January 27th, 2008

Hit me on my iphone...just not in Canada

Leo and I played this catchy little song on our podcast, net@nite, last week, so I thought I'd share it with y'all.   I found 'er on boingboing.net, and then read up on the creator Pete Miser.  Quite frankly, I like this hip-hop version more than the original Apple iPhone ad.   Much better.

As for why Canadians still don't have the iPhone, here's the lastest buzz on the street from a reporter at The Globe & Mail

There is really only one telco large enough to sell the iPhone

—Rogers Wireless, the only large Canadian provider that uses the GSM

technology built into the iPhone. And despite manifest demand for the

iPhone in Canada, Rogers has yet to offer it.

The reason, as I’ve mentioned earlier, is that Canadians seem to be

willing to pay the world’s highest prices for data subscriptions, in

addition to their talk plans. And Rogers knows we would not be very

enthusiastic for the iPhone unless Rogers drops its high data rates,

which it is loath to do.

I don’t know what the numbers are, but I’m assuming that Rogers

hasn’t yet signed on for the iPhone for another reason — there’s no

competitor in Canada that can offer the iPhone, so there’s no effective

competition.

Read full article here.

Also, the comments make for good reading...especially this one...

 

   

d m

from Canada writes:

If there is anything less dark murky and obscurantist it's telecom in

Canada. I would like a mobile phone for a number of reasons, ( have you

tried to find a pay phone these days) and I would like many of the

mobile features for computer access. Despite my best efforts i honestly

could not decipher the actual costs, air time and downloads.  I couldn't. As I feel I am already being robbed blind for TV and land line phone, I guess I will simply wait in vain.  The

Canadian business model has been monopolies since the fur trade and

CPR. You would be a fool to hope the we will ever see a change.

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (21)

Posted by: Chris R | around 5 months ago

Haha I love that video! I can see that line becoming mainstream pretty easily. Thanks for sharing with the world. Happy Sunday.

Posted by: Tommy Vallier | around 5 months ago

There's also the potential trademark issue with these guys: http://www.comwave.net/CDN/iPhone/index.htm

Posted by: Chris Magnusson | around 5 months ago

Rogers might not have its monopoly for long. Telus is supposedly going to switch to GSM, as stated <a href="http://blog.roam4free.ie/global-carriers-leaving-cdma-behind-and-moving-to-gsm/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.

Posted by: John Brady | around 5 months ago

I just don't know what goes on in Canada. It's just constant complaining about this crummy Rogers.Why doesn't someone march on Toronto. Heck! Go to Quebec and vote for succession. A Canada for the common man!

Posted by: jccalhoun | around 5 months ago

Throw that iPhone into the Atlantic! That's a pretty cool song. I'm also quite surprised at how nice the video quality on that video is. I suppose the fact that the image is almost entirely black helps it to compress better than most other youtube videos.

Posted by: Denny | around 5 months ago

Great net@nite podcast. I'm a big Raptors fan so it was great to hear you mention Chris Bosh's youtube video. It'd be pretty cool if you can get an interview with him. He's a self proclaim geek.

Posted by: Fred Costo | around 5 months ago

About a week ago Rogers released new data plans that appear to make things simpler to figure out- albeit, still not cheap as chips: http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/20/rogers-breaks-out-new-data-plans-canadian-jaws-drop/

Posted by: Spuds | around 5 months ago

The iPhone is not in New Zealand either and in fact may never come.

Posted by: John Brady | around 5 months ago

I think the Conservative party has adopted the "Jolly Roger" as their official flag. (Talk about influence!)

Posted by: ulric | around 5 months ago

Bell (CDMA) has taken the opportunity in the mean time, offering a new 7$ unlimited data plan. I've switched to Bell for this, and I'm using the HTC Touch, which is apparently a runaway hit. Having 3G internet on my phone like this is amazing. My only regret is having no keyboard on the phone..

Posted by: peppermonkey | around 5 months ago

As someone mentioned, Bell has their $7 unlimited browser deal with the HTC Touch. Telus at around the same time come out with their $15 unlimited plan but can be applied to all their smart phones including the Blackberry Pearl 2 (which is what I have). And of course, GSM for Telus may come around in a year or two. Well, seems the iPhone may very well be coming real soon. Coming Feb 1, seems there is an unlimited browsing plan coming to Rogers. But like Bell, not for all smart phones. Price is TBA but if the other carriers are any indication, should be competitive. Sounds like all the structures to be in place for the roll out of the iPhone. http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=547313 Ah well, no iPhone for me but I love my blackberry so can't complain.

Posted by: peppermonkey | around 5 months ago

Whoops, url cut off http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums /showthread.php?t=547313

Posted by: John Brady | around 5 months ago

Comment of the moment in NY Times: Comment of the Moment “Once again, Canada is forgotten, not only by Apple but by the New York Times. The grey market exists in this country too, because Apple is not yet offering the iPhone here. Bad enough that we can't get the iPhone legitimately, but how sharper than a serpent's tooth is the neglect of a New York Times writer who can't see that there's a huge, affluent, technologically sophisticated country to the north?” — Terry LavenderGood News in the 1 Million Missing iPhones

Posted by: Sina | around 5 months ago

amen

Posted by: Jim Brekke | around 5 months ago

Just got done listening to that net@nite...I agree old media is for the disengaged. New media is for those how want a better understanding of what is going on.

Posted by: Ulric | around 5 months ago

interesting about the Bell 7$ not working on blackberry, but why would you need one? The Touch is Windows Mobile 6 and supports exchange server and everything.. what would a black berry give me. Even more on topic, the Touch is a smartphone like the iPhone

Posted by: Brad | around 5 months ago

I think Canadians are getting screwed over to often. From data plans, to lost features. We pay more money for our phone plans and we can't watch Dexter in iTunes. What is wrong with the country. I say we flood the CRTC with complaints about the data plans, and about the content of TV and movie content available through programs such as iTunes. Here is the link to complain <a href="http://www.crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang=E" rel="nofollow">http://www.crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang=E</a>

Posted by: Matt | around 5 months ago

Maybe Rogers is aware of the fact that, as Canadians, we have enough patience to wait to get our e-mails when we get home.

Posted by: Tony Fendall | around 5 months ago

What is the release schedule of net@nite these days? I get all ansy waiting for the next podcast to come out :)

Posted by: Aleks Oniszczak | around 4 months ago

Here is an article on why the iPhone still isn't in Canada: http://vividpicture.com/aleks/articles/iphone.html Watching YouTube would work out to $1.25 per second. A DivX movie download would cost $2850...

Posted by: Justin | around 4 months ago

Considering we're not supposed to have the iPhone up here I seem to see it almost as much as the RAZR or BlackBerry Pearl. I really don't need or want an iPhone because my HTC Touch can do a lot more for $7 a month for unlimited data. Browsing with the latest Opera Browser is sweet and EVDO knocks out that old EDGE connection.