Apple not happy with Rogers over iPhone plan pricing?

By on Jul 6, 2008 at 2:34 PM
Rumor July 6, 2008

We’ve heard through the grapevine that Apple isn’t pleased with Rogers right now, due to their insanely high iPhone data prices. This isn’t 100% confirmed at the moment, but here’s what is rumored to have happened:

  • Rogers hired additional sales staff to handle the iPhone launch, all of whom have been fired effective immediately
  • Apple has informed Rogers that they will be diverting a “large percentage” of their iPhone stock that was destined for Canadian shores, sending it instead to their European distributors. According to the rumor, this would leave Rogers with as few as 10-20 units per store for launch day.

The consumer backlash against Roger’s data rates was understandable, but we’re honestly a bit shocked to see Apple reacting in a similar fashion. Cupertino is doing one of two things here: they’re either attempting to strong-arm Rogers into lowering their data tariffs and making the iPhone more accessible to average consumers, or they really have simply given up and are abandoning the Canadian market in favor of a European market that seems a bit more eager to, uh, allow people to purchase an iPhone without mortgaging their Moose farm. Let’s hope, for the sake of our Canadian friends up North, that Apple is simply trying to affect some change, and that Rogers will be forced to comply by next Friday. Any more takers for the Rogers petition?

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  • http://rogers.com FRogers

    The rumor seems to be true on the iPhone shipment to Canada.

    A family member in charge of the cell phone section at Rogers has been told that there will be a total of 2,000 iPhones for the entirety of Canada.

    Hence, not all stores will be carrying them or very few, on the release date.

    FRogers

  • leroy

    They should contract the phones out to other carriers as well. Monopoly is what is keeping that crazy price afloat. They are charging it because they are exclusive.
    If they are in an exclusive contract (looks like they are) then Apple should limit thier shipments (looks like they are) and everyone should lay off buying them until the deal changes.

  • Lucio

    lucio, you dont get it. the Iphone is a gprs/gsm phone and not a cdma. It wouldnt work on a Bell/Telus network….

    That is why the Gov’t should never have Rogers buy Fido…

  • MikeyD

    As an Australian I thought I’d put my 2c into this.

    Telstra is similar to Rogers where it charges through the roof for what it calls a ‘premium service’. Their iPhone plan starts on a $35 plan with an upfront payment and only 5Mb worth of data. 5 megabytes. To have a Gb you need to pay over $100.

    Optus (which is the telco that was mentioned previously) is doing so well for competition here, although the incumbent is yet to follow as they still have a lot of people signing up.

    At the end of the day, if a corporation has no customers, they will modify their rates. It all boils down to user knowledge and education on what a fair go really is.

    M

  • Ed Hardy

    Nice post. Most blogs or not very informative. At least I learnt somthing with yours.

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