Rogers worked out an agreement with Apple from the beginning to only allow authorized Rogers dealers and Rogers call centers to sell the iPhone. This ensures the customer is being signed up on a contract and appropriate plan. It also doesn't require Apple to have their staff crash trained on Rogers customer account software used by authorized Rogers dealers. Since Apple announced they are not selling the iPhone through their online stores and that customers in the various countries would need to go the the licensed iPhone carrier then it shouldn't surprise anyone with Canada doing the same. Doing this is in part due to AT&T and O2 that realized they were losing money due to customers walking into Apple stores to buy the iPhone with out a contract then unlocking them to use on a different GSM carrier network.

This just in, apparently Canadians enjoy the some of the same freedoms are U.S. citizens. This included the freedom of choice. Don't like the plan? Don't buy the phone.

I have a friend who works at the Apple store, and after a staff meeting this past sunday, he told that Apple would not be selling the iphone in the stores at first, but after a few months they would be selling it at the Apple retail locations.

This could be to avoid having APPLE staff have to deal with Rogers customer service issues what with all the "confusion in the marketplace" and all

Bell Mobility and Telus reportedly are going to start charging recipients for text messages at a rate of 15 cents per message starting in August.

Rogers haven't made such an announcement and some are indicating that this may be a way for Rogers to differentiate their pricing policies from the competition.

However... If Bell and Telus do start charging for incoming texts, how long will it be before Rogers follows suit?

I am thinking that I might start up a pool on when that might happen. Participants can pick a date, send $5 to participate. I'll skim 10% off the top and use that to finance an iPhone for myself.

h***.. if there are enough participants, we could pool our resources and start up our own GSM cell phone company.

I have really had enough of this story. For months now Apple stores in Canada were not going to sell the phone. People are so indignant over the cell phone costs and that Canadians are being ripped off. I came to Canada after growing up in the UK and basically the British may be getting their iPhone for less but they pay about 25% more for cars, 100% more for gas and at least 75% to 100% for clothes - that's life! I have been paying more for my Blackberry in Canada than almost everyone in the US for the last five years (was also made to sign a 3 year contract from my 8800 - I am all for attacking Rogers but the reality is that this is an industry wide issue and not a Rogers issue and should be directed against Bell, Telus and Rogers as they are all as bad as each other.

@unity, you're right, and apparently over 50,000 people have already signalled their intention to do just that - boycott the iPhone. see ruinediphone.com

OTOH, you suggest that Canadians should accept one of only two black-n-white alternatives: refuse to buy the phone, or bend over and get screwed by Rogers. Thanks, but you don't get the job of bargaining for me on my next shopping trip.

@unity, you're right, and apparently over 50,000 people have already signalled their intention to do just that - boycott the iPhone. see ruinediphone.com

OTOH, you suggest that Canadians should accept one of only two black-n-white alternatives: refuse to buy the phone, or bend over and get screwed by Rogers. Thanks, but you don't get the job of bargaining for me on my next shopping trip.

Just received the following email:

"iPhone 3G at the Apple Store. 8:00 a.m. Friday."

Introducing Personal Setup.
The Apple Retail Store is the perfect place to buy your iPhone 3G. With our free Personal Setup, a Specialist will help you choose your phone, select a rate plan, and—best of all—have your new iPhone 3G ready to make calls, browse the web, and receive email right on the spot.

What makes you think those 50,000 where all Canadians let alone Canadians with any intention of buying an iPhone in the first place? For all we know, it could have been mostly Bell and Telus employees told to stuff the ballot box so to speak.

I checked the combined cost of voice and data with Telus and Bell. Guess what? They cost more.

...if really wanting to make a point - perhaps just sell direct to the customers adding financing (more profit for Apple) or other discounting incentives such as Mac/iPhone (more mac sales & profit for Apple) & software/hardware bundle package discounts...?