iPhone 4 reaches Koodo with no iPhone 3GS to be seen
updated 06:10 pm EDT, Wed June 15, 2011
iPhone 4 lands at Koodo in Canada
One of the iPhone 4's last carrier launches quietly arrived Wednesday as Apple brought the phone to Koodo in Canada. The 16GB version of the smartphone is available on the typical Canadian option of a three-year contract for $160 but can also be had on the carrier's distinctive Tab plan. Subscribers can get as much as $150 off of the price of a contract-free iPhone, dropping it to $500, and have about 10 percent of their total phone plan's rate contributed towards the Tab each month.
The Telus-owned carrier adds that those on the Tab aren't locked into choosing a certain data plan and can choose as little as a $5 plan or even pay-per-use if they rely mostly on Wi-Fi.
Contract subscribers have to choose from two plans. A $65 plan gives 250 minutes, unlimited evening calling after 7PM with unlimited weekends, unlimited messaging, and 500MB of data. An $80 plan doubles the voice and data to 500 minutes and 1GB. The company is gentler on early cancellations than some and asks users to pay the remaining balance of the discount on the iPhone, although it's not clear if this balance goes down over time.
The iPhone is available immediately on Koodo, but currently only in retail stores in the greater Toronto and Vancouver areas. All Koodo shops should have the option by July 15.
Conspicuously, the carrier launch is one of the first where the iPhone 3GS is completely absent along with the 32GB iPhone 4. With a new iPhone expected in September, Apple is most likely phasing out iPhone 3GS production entirely and would want to sell only the phones it expects to keep on the market. The move may confirm that the 16GB iPhone 4 will be the new baseline and that new iPhones could start at 32GB.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Probably the best deal in Canada right now
Canada's not known for its good deals on iPhones, or data plans -- and requires three-year contracts instead of two years as in the states. But for PAYGO and others who don't want to be locked into a contract, the flexibility Koodoo is offering here is pretty good -- especially if they are willing to factory-unlock the iPhone at some point in the deal.
I'd still wait till September to see what the iPhone 4S (or whatever) will bring, but at this moment in time, that's probably the best deal going for a new 16GB iPhone 4.