evening (6pm) calling, that's another $7.

 

The Touch comes with just 512MB of RAM, so you'll need to add the cost of a 16GB SD card.

8 GB MicroSD is the biggest available right now. But either way, they are WAY cheaper than the $199 for the 8GB iPhone.

Also, it has no Wi-Fi

So what!!! With unlimited data, who needs WiFi???

or 3G.

Wrong. The CDMA version of the Touch is an EVDO Rev A device which means that it is a 3G phone with max DL speeds of 3 mbps.

Lastly, there's little chance it could ever use 2GB of data a month,

Given your lack of knowledge on the 3G subject, I will ignore this.

 

The CDMA version of the Touch is an EVDO Rev A device which means that it is a 3G phone with max DL speeds of 3 mbps.

I stand corrected. It seems there are at least a couple of phones called the HTC Touch, each with different features.

As for the rest of your reply: there's no need to be defensive (or rude). I was just pointing out facts that people comparing the phones ought to know about.

 

Including the Value Pack makes comparisons difficult since it contains stuff many (most?) won't want or need.

Given that getting just two add-ons costs nearly the full $20 and that almost every other carrier of the iPhone provides features that are in the $20 pack but for no extra cost, it is a MUST to include the $20 in the comparisions.

And even if you were to change to the Bell Fun Bundle $20, the deal for Bell is WAY better.

 

Further note on the Touch

I should point out that the version of the HTC Touch that Rogers carries, is indeed, NOT a 3G device. It only supports EDGE.

 

The HTC Touch website (http://www.htctouch.com/) states that the Touch has 802.11b and g. It's also mentioned on the Rogers website.

 

Only the GSM Touch has wifi.

The CDMA Touch has no wifi.

 

For clarity, the CDMA Touch is actually called the Vogue. When Sprint released the Vogue they called it The Sprint Touch, and the name pretty much stuck.

 

My Telus contract ends on July 22nd. I am seriously considering an iPhone... but I am exploring the other options.

The only real contenders for me are the HTC Touch Diamond and the Samsung Instinct.

After checking out Telus' pages for the Touch Diamond, here are my findings:

HTC Touch Diamond Telus Cost:

* Phone $149
* Monthly Fee: $20 for my current voice plan (200mins, 6pm eve)
* Add-on: $45 (txts, web, im, e-mail, call display, voice mail 10)
* Mandatory Fees: $6.95 SAF and $0.50 911

Total Cost = 149.99 + (36 * 72.45) plus 13% taxes
= $3116.75


My cost for iPhone:

* Phone $199
* Monthly Fee: $60 (400mb, 150mins, voicemail)
* Add-on: $15 (call display, 2500 txts)
* Mandatory Fees: $6.95 SAF and $0.50 911

Total Cost = 199 + (36 * 82.45) plus 13% taxes
= $3578.94


= A difference of $462.19 over the three years for me.

* The Touch Diamond only has 4gb of internal memory, and since I want to use the iPhone as my Nano replacement, 8gb is a big deal.

* I live in Halifax, in an area where I get full bars on the new 3G HSPA. The Telus would only be 1x EVDO.

* I use Macs at home and at work, and I use iTunes to organize and purchase most of my music.

* 3.5' vs. 2.8' screen (iPhone wins)

* Touch wins for overall size and weight.

* Touch slightly edges it out in battery life.

* Possibly better camera on the Touch.

* The Telus plan is unlimited everything, whereas Rogers obviously has limits on data and texts, but I am gauging my usage, and 400mb should be close to enough if I am careful.

I am still torn, as Telus has been great to me, and I have a good voice package. But I've been waiting to make the move to a smartphone for a few years now - I am doing a lot more with my phone that I used to and I want to do even more...

 

Many off-topic posts removed. Please keep your posts to articulating potential alternatives to the iphone 3G on Rogers and include pricing and data details in order to make a valid comparison

 

Keep in mind that the Diamond has an SDHC expansion slot (supports up to 32GB, although cards that big don't exist yet). I picked up a 6GB card for around $70 about six months ago. That would give you 10GB and still less than the iPhone.

 

The CDMA Touch has no wifi.

It does not mention this on the HTC product page -
http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=46286

 

That's because the page you're referring to is the GSM Touch Diamond.

 

Well, yes that's a different version of the Touch (the Diamond) but it does mention CDMA on that page, and makes no distinction between the WiFi

Network HSDPA/WCDMA:Europe/Asia: 900/2100 MHz
Talk time: Up to 397 minutes for WCDMA

unless that is different from what we have for CDMA here. I'll admin to being very much a neophyte here -- quite frankly, I don't know the difference between CDMA and WCDMA, and I didn't realize there were multiple frequencies within CDMA and GSM.

Can we assume the Diamond does have WiFi for both CDMA and GSM?

Edit: The spec page for the Touch does list GSM and CDMA seperatly, and WiFi is not in the CDMA column. See: http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=362

 

Can we assume the Diamond does have WiFi for both CDMA and GSM?

Edit: The spec page for the Touch does list GSM and CDMA seperatly, and WiFi is not in the CDMA column. See: http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=362

Telus page indicates the Diamond does have WiFi.

http://www.telusmobility.com/ab/pcs/handset_htc_p3100.shtml

 

More posts deleted. Please stick to the analysis of competing options to the iPhone 3G.

 

OKcomputer, don't forget to factor in, Rogers "unlimited evening calling" doesn't begin until 9pm vs the 6pm you have with Telus. To me, that is HUGE and with the $60 Rogers plan that only gives you 150 minutes/month, any calls you make between 6pm-9pm that would be free on Telus, will be coming off your 150 minutes with Rogers, or worse, costing you extra per minute if you're over.