Loading ...iPhone Coming to Bell and Telus?
Apple iPhone may be available on all 3 networks
Rumors are that both Bell and Telus will have the iphone by the beginning of next year. If this does happen we will be one of the only countries in the world that Apple has negotiated a muti carrier deal. There are good signs that these rumors might be true. Bell and Telus have already entered into an agreement to join forces to develop a nation wide GSM based HSPA 3G network by Q4. This network doesn’t come cheap at a cost of US $1 Billion dollars shared equally by the two partners. This will end the 7 year monopoly that Rogers has had in the GSM field.
Apple is likely to introduce the next generation iPhone 3Gs to Rogers, Bell and Telus, all at the same time. The ideal situation would be to launch the network as well as the newest iPhone by the 2010 Olympics. Both Bell and Telus will greatly benefit from all the incoming roaming revenues from international customers and new market entrants in Canada. Currently Rogers rakes in close to US $500 Million in roaming revenues each year.
Rogers started selling the iPhone in July 2008 and has sold more than 385,000 units. The newest version 3G S has sold over one million devices in North America in just three days of the June 19th launch. Numbers are not in for Canada, but Elizabeth Hamilton, director of corporate communications at Rogers Wireless, mentioned that many locations are sold out of the latest model. Some analysts are saying that Bell and Telus have little choice, given the popularity of the iphone. There are also rumors that they will be paying a premium to get the device.
