Canadian telecoms provider Rogers today issued a brief note confirming that it has negotiated a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to the country, ending uncertainty that has persisted since the American announcement last year. The company is providing few details at this time but expects a launch before the end of 2008, according to a statement by company chief and founder Ted Rogers.

"We're thrilled to announce that we have a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year," he says. "We can't tell you any more about it right now, but stay tuned."

The statement comes just days after the Toronto Star floated claims that Rogers intends to launch the iPhone by July as part of a push for touchscreen-capable cellphones during the late spring and early summer. Rogers was one of the earliest carriers to declare its intent to carry the iPhone, telling customers shortly after the iPhone's January 2007 unveiling that it would sell the handset, but has remained largely silent since then.

It's unknown at this time as to whether the agreement will resolve Apple's ongoing trademark battle with Comwave, which claims to have used the iPhone name shortly before Apple registered the trademark and has asked that the American company buy the name or else change the title for its product before it goes on sale.